Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates Blog

MLR began the year with low expectations and we were not disappointed. Minnesota’s 2016 Legislative Session ended in chaos. A number of important pieces of legislation simply died because the clock ran out.

In 2014 MLR and MN COLA urged the Lessard Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, LSOHC to reccommend to the the Minnesota Legislature that part of the money raised by the 3.8ths of a cent sales tax approved by MN voters in 2008 (The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment) be used to protect aquatic habitats from aquatic invasive species, AIS.  The LSOHC suggested that the MN Legislature create a "AIS Innovation Grant" of about $4.5 million to be administered by the Initiative Foundation. The Legislature approved this appropriation in 2014.

Here is a link to the update recently provided by the Intitiative Foundation. This grant has an open application process and uch of the funding is still available.  You can learn more about how to apply for this funding at https://www.ifound.org/community/aquatic-invasive-species/

Hello AIS Partners,

A few new AIS resources have recently become available. Please read below for details on each.
1.        An updated AIS sign program
2.        An updated AIS publication order form
3.        2016 AIS Prevention Aid distribution amounts posted
4.        Remember to submit your county plan or resolution by December 31^st, 2015     

This week Jeff Forester spoke at the 2015 PNWER Conference in Big Sky, Montana. The PNWER AIS working group wanted to hear about Minnesota's new local funding of AIS work and the very early outcomes of that work.