Dakota County Environmental Resources and SWCD working together to prevent pollution from mining operations

Dakota County and the Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) successfully received a $50,000 Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) grant for Groundwater Protection Initiatives. The County was not eligible to apply since the 2021 MDH grant awarded to the County for the ACRE Plan is still active. Alternatively, Environmental Resources staff coordinated with the SWCD to apply for the grant and will work together to conduct the project. The project’s purpose is to provide updated guidance and recommendations associated with aggregate mining controls for optional use by cities and townships in the County.  These controls will help ensure surface water and groundwater resources protection.

The project includes hiring a consultant to complete a technical review of city and township planning and zoning requirements for mining operations, updating the Dakota County Model Mining Ordinance, and conducing outreach to cities and townships about guidance and recommendations, as needed. A Request for Proposals will be released in mid-July, and the project is estimated to be completed in June 2023.

This effort aligns with the 2020-2030 Dakota County Groundwater Plan strategy to “prevent pollution by minimizing impacts of aggregate mining on groundwater quality” and that the County will review and update the Model Mining Ordinance in 2022-2023.

Contact Valerie Neppl, Groundwater Protection Supervisor, 952-891-7019, Valerie.Neppl@co.dakota.mn.us