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SUPPORT INCREASED FUNDING FOR AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES COUNTY AID <br />Position: <br />Washington County supports an increase in the state funding provided to counties to prevent the <br />introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. <br />Issue: <br />In 2014, the Legislature approved the creation of a new county aid program to prevent the introduction <br />and spread of aquatic invasive species in our state's lakes, rivers, and streams. Annually $10 million is <br />appropriated and split amongst the 87 counties based on a formula that takes into account the number <br />of public water accesses and watercraft trailer parking spaces in each county. <br />Washington County has developed a competitive grant program to select projects to fund from its share <br />of the aid program. Projects funded include public awareness and planning activities, watercraft <br />inspections, and the control of Eurasian watermilfoil and flowering rush in a number of county lakes. The <br />county has required third -party monitoring of the control activities, and required all grantees to submit <br />detailed result reports in order to track the effectiveness and efficiency of the projects funded. <br />The county has partnered with the Washington Conservation District, local watershed districts, and many <br />local lake associations to carry out projects funded through the county aid program. The county funding <br />provided to the watershed districts and lake associations has grown in importance because of the <br />reduction in funding for these efforts by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. In 2017, the <br />county received over $350,000 in requests, nearly three times more than the county's state grant. <br />Support and Opposition: <br />Support is likely to come from other Minnesota counties, the Washington Conservation District, <br />watershed districts, and local lake associations. <br />Previous Consideration: <br />In April of 2016, the County Board sent a letter to the county's legislative delegation thanking them for <br />providing the county aid to prevent the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species and <br />recommending additional funding in future years. <br />No Action: <br />The county will continue to provide grants to local partners to prevent the introduction and spread of <br />aquatic invasive species, but as the number of both public water accesses and watercraft trailer parking <br />spaces continue to increase statewide, Washington County's share of the $10 million in aid will likely <br />decrease. <br />Financial Implications: <br />In 2014, the first year of the program the county received $62,811 of the total $5 million available <br />statewide. Beginning in 2015, the statewide total increased to $10 million per year and the county share <br />in 2015 and 2016 was just more than $139,000 and the amount certified to be received in 2017 is just <br />more than $132,000. <br />Contact Persons: <br />Kevin Corbid, Deputy Administrator <br />Office of Administration <br />651-430-6003 <br />Kevin.Corbid@co.washington.mn.us <br />28 <br />Colin Kelly, AICP <br />Senior Planner, Office of Administration <br />651-430-6011 <br />Colin.Kelly@co.washington.mn.us <br />