Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District

09/02/2026

It’s certainly looking dry out there, but have no fear - it looks like rain is on the horizon!

If this summer’s drought has been a headache for your lawn care routine, consider changing things up next year to make life a little bit easier.

💧Water your lawn in the morning (between 5am and 10am) when the air is cool. Morning watering is most efficient as it ensures most of the water sinks into the soil instead of evaporating in the sun.
💧Make sure your sprinkler heads are operating correctly. Check that your sprinkler heads are level to grade, perpendicular to the slope of the lawn and not watering sidewalks, walls, or patios.
💧Use smart controllers, rain sensors, and soil moisture meters and let them worry about the watering schedule for you.
💧Consider adding some native plants to your landscape. They have developed efficient water management strategies (including deep roots) that allow them to survive during summers like this one. Our Landscaping for Clean Water classes can help you plan a garden for your property. Head to our website to learn more!

08/12/2026

Three more chances to catch a ride on our prairie tour and let Dakota SWCD resource conservationists enthrall you with all things prairie and pollinators!

08/09/2026

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!

07/30/2026

✨Starry Trek✨ is coming up on Saturday August 8th. Sign up today to join others around Minnesota in the annual hunt for starry stonewort, an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis in 2015 (none found in Dakota County)!

No experience necessary - just a desire to monitor local lakes and rivers for aquatic invasive species.

Register by heading to the link in bio 🔝

07/28/2026

Healthy soil is the foundation of agriculture. Improving that takes time, resilience, and an understanding of your land. We're here to help you along your soil health journey. Whether that’s through cost-share incentives for cover crops, reduced tillage, continuous living cover, irrigation management, or simply technical assistance, our office is focused on providing on-the-ground resources and financial support to improve your operation. If you’re interested in participating, partnering, or learning more, please visit Bit.ly/DakotaLegacy to request information.

07/24/2026

Don't throw away your chance to participate in ✨Starry Trek✨

Join others around Minnesota in the annual hunt for starry stonewort, an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis in 2015! No experience necessary - just a desire to monitor local lakes and rivers for aquatic invasive species (and maybe a willingness to get a tiny bit wet 🙃).

Register at www.maisrc.umn.edu/starrytrek

07/21/2026

In 1926, the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities was so polluted that it had become a dead zone. Today, the river thrives. The Sacred Water Shared Future campaign is celebrating 100 years of restoration through local events, art, and stewardship.

Help write the river’s next chapter. Whether you are interested in paddling tours and history lectures, or art installations and volunteer cleanups, there are countless ways to explore the river and define what it means to you.

Find your way to connect at sacredwatersharedfuture.org.

07/17/2026

🌾Free Field Day: Wildlife at Work – Birds, Beavers, Bats, and Beneficials on the Farm

Join Wild Farm Alliance and fellow agricultural professionals out in the field for a FREE hands-on field day exploring how wildlife supports working farms. The event is part of a Soil Health & Habitat Field Series to explore conservation practices that strengthen pest control, improve water systems, and build climate resilience.

Location: Sharing Our Roots Farm, in Northfield, Minnesota
Date: July 21st, 2026, from 8:00 AM – 12:30 PM GMT

Topics include:
Bird walk & farm tour
Beavers at work – water systems and landscape resilience
Supporting beneficial insects on the farm
Birds as pest managers
The night crew: bats and their role on the farm

Register Here: www.wildfarmalliance.org/sharing-roots-field-day

Join fellow farmers and agricultural professionals for a FREE, hands-on field day exploring the latest tools and research on using conservation practices to support wildlife, strengthen pest control, improve water quality, and build climate resilience on Midwest farms.Sessions Include:

07/15/2026

Registration for the ✨2026 Starry Trek ✨ is now open! We're hosting a local training site at Central Park Pavilion in Eagan on August 8!

Started in 2017, Starry Trek is a statewide event focused on searching for starry stonewort, one of Minnesota's newest aquatic invasive species, and other aquatic invaders. Starry stonewort is an invasive algae that was first found in Lake Koronis in 2015 and has since spread to 19 Minnesota lakes. This event is an opportunity for you to team up with us and hundreds of your fellow Minnesotans to better understand the distribution of starry stonewort in lakes and rivers all around the state.

What you'll do: meet up at Central Park Pavilion and receive a brief training on how to identify starry stonewort and other target aquatic invasive species and how to follow the search protocols. Groups are then sent out to nearby priority lakes and river sites to follow the protocols and bring back any suspicious organisms for identification.

Starry Trek is a free event and no experience or special equipment is required. Register here - maisrc.umn.edu/starrytrek!

07/13/2026

💧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.