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Opt Outside Day: We Are Water MN
Stop by the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center from 10 a.m.–4 p.m. to stroll along the activity trail or use your GPS or phone app to search for themed geocaches. For older adventurers, take on the annual medallion hunt. This year, the event is part of the We are Water MN Exhibit at Dakota County, a Minnesota Legacy program.
Location
When you arrive, head to the Visitor Center and look for the event information station. Each station includes signs with activity instruction information and take-along guides.
- Visitor Center Trailhead, Lebanon Hills Regional Park
Activities
- Water is Life Activity Trail: Explore the activity trail and investigate how critters (and other lifeforms) depend on water in interesting ways. The littlest kids will love this stroller-friendly scavenger hunt, searching for critters along a paved trail. All ages (especially fun for ages 6 and younger).
- Protecting our Waters Geocaching: Search for the multi-cache and become a water saver superhero as you explore how you can help protect water quality. All ages (especially fun for ages 5 and older). Participants must provide their own smartphone with geocaching app or GPS unit for geocaching activity.
- Medallion Hunt: Solve clever riddles in our medallion hunt to find the “medallion” hidden somewhere in the park. All ages (especially for ages 10 and older). Riddles will be posted on Facebook, on the Opt Outside event page Nov. 24-25. Riddles will be posted at 8 a.m. and noon on Thursday, Nov. 24 and noon on Friday, Nov. 25.
Medallion finders must post a selfie near the location of the find to the Dakota County Parks – forever wild Facebook page and call the Lebanon Hills Visitor Center at 651-554-6530 to report their find. A fantastic prize package goes to the winner.
TCTU Event: Habitat Project on South Branch Vermillion River, Day 1
Twin Cities Trout Unlimited needs 14 volunteers to help improve stream habitat for trout.
What Will We Be Doing
This will be Day 1 of a unique 2 Day effort. You can also, if so desired, sign up for Day 2 (a separate sign-up for Saturday, Aug. 24).
Under the direction of Mark Nemeth of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we will be harvesting & hauling cedar trees to a trailer, then delivering to the South Branch Vermillion Aquatic Management Area. The trees will be used to protect the banks of several areas on the river. We will also be doing some reseeding where we cut the trees.
The Plan
Meet at the start time at the parking lot of the AMA. We will carpool to the Vermillion Highlands area to cut trees, re-seed, and haul the trees back to the AMA.
What You Should Bring
- Long pants
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sunblock
- Heavy work gloves
- Water
What TCTU & the DNR Will Provide
- All equipment
- Bug spray
- LUNCH after we’re all done working
Registration will end 24 hours before the event for an accurate headcount.
TCTU Event: Habitat Project on South Branch Vermillion River, Day 2
Twin Cities Trout Unlimited needs 20 volunteers to help improve stream habitat for trout.
Under direction from Mark Nemeth of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, we will be installing cedar trees (cut during the event the day before) in sections of the river to protect the stream banks from erosion.
The Plan
- Meet at the start time at the parking lot of the South Branch Vermillion River Aquatic Management Area.
- We will haul and install cedars at several locations in the river.
What You Should Bring
- Chest waders (in water work) or be prepared to wet wade
- Long sleeve shirt
- Sunblock
- Heavy work gloves
- Water
What the DNR & TCTU Will Provide
- All equipment
- Bug spray
- LUNCH after we’re all done working
Registration will close 24 hours before the event for an accurate list of participants.
Redd survey on South Branch Vermillion River
What’s A Redd?
Trout are gravel nest spawners. Females excavate a nest, called a redd, where they deposit eggs. These eggs are fertilized by one or more male trout and then covered by gravel. Counting the number and distribution of redds over time provides data on the health of our streams. TCTU has decided to begin collecting redd data on the trout streams in our service area, data that we can share with the DNR, other agencies and anyone that is interested.
What Will We Be Doing?
- Doing TCTU’s 1st ever redd survey
- We will be walking the stream (about 1.8 miles) searching for and documenting redds
- We hope to have a total of 9 volunteers
The Plan
- Meet at the start time at the parking lot of the AMA.
- We will break out into teams, and walk sections of the river searching for and documenting redds.
What You Should Bring
- Clothes appropriate for the weather!
- Chest waders as some of you will have to cross the stream!