General Description

International Coastal Cleanup Day began more than 30 years ago, when communities rallied together with the common goal of collecting and documenting the trash littering their coastline. Volunteers from states and territories throughout the U.S. and more than 100 countries come together each year and participate in an event near them.

Although not near an ocean, Minnesota has over 90,000 miles of shoreline; more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined. We are also home to the headwaters of the mighty Mississippi River which flows south all the way into the Gulf of Mexico. The Minnesota River is another famous river in our state that is an important tributary that flows into the Mississippi.

Sadly, garbage and pollution can use our local river systems to travel through our state southward. If we can stop trash here at home, we can help prevent it from reaching the world’s oceans, helping our partners who will be working to clean up beaches thousands of miles away.

Location and Site Details

Rambling River Park

17 Elm Street

Farmington, MN 55024

(Map and driving directions)

Date/Time

September 20

9 a.m. – Noon

A brat lunch will be served to volunteers afterwards provided by Twin Cities Trout Unlimited.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Help pick up trash along the banks of our local riverways.
• All ages welcome, there will be flat and paved terrain available to walk.
• Supplies including trash bags, gloves, and hand sanitizer will be provided.
• If you would like to volunteer as a group (families not included), please contact Garrett Zaffke before registering.

Minimum Time Commitment

3 hours

Activity Level  

Active – Involves physical exertion for an extended period of time; can involve rough, uneven or steep terrain. Not recommended for volunteers with physical limitations.

Local elected officials in the Vermillion River Watershed – County Commissioners, Mayors, City Councilmembers, Township Officers, and relevant staff – are invited to join the VRWJPO for a tour of four recently-completed Capital Improvement Program projects on September 25, 2025, from 9 a.m.-12 noon. Meet staff at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center to board a bus and visit sites. We will show how our work in the watershed benefits our communities.

RSVP

Virtual meeting access will be posted here when available.

This event is part of TCTU’s Vermillion River Initiative, focusing on protecting and enhancing this cold water stream so near to the Twin Cities!

Event copied from the TCTU website.

What Will We Be Doing

• Along with Mark Nemeth of the DNR, we will be executing another step in Project MACHETE
• MACHETE is an experiment of 3 methods of eradicating buckthorn
• Click this link to learn why buckthorn is problematic
• Please NOTE, we will have to wade across the Vermillion

The Plan

• Meet before the start time at the location (see map)
• We’ll sign waivers, drink some coffee, get set up, and get to work

What You Should Bring

• Dress for the weather
• Chest waders or wet wade gear as we will be crossing the Vermillion
• Heavy work gloves
• Water bottle
• Camp chair to sit on while we enjoy lunch

What TCTU & the DNR Will Provide

• All the needed equipment
• Bug spray
• LUNCH after we’re all done working!

Be advised that the event will be canceled if there’s dangerous weather, or if the river is too high & fast for safe crossings. If the event is cancelled, you will be informed via email, so check your email before you leave the house!

Registration will close 24 hours before the event for an accurate headcount.

Virtual meeting access will be posted here when available.

Virtual meeting access will be posted here when available.

Virtual meeting access will be posted here when available.