 March 2025
Water education intern
Closes March 17, 2025
We are hiring one education intern to assist with education programs and activities. The position serves to increase awareness in citizens and youth about lakes and rivers, common water pollutants, stormwater runoff, aquatic invasive species and more. Tasks include teaching day camps, developing educational signs, posters, and displays, and coordinating and staffing events.
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Water resource monitoring interns
Closes March 17, 2025
We are hiring three interns to help with monitoring of lakes, streams, stormwater best management practices, aquatic life (fish, mussels, macro-invertebrates) and aquatic invasive species around the county. Tasks include taking water samples, snorkel and shoreline surveys, data analysis, public education and outreach, and more.
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Watercraft inspectors
Posting open
We are hiring watercraft inspectors for May through October. Inspectors provide boat inspections at public accesses and help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species. Candidates will build knowledge and skills with aquatic ecology, aquatic invasive species, public education and local government. Multiple positions are available.
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Carver County residents can receive $20 off a rain barrel while supplies last. Rain barrels and compost bins are made from 100% recycled materials.
Order on the Recycling Association of Minnesota’s website, recycleminnesota.org, starting March 1, 2025. Select Carver County as your pickup location and use code “carver20” to receive your discount. Discount valid for Carver County residents only. One discount available per household, while supplies last. You will be notified when your items arrive in early May. Residents must pick up their rain barrels at the Environmental Center located at 116 Peavey Circle, Chaska, MN 55318 during open hours.
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Compost bins
Carver County residents can also pick up compost bins at the Carver County Environmental Center for a discount at $56 while supplies last.
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The program is a partnership of the Recycling Association of Minnesota, Carver County Environmental Services and Carver County Water Management Organization. Call (952) 361-1835 with questions or message RecycleCarver on Facebook.
Join us for a workshop on native plants
April 10, 2025 from 6pm to 7:30pm at Chanhassen Library
Add some pizzazz to your yard this summer. Native plants increase the beauty of your lawn by giving pops of color throughout the warm season and providing charm and character in the cold season.
Plus, they offer numerous other benefits. They improve the health of your soil, provide food and shelter for wildlife, and protect lakes and rivers by absorbing stormwater runoff.
In this workshop, learn practical ideas for how to add native plants to your yard, and the basics of design and maintenance when gardening with native plants.
Hosted by Carver County Water Management Organization, Carver Soil & Water Conservation District, and Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District.
Financial assistance available to residents
Planning a native garden, pollinator garden, raingarden, or more? Check out the different residential grant programs offered that can help fund your project.
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The Minnesota Composting Council is gearing up for its 2025 Plate to Garden events. The program started in 2015 and aims to educate the public about properly composting food and compostable products. As residential organics collection programs expand, Plate to Garden events allow community members to see the result of participating in organics recycling by showing the results of turning food scraps back into compost used to grow food again. The goal is to show participants what their organics can become and explain the need to eliminate contamination. The program also highlights the benefits of composting to generate enthusiasm around these programs.
Plate to Garden compost events serve a dual purpose. They provide community organizations the chance to educate residents about the importance of organics collection and offers schools and organizations the opportunity to raise funds for their cause while educating citizens about the benefits of composting.
In partnership with host sites, the Minnesota Composting Council coordinates compost delivery while the host site schedules and pays for it. The council provides bags at $1.25 each and various free supplies, including shovels, signs, and educational materials.
Each year we put together an annual report highlighting the accomplishments and challenges of the last year. It contains information about the Water Management Organization’s activities, projects, programs, planning efforts, and financial activity.
Wild parsnip (left) and spray treatment of wild parsnip (right)
Noxious weeds are plants that pose a threat to human or animal health, the environment, public roads, crops, livestock, or other property. According to state statute, landowners must control or eradicate noxious weeds on their property by lawful methods, with repeated treatments if necessary to prevent seed spread. Each year, Carver County posts an annual general notice to control or eradicate noxious weeds. The 2025 list of noxious weeds can be found on the Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website.
The Carver Soil & Water Conservation District still has a variety of tree seedlings available for purchase and pick-up this spring. The agency sells bare root stock with sizes ranging between 7-18” tall, pick-up date is usually late April. All species are sold in bundles of 25, which is the minimum you can order. If you’d like to place an order, you can browse our various species and availability at our online store: https://www.carverswcd.org/store/.
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