Update to Vermillion River brown trout regulations for 2023
As of the start of 2023, the Vermillion River and its tributaries upstream of the Falls are now following the same open season schedule as Southeast Minnesota for stream trout fishing. You can now catch-and-release trout from J […]
Dakota County Monitoring Well Information Available Online
In 2021-2022, as part of the Agricultural Chemical Reduction Effort (ACRE), Environmental Resources had 15 monitoring wells installed in rural areas of the county. This project was a cooperative effort with the Minnesota Departm […]
Wetland Regulations in Minnesota
In 1991, Minnesota adopted the Minnesota Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) into law. The specific purposes of the WCA are expressed in Minnesota Rules Chapter 8420 available here: 8420.0100 – MN Rules Pa […]
Rusty Crayfish: Invasive, but delicious
Are you in the mood for some fresh seafood? How about a crayfish boil? The crayfish, corn, potatoes, and sausage all boiling, providing a wonderful aroma. Add some Old Bay Seasoning and you’ve got a feast. If this sounds fantastic, you can either […]
Keep your goldfish in the tank
Did you see the news this summer about huge goldfish in Keller Lake in Burnsville? A photo of a football-sized fish went viral on social media and even appeared on Good Morning America. While Keller Lake is just outside the Vermillion River Watershed, we a […]
Johnny Cake Ridge Road gets a water quality makeover
In 2019, the City of Apple Valley reconstructed a portion of Johnny Cake Ridge Road. The VRWJPO partnered with the City to install several stormwater best management practices (BMPs) in the road right-of-way and on adjacent public pro […]
Stormwater reuse in city parks saves groundwater – and cash
When Dakota County and the City of Lakeville began planning for the reconstruction of the 202nd Street portion of County Road 50, it became immediately clear that this was more than a simple road project. The corridor’s locatio […]
Check septic systems to reduce E. coli risk
Bacteria lives in our water in many forms, the same way it lives in our bodies. Most species of bacteria are useful. However, harmful bacteria—known as pathogens—can find their way into our waterbodies. Just like they can find their way into o […]
Tracking carp in East Lake
Fish surveys of East Lake show a significant common carp population. Carp are bottom feeders. When they feed on the bottom of the lake, carp can stir up the bottom sediments, releasing phosphorus into the water.
Phosphorus is a basic element for plant growt […]
