MN Wetland Health Evaluation Program

The Minnesota Wetland Health Evaluation Program (WHEP) engages citizen volunteers to monitor wetlands in their community.

Since 1997, WHEP volunteers have been monitoring wetlands in Dakota County, Minnesota. They provide important information to city and county planners, engineers, resource managers and others. The data can be used to track wetland health.

Monitoring wetland health data is a valuable service; cities, watersheds and the county rely on volunteers to collect the data each field season. Volunteers are recruited in the spring each year.

Register to volunteer for the WHEP season (and to attend training) on the Dakota County volunteer website beginning in early April.

Watch a video of a WHEP team evaluating a wetland.

Watch a volunteer-produced WHEP documentary featuring the 2026 WHEP Burnsville Team. The documentary is 24 minutes long. Narration begins at 2:18.

Funding and support is provided by:

City of Apple Valley

City of Burnsville

City of Farmington

City of Hastings

City of Lakeville

City of Mendota Heights

City of Rosemount

City of South St. Paul

City of West St. Paul

Dakota County Parks

North Cannon River Watershed Management Organization

Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

Dakota County Environmental Resources Department

Bolten & Menk

Facilities for training provided free of charge by:

Inver Hills Community College

Dakota County Parks