- Vermillion River storm drain stencils now available
- Clean up the River on September 20
- Native plants support clean water efforts in Alimagnet Lake
- Join our Community Advisory Committee!
- Final update on East Lake invasive fish removal
- Draft 2026-2035 Watershed Management Plan update
- Wetland restoration along South Creek
- In the background: Stormwater modeling
- Upcoming events
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Custom storm drain stencils!
If you've adopted a storm drain, you understand the importance of keeping everything except water out of storm drains - these drains lead to lakes and streams. Why not share that message more widely?
The Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) is thrilled to now offer our very own storm drain stencil kits! These custom stencils complement those offered by several of our city partners. We have three 3 ft x 2 ft stencils with the following words:
- Drains to Vermillion River - Keep Drain Clean (pictured)
- Drains to Lake - Keep Drain Clean
- Drains to Creek - Keep Drain Clean
We also offer white spray paint, reflective vests, and traffic cones for safety while you stencil. To request a stencil kit or more information, contact VRWJPO Communications and Outreach Specialist Brita Moore-Kutz at brita.moore-kutz@co.dakota.mn.us.
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Volunteer opportunity: Clean up the Vermillion River on Sept. 20
As part of International Coastal Cleanup Day, Dakota County Parks and Twin Cities Trout Unlimited are hosting a trash pickup at sites along the Vermillion River on Saturday, September 20, from 9 a.m.-noon. Meet at Rambling River Park in Farmington to get started. This is a family-friendly event and includes a brat and burger lunch provided by TCTU!
Sign up on the Dakota County volunteer portal.
| | | | Native plants boost clean water efforts in Alimagnet | Some of the native aquatic plant species that UMN researchers planted in Alimagnet Lake on August 6, 2025. | |
If you were around Alimagnet Lake in Apple Valley and Burnsville on August 6, you may have seen some people with snorkels and paddleboards in the lake. These were University of Minnesota Ph.D. candidates and researchers planting native aquatic plants. Their method is intended to combat aquatic invasive plant species and reestablish native plants in Alimagnet, which has improved water clarity from the alum treatment completed by the VRWJPO last fall. Clearer water means more sunlight can reach the bottom of the lake and spur native plant growth.
Read more about this initiative and our work in Alimagnet Lake.
| Upcoming wetland restoration on South Creek | |
South Creek, a tributary to the Vermillion River in Lakeville and Farmington with several miles of designated trout stream, is listed as impaired by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for total suspended solids (TSS) and poor aquatic habitat.
In 2023, the City of Lakeville acquired a property previously in agricultural production within the Launch Park Development, adjacent to the 220th Street and Galway Lane extension. The City saw an opportunity to restore wetlands that can reduce TSS loading, attenuate runoff volume, and enhance aquatic life in South Creek, which runs through the property.
The VRWJPO, Dakota County, and City are partnering to cost-share the South Creek (Launch Park) Wetland Restoration and are collecting bids from contractors. The project will result in the enhancement of 6.18 acres of floodplain wetland and the creation of 1.69 acres of wet meadow wetland.
| In the background: Stormwater modeling | |
During the summer of 2025, VRWJPO staff applied stormwater modeling and engineering analysis to support several projects aimed at improving the management of stormwater runoff.
Effective stormwater management provides a range of environmental benefits, including reducing water pollution by filtering out contaminants before they reach streams, rivers, and lakes; preventing erosion and the destruction of natural habitats; and supporting healthier aquatic ecosystems by maintaining clean, cool, and oxygen-rich water for fish and other aquatic life.
Learn more about stormwater modeling here.
| A screengrab of a stormwater model on the computer. | | Keen on water and nature? Make a splash in our CAC | |
The VRWJPO Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is a great way for people in Dakota and Scott counties interested in outdoor recreation, habitat, native plants, and more to get involved. The committee meets quarterly, and virtual attendance is welcome.
The nine member CAC has one opening currently and will have another vacancy after December 31, 2025. Members must be residents of either Dakota or Scott counties, with preference given to applicants who live within the watershed boundaries.
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Draft 2026-2035 Watershed Plan now available
After nearly two years of development, the draft 2026-2035 Vermillion River Watershed Management Plan is complete and available to read here on our website. The draft Plan is undergoing review by state agencies and local stakeholders, with intended adoption in spring 2026.
Contact Senior Watershed Specialist Kelly Perrine at kelly.perrine@co.dakota.mn.us with any questions about the watershed plan process.
| Final update on East Lake invasive carp & goldfish removal | |
Invasive fish removals at East Lake in Lakeville continued in 2025, along with operation of the low-voltage electric barrier at a channel connection from the lake, deterring these fish from entering North Creek-Vermillion River.
Carp and goldfish are attracted to cracked corn. Our consultant placed feeding stations filled with cracked corn in underwater box nets to get fish to congregate inside them. The nets were tied to metal poles suspended out of the water. During removal events, the nets were lifted from the water so carp and goldfish could be removed.
In 2024, 2,798 pounds of invasive fish were removed. 2025 saw even higher numbers, with 5,930 pounds of fish removed. Research has shown that negative water quality impacts are associated with carp biomass of 100 pounds/acre and higher. Surveys indicate that fish biomass in East Lake is now well below 100 pounds/acre, when before the project it had reached 192 pounds/acre.
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Upcoming Events
September 20, 2025 - International Coastal Cleanup Day with Dakota County Parks and Twin Cities Trout Unlimited, 9 a.m.-12 p.m., Rambling River Park in Farmington. Includes lunch!
September 25 - Vermillion River Watershed Project Site Tour for elected officials, 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
September 25 - Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting, 1 p.m., Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, Farmington
October 10 - Twin Cities Trout Unlimited Habitat Day at the Vermillion River - Kummer AMA, 9 a.m.-12 p.m. This event will include buckthorn removal and provide lunch.
October 23 - Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Board Meeting, 1 p.m., Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center, Farmington
November 19 - Vermillion River Watershed Community Advisory Committee Meeting, 4:30 p.m., online and in-person at the Dakota County Extension and Conservation Center
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