Vermillion Stewards — that's a wrap!

After a great season of stewardship and education events, our 2008 Vermillion Stewards program has officially wrapped up for the year. The program helps promote the health of a magnificent tributary of the Mississippi River in the Metro.

FMR organized a total of 15 public stewardship, education and interpretive events at multiple sites across the watershed. In total, 359 volunteers participated in these activities, contributing 758 hours of volunteer service in the watershed.

Congrats to all of this year's Vermillion Stewards!

One of the highlights from this season was our Vermillion Watershed Cleanup event. The cleanup featured events in Elko, New Market, Lakeville and a pair of locations in Hastings. Together with our partners REI, The Rosewood Inn, Hastings Rapids Riders and The Cities of Lakeville, Elko New Market and Hastings, FMR and 85 stewardship volunteers removed trash, debris, and even an entire motorcycle out of the Vermillion River!

Another highlight was a pair of Vermillion River Trout Surveys this past October. Using electro-shocking equipment, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and FMR staff joined 21 Vermillion Stewards, along with several local elected officials and Vermillion Watershed Administrator Mark Zabel, for two sessions surveying the Vermillion River's trophy trout population.

The electro-shocking equipment's electric current temporarily stuns the fish, allowing them to be netted and placed in a water-filled tub. The fish are then counted, measured and released back into the Vermillion River. This survey helps us track changes to trout populations in this unique and rare trophy trout stream.

Our special thanks to the Vermillion River Watershed Joint Powers Organization and all of the Vermillion Stewards volunteers this past season.

For more information or to get involved in future Vermillion Stewards projects, please contact Trevor Russell, FMR Watershed Program Director, at 651-222-2193 x18 or via our contact form.