Free nitrate testing for well water on April 26

For testing, bring a water sample to the free walk-in clinic at the Scott County Fairgrounds in Jordan, MN. This event is supported by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture and the Scott SWCD. It is held in conjunction with the Scott SWCD’s tree pickup. This clinic is free and open to the public; no appointments are necessary.

How to take your sample

NOTE: For best results, collect your water sample anytime within 24 hours of the clinic and keep the water cool.

Run the cold tap faucet for three minutes
Collect about one cup of water in a clean glass jar or other container. (Disposable containers are OK but recyclable/glass containers are preferred)

You may also collect neighbors’ or relatives’ samples and bring them in for analysis. Participants can bring in as many samples as they would like.

If you have a water treatment unit that reduces or removes nitrate—such as a reverse osmosis unit or a distiller—feel free to collect a sample before treatment and after treatment to ensure your system is working properly. If you have a water softener in your home, it is not necessary to collect a sample from that before treatment, as softeners do not reduce nitrate.

On the day of the clinic

Scott SWCD technicians will take your sample from you and test it, which will take approximately 2-4 minutes. Participants will be asked to provide the approximate address where the water was collected so we may track any nitrate spikes recorded. To make the process go by as smooth as possible, residents are encouraged to arrive with their water sample AND a piece of paper detailing their name and the address where the sample was taken. Once the test is complete, the technician will return your results to you.

South Branch Vermillion River Habitat Day

Join Twin Cities Trout Unlimited as they help the DNR improve the Vermillion River and this Aquatic Management Area for wildlife and anglers.

Work will include:
-Removing buckthorn, honeysuckle and other invasive species
-Pulling debris out of the water
-Picking up trash

Bring heavy work gloves and a willingness to work hard and maybe get wet!

Vermillion River-Kummer AMA Habitat Day

This event is part of Twin Cities Trout Unlimited’s Vermillion River Initiative-a focus on protecting and enhancing this cold water stream so near to the Twin Cities! Join us TCTU as they help the DNR continue to restore the Vermillion River & this Aquatic Management Area for wildlife.

Work will include:

-Removing buckthorn, other invasive species and boxelders
-Dragging and dropping the brush into piles
-Picking up any trash we find

Bring heavy work gloves and a willingness to work hard.

There won’t be any in-water work, but we’ll be able to keep our eyes open for trout!

In case this is cancelled, the back-up day will be June 8, same time and place.