Vermillion River Corridor meetings

For the past few months, FMR, in partnership with Dakota County and HKGI Inc, has been working to develop a river corridor plan for the Vermillion River – a tributary to the Mississippi that runs through Dakota County. The Vermillion River drains 373 square miles of Scott and Dakota Counties, and is home to the only trophy quality trout stream in a major urban area anywhere in the lower 48.

The project began with more than 115 local residents participating in a series of 5 public meetings in June and July, each focusing on a different segment of the river corridor.

These initial workshops, dubbed A River Runs Through It, were designed to familiarize participants with the river and identify planning principles for the future. Participants also identified land protection strategies and watershed amenities they would like to see expressed in the river corridor plan.

Feedback from the public meetings will be used to develop a draft corridor plan that will merge water quality and habitat protection plans with recreation and economic development opportunities to create a unique corridor-wide plan that protects the long-term future of the Vermillion River. Additional public meetings are planned for dates yet to be determined in the fall.

For more information about this project, and to learn more about the next steps, visit Dakota County's Vermillion River Corridor Plan page or contact FMR's Watershed Program Director, Trevor Russell, at (651) 222-2193 x18 or via our contact form.