 | People are abuzz about pollinators (pun intended). Planting beautiful native flowers can help attract bees, birds, and butterflies, but did you know they also promote clean water? Native plants can improve your soil's ability to infiltrate stormwater. As you prepare your yards and gardens for spring (though we've hardly had winter), keep that in mind! Read on - Landscaping for Clean Water can show you how. | Please welcome Kelly Perrine as Senior Watershed Specialist for the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO)! Kelly will oversee and manage water resource improvement projects, have a lead role in the development of the Vermillion River Watershed Management Plan, complete grant funding and reporting, perform assessments identifying water resources problems, and assist with public engagement activities. Kelly comes to VRWJPO from the City of Lakeville, where she was an Environmental Resources Specialist working on water resource improvement projects, groundwater sustainability efforts, aquatic invasive species prevention, and stormwater permitting and inspections. Prior to working at Lakeville, Kelly worked at Waseca County as a Water Resource Specialist working on the county’s Water Plan, administering the Wetland Conservation Act, and aquatic invasive species prevention. In her free time, Kelly likes tend to her native gardens; hike, camp and explore regional and state parks; do crafts, gymnastics and read Kaufman's Field Guide to Nature of the Midwest with her 6-year old James; and anything involving snuggles and monkeys with her 2-year old Milo. Music has always been a big part of Kelly’s life, ranging anywhere from Billy Strings to Leo Kotke to Daft Punk, Beck and Beach House - she may even have a cherry burst Gibson Hummingbird in her home. Kelly can be reached at kelly.perrine@co.dakota.mn.us or (952) 891-7002. | VRWJPO recently wrapped up our Issue Identification phase of developing the 2026-2035 Watershed Management Plan. We appreciate all of the feedback we received, in-person at our Community Conversations, online through our survey and interactive map, and via email or personal conversation. Thank you for taking time to let us know your thoughts. Before we begin Phase 2, we will meet with the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board (VRWJPB) to review the top issues identified and determine what staff should pursue for goals and strategies in the Plan. Once those are decided, we will begin Phase 2 and get your input on these goals and strategies. Stay tuned at our Plan development web page (https://bit.ly/vrw2026) for future surveys and Community Conversations. | Confused by the lack of winter weather? Why not jump into spring gardening? Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District is offering Landscaping for Clean Water workshops in conjunction with cities and watershed management organizations during the spring and summer months. This program is a unique opportunity to learn about gardening projects that beautify your yard and improve water quality of wetlands, ponds, lakes, rivers, and streams. Introduction to Clean Water classes are free and open to anyone interested. They start at 6 p.m. and will be offered at the following dates and locations: WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13
Virtual TUESDAY, APRIL 2
IN-PERSON at Veterans Memorial Community Center, Inver Grove Heights MONDAY, APRIL 29
IN-PERSON at Ritter Farm Park, Lakeville THURSDAY, JUNE 6
Virtual The introductory class is a prerequisite for the Design Course. The Design Course provides participants with step-by-step instructions for selecting project location, size and shape, and the best plants for soils and sun. It is also available in-person and online and includes information on cost-share opportunities available to Dakota County residents. To register, visit https://dakotaswcd.org/services/landscaping-for-clean-water-2024/ today! | Alimagnet Lake, split between the Cities of Apple Valley and Burnsville, is an impaired water body due to excess phosphorus that results in algae blooms and poor water quality conditions for recreation. Significant efforts to date have focused on reducing external phosphorus sources. Now the focus has turned to internal phosphorus load, meaning phosphorus released in the lake from lake bottom sediment. VRWJPO applied for and received a $287,000 Clean Water Fund competitive grant from the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) to treat Alimagnet Lake with aluminum sulfate (alum). Alum chemically binds to phosphorus, creating accumulations of heavier particulate material (floc). This floc then settles within lake-bottom sediment, reducing phosphorus in the water column. Phosphorus reduction promotes lake health by increasing water transparency, growth of native aquatic plants, supporting diverse fisheries and even a potential removal from the state’s impaired waters list. One alum treatment is planned for 2024, with another in 2025 or 2026. | East Lake, a shallow lake along Dakota County’s soon-to-be constructed North Creek Greenway in Lakeville, is impaired for excess nutrients. This problem is made worse by the feeding habits of invasive common carp and goldfish, which result in the release of phosphorus-bound lake bottom sediments into the water column. Previous fish tracking efforts found that these fish species can freely migrate to and from North Creek, a tributary to the Vermillion River, leading to additional watershed impacts. One way to address this problem is a barrier to keep these fish populations from moving into or out of the lake. VRWJPO, partnering with the City of Lakeville and Dakota County, received a $300,000 competitive Clean Water Fund grant from the Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources (BWSR) in 2023 to install a low-voltage electric fish barrier between East Lake and its connection with North Creek. By blocking their movement, it will allow the VRWJPO and partners to remove these fish from the lake to populations acceptable for sustainable management purposes. The barrier was installed in late 2023, and partners plan to begin removing invasive fish in 2024. | Dates from March through June - Landscaping for Clean Water workshops Thursday, March 21 (note date change from original schedule) - Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board meeting, 12-3 p.m., Dakota County Western Service Center Rm. 106, 14955 Galaxie Ave., Apple Valley
This meeting date and location has been changed to allow all Commissioners to participate in a strategic planning session for the 2026-2035 Watershed Plan. Saturday, April 20 - Lakeville Earth Day Celebration and Watershed Cleanup Day, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., Lakeville Central Maintenance Facility, 7570 179th St. West, Lakeville Monday, April 22 - Earth Day Thursday, April 25 - VRWJPB meeting, 1 p.m., Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conf. Rm. A, 4100 220th St. W, Farmington Friday, April 26 - Arbor Day Thursday, May 23 - VRWJPB meeting, 1 p.m., Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center Conf. Rm. A. Sunday, June 9 - Dakota County Take a Kid Fishing, Thompson Regional Park, West St. Paul | | |
