Join Friends of the Mississippi River (FMR) for a Make and Take Rain Barrel Workshop on Tuesday, June 28, 6-7:30 p.m. at the Apple Valley Senior Center. A rain barrel is a simple, high-impact way to save water and protect water quality in lakes and rivers. The cost of materials for building your own rain barrel is only $35, thanks to donated barrels from Coca-Cola Refreshments of Eagan. Pre-registration is required.

The 2016 Clean Water Summit will feature up-to-date information and research about green infrastructure for redevelopment and retrofit sites. The conference will focus on innovation in project planning, developing partnerships, engaging the community, design and installation, monitoring, and operations and maintenance. Speakers include Howard Neukrug, PE, former Commissioner and CEO of Philadelphia Water Services, and Rob Traver, Ph.D., Director and Researcher, Villanova Urban Stormwater Partnership. General registration is $80, $70 for Arboretum members and conference affiliates, and includes admission, lunch, and coffee breaks. View the conference web page and sign up at http://www.arboretum.umn.edu/2016CleanWaterSummit.aspx.

Please register to attend a free Landscaping for Clean Water presentation. See dozens of beautiful, inspirational, and affordable garden designs using native plants and helping clean our waters. After attending you can sign up to receive design and installation assistance. Some Dakota County residents will qualify for a $250 grant to install their new gardens.

It’s easy, make and take a rain barrel.

What’s one of the simplest, high-impact ways to save water and help protect our watershed? Using a make & take rain barrel.

The workshop will begin with a presentation on how home lawn and garden practices impact our waters and how we can make a difference. Next we’’ll discuss the watershed-friendly benefits of rain barrels in more detail, then review how to build, incorporate, install and maintain them.

With guidance from Friends of the Mississippi River staff, participants will then build their very own rain barrel to take home following the workshop. Participants will receive the necessary parts ($35 per kit) and  be guided through the process of converting used syrup barrels from Coca-Cola into a rain barrel to take home and install.