Bring your family, your neighbors and friends! Fun for all ages!

Visit the various education stations and learn about what you can do to help make a difference in our city and for the Earth as a whole. The education stations include information on the following:

• Aquatic invasive species
• Prairies
• Pollinators
• Recycling
• Water quality
• Watersheds (that’s us)
• And more!

As you visit the stations, you will earn the chance to get Earth-friendly prizes and are sure to have lots of fun along the way.

Other activities include:

• Zoomobile
• Puppet shows
• Garden tool swap: If you’re in need of new to you gardening tools OR looking to get rid of excess (but still useful) gardening tools, there will be a garden tool swap at the entrance of the event where you can leave and take what you would like.

Watershed Cleanup info:

You and/or your group can start the pickup on April 20 at 1 p.m., or you can schedule a more convenient time, as long as it is before dark on April 30. Sign up here and be sure to mark on the map where you plan to clean up.

Join Twin Cities Trout Unlimited as they help the DNR improve the Vermillion River and this Aquatic Management Area for wildlife and anglers.

Work will include:
-Removing buckthorn, honeysuckle and other invasive species
-Pulling debris out of the water
-Picking up trash

Bring heavy work gloves and a willingness to work hard and maybe get wet!

This event is part of Twin Cities Trout Unlimited’s Vermillion River Initiative-a focus on protecting and enhancing this cold water stream so near to the Twin Cities! Join us TCTU as they help the DNR continue to restore the Vermillion River & this Aquatic Management Area for wildlife.

Work will include:

-Removing buckthorn, other invasive species and boxelders
-Dragging and dropping the brush into piles
-Picking up any trash we find

Bring heavy work gloves and a willingness to work hard.

There won’t be any in-water work, but we’ll be able to keep our eyes open for trout!

In case this is cancelled, the back-up day will be June 8, same time and place.

Have you ever looked out at your lawn and thought, “sure would be nice to water less often, reduce the need to fertilize, and spend less time mowing”? Well, we’ve got the program for you! Our new program – Lawns Reimagined – assists landowners in installing a more resilient lawn to reduce water and fertilizer use, and cut down on mowing frequency during the growing season.

Lawns Reimagined is a new program provided through a partnership between the Dakota SWCD, Dakota County, and the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization. The goal of the program is to create healthy looking lawns using deeper rooted grasses that are more resilient to weather conditions and climate change while maintaining traditional turfgrass lawn uses.

These lawns will be composed of fescue grass blends that require little to no watering or fertilizer post-establishment; reducing the impact lawns have on the groundwater supply and decreasing nutrient loss to waterbodies through runoff and lawn clippings. It is recommended to reduce mowing frequency which results in reduced carbon emissions from lawn mowers and healthier air at a local level.

The Dakota SWCD will be hosting two workshops for Dakota County residents:
* June 5 in Apple Valley (Municipal Center) at 6 p.m.
* June 12 in Rosemount (Steeple Center) at 6 p.m.

At the workshops, participants will learn about the benefits of an alternative lawn type, along with technical guidance on site preparation, seeding, and long-term maintenance. From there, landowners can apply to receive further assistance. Once applicants have been approved, SWCD staff complete a site visit to further guide site preparation, seeding, and answer any additional questions. Landowners then complete the site preparation and Dakota SWCD will provide landowners with the seed to complete a fall seeding. If the participants are willing to do a little work, the cost to them will be minimal to none!

For more details and to sign up for the workshop, check out the Lawns Reimagined webpage!

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.

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.

Gathering the seeds of native plants in order to be able to restore other areas to more natural habitats is important work. It’s also a very enjoyable and educational activity.  Come and learn more about the native plants in our area parks.

After a brief introduction and training, volunteers will collect native prairie seeds on the restored sandy-soil prairie. The FMR land conservation team will redistribute the seed to areas of nearby Vermillion Falls Park that have lower plant diversity. This seeding will help improve habitat for pollinators and grassland birds.

All are welcome, however capacity is limited, and registration is required. All supplies and training will be provided, and volunteers will work closely with FMR staff. This event is part of the Vermillion Stewards program, engaging Vermillion River Watershed residents to learn about the local watershed while working to protect and enhance its unique natural resources.

Space is limited, so sign up today!