Aquatic invasive species prevention

Grants are currently open for applications. 

View a flyer about the grant program (PDF).

Eligible recipients

Eligible recipients include:

• Local government agencies, such as cities, watershed organizations and park districts
• Nonprofit organizations
• Public companies and institutions
• Private, for-profit companies

Eligible project activities

Eligible project activities include:

• Early detection
• Pathway analysis
• Education
• Decontamination
• Water access re-design
• Research
• Management
• Other ideas that prevent the introduction or limit the spread of AIS

Funding available

Typical project awards will range from $5,000 to $25,000, with a maximum project award of $50,000. No match required.

Eligible expenses include consulting fees, staff time, materials, supplies, labor, printing and promotions.

Apply

Applications are due by 3 p.m. on Thursday, January 11, 2024.

To access the RFP and apply once the grants are open for applications:

• Visit the Supplier Portal.
• Under Contracting opportunities, view the application materials by selecting Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Grants
• You need to be registered to submit an application. There has been an upgrade to the Supplier Portal, so all respondents will need to register or re-register. For detailed instructions on how to register and submit an application, including video tutorials and more, visit the Supplier Portal information page.

Contact

Staff is available to answer questions, offer resources and provide feedback on project ideas.

For more information, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.

Celebrate all the activities we enjoy in and around Hennepin County lakes while protecting them from aquatic invasive species (AIS). AIS can cause irreparable damage to native fish and plant populations an affect our health, recreation, property values, and the economy.

Join Lake Pledge to learn what you can do to help prevent the spread of AIS in Hennepin County lakes.

The program:

• Is family friendly
• Will help you learn how activities may unintentionally introduce AIS
• Includes short entertaining videos showing Hennepin County lake users taking action to prevent AIS
• Takes just minutes each week to participate

Join Lake Pledge today

• On a computer: lakepledge.com
• On a mobile device: download the Lake Pledge app on Apple’s App Store or Google Play

When you register: select the Hennepin County lake you use most often. When prompted to select the ways that you enjoy time on the water (sailing, fishing, kayaking, etc.) choose everything that applies to any lake in the county.

Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) infestations can occur as a result of the accidental release of water garden plants and animals. Introducing animals and plants from your business into the ecosystems in Minnesota can cause harm to our lakes, streams and wetlands.

The following training and resources will teach you how pet stores and garden centers can introduce AIS and what staff can do to prevent it. Join pet stores and garden centers by committing to protect Minnesota waters from AIS.

Take a short training

Watch this four-minute video training and take the short quiz to earn your AIS prevention course certificate of completion. This video is intended for store owners, managers, and staff at garden centers and pet stores.

Take the quiz and pledge to prevent the spread of AIS. You will receive a certificate upon completion.

AIS disposal guidelines

Garden center and nursery disposal guidelines for water garden plants and animals

Print these guidelines (PDF).

• Inspect and rinse new water garden plants to rid them of seeds, plant fragments, snails and small animals. Rinse into sink, on a vegetated area, or into container where water can’t drain to storm sewers. Strain out any sediment, plant fragments and small animals and seal in a plastic bag, freeze for 24 hours and dispose of in the trash.
• Make sure that display water gardens are isolated from natural waterways, wetlands and areas that flood.
• Drain water in the sink through a strainer or on dry land where water can’t flow to storm drains, ditches, wetlands, streams, or other surface waters when cleaning or emptying display water gardens and aquatic plant containers.
• Over-winter plants for next season if possible.
• Freeze unwanted plants for 24 hours in a sealed plastic bag, or heat in a microwave and then dispose in trash. Composting should be avoided, as seeds and fragments may still grow.
• Dispose of nonviable prohibited invasive species and aquatic plants at a legal site at least 300 feet from any water body or seasonally flooded land.
• Provide information to your customers on proper disposal of unwanted plants.

Pet store disposal guidelines for aquatic plants and animals

Print these guidelines (PDF).

• Filter out plant fragments, snails, eggs or other small living species from aquarium water using a strainer or small mesh net before disposing of water down the drain.
• Prevent plants and plant parts, seeds, animals and aquarium or rinse water, from reaching storm drains.
• Inspect and rinse new aquatic plants into a sink with a strainer, to rid them of seeds, fragments, snails and fish.
• Freeze unwanted plants for 24 hours in a plastic bag, or heat in a microwave and then place in the trash. Composting should be avoided, as seeds and fragments may still grow.
• Make sure plants and animals cannot escape or are not released into the environment.
• Provide information to your customers on proper disposal of unwanted plants and animals.
• Follow guidelines for humanely euthanizing unwanted live fish and animals. Guidelines are available through the American Veterinary Medical Association. Disposal of live organisms should be considered as the last resort.

Resources for pet and garden stores

Print and post these resources in your store or workplace for employee reference.

• Prevention tips for garden center and pet store staff (PDF)
• Invasive plants and animals in pet stores poster (PDF)
• Invasive plants and animals in garden stores poster (PDF)

Sign up for the Responsible Buyers email list from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to stay up to date on new information.

Reference materials

• Trade pathways for invasive species. Information from the Minnesota DNR on AIS specific to pet stores, the horticultural industry, and other businesses.
• Prohibited and regulated invasive species list. The most up-to-date list of prohibited and regulated invasive species and invasive species laws from the Minnesota DNR.
• Invasive species information sheets from the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network.
• Auctions and take-back programs from the Minnesota Aquarium Society.
• Goldfish and Koi rescue and sales events from the Minnesota Water Garden Society

Current volunteers

Fill out the volunteer hours reporting form.

Become a volunteer

For information about volunteering with the aquatic invasive species prevention program, contact Tony Brough at tony.brough@hennepin.us or 612-348-4378.

Grants awarded 2023

In March 2023, the county awarded twelve grants totaling $216,228. The projects will prevent and slow the spread of aquatic invasive species by assessing the risk of different pathways, surveying for early detection, empowering the public, supporting research, expanding water inspections, and increasing public awareness.

Absolute Science Studios

$12,815 to create awareness and prevention actions to the boating public through creating five first of their kind physical 3D models of AIS, to engage the viewer beyond a typical photograph. The goal is that the visuals and information will allow the public to recognize AIS easily, help with early detection, and realize what role they play in AIS prevention. These models will be incorporated into interpretive displays at five public boat accesses.

Wayzata Sailing School

$16,000 to create two new art sail designs focusing on AIS prevention messaging (Clean, Drain, Dry), using a new team of local artists, prioritizing groups who are typically underrepresented in natural resources and outdoor recreation. The new sails will be used for the Adaptive Sailing Program, which provides extra assistance to help people with physical and mental disabilities experience sailing. The project will also pilot the use a new sail manufacturing company that allows the artists’ creations to be digitally printed on the sails.

Waterfront Restoration

$21,348 to use outreach and engagement tactics to increase self-inspection by boaters when inspectors are not present at the access. The staff will document interactions with boaters and create a “best practices” guide describing what encourages some boaters to self-inspect and discourages others. This project will employ four to five ambassadors who will encounter boaters at times that inspectors are not present, including the Surfside Launch on Lake Minnetonka that observed especially high violation rates in 2022.

Bolton & Menk, Inc (two projects)

$21,735 to create a portable interactive AIS display prototype that can be replicated and used by water resource professionals around the county for outreach on preventing the introduction and spread of AIS. The display will educate the public about lesser-known sources of AIS such as pet stores and garden centers as well as the more commonly known source of watercrafts. It will be small and light enough to be easily transported to events, which will fill a need identified by practitioners currently using much larger, difficult-to-transport AIS engagement tools.

$10,700 to increase awareness and identification of AIS for reporting and early detection among lakeshore homeowners and county residents. Provide on-lake AIS surveys bringing a limnologist out on the water with local lake groups, provide lakeshore property owners equipment and training for AIS monitoring, a local AIS workshop, and AIS newsletter assistance.

Lake Minnetonka Association (two projects)

$5,000 to focus on early detection of AIS on Lake Minnetonka with assistance from the company PLM Lake & Land Management Corp. They will survey public and private access locations on Lake Minnetonka for Starry Stonewort, which is an aquatic invasive species that was first documented in Hennepin County in 2018. To date in Hennepin County, starry stonewort has only been identified in Medicine Lake. The University of Minnesota lists Lake Minnetonka as one of the top five lakes in the state likely to become infested with starry stonewort. The survey will be conducted at the optimal point in the growing season and will follow University of Minnesota methodology.

$3,650 to assess the success of flowering rush treatments from 2019 to 2021. There may still an opportunity to eradicate or greatly reduce flowering rush from several bays on Lake Minnetonka with a continued focus on early detection, management, and awareness. The Lake Minnetonka Association (LMA) will educate shoreland property owners on how to identify flowering rush and ask people to contact them if they find the plant. Suspected sightings will then be verified, recorded, and treated with LMA funding. Improved awareness and reporter increase the likelihood of successful eradication of flowering rush.

Christmas Lake Association (two projects)

$5,000 to leverage lakepledge.com (a county-developed app to engage and educate lakeshore homeowners on AIS prevention behaviors) with Christmas Lake homeowners and their children to provide them with a better understanding of their role in preventing the spread of AIS. Funding is contingent on the number of signups with a target participation of 250 registered users obtaining 500 virtual badges within lakepledge.com. If the lake association meets its lakepledge.com participation goals, they will unlock an additional $5,000 that can be used to enhance the existing AIS inspection and decontamination program at the city-owned public access.

$10,000/year for three years to supplement the homeowners association’s existing watercraft inspection and decontamination program in accordance with the county’s AIS guidelines. This project leverages funding from multiple partners including $5,000 from the City of Shorewood and approximately $58,000 from the Christmas Lake Homeowners Association. Annual funding amounts are subject to the county receiving funds for AIS prevention from the State of Minnesota.

WaterGuards LLC

$19,980 to educate and encourage boaters to take the correct actions to prevent the spread of AIS. They will provide watercraft inspection and educational services on ten high risk county accesses from the fishing opener to Labor Day. Staff will be randomly scheduled at locations or times when other inspection programs are not present. Additional emphasis will be placed on boater education including the proper use of CD3 stations.

Three Rivers Park District

$50,000/year for three years to supplement the Three Rivers Park District’s existing watercraft inspection program in accordance with the county’s AIS guidelines. This three-year agreement will expand the number of lakes, number of watercrafts decontaminated, and working hours of AIS inspectors. Annual funding amounts are subject to the county receiving funds for AIS prevention from the State of Minnesota.

Minneapolis Park and Recreational Board

$40,000/year for three years to supplement the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board’s existing watercraft inspection program in accordance with the county’s AIS guidelines. This three-year agreement will expand AIS inspection hours. Annual funding amounts are subject to the county receiving funds for AIS prevention from the State of Minnesota.

AIS Prevention Aid Guidelines 2020–2025

Hennepin County has received funding from the State of Minnesota since 2014 to implement plans to stop the introduction or limit the spread of AIS. To receive funding, the county must establish guidelines for the use of the proceeds.

In 2019, adjustments were made to the county’s AIS prevention aid guidelines to direct the use of funds received 2020 through 2025. County staff engaged more than 60 stakeholders in evaluating the county’s AIS prevention programs, guidelines and funding options. Learn more about the evaluation by reading the Aquatic Invasive Species Program Evaluation Report (PDF).

Changes to the guidelines include:

• Updating the goals to reflect the Natural Resources Strategic Plan
• Defining the county’s best practices for public water access design
• Emphasizing unpredictability in inspections
• Setting funding by category goals to ensure the program is comprehensive
• Funding of core program functions of enforcement at public water accesses and public access redesign project outside of a grant solicitation process to help partners with long-term planning and streamline administrative tasks to implement public access redesign work.

See the 2020-2025 AIS Prevention Aid Guidelines (PDF) to learn more.

Accomplishments report

The accomplishments report highlights how Hennepin County is using the state funding and the results of the projects we support. See the 2021-2022 AIS prevention program accomplishments report (PDF).

AIS prevention behaviors at river accesses

Hennepin County partnered with Bolton & Menk in 2022 to conduct observations at five public river accesses in Hennepin County to determine the extent of AIS prevention behavior of those using the accesses. Read the report (PDF) to learn more.  

AIS ambassadors program

In 2022 the county funded an ambassador program to increase boater self-inspection when inspectors are not present at five public accesses. Ambassadors provided boaters education materials. Ambassadors logged 611 hours and direct interactions with 2,041 boaters. Read the program report (PDF) to learn more.

Starry stonewort early detection study

Hennepin County partnered with Environs, LLC in 2022 to conduct early detection diver surveys in Lake Minnetonka. The purpose of this survey was to search for any new invasive plants or animals in the area immediately surrounding public water access sites with a focus on starry stonewort. Read the report (PDF) to learn more. 

CD3 usage data

In 2022, Hennepin County partnered with HCI Hughes Company Innovations to analyze past and current data of CD3 stations for better operation and decision-making. Review a summary of the findings for more information (PDF). 

AIS in pet stores and garden centers: inspection and education

In 2021, we partnered with Fortin Consulting, Inc. to inspect retail pet stores and garden centers for aquatic invasive species (AIS) as a potential pathway for spreading AIS to Minnesota lakes and streams. Read the report (PDF) to learn more.

Medicine Lake AIS aerial early detection pilot

In 2020, we partnered with HCI Hughes Company Innovations to conduct an innovative Aquatic Invasive Species early detection project utilizing an industrial drone. The drone was equipped with high-resolution optical and multispectral sensors and mapped approximately 50 acres on Medicine Lake. The area mapped was known to have three aquatic invasive species including Starry Stonewort. Read the analysis and findings (PDF) to learn more.

Invasive goldfish study

In 2020, we partnered with the Nine Mile Creek Watershed District to assess the goldfish population and movement in Lake Cornelia system. Goldfish up to 16 inches in length were captured during this study and it was estimated that 27,472 goldfish exist in North Cornelia alone. Goldfish were recently added to the priority list for investigation and the county is on the leading edge of this work. Antennas were installed to monitor the movements of tagged goldfish to identify recruitment locations. Read the full invasive goldfish population and inter-waterbody movement assessment (PDF) to learn more.

Lakes with limited access study

Hennepin County funded Fortin Consulting to survey 13 lakes and ponds without public boat access for the presence of aquatic invasive species. At least one aquatic invasive species was found in each of these waters, including curly-leaf pondweed, Chinese and banded mystery snails, and invasive carp and goldfish. The results from these surveys show AIS can spread into lakes without public boat accesses. These results highlight that efforts for prevention need to extend to multiple pathways. Read the full assessing the risk of AIS in waters with no public access report (PDF) to learn more.

Public access redesign study

The county has redesigned several public accesses using theories from behavior change research to prompt boaters to take proper aquatic invasive species prevention actions. The county commissioned an observational study to evaluate the effectiveness of the redesign in encouraging boaters to take action.

Key takeaways from the study include:

• Redesigned accesses have better compliance rates
• Redesigned accesses have better self-inspection rates
• Redesigned accesses are successful at creating social norms and prompting action
• Boaters behave differently when DNR inspectors are present
• Data on tool use and timing can be used to improve AIS prevention programs
• Traditional access signage has limited affect
• Redesigning accesses can be cost effective way to prevent the spread of AIS

Based on the study results, county staff recommend expanding efforts to redesign accesses to promote aquatic invasive species prevention actions in conjunction with optimizing use times and creating uncertainty as to when inspectors will be present.

Read the full public access redesign observation summary report (PDF) to learn more.

Lake public access observations

This project is part of an effort to identify and manage pathways for the introduction and spread of invasive species into and within Hennepin County. The purpose of this project is to conduct observation research of aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention behavior for those using public lake accesses in Hennepin County.

See the 2020 lake public access observations for Aquatic Invasive Species prevention behaviors report (PDF).