DESCRIPTION

The Dakota County Environmental Education Program is a cooperative effort between the Dakota County Office of Planning, Department of Environmental Management, Soil and Water Conservation District, and University of Minnesota Extension Service. The program is responsible for carrying out the 1994 "Dakota County (MN) Water Resources Edcucation Plan. The mission of the plan: Water resources education will provide citizens with the knowledge, understanding, and motivation to protect water resources.

SERVICE AND ACTIVITIES

Water quality testing: connecting schools with cities to do water quality testing on sensitive subwateershed identified by local watershed management organizations.

storm drain stenciling: connect schools with cities to carry out storm drain stenciling in sensitive subwatersheds poster on storm sewers and water quality aviailable. student art work on theme "keep pollutants out of storm drains", on back: U WI Extension graphic on storm drain pollution

lawn care tips to protect water quality: information card and tri-fold brochure

landscaping tips to help protect water quality: information card

display on Dakota County (MN) watersheds, ground water/geologic column, homeowner tips to protect water quality rural nonpoint source pollution supplemental curriculum elements ground water models available on loan wetland teaching trunks available on loan Environmental Resource Center housed in County Library System Project WET (Water for Teachers )training and resource materials

AREA OF CONCENTRATION

• water quality
• lawn care pratices that protect water quality
• Project WET
• wetlands
• ground water
• surface water quality
• partnership efforts with county, cities, agencies and schools

GEOGRAPHIC SCOPE OF ACTIVITES

Dakota County, Minnesota

TYPE OF ORGANIZATION

Governmental