Dakota County

This listing is produced by the Minnesota State Lottery from information provided by project managers and the Legislative Commission on Minnesota Resources.  While we attempt to provide the most current information, specific project locations and allocations do change. Information on projects for the current biennium, in particular, should be regarded as preliminary.

Energy Efficient Cities – 2009. http://www.mncee.org
The Center for Energy and Environment, a Minneapolis-based nonprofit organization, will use this grant to develop residential energy conservation programs.  Programs will be developed for eight cities:  Apple Valley, Austin, Duluth, Minneapolis, Owatonna, Park Rapids, Rochester, and St. Paul.  Homeowners in these cities will have the opportunity to be trained in low-cost energy conservation strategies.  Selected homeowners will qualify for customized energy action plans, in-home visits by technicians, and assistance with major upgrades such as insulation and replacement of heating and air conditioning systems.  The Center hopes to significantly reduce energy use in at least 6000 homes by the conclusion of the project and to develop programs that will ultimately benefit many more.

Metro Conservation Corridors – Phase III – 2007
http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/metroconservationcorridors/index.html
Nine organizations have come together to protect and restore critical habitat in the Twin Cities Metropolitan Area.  Through this program, the MN Department of Natural Resources, Trust for Public Land, Ducks Unlimited, Friends of the Mississippi River, Great River Greening, Minnesota Land Trust, Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge Trust, Pheasants Forever and Friends of the Minnesota Valley will work with local communities to permanently protect 630 acres of significant wildlife habitat while restoring and enhancing an additional 203 acres.

Land Cover Mapping for Natural Resource Protection – 2005-07 biennium. Hennepin County will lead this project to develop new tools to map and classify land cover in the seven county metropolitan area to help determine priorities for wildlife habitat protection and restoration.  More than 140,000 acres in Carver, Hennepin, Scott and Washington counties will be mapped while Washington and Dakota counties will refine and update existing data.  The resulting database will help local governments protect wildlife habitat and water quality as they review proposed development projects.

Dodge Nature Center Restoration Plan – 2003-05 biennium. This project funded the development of an ecological management plan for Dodge Nature Center’s Main Headquarters and Marie properties in Dakota County. In addition, funding was applied to continue restoration and land management efforts for the Nature Center’s Lilly property.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development – 2003-05 biennium. The Metropolitan Council used this grant to improve recreational opportunities at Twin Cities area parks, including land acquisition, park development and park rehabilitation. In all, the Trust Fund helped finance 16 projects during the biennium as part of this project. In Dakota County, Trust Fund money helped pay for projects at North Urban Regional Trail, an east-west corridor that connects Lilydale, Mendota Heights, West St. Paul and South St. Paul. The following segments of trail were constructed with help from the Trust Fund: a 0.6 mile segment within Simons Ravine in South St. Paul and a 1.5 mile segment from Emerson Drive to the Mississippi River Regional Trail in South St. Paul. A Trust Fund grant also helped fund the planning of a 1.2 mile segment of North Urban Regional Trail from Dodd Road to Charlton St. in West St. Paul.

Acquisition of Lands as Scientific and Natural Areas - 2001-03 biennium. This appropriation from the Trust Fund was used to acquire critical lands with plant communities such as native prairie and rare species habitat. Appraisals at seven potential locations were completed during the biennium and nearly 180 acres of land was purchased at four different scientific and natural areas. In Dakota County, Pine Bend Bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River in Inver Grove Heights was expanded by 45 acres.

Agricultural Land Preservation – 2001-03 biennium. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture used part of this grant to help Dakota County implement the plan from the 1999 Trust Fund project “Protecting Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas.”  As a result, the program is now up and running with Dakota County voters approving the sale of $20 million in bonds to purchase the development rights of valuable farmland and natural areas.

Big Rivers Partnership: Helping Communities to Restore Habitat - 2001-03 biennium. Led by Great River Greening, the Big Rivers Partnership brings together nonprofit organizations, government and private landowners to restore river valley habitat in the Twin Cities area. The benefits of this project include actual restoration work, identifying high-priority restoration project areas and creating a landowner stewardship support program. The primary tool for disseminating information from this project is the Great River Greening website:  www.greatrivergreening.org.  Cost sharing was required for restoration projects and, as a result, $1.3 million of non-state funding was leveraged to support this program. In the final tally, more than 3,600 volunteers participated in restoration work on more than 1,500 acres of land in the Mississippi and Minnesota River valleys. Project areas include the Pine Bend Bluffs in Dakota County, the Hastings Riverfront, the Mississippi River Gorge-South Park in Minneapolis, the West Side Bluff-Cherokee Park in St. Paul, the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge, the East Mississippi Bluff-Desnoyer St. Paul unit, the River Park in Brooklyn Park, the South St. Paul Levee and Prospect Crest in St. Paul.

Biological Control of Eurasian Watermilfoil and Purple Loosestrife - Continuation - 2001-03 biennium.  In cooperation with staff from the University of Minnesota, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cornell University and the Department of Agriculture, the Department of Natural Resources coordinated this project to develop and implement biological controls for Eurasian Watermilfoil and Purple Loosestrife - two intrusive species invading Minnesota lakes and rivers.  The research scientists working on this project chose study areas along the Mississippi River corridor between Red Wing and Winona and lakes in the seven-county metro area. They report that Milfoil Weevils can cause sustained declines of the invasive, non-native Eurasian Watermilfoil if sufficient densities of the insect are maintained throughout the summer each year. They also discovered that the Milfoil Weevils have their own predators - sunfish - which were, in turn, studied for their effect on the weevil population. Other variables they manipulated for this project include water clarity and physically removing milfoil and other plants.  On the other side of the project, research scientists found that Leaf Beetles can provide long-term control of Purple Loosestrife and that these biological agents do not have a detrimental effect on two non-invasive species of loosestrife native to Minnesota. Their study results show these agents can move through a wetland in less than three years and disperse and colonize other wetlands as far as 20 kilometers away.

 Local Grants Initiative Program: Outdoor Recreation Grants – 2001-03 biennium. Money from the Trust Fund as well as the Minnesota Future Resources Fund was allocated during the biennium for this project administered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. As a result, grants were provided for more than 130 different local environmental initiatives under several different categories, each with their own requirements: the Natural and Scenic Area grants program, Regional Park grants, Local Park grants, Conservation Partner grants and Environmental Partnership grants. In Dakota County, the Trust Fund portion of the allocation was used for grants to help the Farmington School District establish floodplain vegetation and make other changes to improve water quality in Middle Creek and to help the city of Eagan acquire nine acres of wooded and scenic property adjacent to Patrick Eagan Park.

Metro Greenways - 2001-03 biennium. The goal of the Metro Greenways Project is to protect, connect and restore a metro-wide area network of significant natural areas and open spaces. This project is administered and coordinated by the Department of Natural Resources and relies on partnerships with a wide range of nonprofit conservation organizations, government agencies and private landowners. During the biennium, 11 planning grants were issued to local governments to inventory and assess more than 240,000 acres of land in the metro area, 221 acres were purchased and will be held in public domain, 178 acres were permanently protected with conservation easements and 40 acres of rare sand prairie were restored.  In Dakota County, Trust Fund money helped purchase 67 acres of land to create the Pine Bend Bluffs Scientific and Natural Area overlooking the Mississippi River in Inver Grove Heights. Trust fund money also helped the City of Eagan purchase 9 largely wooded acres to expand Patrick Eagan Park. In Hastings, restoration work was completed on privately-owned land with restrictive covenants next to the Dakota County Sand Coulee thanks to this project. You can find more information on this topic at www.embraceopenspace.org.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development - 2001-03 biennium. This Metropolitan Council project used money from the Trust Fund along with the sale of bonds to acquire, develop and rehabilitate parks in the Twin Cities area.  In all, 15 projects were financed during the biennium including the purchase of about 50 acres of land within the approved boundaries of regional parks, park reserves and trails in Dakota County. Improvements were made to the youth group camp at the Spring Lake Park Reserve and the county was reimbursed for a sewer connection to picnic areas at the Lebanon Hills Regional Park that was installed in 1996.

Water Recreation: Boat Access, Fishing Piers and Shore Fishing - 2001-03 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources combined this allocation from the Trust Fund with significant help from local partners to develop five public water access sites around the state, purchase three parcels of land to provide new or expanded access, construct two shore-fishing areas and add or modify eighteen public fishing piers.  In Dakota County, fishing piers were installed at Thomas Lake in Eagan and Thompson Lake in West St. Paul with help from the Trust Fund.

Dakota County Wetland Health Monitoring Program - 1999-01 biennium. This Dakota County Environmental Education Program Project developed an approved procedure for citizen volunteers to gather biological data on invertebrates and vegetation to monitor wetland health. Healthy wetlands, in turn, offer cities and their residents green space, wildlife habitat and filter pollutants from storm water runoff. With help from the City of Eagan, the Department of Natural Resources and the Trust Fund, Cedar Pond was restored to offer area residents these benefits. This project continues with city funding as the Wetland Health Evaluation Project.

Development and Assessment of Oak Wilt Control Technologies - 1999-01 biennium. Oak Wilt remains the number one cause of oak mortality in Minnesota. Increased development through oak woods is accelerating the problem especially in the prime oak habitats of east central and southeastern Minnesota. For this project, the University of Minnesota’s Department of Plant Pathology studied the Sap Beetles that transmit the disease and the effectiveness of using a fungus and root graft barriers to control the spread of Oak Wilt. The results included a model that predicts when the Oak Wilt fungus is active, the determination of a variable “no prune” period of time during the spring and better tools for natural resource managers. Part of this study took place in Dakota County at Lebanon Hills Park.

Diversifying Agriculture for Environmental, Economic and Social Benefits - 1999-01 biennium. The University of Minnesota’s Rosemount Experiment Station conducted field experiments with new strains and planting schedules of cover crops and hybrid hazelnuts. Projects in other areas of the state examined the use of Illinois Bundleflower and False Indigo for livestock grazing. The diversification of agricultural products shows great promise for improving both the state’s environment and its farm economy.

Greening the Metro Mississippi-Minnesota River Valleys - 1999-01 biennium. Great River Greening organized more than 1,500 citizen volunteers to complete habitat restoration projects on approximately 1,500 acres of land along segments of the Minnesota and Mississippi River valleys located in Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Carver, Scott and Dakota Counties. These sites vary in their quality but, through the restoration process, their ecological value for buffering, connecting and hosting natural remnants has greatly increased. Many of the sites are critical for enhancing the last large remnants of native plants in the metro river corridor. For more information, visit http://www.greatrivergreening.org .

Groundwater Flow in the Prairie du Chien Aquifer - 1999-01 biennium. The Prairie du Chien and underlying Jordan Aquifers supply drinking water to more than 15,000 wells in the Twin Cities, Rochester and other parts of southeastern Minnesota. Groundwater in this part of the state has been contaminated at specific locations including a landfill in northern Olmsted County, the former Twin Cities Army Ammunition Plant in Ramsey County and beneath sewage treatment ponds in Wabasha and Winona Counties. This project by the University of Minnesota’s Geological Survey is studying the structure and flow of the aquifers to better predict how contamination will travel through these underground waterways so better prevention plans can be developed.

Lakescaping for Wildlife and Water Quality Initiative - 1999-01 biennium. This Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) program helped lakeshore homeowners learn how to use native plants on the shoreline and in the water to enhance wildlife habitat and improve water quality in their lake. With assistance from the Minnesota Lakes Association, the DNR conducted a series of workshops for property owners and constructed demonstration sites throughout the state. In Dakota County, a demonstration site was completed on Marion Lake.

Local Initiatives Grants Program - 1999-01 biennium. Appropriations from the Trust Fund for this project allowed the Department of Natural Resources to fund the Natural and Scenic Area Grants Program, the Conservation Partners Grants Program and the Environmental Partnerships Grants Program during the biennium. More than 140 different projects across the state were approved for matching grants from July of 1999 through June of 2001.  In Dakota County, grants were received by the Eastview School District for the restoration of native vegetation on the slopes of a storm water basin, by Dakota County Parks for the restoration of 15 acres of prairie at the Miesville Ravine Park Reserve, by the City of Lakeville for the acquisition of 39 acres of land at the headwaters of the Vermillion River south of the city, by the Dodge Nature Center to replant 2.5 acres of oak savanna with native grasses and forbs and manage invasive species, by Stewards to Our Parks to enhance 3.5 acres of oak savanna and forest by eradicating exotic species and seeding with native plants and by the Dakota County Soil and Water Conservation District for a landscape analysis of the Vermillion River.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development - 1999-01 biennium and an extension of funding from the 1997-99 biennium. For this project, Trust Fund money was combined with a partial match from bonds issued by the Metropolitan Council to finance the highest priority acquisition, redevelopment and development projects of the metropolitan regional park system.  In Dakota County, Trust Fund money was spent to relocate and expand the boat launch at Lake Byllesby Regional Park near Cannon Falls.

Minnesota River Basin Initiative: Local Leadership - 1999-01 biennium with an extension to June 30, 2002.  The Minnesota River has been the subject of many studies and many projects over many years. This project, administered by the Minnesota River Basin Joint Powers Board, was designed to encourage local leadership within each of the 13 major Minnesota River watersheds, implement projects on a cost-sharing basis to improve the river’s water quality and display the results on the Minnesota River Basin Data Center website.  Visit http://mrbdc.mnsu.edu/index.html for more information about this project.

Mussel Resource Survey - 1999-01 biennium. During the first two years of this project (this biennium), biologists and other staff from the Department of Natural Resources sampled 886 sites in 32 Minnesota rivers, 64 tributaries and 12 lakes including eight sites on the Minnesota River and 33 sites on the Mississippi River in Dakota County during June and July of 2000 and July and August of 2001.  According to the website for this project, http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nhnrp/mussel_survey/index.html, freshwater mussels, commonly called clams, occur throughout the world but reach their greatest diversity in North America where about 300 species are found. Unfortunately, within the last 100 years mussel communities have declined in abundance and diversity due to dam construction, stream channelization, water pollution and sedimentation, over harvesting and the recent introduction of the exotic Zebra Mussel. In response, groups such as the American Fisheries Society and The Nature Conservancy have identified mussels as the most imperiled group of animals in North America. The primary goal of this project is to build the information base necessary to sustain freshwater mussels in Minnesota. Building this base of information is expected to take about six years to complete.

Nongame Wildlife Management - 1999-01 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) Nongame Wildlife Program used this grant from the Trust Fund to help carry out more than 65 wildlife conservation projects during the biennium. Among the research, habitat management, information and education and planning activities were planting of lakescaping sites, development of bald eagle management plans, surveys of loon, hawk and owl populations, habitat improvements for endangered and threatened species and wildlife management workshops. Projects in Dakota County included reptile and amphibian surveys at Pine Bend Bluff and mapping of Blanding’s turtle habitat at Murphy Hanrahan Park Reserve.  The website for the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program is http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/eco/nongame/index.html.  

Organic Farming Training Project - 1999-01 biennium. The Minnesota Food Association of Arden Hills and Cooperative Development Services of St. Paul developed an ongoing mentoring program for farmers who want to use organic farming methods. Training farms for this project were established in Chaska, Rosemount, Hamel, Stillwater, Faribault, Owatonna, Waconia and at the University of Minnesota’s Landscape Arboretum in Chanhassen. Training sessions were also held in Lamberton, Browerville, Stillwater and St. Paul. The project trained over 1,000 farmers during the biennium, many of them recent immigrants to Minnesota.
 
Protecting Dakota County Farmland and Natural Areas - 1999-01 biennium. Building on the momentum generated by the 1997 “New Models for Land-use Planning” Trust Fund project in Washington and Chisago Counties, the Dakota County Office of Planning used this appropriation to identify remaining natural areas and farmland in Dakota County, seek public opinions on the importance of its preservation and write a plan to prevent development in certain areas. This plan was presented to the Dakota County Board and adopted on January 29, 2002. Dakota County may be the first county in Minnesota to purchase development rights from private landowners. For more information, visit www.co.dakota.mn.us/CountyGovernment/Projects/FarmlandNaturalArea/default.htm.

Public Boat Access and Fishing Piers - 1999-01 biennium. With help from the Minnesota Future Resources Fund and donations from local contributors, Trust Fund money was put to work building and extending fishing piers, developing boat access sites and purchasing land for future access sites. In Dakota County, a 104-foot fishing pier was installed at Rogers Lake in Mendota Heights in 2000.

State Park and Recreation Area Acquisition, Development, Betterment and Rehabilitation - 1999-01 biennium. This project provided funds to acquire 155 acres of critical private land within the current boundaries of six of our state parks - 11 acres at Fort Snelling in Hennepin and Dakota Counties, 2 acres at Frontenac in Goodhue County, 11 acres at Moose Lake in Carlton County, 10 acres at Nerstrand Big Woods in Rice County, 81 acres at Sibley in Kandiyohi County and 40 acres at Whitewater in Winona County. This project also provided development funds for a municipal sewer connection at Banning State Park in Pine County, design funding for the new visitor center at Forestville Mystery Cave State Park in Fillmore County and a portion of the development cost for the Itasca Suites guest lodging at Itasca State Park in Clearwater County.

Wildlife Habitat Acquisition and Development - Chub Lake - 1999-01 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources will use this appropriation to acquire and protect land and to make capital improvements in the Chub Lake natural area located south of Lakeville.  The project will acquire and improve a 192-acre natural area comprised of high-quality oak forest, planted grasslands, lakeshore, wetlands and the outlet for Chub Creek. The improvements will include ecological restoration.

Metropolitan Regional Parks Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Development - 1997-99 biennium.  The Metropolitan Council is expanding, improving or developing regional parks including constructing recreational trails and picnic shelters, expanding beaches and parking lots and improving boat ramps, campgrounds and park lighting in the Twin Cities. Dakota County parks targeted for expansion include Lake Byllesby, Lebanon Hills, Spring Lake and Miesville Ravine.  To date, 150 acres have been acquired.  Also, all parks and trails in the metro area are being digitized for mapping.

Minnesota Rare Mussel Conservation - 1997-99 biennium.  This University of Minnesota project establishes and monitors refugia in the St. Croix River to improve freshwater mussel conservation and protect them from invading Zebra Mussels.  In Dakota County, this will include mussel life history research on the Mississippi River.

Protecting Rural Historic Landscapes in High Development Areas - 1997-99 biennium.  The Rochester-Twin Cities-St. Cloud corridor still has significant rural landscape features - windbreaks, barns and farmhouses - that reflect the state’s agricultural history. The Historical Society is identifying these features and working with land planning agencies to protect them.

Metropolitan Area Groundwater Model to Predict Contaminant Movement - 1995-97 biennium and 1997-99 biennium.   The Pollution Control Agency (PCA) is developing a computer model using the latest information on soil, hydrogeology, surface-groundwater interactions and water use to improve prediction of groundwater contamination sites in the Twin Cities.  In Dakota County, the PCA will develop and apply a groundwater flow model to improve prediction of contaminant movement.

Cannon River Watershed Grants - 1995-97 biennium.  The Cannon River in southeast Minnesota and some of its tributaries are being cleaned up through the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.  This project distributed grants to promote the improvement of water quality by reducing pollution and erosion, protecting sensitive areas and encouraging agriculture practices that do not effect the environment.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil Resources. 

Cannon River Watershed Strategic Plan: Integrated Management - 1995-97 biennium. The Cannon River in southeast Minnesota and some of its tributaries are being cleaned up through the Cannon River Watershed Partnership.  With local and technical help, the Partnership is improving water quality by reducing pollution and erosion, protecting sensitive areas and encouraging agricultural practices that do not effect the environment.  Under this program, a groundwater flow model was developed and applied to improve and predict contamination movement.

Metropolitan Regional Park Acquisition - 1995-97 biennium.  The Metropolitan Council is buying land to expand park facilities and trails at several regional parks in the Twin Cities.  In Dakota County, this appropriation allowed the acquisition of 36 acres at Spring Lake Park Reserve, 4 acres at Lake Byllesby Regional Park and a one-acre easement on the Big Rivers Regional Trail.

Metropolitan Regional Park System - 1995-97 biennium.  This Metropolitan Council program improves some of its regional parks by renovating existing facilities and building new ones. Projects range from renovating picnic facilities and playground equipment to providing maintenance for buildings and parking lots. Some projects help meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements.  Dakota County projects include the:

            - Holland Lake Shore stabilization project.
            - Spring Lake Park Reserve 5-acre wildflower prairie development.
            - Lake Byllesby perimeter dike riprap.
            - Lake Byllesby beach restroom.
            - Lebanon Hills Gooseberry and Sacajawea ADA retrofit.
            - Big Rivers Trail.
            - Spring Lake Park Reserve picnic area ADA retrofit.
            - Miesville Ravine Park Reserve parking, restrooms and erosion control.
            - Dakota North Regional Trail.

RIM Accelerate Critical Habitat Match Program - 1995-97 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources has matching funds available for anyone who wants to buy or improve critical fish, wildlife and native plant habitats.  Projects must emphasize habitat for endangered species, uncommon or diminishing ecological communities, existing fish and wildlife populations and fish and wildlife recreation.  In Dakota County, this program helped improve habitat for the rare loggerhead shrike.

RIM Accelerate Fisheries Acquisition for Angler Access - 1995-97 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources is buying 100 acres of land and easements along lakes and streams to increase fishing opportunities and develop and protect fish habitat.  Under this program, 20 acres of land were acquired along Lake Marion in Lakeville.

Water Access - 1995-97 biennium. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will acquire and develop boat access sites, fishing piers and shoreline access.  In Dakota County, the DNR constructed a water access site in South St. Paul at the Mississippi River fishing pier.

Access to Lakes and Rivers - 1993-95 biennium.  Fishing piers, boat ramps and shoreline access sites are being built around the state to provide boaters and anglers with more access to popular Minnesota lakes and rivers.  In Dakota County, the Department of Natural Resources made shoreline improvements to fishing sites at Lake Marion in Lakeville and installed a fishing pier and made shoreline improvements at Valley Lake on the Apple Valley/Lakeville border.

Lilydale/Harriet Island Regional Park Trail - 1993-95 biennium. The project was used to develop a one-mile long recreational trail in Lilydale-Harriet Island Regional Park in St. Paul to take advantage of the park's unique natural resources including the Mississippi River, bluffs and wetlands.  Lead agency:  City of St. Paul.

Minnesota River Implementation Project - 1993-95 biennium.  This project works with landowners and governmental agencies to reduce the high amounts of pollution in the Minnesota River.  The goal is to use land management practices that reduce the amount of pollutants and runoff that empty into the river from a 30-county area.  The project includes an educational program being used by 15 high schools that brings attention to water quality.  Lead agency:  Pollution Control Agency.

Retrofitting Regional Parks - 1993-95 biennium.  Regional parks in the Twin Cities are being made more accessible for disabled people through this program. This grant is for upgrading the campground at Lake Byllesby Regional Park.  Lead agency: Metropolitan Council.

RIM Wildlife Habitat Stewardship - 1993-95 biennium.  About 29,000 acres of state land is being developed and improved to protect wildlife and native plants.  The Department of Natural Resources is restoring prairies, brush land, forests and non-game habitat while planting and managing native vegetation to enhance hunting, observing nature and education.  The Dakota County grant was for loggerhead shrike habitat management.

Trail Linkages, Metropolitan Regional Network - 1993-95 biennium.  New recreational trails are being developed and existing ones are being improved to connect regional, state and local parks and trails around the Twin Cities.  In Dakota County, the Metropolitan Council developed a portion of the Dakota North Regional Trail in the City of South St. Paul from the South St. Paul Municipal Services Center north to the I-494 Wakota Bridge and to a point opposite Armour Avenue.

Cannon River Watershed Grants - 1991-93 biennium.  The Cannon River is facing increasing industrial, agricultural and suburban pressures.  This project distributed grants to promote proper resource management techniques and enhance the watershed's natural systems for the Cannon River watershed.  In Dakota County, a grant was given for conservation tillage plots.  Lead agency:  Board of Water and Soil Resources. 

Minnesota County Biological Survey - 1991-93 biennium and 1993-95 biennium.  The Department of Natural Resources is collecting information on plants and animals throughout Minnesota to identify the location of natural areas and rare plants and animals. This information will be used to better manage areas that have native species of plants and animals.  This project has been ongoing since 1987.  The Dakota County survey was continued during the 1991-93 biennium and finished in the 1993-95 biennium.

Minnesota River Basin Water Quality Monitoring - 1991-93 biennium.  This project sought to identify the sources of nonpoint pollution threatening the water quality and uses of the Minnesota River and its tributaries.  The results are used to direct state and local pollution programs.  Lead agency:  Pollution Control Agency.

Sealing Abandoned Wells - 1991-93 biennium.  Sixty wells were sealed in Dakota County through this grant program matching state and county funds.  Lead agency: Board of Water and Soil Resources.

09/25/09 - TM