Apr
12
Tue
2022
Lawns to Legumes Pollinator Talk with Scott SWCD @ Virtual
Apr 12 @ 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

Lawns to Legumes Pollinator Talk April 12 with Scott SWCD

The Scott Soil and Water Conservation District (SWCD) is excited to host speaker Dr. Elaine Evans to talk about what’s happening with Minnesota’s state bee: The rusty patched bumble bee.

The Scott SWCD has been awarded funding through the State’s Lawns to Legumes Program to restore critical habitat for the endangered rusty patched bumble bee. Scott SWCD staff will give an overview of funding opportunities while Dr. Elaine Evans from the University of Minnesota discusses why these bees are so important.

This free educational webinar will go over:

  • How to identify the rusty patched bumble bee and their role as a critical pollinator species
  • The life cycle and behaviors of the rusty patched bumble bee
  • What’s being done to protect them
  • How you can help expand their habitat and beautify your property with Lawns to Legumes grants

Dr. Elaine Evans holds a PhD in Entomology and works as an Associate Extension Professor at the University of Minnesota Bee Lab in the Department of Entomology. They handle questions related to bee conservation and are currently monitoring the population of the endangered rusty patched bumble bee.

Jul
7
Thu
2022
Capture and Release Pollinator Sampling Days in Lakeville @ Ritter Farm Park
Jul 7 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Capture and Release Pollinator Sampling Field Day | Lakeville

Join Great River Greening, U of M Extension Bee Lab, and the Xerces Society for a hands-on pollinator capture and release sampling field day. Participants will gain more experience with capture and release practices, as well as pollinator identification.
Sampling field days will take place on multiple days at both Ritter Farm in Lakeville and Spring Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake with morning and afternoon sessions available. With multiple sampling efforts throughout the summer, we will gain a better understanding of how pollinator populations are responding to our restoration efforts.
Additional field days are scheduled for:
– Thursday, July 7
– Tuesday, August 9
– Thursday, August 25
To sign up for Spring Lake Regional Park sampling days, visit https://givepul.se/1abay9.

Aug
9
Tue
2022
Capture and Release Pollinator Sampling Days in Lakeville @ Ritter Farm Park
Aug 9 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Capture and Release Pollinator Sampling Field Day | Lakeville

Join Great River Greening, U of M Extension Bee Lab, and the Xerces Society for a hands-on pollinator capture and release sampling field day. Participants will gain more experience with capture and release practices, as well as pollinator identification.
Sampling field days will take place on multiple days at both Ritter Farm in Lakeville and Spring Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake with morning and afternoon sessions available. With multiple sampling efforts throughout the summer, we will gain a better understanding of how pollinator populations are responding to our restoration efforts.
Additional field days are scheduled for:
– Thursday, July 7
– Tuesday, August 9
– Thursday, August 25
To sign up for Spring Lake Regional Park sampling days, visit https://givepul.se/1abay9.

Aug
25
Thu
2022
Capture and Release Pollinator Sampling Days in Lakeville @ Ritter Farm Park
Aug 25 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm

Capture and Release Pollinator Sampling Field Day | Lakeville

Join Great River Greening, U of M Extension Bee Lab, and the Xerces Society for a hands-on pollinator capture and release sampling field day. Participants will gain more experience with capture and release practices, as well as pollinator identification.
Sampling field days will take place on multiple days at both Ritter Farm in Lakeville and Spring Lake Regional Park in Prior Lake with morning and afternoon sessions available. With multiple sampling efforts throughout the summer, we will gain a better understanding of how pollinator populations are responding to our restoration efforts.
Additional field days are scheduled for:
– Thursday, July 7
– Tuesday, August 9
– Thursday, August 25
To sign up for Spring Lake Regional Park sampling days, visit https://givepul.se/1abay9.

Sep
13
Tue
2022
Collect native seeds at Linear Park @ Vermillion River Linear Park, Hastings
Sep 13 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Collect seeds at Vermillion River Linear Park

Collect and distribute native seed at Vermillion River Linear Park, a beautiful 60-acre park that’s part of a corridor of green space that runs through the heart of Hastings. Your contribution will mean a healthy, diverse array of plants are ready to grow next spring.

Sep
14
Wed
2022
Hastings DWSMA Open House @ Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center
Sep 14 @ 3:00 pm – 8:00 pm

Open House – Hastings Drinking Water Supply Management Area Groundwater Protection Rule Process

Do you farm or own cropland in the Hastings Drinking Water Supply Management Area (DWSMA)?

The City of Hastings has high nitrate in their city wells. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is working with a team of local farmers, crop advisers, and others to develop a list of region-specific farming practices to reduce nitrate in groundwater and the city wells.

Join us to learn and share ideas about the proposed practices and the Groundwater Protection Rule process. Practice adoption is voluntary but could become regulatory if the voluntary approach is unsuccessful.

MDA staff will be available to discuss these topics, collect comments and ideas from farmers, and answer questions. A 30-minute presentation will be shared at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. Light refreshments will be served.

Sep
15
Thu
2022
Haul and stack buckthorn at Vermillion Falls @ Vermillion Falls Park, Hastings
Sep 15 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm

Haul and stack buckthorn at Vermillion Falls Park

Come for the beautiful waterfall and stay to join FMR staff and fellow volunteers in hauling previously cut buckthorn and honeysuckle. You’ll help us prepare the area for oak savanna restoration at this unique site.

Oct
13
Thu
2022
We Are Water MN Dakota County @ Pleasant Hill Library
Oct 13 – Dec 5 all-day
We Are Water MN Dakota County @ Pleasant Hill Library | Hastings | Minnesota | United States

We Are Water MN exhibit coming to Dakota County

Come explore the interactive exhibit at 2 locations: Pleasant Hill Library in Hastings and Lebanon Hills Regional Park Visitor Center in Eagan. Learn about our personal connection to water in our communities and throughout Minnesota.

For more information, visit www.dakotacounty.us and search We Are Water.