Best Management Practices

Best Management Practices (BMPs) are activities that treat or remove pollutants before they reach waterways and/or conserve water resources. Here are some you can do at home!

When it rains or snows, the water that doesn’t infiltrate the soil becomes stormwater runoff, flowing over flat surfaces like roads, parking lots, and rooftops into storm drains, then into lakes and rivers. It frequently carries pollutants with it, such as pet waste, eroded soil, and de-icing salt. These are a big threat to lakes and rivers. Native plant gardens, rain gardens, and stabilized shorelines are best management practices that can help water soak in and filter more stormwater runoff.

Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District holds a workshop called Landscaping for Clean Water each year, funded in part by VRWJPO. They educate homeowners on planning, purchasing, and planting a native garden, rain garden, and stabilized shoreline. Scott Soil & Water Conservation District frequently holds one-off workshops on how to implement these BMPs as well.

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 money.

As our watershed’s population grows, so does the need for water – groundwater, specifically.

Conserve water (and save money) by:

  • Adjusting lawn-watering frequency, or even forgoing lawn irrigation entirely – rain is often enough.
    • Lawns only need one inch of water per week.
  • Investing in technology for irrigation, sprinklers, or soil moisture-based controls to manage timing and conserve water.
  • Collecting stormwater from your roof with a rain barrel and reuse the water on your lawn and/or garden.
  • Applying for grants and rebates for water conservation practices from your city. Rosemount, Apple Valley, Burnsville, Farmington, and Lakeville all offer these.

When you’re ready to commit to a water conservation plan, take the Water Wise Pledge!

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 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 and Scott Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCD) have experienced and knowledgeable staff members who consult with farmers about the best solution to pollution and water management problems. These experts can provide advice, design assistance, plan review, inspection, referrals, and financial incentives (grant funding, partner cost-share, or payment for conservation easements, funded in part by VRWJPO cost-share). Dakota SWCD also works with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide an Irrigation Management Assistant tool.

Some examples of agricultural BMPs:

  • Cover crops
  • No-till/strip till
  • Harvestable covers
  • Grassed waterways
  • Sediment control basins

If you have a private 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.

Both Dakota and Scott counties can help you test your well water for contaminants of concern.

BMPs by Subwatershed

The Vermillion River Watershed consists of 335 square miles of land, including urban, rural, and residential landscapes. To better assess and plan for such a large area, the watershed is divided into eight subwatersheds. Each subwatershed has unique needs and features.

We suggest BMPs that may be successful in improving water quality by subwatershed:

Includes:

  • City of Elko New Market,
  • New Market Township,
  • Northern Eureka Township,
  • Headwaters of the Vermillion River,
  • All watershed areas in Scott County, and
  • Upper main stem of the Vermillion River and all tributaries to it.

The land area around the upper Vermillion River main stem (and smaller streams that run into it) make up the Upper Main Stem Subwatershed. Land and water in this area drain to the upper main stem of the Vermillion River.

The Upper Main Stem Subwatershed includes predominantly rural, large-lot residential, and commercial land use. Changes in land-use (from development, new infrastructure, or shifting farming practices) alter the natural flow of water. This allows rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased runoff carries pollutants (such as sediment) to lakes, rivers and streams. For example, urban roads, parking lots, and pavement allow stormwater (and pollutants) to quickly move to water resources. Overland flow from agricultural land also drains stormwater from fields into rivers and streams. Practices that slow stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Intermittent stream flow – low or no water during dry seasons

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Locating sources of high E. coli bacteria levels and working with landowners to reduce runoff.
  • Working with landowners on best management practices to control erosion.

What can you do at home?

  • Pick up and properly dispose of pet wastes in the trash.
  • Install a raingarden to soak up the rain, filter pollutants, and provide habitat.
  • Install a rain barrel to capture stormwater and use it to water your lawn and garden.
  • Disconnect your rooftop from sidewalks and driveways by redirecting your downspout.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Keep livestock out of streams and properly manage manure to reduce bacteria loads.
  • Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated channel designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion.
  • Install water and sediment control basins to collect sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground.
  • Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff pollutants. Common cover crops in Minnesota include rye and other small grains.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.

Includes:

  • Southern Lakeville,
  • Southwest Farmington,
  • Northern Eureka Township,
  • Northwest New Market Township;
  • South Creek-Vermillion River and all of its tributaries; and
  • Lake Marion.

The land area around South Creek (and smaller streams that run into South Creek) makes up the South Creek Subwatershed. Land and water in this area drain to South Creek.

The South Creek Subwatershed includes many types of land use: urban, rural, residential, commercial, agricultural, and recreational. Changes in land use (from development, new infrastructure, or shifting farming practices) alter the natural flow of water, allowing rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased runoff carries pollutants such as sediment to lakes, rivers, and streams. For example, urban roads, parking lots, and pavement allow stormwater (and pollutants) to quickly move to water resources. Overland flow from agricultural land also drains stormwater from fields into rivers and streams. Practices that slow down stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Not enough dissolved oxygen in streams
  • High stream temperatures in summer
  • Nutrients (mostly phosphorus) in lakes

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Stream restoration to build natural curves into straightened reaches, increasing dissolved oxygen and reducing erosion.
  • Streambank stabilization and vegetation to prevent erosion and filter out pollutants before they reach the stream.
  • Bioretention cells that use plants, compost, and sand to capture and biologically degrade pollutants.
  • Iron-enhanced sand filters that remove dissolved phosphorus before it reaches water resources.

What can you do at home?

  • Install a rainbarrel to capture stormwater and use it to water your lawn and garden.
  • Disconnect your rooftop from sidewalks and driveways by redirecting your downspout.
  • Keep yard wastes out of storm drains.
  • Pick up and properly dispose of pet wastes in the trash.
  • Stabilize and vegetate shorelines on Lake Marion to prevent erosion, reduce nutrients, and provide habitat for wildlife.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated channel designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion.
  • Install water and sediment control basins to collect sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground.
  • Keep livestock out of streams and properly manage manure to reduce bacteria loads.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.

Includes:

  • East Central Lakeville,
  • West Central Farmington, and
  • Middle Creek-Vermillion and all of its tributaries.

The land area around Middle Creek (and smaller streams that run into Middle Creek) make up the Middle Creek Subwatershed. Land and water in this area drain to Middle Creek.

The Middle Creek Subwatershed includes predominantly residential land use surrounding a central area of commercial, agricultural, and recreational uses. Changes in land-use (from development, new infrastructure, or shifting farming practices) alter the natural flow of water. This allows rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Runoff carries pollutants such as sediment and bacteria to rivers and streams.

For example, urban roads, parking lots, and pavement allow stormwater (and pollutants) to quickly move to water bodies. Overland flow from agricultural land also drains stormwater from fields into rivers and streams. Practices that slow stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality – in residential areas, on farms, and in commercial zones.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Inconsistent stream flow – too low during dry periods and too high during big rainstorms

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Stream restoration to build natural curves and variation into straightened reaches, reconnect the flood plain to manage high water events, and reduce erosion.
  • Streambank stabilization and vegetation to prevent erosion and filter out pollutants before they reach the stream.
  • Stormwater re-use for irrigation using ponds to collect and treat stormwater then using the water to irrigate King Park.
  • Planning future bacteria reduction feasibility studies and projects.

What can you do at home?

  • Pick up and properly dispose of pet wastes in the trash.
  • Install a raingarden to soak up the rain, filter pollutants, and provide habitat.
  • Install a rain barrel to capture stormwater and use it to water your lawn and garden.
  • Disconnect your rooftop from sidewalks and driveways by redirecting your downspout.
  • Stabilize and vegetate streambanks to prevent erosion, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for wildlife.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Keep livestock out of streams and properly manage manure to reduce bacteria loads.
  • Install filter strips along Middle Creek and its tributaries to stabilize streambanks with deep-rooting native plants, prevent erosion, filter out pollutants, and provide habitat.
  • Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff. Common cover crops in Minnesota include rye and other small grains.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.

Includes:

  • Most of Apple Valley,
  • Eastern Burnsville around Lake Alimagnet,
  • Northeast Lakeville,
  • Northwest Farmington,
  • Northwest corner of Empire,
  • Western Rosemount,
  • North Creek-Vermillion River and all of its tributaries,
  • Lake Alimagnet,
  • Long and Farquar Lakes, and
  • East Lake.

The land area around North Creek (and smaller streams that run into North Creek) make up the North Creek Subwatershed. Land and water in this area drains to North Creek.

The North Creek Subwatershed is almost fully developed, with residential, commercial, industrial, and recreational land uses. Changes in land use (from development and new infrastructure) alter the natural flow of water, allowing rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased urban runoff carries pollutants (such as sediment, bacteria, and nutrients) to water bodies. Practices that slow down stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality. A challenge in well-developed urban and suburban areas is finding enough space for practices that hold and soak in stormwater.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Not enough dissolved oxygen, especially where North Creek converges with the main stem Vermillion River
  • Excess nutrients (mostly phosphorus) in lakes

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Installing bioretention cells that use plants, compost, and sand to capture and biologically degrade pollutants.
  • Using iron-enhanced sand filters that remove dissolved phosphorus before it reaches water resources.
  • Installing pre-treatment for stormwater ponds that drain to lakes.
  • Implementing lake drawdown, a strategy that helps clear out rough fish and nutrient sources like curlyleaf pond weed.

What can you do at home?

  • Install a raingarden to soak up the rain, filter pollutants, and provide habitat.
  • Install a rain barrel to capture stormwater and use it to water your lawn and garden.
  • Disconnect your rooftop from sidewalks and driveways by redirecting your downspout.
  • Keep yard wastes out of storm drains.
  • Pick up and properly dispose of pet wastes in the trash.
  • Stabilize and vegetate shorelines on Lake Alimagnet, Long and Farquar Lakes, and East Lake to prevent erosion, filter out nutrients, and provide habitat for wildlife.

What can you do on commercial properties?

  • Retrofit paved areas using low-impact development practices, such as raingardens, tree trenches, or pervious pavement that soak up the rain.
  • Disconnect rooftops from parking lots and pavement by re-routing downspouts to help irrigate landscaping.
  • Follow best practices for parking lot and pavement ice and snow removal to keep salt, sand, and oils out of water resources.

Includes:

  • Most of Empire,
  • Northeastern corner of Castle Rock Township,
  • Southeastern Farmington,
  • Western Vermillion Township,
  • City of Vermillion, and
  • Vermillion River and all of its minor tributaries between Hwy. 3 and Hwy. 52.

The land area around the Vermillion River’s middle main stem (and smaller streams that run into it) make up the Middle Main Stem Subwatershed. The Middle Main Stem Subwatershed (shown in red on map, left) is part of the Vermillion River Watershed (shown in blue). Land and water in this area drain to the middle main stem of the Vermillion River.

The Middle Main Stem Subwatershed is primarily rural and agricultural, with the exception of the residential and commercial areas in the City of Farmington. Over many years of agricultural production, landowners have altered the land to expand, improve crop yields, and drain soggy fields. Farmington’s developed areas have roads, pavement, and parking lots that move water rapidly off the land surface. These land uses alter the natural flow of water, allowing rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased runoff carries pollutants such as sediment, nitrate, phosphorus, and E. coli bacteria to lakes, rivers, and streams. Urban runoff also carries heat, a threat to healthy streams, especially those that contain sensitive species like trout. Practices that slow down stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality – in residential areas, on farms, and in commercial zones.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Concerns about agricultural irrigation impacts on stream flow.

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Stream restoration to re-shape the river’s natural curves, stabilize stream banks, vegetate banks to filter pollutants, prevent flooding, and provide habitat.
  • Cost-sharing conservation buffers through federal and state programs.
  • Piloting an irrigation scheduling program to provide landowners with services of a University of Minnesota Extension irrigation specialist to find optimal irrigation effectiveness.
  • Supporting partners’ stormwater management projects at Whitetail Woods County Park and Metropolitan Council Environmental Services Empire Wastewater Treatment Plant.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated channel designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion.
  • Install water and sediment control basins to collect sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground.
  • Keep livestock out of streams and properly manage manure to reduce bacteria loads.
  • Protect or restore wetlands to improve stormwater storage, pollutant removal, and flood resilience.
  • Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff pollutants. Common cover crops in Minnesota include rye and other small grains.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.

Includes:

  • Northeastern Eureka Township,
  • Northern Castle Rock Township,
  • Northwest Hampton Township,
  • Southeastern corner of Empire,
  • Southwestern corner of Vermillion Township,
  • City of Hampton, and
  • South Branch-Vermillion River and all of its tributaries.

The land area around the South Branch (and smaller streams that run into it) make up the South Branch Subwatershed. Land and water in this area drain to the South Branch.

The South Branch Subwatershed is primarily rural and agricultural. It is planned for agricultural use in the future. Over many years of agricultural production, landowners have altered the land to expand, improve crop yields, and drain soggy fields. These land-use changes also altered the natural flow of water, allowing rain water to move more quickly from where it falls.  Agricultural runoff carries pollutants such as sediment, nitrate, and E. coli bacteria to rivers and streams. Practices that slow down stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality. Practices include grassed waterways (to slow water and reduce erosion), restored wetlands, water and sediment control ponds (to hold stormwater, remove pollutants, and let water soak into the ground), and cover crops (to hold soil in place, increase organic matter, and retain nutrients).

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Concern about having enough groundwater for future irrigation.
  • Nutrients (particularly nitrate) in streams

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Wetland restoration to build stormwater storage, filter pollutants, prevent flooding, and provide habitat.
  • Cost-sharing conservation buffers through federal and state programs.
  • Piloting an irrigation scheduling program to provide landowners with services of a University of Minnesota Extension irrigation specialist to find optimal irrigation effectiveness.
  • Restoring a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources aquatic management area at the confluence of the South Branch and the Vermillion River main stem.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated channel designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion.
  • Install water and sediment control basins to collect sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground.
  • Keep livestock out of streams and properly manage manure to reduce bacteria loads.
  • Protect or restore wetlands to improve stormwater storage, pollutant removal, and flood resilience.
  • Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff pollutants. Common cover crops in Minnesota include rye and other small grains.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.

Includes:

  • Southeastern Rosemount,
  • Southern Nininger Township,
  • City of Coates,
  • Northern and eastern Vermillion Township,
  • North central Hampton Township,
  • Northwestern Marshan Township,
  • Southwestern Hastings, and
  • Vermillion River and all of its minor tributaries between Hwy. 52 and Hwy. 61.

The land area around the Vermillion River’s lower main stem (and smaller streams that run into it) make up the Lower Main Stem Subwatershed. The Lower Main Stem Subwatershed (shown in red on map, left) is part of the Vermillion River Watershed (shown in blue). Land and water in that area drain to the lower main stem of the Vermillion River.

The Lower Main Stem Subwatershed is primarily rural and agricultural, with the exception of residential areas in the City of Hastings. Over many years of agricultural production, landowners have altered the land to expand, improve crop yields, and drain soggy fields. Residential development in Hastings increases runoff from roads, pavement, and parking lots. These land uses alter the natural flow of water, allowing rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased runoff carries pollutants such as sediment, nitrate, and E. coli bacteria to lakes, rivers, and streams. Practices that slow down stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality – not only in the Vermillion River lower main stem, but also in the groundwater. Surface water percolates down into the groundwater aquifers in the Lower Main Stem Subwatershed, affecting drinking water sources.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Concerns about surface water pollutant impacts on groundwater used for drinking water supplies.

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Cost-sharing conservation buffers through federal and state programs.
  • Stabilizing streambanks to prevent erosion.
  • Piloting an irrigation scheduling program to provide landowners with services of a University of Minnesota Extension irrigation specialist to find optimal irrigation effectiveness.
  • Supporting private well testing by Dakota County and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to monitor nitrates and other pollutants in drinking water.

What can you do at home?

  • Install a raingarden to soak up the rain, filter pollutants, and provide habitat.
  • Pick up and properly dispose of pet wastes in the trash.
  • Stabilize and vegetate streambanks to prevent erosion, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for wildlife.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated channel designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion.
  • Install water and sediment control basins to collect sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground.
  • Keep livestock out of streams and manage manure properly to reduce bacteria loads.
  • Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff pollutants. Common cover crops in Minnesota include rye and other small grains.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.

Includes:

  • Northeastern Hastings,
  • Ravenna Township,
  • City of Coates,
  • Northern Nininger Township,
  • Northeastern corner of Rosemount,
  • Eastern and southern Marshan Township,
  • Northeastern corner of Hampton Township,
  • Northern Douglas Township, and
  • Vermillion River and all of its minor tributaries (including Etter Creek) between Hwy. 61 and the boundary of Goodhue County.

The land area around the Vermillion River (and smaller streams that run into it) that flow directly to the Mississippi River make up the Mississippi Direct Subwatershed. Land and water in that area drain to the Vermillion River, or directly to the Mississippi River.

The Mississippi Direct Subwatershed is primarily rural and agricultural, with the exception of residential areas in the City of Hastings. Over many years of agricultural production, landowners have altered the land to expand, improve crop yields, and drain soggy fields. Residential development in Hastings increases runoff from roads, pavement, and parking lots.

These land uses alter the natural flow of water, allowing rain water to move more quickly from where it falls. Increased runoff carries pollutants such as sediment, nitrate, and E. coli bacteria to lakes, rivers, and streams. Practices that slow down stormwater and soak up the rain can improve water quality – not only in the Vermillion River, but also in the groundwater. Surface water percolates down into the groundwater aquifers in the Mississippi Direct Subwatershed, affecting drinking water sources.

BMPs

What are the water-quality issues?

  • E. coli bacteria in streams
  • Excess sediment in streams
  • Concerns about surface water pollutant impacts on groundwater used for drinking water supplies.

What are we (and partners) doing?

  • Stabilizing streambanks and ravines to prevent erosion and restore areas badly eroded by water flowing down steep slopes.
  • Cost-sharing conservation buffers through federal and state programs.
  • Piloting an irrigation scheduling program to provide landowners with services of a University of Minnesota Extension irrigation specialist to find optimal irrigation effectiveness.
  • Supporting private well testing by Dakota County and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture to monitor nitrates and other pollutants in drinking water.

What can you do at home?

  • Install a raingarden to soak up the rain, filter pollutants, and provide habitat.
  • Pick up and properly dispose of pet wastes in the trash.
  • Stabilize and vegetate streambanks to prevent erosion, filter pollutants, and provide habitat for wildlife.

What can you do on the farm?

  • Install a grassed waterway, a vegetated channel designed to move surface water across farmland without causing soil erosion.
  • Install water and sediment control basins to collect sediment and hold water until it seeps into the ground.
  • Use cover crops on cropland when the soil would otherwise be bare to reduce erosion and runoff pollutants. Common cover crops in Minnesota include rye and other small grains.
  • Follow University of Minnesota Extension’s best management practices for nitrogen use.
  • Keep livestock out of streams and manage manure properly to reduce bacteria loads.