Landscaping for Clean Water - Dakota County-SWCD
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LANDSCAPING FOR CLEAN WATER
Landscaping for Clean Water
admin
2026-04-21T13:26:48-05:00
Beautiful Gardens Do Beautiful Things!
Creating a beautiful garden to improve water quality,
benefit pollinators, or
protect your shoreline
is what the Landscaping for Clean Water program is all about!
One of the Dakota SWCD’s programs for Dakota County residents is
Landscaping for Clean Water
which includes free educational classes, garden design courses, natural shoreline and garden maintenance classes, and grants for homeowners that install a raingarden, native garden, or native shoreline planting. The goal of the Landscaping for Clean Water program is to teach residents how to beautify their yard while also protecting local water quality and providing habitat for pollinators.
Dakota County residency is not required to participate in the classes; however, grants are only available for Dakota County residents and Ramsey County residents within the Lower Mississippi River Watershed which includes the west side of the City of Saint Paul.
For a visual overview of the LCW program, please click on the image to the right.
Scroll down for additional program information
and to REGISTER!
INTRODUCTION CLASS
The Landscaping for Clean Water Introduction Class focuses on general water quality practices of raingardens, native gardens, and shoreline stabilization.
We provide an overview of Minnesota’s watersheds and our local water quality challenges, providing beautiful and practical ways to reduce runoff pollutants from your yard that might be contributing to water quality issues, along with improving pollinator habitat.
The Landscaping for Clean Water (LCW) Introduction Class is
FREE
, and registration is open to everyone. You only need to attend the LCW Introduction Class in person or online, one time – no need to repeat if you decide to enroll in the Design Course!
This class is a pre-requisite for enrolling in the Design Course.
There are nine Landscaping for Clean Water Introduction classes scheduled; two live, online classes and seven in-person classes. Classes are 1.5 hours in length including time for Q&A at the end.
If you have issues with registration call us at 651-480-7777 between 8:00am – 4:30pm, Mon- Fri.
Day / Date
Location
Time
Registration Links
Thursday, February 26
Burnsville – City Hall
6:00 p.m.
Closed
Monday, March 9
Mendota Heights – City Hall
6:00 p.m.
Closed
Thursday, March 12
Lakeville – Water Treatment Facility
6:00 p.m.
Closed
Tuesday March 24
Online
6:00 p.m.
Closed
Wednesday, April 8
Randolph – High School
6:00 p.m.
Closed
Wednesday, April 22
Online
12:00 p.m
Register Here
Monday, May 4
Eagan –  City Hall
6:00 p.m.
Register Here
Wednesday, May 13
Apple Valley – City Hall
6:00 p.m.
Register Here
Tuesday, June 9
Rosemount – Public Works & Police Campus
6:00 p.m.
Register Here
LCW GRANT FAQ’S
PROJECT GALLERY
Raingardens
Native Gardens
Native Shoreline Plantings
DESIGN COURSE
The Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course helps residents like you create and install beautiful landscaping projects that are unique to your yard! This course is a great opportunity to learn about garden planning from the experts, whether you are interested in finding out about site design, plant selection, raingarden installation, or adding native plants to the landscape.
After completing the Landscaping for Clean Water Introduction Class, you are eligible to enroll in the Landscaping for Clean Water Design Course. While the Landscaping for Clean Water program is open to anyone, the $400 cost share grants are only available to Dakota County residents and Lower Mississippi River Watershed Maintenance Organization residents in Ramsey County.
We offer six in-person Design Course options in two 2-hour blocks or one 4-hour block. There is an online Design Course option available
only
to prior grant recipients. If you choose this option, you will be asked for the year your project was installed, and we will verify that the project was completed prior to sending you the online materials. If you have not completed a project with us, you will need to attend an in-person Design Course to be eligible to apply for a grant.
Design Course Online Learning Materials will be provided to all course participants for project planning at home.
There is a $25.00 registration fee for the Design Course that includes a copy of the Blue Thumb Guide to Raingardens book, a Design Folder including aerial property maps, design tools, online instruction materials, and one-on-one help.
Are you a returning Design Course participant?
Register again for any Design Course and the FEE is WAIVED!
APPLY FOR A $400 GARDEN GRANT!
At the end of the Design Course you will have a complete garden project planned and ready to install. You then have the opportunity to apply for a $400 cost share grant, funded by Dakota County watershed organizations. The grant (paid at completion of project) includes in-person site visits at your property and technical assistance from our staff available to you throughout the installation process.
2026
grants will be awarded in three rounds, as follows:
2026
Application Date
Project Completion
Round 1
Monday, April 20th
Friday, July 10th
Round 2
Wednesday, May 27th
Friday, August 21st
Round 3
Monday, July 13th
Friday, October 9th
NOTE:
The Landscaping for Clean Water Introduction Class is a pre-requisite for enrolling in the Design Course.
Design Course registrations made before the Intro Class has been taken will be cancelled and the registration fee returned.
The 2026 Design Course registration period ends on Wednesday, June 18th.
If you have issues with registration call us at 651-480-7777 between 8:00am – 4:30pm, Mon- Fri.
Registration Opens February 26, 2026
Date
Location
Time
Registration Links
Mid Feb – Oct
Online   *** Only Available to Past Grant Recipients***
Register Here
March 17 & 19
Burnsville – City Hall
6:00 -8:00 p.m.
Closed
April 15 & 16
Mendota Heights – City Hall
6:00 -8:00 p.m.
Closed
April 27 & 29
Lakeville – Water Treatment Facility
6:00 -8:00 p.m.
Register Here
May 8
Farmington, SWCD – Extension
& Conservation Center
12:00 – 4:00 p.m.
Register Here
May 19 & 21
Eagan – City Hall
6:00 -8:00 p.m.
Register Here
June 23 & 25
Rosemount – Public Works & Police Campus
6:00 -8:00 p.m.
Register Here
NATURAL SHORELINE CLASS
Do you own a shoreline in Dakota County? The Dakota County Soil & Water Conservation District (SWCD) will host three Natural Shoreline Classes in collaboration with the Lower Mississippi River Watershed Management Organization (LMRWMO). We will show you how a natural shoreline installed with native plants can protect your shoreline, beautify your property, and provide habitat for pollinators and aquatic animals. We’ll talk about the process to install such a project, necessary permits, as well as technical assistance and grants to make it a reality. There is no charge to attend this class.
If you have issues with registration call us at 651-480-7777 between 8:00am – 4:30pm, Mon- Fri.
Date
Location
Time
Registration Links
Thursday, April 2
Apple Valley – City Hall
6:00 -7:00 p.m.
Closed
Monday, April 13
SWCD/WSP – Thompson County Park – Dakota Lodge
Cancelled
Tuesday, April 21
Eagan – City Hall
6:00 -7:00 p.m.
Register Here
GARDEN MAINTENANCE
CLASS
Join us for a Garden Maintenance Class that will provide season specific information on how to maintain and promote the health, performance, and beauty of your garden. The Garden Maintenance Class applies to raingarden, native garden, and native shoreline planting projects.
Tuesday, March 3rd | 5:00 – 6:00p.m.
Dakota County – Galaxie Library
The Garden Maintenance Class is provided
FREE
and open to all – Dakota County residency is not required.
Click to Register Here
THANK YOU TO OUR WMO PARTNERS
HAVE QUESTIONS?
We are here to help with your land and water conservation needs.
See FAQs
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