 | In this issue Manage Snow and Ice with the Environment in Mind
New Water Resources Engineer: Jeff Dunn
Watershed Plan Community Conversations in January
We're Hiring: Senior Watershed Specialist
Join the Minnesota Water Stewards in 2024
Water Conservation Story Map
Upcoming Events | Manage Snow and Ice with the Environment in Mind We're all gearing up for another snowy Minnesota winter. Maybe you're dreading icy roads, or shoveling/blowing snow from your property. Some de-icing salt is necessary for safe roads, driveways and sidewalks. However, salt gets into our local lakes and rivers when snow melts, affecting fish and plant life. Salt also contaminates our groundwater that most of us drink. One teaspoon of salt can permanently pollute five gallons of water. While the Vermillion River and its tributaries are not currently impaired for chloride, we can do our part to keep it that way. The trout who make the Vermillion River well-known will spend the winter months laying eggs and fertilizing them for a whole new generation of freshwater fish. Excessive salt runoff can interfere with their life cycle. Prevent salt from running off into storm drains to our rivers and lakes safe: ▪ Shovel first. The more snow and ice you manually remove, the less salt you will have to use, and the more effective it will be.
▪ Use less salt. One 12-ounce cup of salt is enough to cover 10 sidewalk squares. Leave about three inches between salt granules.
▪ Check the temp. +15 degrees F and below is too cold for salt to work.
▪ Sweep up any excess salt and reuse it.
▪ Hire a certified contractor. If you hire a contractor for snow removal on your property, choose one certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a Smart Salting applicator. Are you a maintenance professional, property manager, or community leader interested in improving your snow and salt management? Join a Smart Salting training.
▪ Wear appropriate shoes with good traction when you're in public places and it's snowy . This will reduce risk of slipping and reduce businesses' needs for salt.
▪ If you work at a place with a salt bucket near the front door, use it sparingly.
▪ Volunteer to keep a storm drain in your neighborhood clear of debris by adopting a storm drain.
| ▪ | Shovel first. The more snow and ice you manually remove, the less salt you will have to use, and the more effective it will be. | | ▪ | Use less salt. One 12-ounce cup of salt is enough to cover 10 sidewalk squares. Leave about three inches between salt granules. | | ▪ | Check the temp. +15 degrees F and below is too cold for salt to work. | | ▪ | Sweep up any excess salt and reuse it. | | ▪ | Hire a certified contractor. If you hire a contractor for snow removal on your property, choose one certified by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency as a Smart Salting applicator. Are you a maintenance professional, property manager, or community leader interested in improving your snow and salt management? Join a Smart Salting training. | | ▪ | Wear appropriate shoes with good traction when you're in public places and it's snowy . This will reduce risk of slipping and reduce businesses' needs for salt. | | ▪ | If you work at a place with a salt bucket near the front door, use it sparingly. | | | New Water Resources Engineer: Jeff Dunn | Please welcome Jeff Dunn to the Vermillion River Watershed! Jeff joined our organization on October 23 as the Water Resources Engineer. Jeff manages the design and construction oversight of water resource improvement projects; completes grant funding and reporting; assists with stormwater modeling, culvert sizing, design, review of stormwater plans associated with Transportation, Parks, Facilities, and Soil and Water Conservation District projects; and provides engineering backup for the Byllesby Dam construction project. Jeff comes from Stonebrooke Engineering as a Senior Water Resources Engineer. Prior to that, Jeff worked in municipal government for two decades. He worked for the City of Colorado Springs for 5 years as a Civil Engineer working on stormwater design, review, and management of capital improvement projects, and worked for 15 years at the City of Sioux Falls, S.D., as their Principal Engineer working on stormwater and drainage projects, water distribution infrastructure, and power/street lighting. In his free time, Jeff balances his work and personal life by running, biking, and spending time with his family. Jeff has run marathons, coached and officiated youth swim and volleyball, and participated in mission trips to Haiti and Pine Ridge Reservation. He has summitted 56 out of 58 peaks higher than 14,000 feet in Colorado between 2018 and 2023, and his current climbing/hiking goal is to reach the high points in the lower 48 states and Hawaii. | Watershed Plan Community Conversations in January Community voices are crucial to making our 2026-2035 Watershed Plan effective. That's why we're providing several venues to make your voice heard. If you live, work, own land, farm, fish, or have any other connection to the Vermillion River Watershed, we want to hear from you. We are hosting two Community Conversations in January, open to the public. They will take place at the following dates and locations: Tuesday, January 16, 5-7 p.m.
Lakeville Water Treatment Facility Conference Room
18400 Ipava Ave, Lakeville, MN 55044 Wednesday, January 24, 5-7 p.m.
Pleasant Hill Library Conference Room
1490 S Frontage Rd, Hastings, MN 55033 If you prefer to share electronically, visit our Plan development web page for an interactive map and online survey, as well as information about what we've discussed about the Plan to date. Written feedback can be emailed to vrwjpo@co.dakota.mn.us. | We're Hiring: Senior Watershed Specialist The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) seeks qualified applicants for the Senior Watershed Specialist position. The application window is open until Thursday, December 7, 2023. The Senior Watershed Specialist will independently, or with partners, identify and investigate water resource problems, develop and evaluate benefits of potential water resource improvements, and oversee project implementation. This position will manage programs and projects and will apply technical expertise to address goals and actions in the Vermillion River Watershed Management Plan. This position will also assist in communicating the benefit of programs and activities to watershed stakeholders. Read the job description and application instructions. | Join the Minnesota Water Stewards in 2024 Join nearly 500 Minnesotans in protecting local rivers and lakes with unique projects! The Minnesota Water Stewards certification program, led by Freshwater Society and local watersheds - including VRWJPO - offers a great opportunity for you to join a local network of energized leaders and tackle environmental problems in your community. You don’t have to be an expert. Freshwater provides online coursework to learn about water issues and ways to solve them. Then, based on what you learn, come up with a capstone project to implement it and volunteer your time. Minnesota Water Stewards work within their communities as knowledgeable resources around local water health: Educating Communities Help neighbors understand the most pressing environmental problems in their area. Reducing Pollutants & Conserving Water Raise awareness of pollution sources such as pet waste, fertilizer, or pesticides and work to reduce their impact. Coordinating Action Organize and help coordinate projects within communities to protect and conserve water. There's still time to apply for the 2024 class, which begins in January. Contact Brita Moore-Kutz (brita.moore-kutz@co.dakota.mn.us) with questions. | Water Conservation Story Map Learn about water conservation practices adopted in Dakota County in the Land Management Practices for Improving Groundwater Story Map. Explore six different practices including cover crops, perennial crops, irrigation water management, and more to learn about how these practices can benefit water quality and soil health while supporting your bottom line. Read about farmers' experiences with each practice and find where to get financial and technical assistance from local, state, and federal programs. View the Land Management Practices for Improving Groundwater Story Map here, or go to www.dakotacounty.us and search ACRE. | Thursday, Dec. 7, 1 p.m. - Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board (VRWJPB) Meeting, Conference Room A, Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, 4100 220th St. W, Farmington Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024, 4:30 p.m. - Vermillion River Watershed Planning Commission (VRWPC) Meeting, Conference Room A, Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Tuesday, Jan. 16, 5 p.m. - Community Conversation for the 2026-2035 Vermillion River Watershed Plan, Lakeville Water Treatment Facility Conference Room Wednesday, Jan. 24, 5 p.m. - Community Conversation for the 2026-2035 Vermillion River Watershed Plan, Pleasant Hill Library Conference Room, Hastings Wednesday, Feb. 14, 4:30 p.m. - VRWPC Meeting, Conference Room A, Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Wednesday, March 13, 4:30 p.m. - VRWPC Meeting, Conference Room A, Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center | | |
