In 2016 Sherburne SWCD staff developed a grant program to make funding available for local stakeholders to oversee AIS prevention efforts.
This program’s purpose is to:
Financially assist Sherburne County groups with creating strategic plans to prevent AIS introduction or spread
Monitor waterbodies for AIS
Increase local capacity in AIS prevention
Manage current AIS infestations in hopes of reducing their populations and thus limiting their spread to other waterbodies.
The grant program is designed to rank potential projects according to pre-selected criteria and will award the top projects (those ranking the highest) with financial assistance. Criteria was developed by SWCD staff with input from a local AIS Task Force. The criteria was developed to ensure that all state protocols and best management practices are followed in AIS prevention projects and to incentivize those projects that are implementing projects strategically, harnessing the power of local partnerships, encouraging volunteer engagement, and are developing new or innovative ways to approach AIS prevention. Sherburne SWCD reserves the right to update or adjust this program as needed given funding availability, local program participation, stakeholder input and new developments in AIS management knowledge.