Watershed commission approves education and outreach topics to expand public resources

The Scott Watershed Planning Commission voted Feb. 23 to approve a draft PDF of education and outreach topics for use by commissioners, volunteers and partners.

Staff presented the list — compiled by program staff and intended as a landing-page resource — as a way to “improve your water resource education and knowledge building” and to help volunteers feel “more empowered” to advise on lake and watershed issues, staff said. The document groups short videos and explanatory materials on agency roles (DNR, MPCA, county and local governments), planning and permitting, vegetation management, stormwater monitoring, cost-share programs and capital improvement projects.

Commissioners asked how the materials would be shared with the public. Staff said the preferred approach is a dedicated education and outreach landing page on the WMO web site, supplemented by posting the PDF and submitting feature items to the county newsletter (Scott County Scene). Staff also said they would check county policy on placing QR codes at boat landings and other public sites and pursue that option if allowed.

During the roll call vote, commissioners on the record signaled full support. “I support it. Yes,” Commissioner Wagner said during the roll call. Other commissioners on the record — including Phillips, Theal, Barton, Frederick’s, Malcin and Kreer — registered affirmative votes.

Staff said the approved list is intended as a living resource and that additional items can be added later. The approval authorizes staff to continue producing and publishing the materials, subject to any required county review of web or print postings. The commission did not identify any changes to the content in this meeting and will circulate the posted materials once the web landing page or PDF is available.