St. Louis County Aquatic Invasive Species Grants

St. Louis County Aquatic Invasive Species Grants is sponsored by St. Louis County, Minnesota.

Distributes state funds for projects preventing or limiting spread of aquatic invasive species in St. Louis County lakes and rivers, including eradication, inspections, education, and awareness.

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Louis County will directly participate in efforts to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) at water access sites throughout the county. A legislative directive has established the Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Aid Program, through which funding is provided to Minnesota counties to participate in AIS control and prevention activities.

Aquatic invasive species (AIS) disrupt the health of water bodies, and pose a myriad of threats to natural, cultural, and recreational resources of the region. Key AIS species of concern to St.

Louis County include zebra and quagga mussels, New Zealand mudsnail, viral hemorrhagic septicemia (VHS), round and tubenose gobies, Eurasian ruffe, faucet snail, mystery snail, spiny water flea, Eurasian watermilfoil, purple loosestrife, and rusty crayfish. St.

Louis County, with assistance from Minnesota Sea Grant, has developed an AIS Plan to determine objectives and goals, and developed a process for delegating funds to organizations that will participate in AIS control, prevention, and education activities. If you suspect a new infestation of an aquatic invasive plant or animal, note the exact location, take a photo or keep the specimen, and call the AIS specialist in your region.

An invasive species may already be recorded for your lake or waterbody. If you know what species you have, you can check the infested waters list to see if it is already recorded. If the invasive species is already recorded for your waterbody, there is no need to submit a report.

St. Louis County, with assistance from Minnesota Sea Grant, developed an Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Plan. Actions that the county may support to prevent the spread of AIS are identified in the plan.

The plan cross-references the MN Department of Natural Resources Local AIS Plan Framework and actions and elements from a Minnesota State Management Plan for Invasive Species. The purpose of the plan is two-fold: Define actions for which the allocated funds may be used to prevent the spread of AIS. Guide St.

Louis County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Response. Access the St. Louis County AIS Species Introduction Risk Assessment Tool Developed by the Natural Resources Research Institute - University of Minnesota Duluth Josh Dumke and Kristi Nixon The St.

Louis County AIS Introduction Risk Assessment Tool, which has now evolved into the statewide AIS Explorer, was developed under the premise of creating guidance for AIS prevention planning by using two predictive models. Those models included surveillance, which focused on the likelihood of new infestations, and watercraft inspections that prioritized physical intervention at the riskiest lakes.

This information guides allocation regarding financial aid and efforts assigned to locations where the greatest impact can occur. Lakes that rank as high-risk are considered good candidates for early detection efforts, increased AIS inspection, education, and enforcement activities. With 1.

6 million data points of reported boater movements and a complex array of river connections, thousands of simulations were conducted to test the accuracy of the model to create the tool utilized today. Being that Minnesota is the land of 10,000 lakes and 800,000 boats, education and awareness are especially crucial.

The AIS Explorer is free and open to the public to focus on any lake in Minnesota and view model results on a county level. Use this map to turn on and off data layers for AIS presence by species, as well as other useful information like desired game fish, water access locations, and AIS survey locations provided by collaborators.

This map displays boater survey locations and all prior lakes from interview responses indicating users were in a different lake within 4 days prior to being surveyed. This map displays the AIS Introduction Risk Rankings for all lakes of St. Louis County.

St. Louis County is the recipient of County Program Aid grant funds for AIS prevention from the State of Minnesota as a result of 2014 Session Law Chapter 308. The purpose of these funds is to "prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species at all access sites within the county" (MN Statutes 477A.

19). Please note the St. Louis County AIS Prevention Program will be available provided state funding is appropriated for the program.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) are defined under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 84D as non-native species that: Cause or may cause economic or environmental harm or harm to human health, or Threaten or may threaten natural resources or the use of natural resources in the state. 2026 Grant Application Period The application period has ended.

AIS Request for Proposals Overview Instructions for Application Narrative Funding Priorities for 2026: St. Louis County is interested in receiving proposals related to the protection and maintenance of aquatic resources (lakes, reservoirs, streams, rivers), and the social and/or economic impacts of AIS.

Our goal is to address AIS issues with multidisciplinary, integrated solutions based on science related to natural resource sustainability and social and economic concerns. Partnerships between organizations to deliver services are encouraged. The county will only consider supporting the implementation of projects that address one or more of the seven categories and associated actions outlined in the St.

Louis County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Plan: Assess county resources and risks for AIS introduction and spread. Increase resources for county-wide education and enforcement. Increase public awareness and participation in prevention.

Raise available resources and leverage partnerships. Broaden knowledge of and participation in early detection and rapid response activities. Manage existing populations of AIS.

Address specific pathways for AIS introduction. Applicants need to consider and articulate how the work will prevent the introduction or limit the spread of aquatic invasive species at access sites within the county, in accordance with MN Statute 477A. 19.

State Program Aid Award: St. Louis County is scheduled to receive $708,865 in 2026. Funding is apportioned to counties using a formula based on the number of public boat accesses and the number of watercraft trailer parking spaces in each county.

St. Louis County will retain a portion of annual funding to defray administrative costs.

Grant Recipients and Award Amounts Burntside Lake Association Minnesota North College-Vermilion North Soil and Water Conservation District Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association North Soil and Water Conservation District Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association North Soil and Water Conservation District Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association North Soil and Water Conservation District U of MN Regents: Sea Grant Sturgeon Chain Lake Association Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association North Soil and Water Conservation District U of MN Regents: Sea Grant Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association North Soil and Water Conservation District Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association North Soil and Water Conservation District Vermilion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association Izaak Walton League of America North Soil and Water Conservation District Vermillion Lake Association Burntside Lake Association Regents of U of M Branstrator Regents of U of M Seagrant Vermilion Lake Association Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion Burntside Lake Association Pike Lake / Canosia Township Izaak Walton League of America Sportsmen's Club of Lake Vermilion St.

Louis River Alliance Phragmites St. Louis River Alliance Sentry Awarded Projects Annual Reports In progress or completed projects: These reports detail AIS prevention accomplishments through lake associations' prevention programs, habitat awareness, species control, early detection, watercraft inspections and decontamination, education, and public outreach that continue year to year.

Please contact our office to request organization-specific annual reports or those from prior years to 2025. Government Services Center Reports, Forms and Publications American with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Emergency Conditions Policy for employees Complete Policy Manual of the St. Louis County Board