Spend a morning with Friends of the Mississippi staff and volunteers at the Wilmar property along the Vermillion River, a cold prairie stream in the heart of Dakota County and a major tributary of the Mississippi River. After a brief hike volunteers will install native shrubs and fencing near the river banks to increase habitat diversity and help stabilize the stream bank. FMR has been working to restore some 25-acres at this private easement.

All supplies and training will be provided and volunteers will work closely with FMR staff. This event is part of the Vermillion Stewards program, helping residents learn about the watershed while working to protect and enhance its unique natural resources.

Ready to register?

To sign up and receive directions to the meeting spot, contact FMR Volunteer Coordinator Amy Kilgore via the contact form (please select Amy by name from the staff list under “Category”) or at akilgore@fmr.org, 651-222-2193 x31. Please include the name of the event, your name, address and phone number and the number in your party.

Celebrate Earth & Arbor Day at this free family friendly event with science & art activities, animals, exhibits and more!

Bring your old, broken crayons so they can be recycled into ones! Please leave the wrappers on the crayons (they are easier to sort).

Hosted by Conservation Minnesota, join local experts to learn more about what your government and community are doing to ensure Dakota County has clean water. Listen to speakers from the City of Eagan, Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD), Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO), and Conservation Minnesota. A continental breakfast is included. Register by April 8th for your chance to win a Conservation Minnesota coffee mug.

Schedule:
8:45 Doors Open
8:45 – 9:30 Continental Breakfast & Networking
9:30 – 12:00 Program

Event Speakers:
Eric Macbeth, Eagan Water Resource Manager
Curt Coudron, SWCD Project Management Supervisor
Mark Zabel, Vermillion River Watershed Administrator
Nels Paulsen, Conservation Minnesota

Register you group and receive park assignment, call 651-480-6182. Check in at Vermillion Falls Park, 215 21st St. Hastings.

Volunteer with the Hastings Parks and Recreation Department and plant a tree in celebration of Arbor Day. Bring gloves.

This outdoor, farmers’-market-style event is open to all. In addition to multiple native plant vendors, there will be informational booths where attendees can talk with individuals from Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District, Dakota County Master Gardeners, and the City of Burnsville natural resources group.

Turfgrass Maintenance Workshop is for property managers, groundskeepers, and other commercial and public turf managers.

Learn sensible, cost-saving ways to maintain turfgrass and practices that protect lakes and rivers while keeping turfgrass looking its best. Attendees have an opportunity to attain MPCA Level 1 certification in turf care maintenance practices. Topics include fertilizer selection and application, pesticide application, equipment calibration, mowing techniques, environmental effects, soil testing, irrigation best practices and more. Lunch will be provided. Workshop is free.

Pre-registration is required by July 11. To register, send email to environ@co.dakota.mn.us.

Retailers, farmers, and other interested parties in the agriculture industry are invited to a free 4R Technology Review Field Day at the Dave Legvold Farm. The event is hosted by the Minnesota Agricultural Water Resources Center, in partnership with The Mosaic Company, Environmental Tillage Systems, The Fertilizer Institute, and other industry leaders.

The 4R Technology Review Field Day will provide retailers and farmers with information on 4R practices, research and technologies, demonstrations, with guest speakers Tim Radatz, MAWRC; Mark Dittrich, Minnesota Department of Ag; Jeff Vetsch, University of Minnesota; Melinda Sposari, TFI; Steve Emory, CPS; and Adam Herges, Mosaic.

Lunch is included. Continuing Education Credits are available for Certified Crop Advisers in attendance.