Best Management Practices
Best Management Practices (BMPs) are activities and structural systems that treat or remove pollutants before they reach waterways, as well as conserve water resources. You can do many of them yourself or with the guidance of our experts.
The Vermillion River Watershed consists of 335 square miles of land, including urban, rural, and residential landscapes. Find out if you live in the watershed by typing your address in the interactive map.
To better assess and plan for such a large area, the watershed is divided into eight subwatersheds. Each subwatershed has unique characteristics and problems. This map shows the Vermillion River’s subwatersheds.
VRWJPO prepared fact sheets summarizing each subwatershed’s features and suggest best management practices that may be successful in improving water quality:
Despite living in the land of 10,000 lakes, Minnesota does not have an unlimited supply of clean water.
Together, we can sustain our water supply by adjusting lawn-watering practices. Investing in technology for irrigation, sprinklers, or soil moisture-based controls to manage timing and conserve water whether living in a single family home or homeowner’s association. Following these water-saving tips can help you navigate your way to smarter watering. You could even forgo watering your lawn altogether – precipitation is often enough. And check out indoor water conservation tips, too.
Try these organic lawn restoration ideas and make sure that when you fertilize, you green up your lawn, not your lakes and rivers. The Lawns to Legumes grant from the Board of Water and Soil Resources can help you get started building a healthier lawn. Check out the University of Minnesota’s Turfgrass Science program for more ideas, including different varieties of grasses you can plant that require less water, fertilizer, and maintenance – and less money, too.
Collect runoff from your roof with a rain barrel and reuse the water on your land. This simple solution conserves water, nurtures the plants on your land, and prevents pollutants from getting into storm drains. Not to mention, it can save you money on your water bills. Dakota County residents can get a discount on buying rain barrels.
Natural bacteria, insects, air, and heat transform yard and food wastes into compost. Reduce your waste disposal costs – keep nutrients working for you in your landscape and out of nearby water resources by putting them in compost bins.
Rain barrels and compost bins are sold at most home improvement stores, and other thrifty options are available. The Recycling Association of Minnesota offers an annual sale on both products. Or, you can make your own!
When it rains or snows, the water that doesn’t infiltrate the soil becomes stormwater runoff, flowing over roads, parking lots, and rooftops into lakes and rivers. It frequently carries pollutants with it, such as pet waste, excess fertilizer, and road salt. These are a big threat to lakes and rivers and can cause algae blooms, flooding, or other nuisance conditions. (Learn more about stormwater issues in the Minnesota Stormwater Manual.)
Native gardens, rain gardens, and stabilized shorelines are best management practices that can help water soak in and filter stormwater runoff.
Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District holds a workshop called Landscaping for Clean Water to educate homeowners on planning, purchasing and planting a native garden, rain garden, or stabilizing shorelines. Find out more and sign up for their workshops here.
Additionally, some cities in the watershed, such as Apple Valley, offer cost shares for residents to implement water quality and conservation measures. Check what your city can offer.
Storms with heavy rainfall and high winds often leave a trail of downed trees that obstruct waterways. Other materials such as sediment, debris, and garbage can build up and obstruct flow.
VRWJPO and its Technical Advisory Group (which includes staff from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources) prepared a fact sheet, Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ): Stream Obstructions, to provide landowners with best management practices for keeping obstructions from adversely affecting stream flow, property, and wildlife.
For farmers, the best source for information and technical assistance is right around the corner. Dakota County and Scott County Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) have experienced and knowledgeable staff members who consult with landowners about the best solution to pollution and water management problems. These experts can provide advice, design assistance, plan review, inspection, referrals, or financial incentives (grant funding, partner cost-share, or payment for conservation easements). Dakota SWCD also works with the USDA to host an Irrigation Management Assistant tool.
Here are some examples of BMPs:
- Contour Farming
- Structural Runoff Control
- Wetland Management
- Rotational Grazing
- Feedlot Management
- Nutrient Management
- Riparian Buffers
- Grass Waterways
- Conservation Tillage
- Cover Crops
- Integrated Pest Management
- Streambank Stabilization
- Street Landscaping and Trees
- Stream Habitat Restoration
- Streambank Fencing
- Home Runoff Management
- Green Roofs
- Constructed Wetlands
If you have a well on your property or are considering one, you have a significant role to play in protecting our groundwater. The Minnesota Department of Health has compiled a handbook with answers to common questions about wells – download and read it here.