Happy Earth Month
 

Earth Month 2023: What you can do for your watershed

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April is Earth Month - with Earth Day on April 22 and Arbor Day on April 28! Celebrate the start of spring with us by taking action to protect your watershed. Here are just a few things you can do:

* Adopt a storm drain. This volunteer program is quick, easy, free, and can be done on your own time - just take a few minutes a couple times a month to clear dirt, snow, trash, salt, grass, and leaves from your neighborhood's storm drains. You can adopt as many drains as you like and give them fun names too! This helps keep pollutants out of our lakes and rivers. Go to mn.adopt-a-drain.org to sign up.

* Celebrate with your neighbors at local events. Many of our communities are hosting Earth Day/Arbor Day-specific events, along with volunteer opportunities you can do any time. Here is a list:

Workshop: How to build a raingarden - Wednesday, April 12, 6 p.m., Spring Lake Township Hall, 20381 Fairlawn Ave, Prior Lake
For Scott County residents, join this free one-off workshop on April 12 with Scott Soil & Water Conservation District on the basics of raingarden installation and maintenance from natural resource specialists. RSVP requested on Eventbrite.

Apple Valley Eco Advocates Quarry Point Park Cleanup - Saturday, April 22, 10 a.m., Quarry Point Park, 15725 Pilot Knob Rd, Apple Valley
Coffee and treats will be provided!

Lakeville Earth Day Celebration & Watershed Cleanup - Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m., Lakeville Central Maintenance Facility, 7570 179th St. W, Lakeville
Sign up online with your group to do a cleanup. We will be there with a table and collect signups for Adopt-a-Drain.

UMN Irrigation Efficiency Educational Trailer - Tuesday, April 25, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Dakota County Western Service Center, Galaxie Ave, Apple Valley
Learn lawn care best practices for a healthy lawn like choosing turfgrass species and smart irrigation controllers from a University of Minnesota educator. At your own pace, tour the UMN irrigation efficiency education trailer and exhibit.

Farmington Arbor Day Tree Planting - Wednesday, April 26, 10 a.m., Evergreen Knoll Park, 626 Heritage Way, Farmington
Bring gardening gloves.

Hastings Arbor Day Tree Planting - Friday, April 28, 1:30 p.m., Greten Park, 600 36th St., Hastings
Volunteer with the Hastings Parks and Recreation Department to plant trees. The City Forester will provide instruction. Bring work gloves and a pointed shovel or garden rake. Contact Paige Marschall Bigler at 651-480-6182 or pmarschall@hastingsmn.gov.

Rosemount Arbor Day Celebration & Tree Giveaway - Saturday, April 29, 10 a.m., Rosemount Public Works Facility, 14425 Brazil Ave, Rosemount
The City will be giving away a variety of tree species to the first 150 Rosemount residents who provide proof of residency. One tree per household. They will need to be planted within 24 hours of the giveaway. Contact Lacelle Cordes at 651-322-6011 or lacelle.cordes@rosemountmn.gov.

Farmington Pond & Park Cleanup Event - May 6, 9 a.m.
Individuals and groups are invited to do some outdoor spring cleaning in the city-owned parks and ponds. The city will provide volunteers with supplies and dispose of the trash collected. Interested? Contact Natural Resources Specialist Ed Rutledge by April 21 at 651-280-6842 or ERutledge@FarmingtonMN.gov.

Hastings DIY Parks and Trails Cleanup
Choose a date and time that works for you and Hastings Parks & Recreation will assign you a park. The city will provide the supplies and dispose of the trash collected. Contact Paige Marschall Bigler at 651-480-6182 or pmarschall@hastingsmn.gov.

* Sign up for Landscaping for Clean Water. This hybrid course series from Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District teaches how to implement raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline restoration and offers grant opportunities for Dakota County residents. All of these practices can help reduce stormwater runoff pollution. Contact LCW@co.dakota.mn.us.

* Join a Wetland Health Evaluation Program team for 2023. This volunteer monitoring program helps provide data on the health of our wetlands to Dakota County, VRWJPO, city governments, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Wetlands are a crucial part of our ecosystems. Teams are typically city-based, with training provided. To sign up, click here. More program information at www.mnwhep.org.

* Become an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Detector. The AIS Detectors Core Course is an introduction to AIS science, identification, and surveillance. You will learn how to report invasive species, best practices for preventing the spread of AIS, relevant rules and regulations, and how to search for AIS on your own. Up to six Dakota County residents who complete the Detectors Core Course for community members will be reimbursed the $150 course fee. Select from 3 in-person and 1 all virtual options. Attend the course in Minneapolis or Wayzata for free, thanks to Hennepin County. Register here. There is self-paced online content to complete before the live workshops.

* Buy trees and other plants native to Minnesota for your property. Both the Dakota and Scott SWCDs have ongoing tree and shrub sales. Be sure to review information about getting the right trees for your land and how to care for them. Trees can help hold soil in place to reduce sediment pollution in our lakes and rivers.

Anything we missed? Let us know so we can help spread the word!

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