A plan that guides future projects along the Vermillion River corridor was recently approved by the Dakota County Board of Commissioners. This provides the opportunity for people along the corridor to apply for grants. More than $1.5 million of state and local funding is available. Applications for the grants are due Dec. 1.
The grants provide financial incentives for projects that provide benefits to water quality, wildlife habitat and recreation within the corridor. A key focus in the plan is to acquire easements along the river from willing sellers. Meetings with residents during the creation of the plan showed that there is a lot of interest in taking care of the river corridor. The plan recognizes the benefits of working with individual land owners to develop projects that benefit the corridor and the people who live there.
Dakota County and the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization (VRWJPO) worked together to develop the plan that was funded by a grant from the Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Trust Fund.
For more information, visit the VRWJPO website at www.vermillionriverwatershed.org , or call Dakota County at 952-891-7168 or the Soil and Water Conservation District at 651-480-7777.
