Projects and Practices Improving and Protecting Water Resources are Focus of Watershed Tour
More than 60 people collaborating on urban and rural conservation projects and practices attended a tour with the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) and partners within the […]
Test your irrigation water for nitrogen
The Dakota County Environmental Resources Department will be offering farmers with irrigation an opportunity to test their irrigation water for nitrogen at no cost. Interested individuals may collect sample bottles starting July 9, 2023 from either the Pleasant Hill […]
Nitrogen reduction, collaboration drive Dakota County’s ACRE Plan
By Steve Christopher and Ann Wessel, Minnesota Board of Soil and Water Resources (BWSR) staff
Originally published in BWSR’s Snapshot series
Dakota County is taking a water quality-focused, comprehensive approach to addressing groundwater concerns linked to agricultural chemicals. […]
2023 Community-Focused Groundwater Sampling invites 547 Eureka Township well owners
The Environmental Resources Department’s Groundwater Protection Unit is providing its fourth round of community-focused private well sampling. This effort provides private well owners an opportunity to have their water tested for common contaminants of concern […]
Sediment basin cleanout on Almquist farm
The Almquist family farm in Ravenna Township has sediment control basins on their property designed to keep sediment out of the Vermillion River. These basins were designed and constructed in the late 1960s and had filled with sediment to […]
Dakota County Monitoring Well Information Available Online
In 2021-2022, as part of the Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort (ACRE), Environmental Resources had 15 monitoring wells installed in rural areas of the county. This project was a cooperative effort with the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), which […]
Factsheets About Activities to Improve Water Quality Available in Spanish, Hmong
As part of implementing the Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort Plan (ACRE), Dakota County Environmental Resources and Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) staff worked with a consultant, Environmental Initiative (nonprofit organization), to translate […]
Minnesota Irrigator Program hosting second year in Farmington
Are you an irrigator concerned about matching your irrigation with crop water use? Are you wondering how to improve water use efficiency and reduce water costs? The University of Minnesota Extension is offering the Minnesota Irrigator […]
Updated Minnesota Groundwater Protection Rule Map Now Available
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has issued an updated map that will help farmers across the state comply with the Groundwater Protection Rule. The rule restricts fall application of nitrogen fertilizer in areas vulnerable to contamination, […]
New Grant Available to Help Improve Minnesota’s Soil Health
Applications are now open for the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) new Soil Health Financial Assistance Pilot Program soil health equipment grants.
These grants are available to individual producers, producer groups, and local governments to purchase or […]