Dakota County is seeking volunteers eager to pull on a pair of waders and jump into monitoring the health of community wetlands through the Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP).
Volunteers will work with a community-based team to monitor and collect information — such as data on plants and macroinvertebrates — that is used to study trends in order to better manage wetlands and surrounding natural resource areas. Previous monitoring experience or a background in science is not necessary to take part.
Volunteers typically commit 10–20 hours of their time, which includes training, field work and lab analysis. Dakota County provides all of the training, equipment and leadership. Volunteer registration will be accepted through May 15.
WHEP volunteers receive training in field methods, macroinvertebrate (beetles, bugs and snails) collection and identification, and plant survey techniques and identification. Volunteers are grouped into teams, and each team will take samples from 3–5 wetlands between June and August. Wetland monitoring teams will be formed in Apple Valley, Burnsville, Dakota County parks, Eagan, Farmington, Hastings, Lakeville, Mendota Heights, North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization, Rosemount, South St. Paul and West St. Paul.
