Put your plan into action

When developing or updating your plan or resolution to outline how your county will use the AIS prevention funds, you may want to incorporate the following actions.

 

Learn from county programs

The following submitted resolutions and plans may be used as examples for developing your county's AIS prevention guidelines. These examples showcase the diversity of guidelines created to meet the local needs of individual counties.

County Resolutions

2015 County Plans

End of the Year Reports

The following end of the year reports were created voluntarily, to highlight achievements and progress made by the county in implementing their AIS Prevention Plan. These reports are beyond statutory requirements and showcase examples of how counties are tracking their work.

 

Address pathways of spread

Public Water Access Locations

Clean and Drain Areas - Create visible and functional designated areas where boaters can clean and drain boating equipment.

Signs at Water Accesses - The DNR provides a limited number of Help 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 using the provided files.

AIS Location Information

  • Infested Waters List - The DNR will add a lake, river, pond or wetland to the infested waters list if it contains an aquatic invasive species that could spread to other waters. The DNR may also list a lake, river, pond or wetland as infested if it is connected to a body of water where an aquatic invasive species is present.
  • Aquatic Invasive Species Spread Across Minnesota - An interactive map from Minnesota Public Radio tracking the spread of AIS across the state.
  • Designated Infested Waters Data - Location information (GIS data) on waterbodies infested with invasive species.

 

Conduct watercraft inspection and decontamination

Watercraft Inspection Program - This program provides boater education, watercraft inspections and watercraft decontaminations at public water accesses.

Decontamination - Decontamination means to wash, drain, dry or thermally or otherwise treat water-related equipment in order to remove or destroy AIS. Decontamination units are portable, self-contained, high pressure, high heat wash units that allow a watercraft to be decontaminated at a public access without allowing any of the wash water to run off.

 

Engage the public

Public Awareness Products
The DNR has developed AIS outreach materials that can be downloaded or ordered to reach out to various audiences. Many of these products may be personalized with local contact information. Additional materials can be found with Minnesota Sea Grant and Wildlife Forever.

Campaigns and Programs

Prevention Tools for Stakeholders - Outlines actions required by state law as well as additional recommendations to prevent the spread of AIS for specific user groups. Feel free to add this link to your web page or incorporate the messages into material (articles, publications) that you create.

AIS Volunteer/Ambassador Program - Citizens who are interested in informing the public about AIS at water accesses can receive training from DNR Watercraft Inspection Program staff.

 

Leverage partnerships and resources

Statewide Partners

  • Minnesota Sea Grant - Provides talks, booths and training workshops on AIS prevention and control issues as well as guidance on AIS program evaluation.
  • University of Minnesota - Minnesota AIS Research Center (MAISRC) - Uses innovative science to identify solutions to Minnesota's AIS problems. Their mission is to develop biologically and economically sound solutions to control key AIS affecting Minnesota's waters.
  • University of Minnesota Extension - Helps local governments, lake associations and citizen's groups plan, develop and implement science-based programs that prevent, monitor and control the establishment and spread of state-listed AIS.
  • Wildlife Forever - Leads a nationally recognized campaign to stop the spread of AIS with partners from across the nation. They use consistent messaging to generate behavior-changing practices in recreational users. They have outdoor experience and knowledge of the market, proven outreach materials and creative marketing tools.
  • Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates (MLR) - Their mission is to protect the Minnesota lake and river heritage for current and future generations by forging powerful links between lakes, lake advocates and policy makers.

Grants

  • Request for Proposal (RFP) Program - Counties can choose to distribute their AIS prevention funding to other community entities to support local projects through a request for proposal program. By leveraging existing capacity of local organizations, counties can maximize the effectiveness of their AIS prevention funds.
    • The Idea Brief is the first step of a two-step process. This form will identify if a project proposal is a good match with eligibility requirements, guidelines and priorities established by your county's AIS Grant Committee.
    • The Full Proposal provides additional details about the project and is to be filled out after the Idea Brief has been approved by your county's AIS Grant Committee.
    • Examples of AIS grant programs from Washington County and Todd County .
  • DNR AIS Grants - Highlights opportunities for local entities to partner with the DNR on invasive plant management and watercraft inspection.
  • Initiative Foundation AIS Grant - Funds innovative pilot projects to prevent the introduction or spread of AIS and to assess the effectiveness of these strategies. A total of $3.6 million will be awarded to fund a limited number of pilot projects.

 

Enforce AIS laws

Minnesota Invasive Species Laws - Minnesota has a number of laws intended to minimize the introduction and spread of invasive species in the state.

Local Law Enforcement Training - Training on AIS and AIS laws is available for peace officers. For more information or to schedule a training contact your area DNR Water Resource Enforcement Officer.

 

Detect and respond to new infestations

Report Invasive Species Locations - The process to report a potential invasive species varies depending if it is an aquatic plant or animal.

Zebra Mussel Monitoring Program - Help track zebra mussel distribution by monitoring lakes and rivers.

How to Search for Zebra Mussels - Search for zebra mussels in your lake or river. For those coordinating multiple volunteers, a Tracking Spreadsheet and Report Card are available.

How to Search for AIS at Water Accesses: Guidance for Watercraft Inspectors - With permission and support from supervisors, watercraft inspectors can follow these basic instructions to safety and effectively search for AIS at water accesses and report their findings. For supervisors, a Tracking Spreadsheet is available.

AIS Early Detection and Baseline Monitoring in Lakes - These guidelines provide a standardized set of AIS monitoring procedures and were developed to be used by resource professionals. The guidelines along with the Field Data Sheet and the Data Inventory Sheet may be used as tools to inventory and record the current distribution of AIS.

Rapid Response Plan - The plan describes Minnesota's approach to early detection monitoring and the state's reporting systems. The plan's primary focus is on the actions that can be done in preparation of responses and actions that occur once a potential AIS has been reported.

 

Manage established AIS populations

Invasive Aquatic Plant Management Program - To apply for a permit to manage invasive aquatic plants, complete and submit a permit application.

Minnesota's Department of Agriculture's Integrated Pest Management Program

 

Attend training

Lake Service Provider (LSP) Training - Businesses that are defined by law as lake service providers need to have the owner or manager attend aquatic invasive species training and apply for a lake service provider permit every three years.

Watercraft Inspection Level 1 and Level 2 Training - Only Local Government Units (LGUs) that enter into a Delegation Agreement with the DNR can hire authorized Level 1 and Level 2 watercraft inspectors. The DNR then provides training to individuals employed by the LGU and/or individuals working for contractors to the LGU. Contact a DNR Watercraft Inspection Supervisor or AIS Trainer for more information.

Volunteer/Ambassador Watercraft Inspector Training - Citizens who are interested in informing the public about AIS at water accesses can receive training from DNR Watercraft Inspection Program staff. Volunteers are not authorized to require watercraft inspections and the process is completely voluntary and educational for the watercraft users.

Law Enforcement AIS Inspector Training - contact your area DNR Water Resource Enforcement Officer.

Online Aquatic Invasive Species Training for Minnow Dealer Employees

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