Volunteer Opportunities
Check out these activities and organizations – and find specific events on our web calendar.
Adopt-a-Drain
The nation’s largest Adopt-a-Drain program is in the Twin Cities – and the VRWJPO is proud to be a sponsor. This new program invites residents to adopt a storm drain to protect area lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Sweeping up leaves, trash, and other debris around a storm drain protects local lakes and rivers by preventing pollution from entering our streams and lakes.
Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP)
The Dakota County Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP) trains volunteers to collect data on wetland plants and macroinvertebrates, providing information to local governments about the health of specific wetlands. No experience is necessary. Training is provided. Citizen teams are guided by a team leader. Volunteers spend between 15 and 30 hours from late May through early August checking on wetlands in their communities.
WHEP teams in the VRWJPO include: Apple Valley, Burnsville, Dakota County Parks, Farmington, Hastings, Lakeville, and Rosemount. Each team collects data on up to five wetlands. Registration is open now for 2025 teams!
Twin Cities Trout Unlimited
Twin Cities Trout Unlimited (TCTU) is a local chapter of the nationwide nonprofit organization Trout Unlimited. As the Vermillion River Watershed is home to several stretches of DNR-designated trout streams and is known for being the only trophy trout stream in the Twin Cities metro area, many people in TCTU are passionate about improving and protecting our watershed. VRWJPO and TCTU representatives regularly meet to inform each other and collaborate on projects.
Check out TCTU’s website for upcoming activities in the Vermillion River Watershed. Activities are open to people of all ages and ability levels.
Volunteer Water Monitoring
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency’s volunteer water monitoring program engages individuals, school groups, and community members in monitoring the health of the Vermillion River.
Volunteers visit their stream monitoring site once per week to monitor water transparency (using a Secchi tube), water level, and the general appearance of the stream (water color and recreational suitability). The monitoring data collected by volunteers is submitted to the MPCA at the end of the field season. It supplements other water quality monitoring efforts taking place along the Vermillion River.
You can also help monitor local lakes with the Metropolitan Council’s Citizen-Assisted Monitoring Program (CAMP). Each volunteer monitors a specific site on a lake on a regular basis from mid-April through mid-October (every two weeks is most common). Volunteers collect a surface water sample, measure water temperature and clarity, and report weather and lake conditions.
All these data help us make better decisions on what work we can do.
AIS Detectors
Aquatic invasive species are a problem. Dakota County is looking for volunteers to become aquatic invasive species (AIS) detectors.
The commitment includes an online course and virtual workshops to learn the principles of aquatic ecology; AIS identification, impacts, and biology; Minnesota regulations; and how to prevent the spread of AIS, perform surveillance, and report potential AIS findings.
Dakota County will reimburse the course fee for up to seven residents who complete it. To maintain active status, AIS detectors complete annual volunteer service and refresher training. Become an AIS Detector.
