In 2014, a county tax bill was passed that provides funds for aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention. Each year, $10 million will be provided to Minnesota counties to support AIS prevention programs.
County board representatives designate AIS program oversight to a local government within the county. The designated local government works closely with local, state and federal governments, as well as nonprofit and private organizations, to develop and implement AIS prevention programs. Individual counties make decisions on how funds are to be used. Funds must be spent according to state statute, while still abiding by all current laws and regulations.
The DNR's Role:
- Provides technical support to counties, local governments and their partners to develop AIS prevention strategies.
- Receives county AIS plans and resolutions, describing how funds will be used each year.
- Facilitates regional workshops to bring local government staff leading their county's AIS Prevention program together to share and learn from collective experiences, support collaborative efforts, and maintain strong inter-county relationships.
Contact
General questions about AIS Prevention Aid and the DNR's role can be directed to the DNR AIS Prevention Planners:
Rafael Contreras-Rangel (for southern Minnesota; 651-259-5350 or [email protected]) and Doug Jensen (for northern Minnesota; 218-203-4355 or [email protected]).
For questions about specific county programs or how counties are using their funds, contact the county directly by referencing the Primary County AIS Contacts list.
New resources
- 2024 Online Workshops – Recordings of a series of four online workshops (full descriptions here) each focused on specific topics of interest with presentations from state and local programs.
- Workshop 1: New Approaches
- Workshop 2: Partnerships
- Workshop 3: Learn from an Expert
- Workshop 4: Public Engagement
- Preventing AIS through Behavior Change - Learn about the DNR project that aims to better promote the adoption of desirable AIS prevention behaviors and create positive social norms supporting AIS prevention in Minnesota.
- 2020 Workshop Summary - AIS county leads discussed program successes and challenges at four workshops in December 2019 and January 2020.
- Metrics Template 2024 - A new and improved version for 2024, this template list of metrics provides a standardized way for local governments and their partners to voluntarily track their AIS Prevention Aid accomplishments.
- A Snapshot of Metrics and Accomplishments in 2023 – 63 counties that receive AIS Prevention Aid voluntarily completed and submitted metrics templates for their AIS work in 2022. This document showcases the breadth and complexity of their work and achievements in numbers and stories. There are also one-page summaries for 2022, 2021, 2020 and 2019 available.
- Aquatic Invasive Species Signs at Water Accesses - The DNR provides a limited number of Stop Aquatic Hitchhikers! signs at no cost for lake associations, local governments and other groups to post at water accesses. You may also print your own signs.
AIS Videos - Humorous and informative 30-second video public service announcements created by Leighton Broadcasting, with financial support from counties and lake groups around the state. The videos are available to view, share and use on webpages, in social media posts and as broadcast PSAs. Videos with audio descriptions are available upon request.
Write your plan
Counties are required by statute to establish and submit guidelines, either by resolution or through adoption of a plan, that detail how the AIS Prevention Aid funding will be used. Guidelines must be submitted to the DNR by December 31 each year payments are received.
- Minnesota Statute 477A.19 - Legislative language for aquatic invasive species prevention aid.
- Local AIS Plan Framework - A framework for creating a plan for preventing and managing AIS. Components of this document may be used to inform a local plan depending on the needs of the county.
- Minnesota State Management Plan for Invasive Species - A framework to coordinate and guide efforts to prevent the introduction, reduce the spread, and promote appropriate management of invasive species populations within Minnesota by state, federal, tribal and local governments and the private sector.
- Local AIS Action Framework - A descriptive, not prescriptive, framework of AIS prevention strategies drafted by the Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates for use by local governments receiving AIS Prevention Aid.
- Examples of County Resolutions and Plans - Submitted resolutions and plans that may be used as examples for developing AIS prevention guidelines.
Put your plan into action
Resources to help you build and implement components of your county's AIS prevention plan.
- Learn from county programs
- Address pathways of spread
- Conduct watercraft inspections and decontamination
- Engage the public
- Leverage partnerships and resources
- Enforce AIS laws
- Detect and respond to new infestations
- Manage established AIS populations
- Attend a training
AIS prevention aid background
Minnesota Statute 477A.19 - Provides $10 million to counties each year to prevent the introduction and limit the spread of aquatic invasive species. The funds are allocated based on each county's share of watercraft trailer launches (50%) and each county's share of watercraft trailer parking spaces (50%). It is up to individual counties to make decisions on how the funds are to be used while still abiding by all current laws and regulations.
Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Aid Distributions - Department of Revenue information about the program, including certification charts showing distribution of funds for each county.
- Payments follow traditional aid payment dates: July 20 and December 26.
- The Department of Revenue will develop a certification chart on or before August 1 of each year, for the amount to be paid to each county in the following year.