Need some inspiration for your garden, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn how incorporating native plants into your garden can add amazing water quality benefits to your property? Looking to exercise your green thumb, but want advice on planting pollinator habitat? Knowledge gained through the Landscaping for Clean Water program will inform and empower you to create a raingarden, native pollinator garden, or shoreline planting that will bring beauty and great environmental benefits to your property this year and for many to come!

In 2022, the Landscaping for Clean Water program will celebrate its 16^th year of educating and assisting residents to install beautiful and low-maintenance plantings. Over the years, we have met with close to 5,200 landowners and installed over 660 projects in neighborhoods all around the county. This program is offered to residents through a partnership between the Dakota County SWCD, and local cities and watershed organizations.

This year’s suite of programming – Introduction to Clean Water Class, Design Course, and Maintenance Workshop – will provide skills and resources to landowners at every stage of their gardening journey.

The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilizations. The classes provide an overview of local water quality challenges and provide beautiful and practical ways of reducing runoff pollutants that are causing issues. It also includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents.

After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you can enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course is a great for those interested in learning about garden planning from the experts, whether you want to know more about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or the best plants for our landscape. Participants walk away with a ready-to-install garden!

The Landscaping for Clean Water Maintenance Workshop provides season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline restoration projects.

Dakota County has been in the process of developing an ACRE Plan since last fall.  Input provided in 2021 assisted staff in developing draft ideas. The county is requesting feedback on these proposed solutions.

This meeting is focused on getting input from city, township, watershed management organization, and other organization representatives located within rural Dakota County potentially impacted by high nitrate.

Key questions presented at the meeting will include:

• Will the solutions outlined in the plan help my agency/organization support practice adoption?
• How can this plan better support my agency/organization?
• Will the solutions help improve water quality?

Additional information can be found at the ACRE Website.

You can attend either in-person or virtually via Zoom. See details below. Please RSVP to Valerie Neppl if you are planning to attend in person so we can ensure we have sufficient space. 

In-person Location:

Dakota County Administration Center

1590 Highway 55, Hastings

Room 3A

Join by Zoom:

https://dakotacountymn.zoom.us/j/94698056341?pwd=alkxV2VrTmE2Z3hQSGdCUzkrQlZ6Zz09

Meeting ID: 946 9805 6341

Passcode: 993076

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+16513728299,,94698056341#,,,,*993076# US (Minnesota)

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Meeting ID: 946 9805 6341

Passcode: 993076

Find your local number: https://dakotacountymn.zoom.us/u/adDuo77BJT

You’re invited to an open house to learn, interact, and have questions answered about natural resource management improvements along two Dakota County Greenway Trails. These plans outline ecological restoration, invasive species management, and pollinator plantings in public lands along these trails.

Join us for a Garden Maintenance workshop providing season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline planting projects.

2022 Maintenance Workshops

• Thursday, March 24 – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 25 – 5:00 p.m.

The Garden Maintenance Workshops are provided FREE and open to all – Dakota County residency is not required!

Need some inspiration for your garden, but don’t know where to start? Want to learn how incorporating native plants into your garden can add amazing water quality benefits to your property? Looking to exercise your green thumb, but want advice on planting pollinator habitat? Knowledge gained through the Landscaping for Clean Water program will inform and empower you to create a raingarden, native pollinator garden, or shoreline planting that will bring beauty and great environmental benefits to your property this year and for many to come!

In 2022, the Landscaping for Clean Water program will celebrate its 16^th year of educating and assisting residents to install beautiful and low-maintenance plantings. Over the years, we have met with close to 5,200 landowners and installed over 660 projects in neighborhoods all around the county. This program is offered to residents through a partnership between the Dakota County SWCD, and local cities and watershed organizations.

This year’s suite of programming – Introduction to Clean Water Class, Design Course, and Maintenance Workshop – will provide skills and resources to landowners at every stage of their gardening journey.

The free Introduction to Clean Water class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilizations. The classes provide an overview of local water quality challenges and provide beautiful and practical ways of reducing runoff pollutants that are causing issues. It also includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents.

After completing the Introduction to Clean Water class, you can enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. This course is a great for those interested in learning about garden planning from the experts, whether you want to know more about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or the best plants for our landscape. Participants walk away with a ready-to-install garden!

The Landscaping for Clean Water Maintenance Workshop provides season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline restoration projects.

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.

You’re invited to an open house to learn, interact, and have questions answered about natural resource management improvements along two Dakota County Greenway Trails. These plans outline ecological restoration, invasive species management, and pollinator plantings in public lands along these trails.

Join us for a Garden Maintenance workshop providing season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. Maintenance workshops apply to raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline planting projects.

2022 Maintenance Workshops

• Thursday, March 24 – 5:00 p.m.
• Monday, April 25 – 5:00 p.m.

The Garden Maintenance Workshops are provided FREE and open to all – Dakota County residency is not required!