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Dakota County Adopt-a-Highway Program
Adopt a Highway Program
The Adopt-a-Highway Program looks for volunteers to collect litter along designated segments of County highways to help keep roadsides clean. Coordination of the program and supplies (safety vests, trash bags and training) are provided by the Dakota County Transportation Department.
Interested? Check to see what sections of roadway are available for adoption on the Adopt-a-Highway map.
One-Time Roadside Cleanups
Help us keep our roadways clean. Volunteers looking to collect litter along designated segments of County highways can help without adopting a section of road or forming a group. Coordination of the program and supplies (safety vests, trash bags and training) are provided by Dakota County Transportation staff.
Dakota County Environmental Resources
Fix-It Clinics
Fix-It Clinics provide an opportunity for residents to receive free assistance from repair savvy volunteers guiding them through each step from troubleshooting to completed repair.
Several volunteer opportunities are available to help at a Fix-It Clinic. Volunteer fixers who have skills in soldering, electronics repair, electrical repair, sewing, wood working and general tinkering are essential to making the clinics successful. General volunteers to greet residents are needed as well.
Green Squad - Event Waste Management Assistance
Green Squad volunteers help our county events recycle more and create less waste. Green Squad volunteers are composed of Dakota County Recycling Ambassadors who are trained to be good stewards of our resources and to help others make smart decisions when it comes to recycling and waste management.
ATTENTION: Volunteers must first complete Dakota County's Recycling Ambassador training to participate in Green Squad events.
Water Resources
Protecting Dakota County’s valuable surface water and groundwater resources is an important responsibility for everyone who lives and works here. Dakota County helps protect water quality every step of the way.
Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP)
The Wetland Health Evaluation Program engages citizen volunteers to help monitor wetlands in their community. Since 1997, WHEP volunteers have been monitoring wetland health throughout Dakota and Hennepin counties. The WHEP program provides important information to city and county planners, engineers, resource managers, the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency and other local agencies to track wetland health throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area.
WHEP volunteers work in teams to evaluate the biological health and stability of wetlands pre-selected by their community. All training and equipment is provided and volunteer times are flexible and adaptable to a busy summer schedule. Family-friendly and all ages welcome but we recommend this program to those who are 5 years old or older.
For additional information about this program, check out this intro video , awesome WCCO news story or visit the MN WHEP website.
Please select the WHEP team you would like to join. If your desired team is full, please join the team nearest to where you live. The registration deadline for signing up is May 19, 2025. For assistance, please contact Garrett Zaffke at garrett.zaffke@co.dakota.mn.us.
WHEP Trainings (Registered 2025 WHEP Volunteers Only)
Training is recommended but not mandatory for WHEP program volunteers. The training consists of three sessions: Introduction & Field Methods, Macro ID, and Veg ID.
