2024 Invasive Aquatic Plant Management Grant Program

The application period is now closed. Applications received at this time will not be accepted. All completed applications submitted within the application period will be considered for funding. Consideration of grant applications no longer hinges on the order of applications received, as in previous years; grants will be offered to applicants selected at random until the funding available is exhausted.

Optional demographic information form – this section is encouraged but not required.

Overview

In 2024, the DNR is making up to $400,000 available to all local entities such as lake associations, watershed districts, cities and counties to receive state funding from the DNR for the control of curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush or starry stonewort.

Funding is for reimbursement of expenses incurred while conducting local AIS control projects under Invasive Aquatic Plant Management (IAPM) Permits. AIS control projects consist of a pre-treatment delineation survey conducted by a third party and a treatment. Only one application per waterbody (as defined by its unique Lake ID number) will be accepted. Applications will be selected by a random order until funds are spent, and grant award amounts will be determined by proposed and DNR-reviewed project acreage.

The DNR’s goal for invasive aquatic plant management is to minimize harmful effects caused by invasive plants while also protecting the natural resources and their use in the State. IAPM permitted treatments are selective for target invasive plants and minimize potential negative impacts to aquatic habitat, including water quality and native plants.

Program updates

2024 updates

Historically, these grants have supported projects that have completed delineation surveys in the same year as treatment. For curly-leaf pondweed, delineation surveys from the previous year may be allowed. For example, some curly-leaf pondweed delineation surveys completed in the summer or fall of 2023 may be used to determine 2024 treatment areas, although they will not be eligible for reimbursement with a 2024 grant. Alternately, delineation surveys may be conducted early in 2024, followed by a treatment early in 2024, or completed in the summer or fall of 2024 followed by a treatment early in 2025. Additional information is included in the “Delineation Survey” section below. Regardless of which year delineations are completed, all curly-leaf pondweed treatments must be completed by May 15.

2023 updates, applicable to 2024 cycle

Waterbodies that did not receive program funding in 2023 will have a higher chance of receiving a grant in 2024 to ensure that funds continue to support a wide range of waterbodies and organizations.
An IAPM permit application will not be required at the time of grant application as it was in past years. Instead, IAPM permit applications will be a step in the grant work plan to be completed in late winter and early spring of 2024. Being awarded a grant does not guarantee an IAPM permit. Expenses incurred for a delineation survey will be eligible for reimbursement, even if a IAPM permit is not issued.
Applicants proposing management of recent infestations of starry stonewort (since January 1, 2022) will receive higher priority for selection. Starry stonewort is a prohibited invasive macroalga that has been detected in nearly two-dozen lakes in Minnesota. Due to this limited distribution and the potential for adverse effects on recreation and aquatic habitat that may occur with additional spread within and between lakes, starry stonewort management will be a priority for this year’s program.
Applicants proposing hand-pulling or DASH of starry stonewort populations that are contained to public boat accesses will be eligible for increased grant funding support. Starry stonewort control using hand-pulling and diver-assisted suction harvesting (DASH) may be effectively containing its spread from public boat accesses in several lakes in MN.

Funding availability

In 2024, up to $400,000 in program funds are available. These grant funds can be used for projects that manage target invasive aquatic plants using herbicides, mechanical control or a combination of both.

Award amounts will be determined by estimated project acreage and, for control of starry stonewort populations contained to public accesses, proposed management method during review by Invasive Species Program Staff. The maximum award amount may not exceed $10,000. The state reserves the right to offer grant amounts that differ from the applicant’s request or the maximum award amount. Not all proposed projects will receive funding.

Grant awards will be limited to one management project grant per waterbody as defined by the waterbody’s unique eight-digit Lake ID number. In those applications for management projects that include control efforts for two or more target species that would require separate treatments, organizations can apply for a single grant that includes multiple IAPM permit applications. Project acreage will be summed across each species up to the maximum grant amount.

To receive funding for reimbursement of eligible costs under this grant program, you must:

be awarded a grant after completing the AIS Management Grant application,
arrange for a third-party delineation survey of the invasive plant to be controlled,
and apply for and obtain an IAPM Permit for the work related to the control project.
Grantees must make all arrangements and pay all project expenses up front.

The DNR will reimburse grantees for eligible costs up to the grant amount for expenses associated with the invasive species delineation and treatment.

Please note the DNR cannot reimburse costs for work done before the grant agreement is signed by all parties or work that is found by the DNR to be unsatisfactory or performed in violation of federal, state or local law. In addition, while projects may be partially funded by external funding sources, a grantee may not receive reimbursement for costs that have already been reimbursed by another external funding source.

This grant opportunity does not obligate the state to award a grant and the state reserves the right to cancel the solicitation if it is considered to be in its best interest due to lack of funding, agency priorities or other considerations.

Reimbursable expenses

Reimbursable expenses include the cost of:

Pre-treatment delineation by a qualified third-party contractor that adequately delineates treatment areas for an IAPM permit
Treatment by a qualified contractor according to an IAPM permit, which could include:
- Treatment or harvest by a contractor
- Herbicide, if it is purchased separately
- If harvesting is done by staff of the grantee, labor and other expenses related to maintaining and operating equipment

After the pre-treatment delineation survey and treatment are completed, additional expenses may be reimbursed using grant funds pending DNR approval, which may include:

Additional aquatic plant survey monitoring that adequately evaluates the efficacy and nontarget effects of the control project treatment or would aid in future invasive aquatic plant management
Genetic testing for hybrid watermilfoil in cases where the test would inform management (e.g., distinguish between native watermilfoil and invasive hybrid watermilfoil). Check in with your Regional Invasive Species Specialist before conducting genetic testing for hybrid watermilfoil.

The purchase cost of durable equipment is not an eligible expense.

How to apply

The application period is now closed. Applications received at this time will not be accepted.

Review and fill out the Grant Application with Assurances form, applying for only one grant per unique waterbody ID.
- To fill out the PDF form, download the file and open it in Adobe Reader (which can be downloaded for free here). Do not open the PDF in your browser as you will not be able to save or sign the form using a browser.
- The Application must include the signature of the person in your organization with delegated authority to sign the grant contract agreeing to the terms of the grant program. When you sign the Application with Assurances, you certify that you have read the application and that you will comply with the approved application with assurances, the assurances in the Grant Award Notification (GAN) and all other applicable federal regulations, state statutes and local policies.
Return the filled and signed Application with Assurances form PDF as an email attachment to Angelique Dahlberg, [email protected].

Using the Minnesota SWIFT Supplier Portal

In the application, you will be asked to provide your organization’s SWIFT Supplier ID (sometimes also called Vendor ID). You can find helpful guides for tasks such as resetting your password or updating your supplier profile in the SWIFT Vendor Reference Guides. If your organization does not have a supplier profile, this link also provides information for registering as a supplier.

If you are unable to locate your organization’s SWIFT Supplier ID or create a supplier profile before the application deadline, you will be able to share your organization’s Federal Tax ID number, which can serve as a placeholder until you are able to obtain a Supplier ID.

Data practices

Please note that the day after the grant application deadline, the name and address of all applicants and the amounts requested become public. All other data are nonpublic until the Grant Award Notice is completed. After the application review process is completed, all data (except trade secret data) become public.

Review process

Grants received within the application period will be reviewed for completeness. The grant program will likely run out of funds before all applications that were received during the application period are funded.

Completed and on-time applications will be randomly ordered for selection. Applicants proposing work in waterbodies that were infested with starry stonewort after January 1, 2022 and waterbodies that did not receive funding in 2023 will have a higher likelihood of being ordered earlier.

DNR Invasive Species Specialists will review and adjust proposed project acreages. Specialists will also confirm that starry stonewort infestations are contained to public accesses and could be feasibly controlled by hand-pulling or diver-assisted suction harvesting for projects proposing such work. Grant award amounts will be calculated using this information, then applications will be selected in this order until funds are spent.

Award process

Grant award calculations

Grant awards will be determined by permitted acreage associated with the IAPM permit application. Grant awards will provide $1,500 for treatments estimated to be 10 acres or less. For projects larger than 10 acres, the grant will provide $1,500 for the first 10 acres and $150 per acre for each acre above 10 acres. In those applications for control projects for two or more target species and separate treatments, project acreage will be summed across each eligible species for determining the grant award offer.

Projects proposing hand-pulling or diver-assisted suction harvesting of starry stonewort populations contained to public accesses will receive $3,000 for treatments estimated to be 5 acres or less, and for projects larger than 5 acres, $3,000 for the first 5 acres and $300 for each additional acre.

No grant award will be more than $10,000.

Grant award notification

The DNR will continue using the Grant Award Notification process to expedite grant execution (when all parties have signed the grant agreement and work can begin) by 2-3 weeks, allowing for more time to plan spring delineation surveys and treatments. Please note the following important components of the process:

The grantee will agree to the terms of the grant by signing the Grant Application with Assurances document, which contains the terms of the grant agreement and will be incorporated by reference into the Grant Award Notification.
Grants will be fully executed with the official, signed Grant Award Notification sent to grant recipients. This document will contain all the remaining details (e.g., grant award amount, award period, and necessary funding and encumbrance information) as well as the necessary DNR signatures to complete the grant execution.
With the grant fully executed at this stage, project work can begin immediately with the official Grant Award Notification.

Clarifications may be necessary before execution of the award. Applicants recommended for an award must wait until they receive the signed Grant Award Notification (GAN), before providing any services and before incurring expenditures. Any expenses incurred prior to the full execution of the GAN are not reimbursable and are the responsibility of the applicant/grantee.

Work plan requirements

General expectations of grantees

Comply with required grants management policies and procedures set forth through Minn.Stat.§16B.97, Subd. 4 (a) (1).
Perform the duties outlined in the Grant Award Notification, which will also be listed in each grant application with assurances.
Grantees will be expected to retain documentation to support the expenditures related to the grant initiative described. Reimbursement must be based on necessary and applicable expenditures related to the program.
Maintain a ledger to track the grant budget expenditures and payment reimbursements plus documentation that supports your budget line item expenses.
If subcontracting is an allowable expenditure in the budget, follow applicable state and federal procurement laws and information in the application assurances.

Delineation survey

Grant funds are intended to support projects that have a delineation survey done in 2024, prior to treatment. Some delineation surveys done in 2023 may be adequate to define treatment areas for 2024 based on species and treatment method. If you believe a delineation survey done in 2023 is adequate to establish treatment areas in 2024, please include it with your permit application. It will be reviewed when your permit application is reviewed. If it is acceptable, the requirement for a new survey can be waived.

The delineation map must be submitted to complete the IAPM permit application, and the grantee must receive an IAPM permit to conduct the treatment work in the Management Grant Project.
The delineation survey cannot be done by the same company that does the treatment. It must be done by a qualified third party.
- Qualified staff or volunteers from the Grantee organization can do the delineation, but it must be acceptable to DNR Specialists who will review the survey. You should confirm with your Regional DNR Specialist whether they would be willing to review and possibly accept a survey done by qualified staff or volunteers in your organization prior to conducting a survey in this way.
Grantees must pay all survey expenses up front and make all arrangements.
The DNR reserves the right to request a new delineation survey.
If the delineation survey results in no areas suitable for treatment, the DNR will reimburse the cost of the delineation, up to the grant amount.
List of aquatic plant surveyors
Guidance for delineating aquatic invasive plants

Treatment

The DNR will only reimburse the cost of treatments done under and according to an IAPM permit. Grantees must pay all treatment expenses up front and make all arrangements. Treatment expenses from the same contractor that did the delineation (i.e., violated the third-party requirement for the delineation survey mentioned above) will not be eligible for reimbursement.

Resources for applicants

2024 process overview for grantees

Sign in to the Minnesota SWIFT Supplier Portal to confirm a) your Supplier ID number and b) that your organization’s official address provided in the Grant Application matches the address in the SWIFT system.
Complete the grant application and submit within the one-month application period.
If selected for funding, receive official Grant Award Notification. Please note: DNR may provide an unofficial email notifying you that your application has been selected for an award and asking for confirmation that you plan to accept the award. This is to provide timely information to you and other grantees for project planning. Work cannot begin until you have received the signed, official Grant Award Notification.
Apply for an IAPM Permit using MPARS.
Make arrangements and pay for a third-party delineation. Retain documentation of expenditures, the delineation survey report, and the delineation survey map.
Submit delineation survey results into MPARS to complete IAPM permit application.
Receive IAPM permit.
Make arrangements and pay for treatment. Retain documentation of expenditures, formal pesticide application record and treatment map.
Submit an email with expenditure documentation and supporting delineation and treatment documentation along with a reimbursement request letter as attachments to State’s Authorized Representative, Angelique Dahlberg, [email protected], to request reimbursement for eligible costs.
Receive notice of request approval.
Receive reimbursement for eligible costs (generally within 30 days of the request approval).

Helpful information, links, and documents

Timeline

Program step	Date
Updated program and application information posted here	November 16, 2023
Application period opens	12:01 a.m. November 17, 2023
Questions due	4:30 p.m. December 7, 2023
Final response to questions posted here	December 8, 2023
Application period closes	9 a.m. December 11, 2023
Application review and randomized selection	Late December 2023
Grant award notification	January 2024
Control project work	Begins after receiving the fully signed and executed Grant Award Notification.
Grant expiration	October 15, 2024, or when grant obligations are fulfilled, whichever is earlier

Contact information and FAQ

For assistance and further information on the grant and permit applications, and technical advice on your proposed control project, please contact your Regional Invasive Species Specialist, Aquatic Invasive Species Management Program Consultant Wendy Crowell at [email protected] and Research and Grants Coordinator Angelique Dahlberg at [email protected].