Watercraft Access Inspections Administered by Local Government Units - Description of Grant Offer

Application Deadline: February 21, 2012

Program Purpose

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Invasive Species Program is offering grant funds to assist local government units (LGUs) to hire watercraft inspectors to work at water accesses in their area. The DNR will also provide training to watercraft inspectors hired by the LGU. These grants are intended to help prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species, especially zebra mussels into Minnesota waters. Watercraft inspectors funded with these grants must be employees of the LGU or hired through an employment agency.

Eligible Applicants

Local units of government (such as conservation districts, cities, counties, and watershed districts) that are able to hire staff to conduct watercraft inspections.

Description of Grant Offer and Funding Levels

There are two types of grant funds available; basic watercraft inspectors (Level 1) and watercraft inspectors who also use a decontamination unit (Level 2).

Basic Watercraft Inspectors (Level 1)

Approximately $75,000 of grant funding is available to assist LGUs to hire watercraft inspectors to work at public water accesses. These Level 1 inspectors will be trained and authorized by the DNR to conduct inspections of water-related equipment, as described in MN Statute 84D.105. Once trained and authorized, these inspectors can inspect water-related equipment and can require the removal of aquatic macrophytes or aquatic invasive species and the draining of water as needed. They are also authorized to prohibit an individual from placing or operating their equipment in waters of the state if the individual refuses to allow an inspection of their equipment or refuses to remove and dispose of aquatic invasive species or aquatic macrophytes, or to drain the water. Level 1 inspectors are not trained nor authorized to conduct watercraft decontaminations.

The maximum grant amount offered to help hire basic inspectors is $7,750. Grantees will be reimbursed for costs associated with hiring watercraft inspectors, or contracting with an employment agency to provide watercraft inspectors, up to their grant amount. The DNR will reimburse grantees for documented eligible expenses up to $7.75 per hour of watercraft inspections and travel time.

Watercraft Inspectors with Decontamination Units (Level 2)

Approximately $50,000 is available on a pilot basis to provide grants to LGUs to hire Level 2 watercraft inspectors. These inspectors will conduct watercraft inspections and use decontamination units to clean water-related equipment as needed as described in MN Statute 84D.105. This grant is intended to help defray the cost of hiring these inspectors and not the cost for the decontamination unit itself. It is available to LGUs who own or rent their own decontamination equipment. These inspectors will be trained and authorized by the DNR to conduct inspection of water-related equipment and to conduct decontamination of that equipment according to state decontamination protocols. Once trained and authorized, these inspectors can inspect water-related equipment, they can require the removal of aquatic plants and aquatic invasive species, the draining of water, and the decontamination of the equipment, as needed. They are also authorized to prohibit an individual from placing or operating their equipment in waters of the state if the individual refuses to allow an inspection of their equipment or refuses to: remove and dispose of aquatic invasive species or aquatic macrophytes, drain water, or have their equipment decontaminated according to state decontamination protocols.

The maximum grant amount offered to help hire staff to inspect and decontaminate watercraft is $25,000. Grantees will be reimbursed for costs associated with hiring watercraft inspectors, or contracting with an employment agency to provide watercraft inspectors, up to their grant amount. The DNR will reimburse grantees for documented eligible expenses up to $11.00 per hour of watercraft inspection, decontamination, and travel time.

Grant Ranking Criteria

All potential projects will be ranked based on the grant criteria listed below. Highly ranked projects will be offered a grant. Proposals will be evaluated by DNR staff within the Invasive Species Program. Proposed projects must focus on the prevention of the spread of aquatic invasive species. Priority will be given to proposals/ requests that have:

  1. Waters known to be popular destinations for boaters leaving zebra mussel infested waters; based on past watercraft inspector surveys of boaters.
  2. High-use water accesses; based on the number of parking spaces and past watercraft inspector observations. Proposed accesses will be ranked based on their average rate of use.
  3. Waters located in high-use or popular traveler destination areas
  4. Water accesses near or on zebra mussels infested waters;
    1. Waters less than 10 miles away are ranked high, waters 10 to 20 miles away are medium, waters greater than 20 miles are low.
    2. Waters infested with zebra mussels are medium
  5. Waters near or infested with other invasives species (besides zebra mussels)
    1. Accesses on waters less than 10 miles away are ranked high, waters 10 to 20 miles away are medium, waters greater than 20 miles are low.
    2. Accesses on waters infested with other invasives species (besides zebra mussels but not curly-leaf pondweed) are medium.

Applicants may be awarded all or part of their requested grant amount. The final amount of DNR Grants offered to applicants will depend upon:

  • The total amount of funds requested by all applicants;
  • How well the proposal meets the grant criteria;
  • The past history of the grantee on previous prevention grants;
  • The relative ranking of the proposal with other proposals.

If you are interested in this grant program, read and submit the Grantee Requirements and Grant Application for Watercraft Inspections.

Applicants must be able to meet grantee requirements, as described in the application form.

Timeline

February 21, 2012 Deadline to submit proposals. They must be received on or before this day by mail, email, or fax. You may also hand deliver your application on or before Tuesday, February 21 during normal business hours (8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday). Please note that State Offices are closed Monday, February 20 for Presidents' Day.
March 16, 2012 All applicants will be notified whether or not their proposal will be funded.
March 31, 2012 Successful applicants will receive a contract in the mail for signature.
December 31, 2012 Requests for reimbursement documentation to the DNR.

Proposals must be submitted on the application forms. Electronic proposals are encouraged. Completed applications should be returned by February 21, 2012 to:

Wendy Crowell, Ecological Resources Grants Coordinator
DNR - Ecological and Water Resources, Box 25
500 Lafayette Road
St. Paul, MN 55155
Wendy.Crowell@state.mn.us
Phone: 651-259-5085
Fax: 651-296-1811

You will be notified when your application is received. If you do not receive a notification, please contact Wendy Crowell (651-259-5085).

Further information

Questions regarding general invasives prevention information:

Jay Rendall
Invasive Species Prevention Coordinator
651-259-5131
Jay.Rendall@state.mn.us

Questions concerning the watercraft inspection category:

Heidi Wolf
Watercraft Inspection Coordinator
651-259-5152
Heidi.Wolf@state.mn.us

Questions regarding the grant process in general:

Wendy Crowell
Ecological Resources Grants Coordinator
651-259-5085
Wendy.Crowell@state.mn.us