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Keeping Our Local Environment Clean and Safe
The programs below can help you get more involved in our local environment and make a difference in keeping it safe and clean. These are easy things you can do that will make a difference!
This innovative initiative extends its invitation not only to residents within Lakeville, but also to those residing in the seven-county metro area and Rochester. By adopting a storm drain, individuals commit to safeguarding area lakes, rivers and wetlands by clearing leaves, debris and litter from around a storm drain. You get to name your neighborhood storm drain and take care of it as you can throughout the year.
Food Scraps Drop-off Program
Drop-off site: Lakeville Water Treatment Facility, 18400 Ipava Avenue (on the west side)
Reduce your home trash by 1/3 by signing up and using the free food scraps drop site. This site provides an opportunity for Lakeville residents to turn their food waste into compost – keeping it out of our landfills where it promotes methane gas emissions. Access to the site requires registration with Dakota County.
Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP)
This program trains volunteers to collect data on wetland plants and macroinvertebrates, providing information to local governments about the health of specific wetlands. Citizen teams are guided by a team leader. Volunteers spend 15-30 hours from late May through early August checking on wetlands in their communities. It’s a great opportunity for adults and youth that are accompanied by an adult.
Meet others who are excited about waste reduction and have the chance to inspire others to help reduce waste in Dakota County as a Recycling Ambassador. Over a 6-week period with one class each week, participants hear presentations from local and regional experts on waste reduction, recycling, composting and solid waste and go on field trips to relevant sites.
After completing the course, graduates agree to volunteer 30 hours of public outreach. Giving back is what makes the Recycling Ambassador program special. Participants put their skills to work by helping others learn to reduce their waste and create a better environment.
The Vermillion Stewards are neighbors, groups and committed citizens from throughout the Vermillion watershed area who come together to learn about and help this important local prairie river and the waters that pass through it.
To join, email a volunteer coordinator at volunteer@fmr.org to be added to the Vermillion Stewards email list. You'll receive notices of upcoming Vermillion Stewards events and activities, most of which are free and take place weekday evenings or Saturday mornings.
This program certifies and supports community leaders to prevent water pollution and educate community members about how to conserve and protect our waterways. The program is a partnership between Freshwater and the Vermillion River Watershed along with other watershed management organizations, nonprofits and cities. Minnesota Water Stewards act as leaders to ensure that polluted runoff does not reach our waters. By installing projects and designing outreach in their neighborhoods, Stewards are effecting real change in the health of our rivers, lakes, streams and all water in the state of Minnesota. Applications for participation are accepted year-round.
This University of Minnesota Extension program has a mission to promote awareness, understanding and stewardship of Minnesota’s natural environment by developing a corps of well-informed citizens dedicated to conservation education and service within their communities. Any adult (18+) who is curious and enjoys learning about the natural world is encouraged to join. Applications for participation are accepted year-round.
This University of Minnesota Extension program is a research project that relies on volunteers to learn more about the distribution and diversity of native bees in Minnesota. Volunteers make observations using iNaturalist and, combined with historical records from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and the University of Minnesota insect collection, provide important information on which bees live here and where they can be found. Volunteers can adopt roadside survey routes to capture, identify and release bumble bees, and monitor nesting blocks for stem-nesting bees.
This University of Minnesota Extension program will introduce aquatic invasive species (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. Courses are only held once a year.