Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization

09/14/2026

UPDATE: This event is now full! Great to see such interest in our river.

09/09/2026

Friends of the Mississippi River is using their VRWJPO Stewardship Grant to restore native prairie along the Vermillion River in the Hastings area! Support the effort by volunteering to plant native plants on September 29:

09/09/2026

If you're visiting our office, the entry system has changed.

A new building entry system has been installed. Guests no longer need to press the doorbell/buzzer outside the double doors. Now, guests enter the first set of doors and use the phone on the right wall to call one of the numbers posted to have the door answered.

Please read the posted instructions inside the foyer.
4100 220th St W, Farmington

08/27/2026

Save your watering for the trees!

08/17/2026

According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, parts of Dakota County are currently in a drought – again – and we need your help.
Groundwater supplies more than 90 percent of Dakota County’s drinking water, so it is important for residents to conserve water especially during these dry conditions.
Here are a few simple ways you can save water and your lawn:
- Cut back on lawn watering. It only needs one inch of water per week.
- Check your irrigation or automatic sprinkler system for leaks and broken heads.
- Raise your mower height by 3 inches.
For more tips and information, visit: https://dakotacountymn.gov/residents/land-water/groundwater/water-conservation

08/10/2026

Learn about the Big Slough, where the South Branch Vermillion River originates, at the Dakota County Fair this week! After you stop and chat with us at the Natural Resources Building, of course.

Join DCSWCD staff on a tractor-pulled trolley tour of the “Big Slough” prairie located just south of fairgrounds! Immerse yourself in a mosaic of native wildflowers and learn more about the history of this restoration site as well as the benefits of prairie ecosystems.

Tours will be held daily Monday, August 10th at 11:30am and Tuesday, August 11th through Friday, August 14th at 10:30am (pickup located on side street north of Ahlberg Hall (fair office)). Trolley seating will be first come, first served with all ages welcome to attend!

07/29/2026

Funding opportunity alert! The Vermillion River Watershed Stewardship Grant helps organizations with projects that benefit our waters and engage people in the process. If you're with a civic group, religious congregation, nonprofit, school, library, or any other groups we missed, you're eligible. We still have funding available for 2026, so don't miss this opportunity. Link in the top comment.

07/28/2026

The whole Vermillion River Watershed is now under "Abnormally Dry" or "Moderate Drought" conditions. The river flow gages back that up. It's becoming all too familiar. Cut back on water use wherever you can.



https://droughtmonitor.unl.edu/data/png/current/current_mn_cat.png

07/15/2026

💧Irrigation Water Sampling - Get your irrigation water tested for nitrate for free in 2026!

Collect roughly 16 ounces of irrigation water at any time. Please drop off samples at:

River Country Co-op
15460 180th St. E., Hastings

Samples can be dropped off at any time, either with staff or an after-hours drop box. Please ensure containers contain your name, mailing address, email address and phone number to provide results. Containers will not be returned.

Samples will be analyzed, and results will be privately mailed or emailed to you with more information on your results and how to credit your irrigation water for nitrate from local experts.

Crediting irrigation water for nitrate can save significant costs by reducing fertilizer use. For example, a farmer with 20 mg/L of nitrate can save $18/acre when applying 8 inches of water during the growing season.

For more information - www.dakotacountymn.gov/residents/land-water/agriculture.