What's New in Minnesota – Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Prevention and Management
T i n a Wo l b e r s – A I S P r e v e n t i o n P l a n n e r
WisconsinLakesPartnershipConvention
A p r i l 2 5 th, 2 0 1 5
Minnesota Dept. Natural Resources
888‐646‐6367 | mndnr.gov/lsp Today’s Topics
 BackgroundonDNR’sAISProgram
 BriefOverviewofMinnesotaAISLaws
 DNREnforcement




EnforcementOfficers
RoadsideAISCheckStations
ZebraMusselDetectionK9Unit
WatercraftInspectionProgram
 RequiredTrainingPrograms


LakeServiceProviderPermits&Training
PublicTraining&TrailerDecal
 Prevention&ManagementPrograms


Background
Enforcement
DNRAISGrants
LocalAISPreventionAid
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Background on Minnesota DNR’s AIS Program
Background
Enforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Minnesota DNR Invasive Species Program ProgramGoals:
1.Preventtheintroduction
ofnewinvasivespeciesinto
Minnesota;
2.Preventthespreadof
invasivespecieswithin
Minnesota;
3.Reducetheimpacts
causedbyinvasivespecies
toMinnesota’secology,
society,andeconomy.
Background
Enforcement
FiscalYear2014InvasiveSpecies
ProgramSpending
Administration7%
Management/
Control20%
StateandRegional
Coordination20%
Inspections/
Enforcement47%
Education/Public
Awareness4%
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Overview of Minnesota AIS Laws
Background
Enforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Aquatic Invasive Species Laws
MinnesotaStatute,Section
84D:
 Species‐specificregulations
(prohibited,regulated)
 Infestedwaters
 Transportofwater,aquatic
plants,regulated/prohibited
species,andwater‐related
equipment


21‐daydrytimefordocks/lifts
Drainplugs/devicesmustbe
removed/openduring
transport
Background
Enforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Aquatic Invasive Species Laws cont.
MinnesotaStatute,Section84D
 Inspectionofwaterrelated
equipment
 Inspectorauthority
 Serviceproviderpermit

Nowincludesdecontamination
servicesandrent/leasewater
relatedequipment.
Background
Enforcement
MinnesotaStatute,Section86B
 RequiresmandatoryAIS
educationalcourseandtesting
programforanyonetrailering
watercraftorwater‐related
equipmentinMinnesota.
 Apersonthatcompletesthe
trainingwillreceiveanddisplay
anAISdecalontheirtrailer.
 Underreviewduringcurrent
legislativesession
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Penalties
*Similarlaws
Background
Enforcement
CivilCitation
MN
WI
Penalty Penalty*
Transportaquaticplantson
publicroad
$100
$232
Launchwithplantsattached
$200
$295
Transportorpossess
prohibitedspecies
$500
$295
Launchintonon‐infested
waterswithAISattached
$500
$295
Failuretodrainwater/have
plugout
$100
Transportinfestedwaterw/o
permit
$200
Subsequentoffenses
Amounts Crime‐ finedno
double
lessthan$700
and/or6months
(anynav.waters)
$243
(drainonly)
N/A
CriminalCitation
Penalty
Misdemeanor
Upto$1,000and/or90days
GrossMisdemeanor
Upto$1,000and/or90days
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Differences in State Laws
Minnesota
Background
Enforcement
Wisconsin
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
DNR Enforcement ENFORCEMENTOFFICERS
ROADSIDECHECKPOINTS
ZEBRAMUSSELDETECTIONK9UNIT
WAT E R C R A F T I N S P E C T I O N P R O G R A M
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Enforcement Background & Highlights
ConservationOfficers
WaterResourceEnforcementOfficers(WREOs)
 Ensurepreservation,enhancement,andrestoration
ofwaterresourcesthroughenforcement,education,
andcommunication(9statewide)
 Administer,regulate,andenforcetheWetland
ConservationAct(WCA)
 EnforceandfacilitateenforcementofAISregulations:



Conductroadsidecheckpointsandworkcrews
ConductAIStrainingsforlocallawenforcement
Assistwithlakeserviceprovidertrainings
During2014,DNR
conservationofficers
provided19,144hoursof
AISenforcementand
education,resultingin
over15,790contacts.
BackgroundEnforcement
2011
2012
2013
Law ComplianceChecks
5,463
17,700 7,974
13,461
Citations
121
998
405
366
WrittenWarnings
427
1,550
688
847
Violation Rate
18.0%
14.4%
13.7% 9.0%
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
2014
Roadside AIS Check Stations
 In2011statuteauthoritywasgrantedtoDNREnforcementDivisionto
performAIScheckstations.
 AllAIScheckstationswerestaffedwithenforcementofficers/supervisors,
invasivespeciesstaff,andamobiledecontaminationunit.
 CheckstationsprovedtobeaneffectivetoolindetectingAISviolations
throughoutthestate.
2012
2013
2014
#Checkpoints
9
18
27
Hoursofoperation
44
79
117
#Inspections
139
322
625
Averagedelay – no
violation(minutes)
3.9
3.3
3.0
10.8
10.7
Averagedelay – with 10.7
violation(minutes)
Violationrate
31.3% 20.19%
BackgroundEnforcement
17.0%
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Zebra Mussel Detecting K9 Unit
 TheMNDNREnforcement
DivisionaddedthreenewK‐9
officersin2013
 Trainedtosniffoutzebra
musselsthatmightbehidingon
boats,trailersandothergearand
equipmentrecentlyinthewater.
 TheywillassistallConservation
Officerstoimproveefficiency
andthoroughnessofwater‐
relatedequipmentinspections.
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Video: Zebra Mussel Detecting K9 Unit
https://youtu.be/lHk‐aVQebhw
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Watercraft Inspection Program
RoleoftheWatercraftInspector
1. Educateboaters
2. Inspectwatercraft
3. SurveyboatersonAISknowledge
andactivities
4. ProvidematerialsonAIS
5. Providedecontaminationsof
watercraft
TypesofWatercraftInspectors
 Authorized


Level1:Inspectwatercraftvisually
andtactilely.
Level2:SameasLevel1andtrained
tooperateaportable
decontaminationequipment.
 Volunteers&Ambassadors



Nolegalauthority,educationonly
DNRVolunteer
AISAmbassador
RequiredTraining
 Fullday,ledbyDNRtrainers
 CanbeeitherDNRstafforstaffof
localgovernmentunit(LGU)that
hassignedadelegationagreement
withtheDNR
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Watercraft Inspection
Authority
 Requireinspections,incoming/exiting
 Denylaunch

Ifapersonrefusesaninspection,ordoesn'tremovewaterorAIS.
 Requiredecontamination
DNRProgram
 Programsupervisorandregionalstaffplus:



100LevelOneinternshired
46LevelTwoseasonalstaffhired
10,000hoursstatewide
 Hoursdistributedbasedprimarilyonpresenceofzebra
musselsandlake/accessuse.
 23decontaminationunits
 Additional10,000hoursingrants
LGUPrograms
 MustenterintodelegationagreementwiththeDNR
 OversightbyLGU
 $150,000availableannuallyinDNRgrants
BackgroundEnforcement
DNRInspections
2014
2013
2012
Totalinspections
120,000
123,000
102,600
Totalinspectionhours
68,000
66,800
65,880
Inspectionsperhour
1.76
1.84
1.56
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Required Training Programs
L A K E S E RV I C E P ROV I D E R P E R M I T A N D T R A I N I N G
PUBLICTRAININGANDTRAILERDECAL
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Lake Service Provider Permit & Training
MinnesotaStatute,Section
84D.108
"Serviceprovider"meansan
individualwhoorentitythat:
(1)decontaminates,installs,
orremoveswater‐related
equipmentorstructuresinto
orfromwatersofthestatefor
hireorasaserviceprovidedasa
benefitofmembershipinayacht
club,boatclub,marina,or
similarorganization;or
(2)rentsorleaseswater‐
relatedequipmentthatwillbe
usedin,placedinto,orremoved
fromwatersofthestate.
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
To Get Their Permit
BackgroundEnforcement
Lakeserviceprovider(LSP)ownersor
managersmust:
 Registeronlineforaserviceprovider
training
 Paythe$50applicationandtestingfee
online
 AttendAIStrainingforlakeservice
providers
 Completeandpasstheserviceprovidertest
 Mustre‐certifyevery3years
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Lake Service Provider Training
TrainingGoals
1. Howtogetpermit
2. Legaldefinitionofaservice
provider
3. CommonthreatsfromAquatic
InvasiveSpecies(AIS)
4. Lawsrelatedtoservice
providers
5. BestpracticestoreduceAIS
spread
6. Howtousethetrainingmanual
andfollowthepermit
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Permit Basics
BackgroundEnforcement
 Onepermitperbusiness
 Additionalpeoplemaybelistedifthey
attendandpassthetraining
 Permit/vehiclestickersgoodfor3
calendaryears
 Permitisnon‐transferableandcanbe
revoked,deniedormodified
 Businessescannotlegallyprovide
servicesuntiltheyreceiveapermitand
vehiclestickersfromtheMNDNR
Civil Citation
Penalty
LSP install or remove water related equipment for hire w/o permit
$175
LSP fail to display LSP vehicle sticker on driver’s windshield
$175
LSP or LSP employees working without completing training
$175
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
 Thebusinessownerisresponsiblefor
Employee Online Training
BackgroundEnforcement
havingallstaffworkingundertheirpermit
trainedandcertified.
 Staffmusttakeanonlinetraining
 Staffwillreceiveadigitalwallet‐sizedLSP
employeecertificatewiththeirnameonit.
 Staffmusttoprintandkeepacopyofthe
certificateintheirpossessionatalltimes
whenworking.
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Lake Service Provider Resources Online
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Public Training and Trailer Decal*
MinnesotaStatute,Section86B.13
 “…developaneducational
courseandtestingprogram
thataddressidentificationof
[AIS]andbestpracticesto
preventthespreadof[AIS]when
movingwater‐related
equipment…”
 “issueanaquaticinvasivespecies
trailerdecalforeachtrailer
ownedbyapersonthat
satisfactorilycompletesthe
requiredcourseofinstruction.”
 “Apersonmaynottransport
watercraftorwater‐related
equipment […]withatrailer
unlessthepersonhasan
aquaticinvasivespeciestrailer
*statuteisunderrevisionduringthecurrent
decalissuedunderthissection.”
legislativesession
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
 Anyonetraileringwater‐related
Statute Goals*
equipmentinMinnesotashouldknow
andunderstandAISlawsandhowto
preventthespread
 Accomplishedthroughanonline
course,test,andtrailerdecal.They
would:




*statuteisunderrevision
duringthecurrent
legislativesession
BackgroundEnforcement

Payasmallfee
 Goestothebusinessthatcreatedthecourse
Takea20minuteonlinetrainingmodule
Pass10testquestionsattheend
 Takeitasmanytimesasnecessarytopass
Receivetrailerdecal(s)inthemail– which
provesthattheypassedthecourse
Repeatevery3years
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Public Training and Trailer Decal
Past Efforts and Future Directions
 2011– “trailersticker”withAIS
lawslistedonit
 2012–stickerreplacedwithAIS
traininganddecalrequirement
(effectiveJuly1st,2015)

2013DNRawardedabidtoalocal
companytocreatetheonlinecourse
– plannedlaunchin2015
 2015‐ twobillsintroducedinthe
houseandsenate– onetochange
andonetorepealthelaw/program

DNRpostponedlaunchingthe
programuntilthelegislature
determineshowtoproceed.
 Currently‐ thelegislatureis
workingonanalternatesolution
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
AIS Prevention & Management Programs
D N R A I S G R A N TS
LO C A L A I S P R E V E N T I O N A I D
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
DNR AIS Grant Program  WatercraftInspection(ranked,50%cost
share)


10,000DNRinternhours
$150,000tolocalgovernmentunits(Max
$4k/waterbody,$12k/grant)
 AquaticInvasiveSpeciesControlProjects



$675,000in2015,awardedonfirstcome‐first
servedbasis
Controlofcurly‐leafpondweed,Eurasianwater
milfoil,orfloweringrush;typically$100/acre
granted.
Grantsareatleast$1,000andnomorethan
$30,000
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
DNR AIS Grant Program cont.
 DNRSignsatWaterAccesses(free)
 ProvidesStopAquaticHitchhikers! signstosuccessful
applicantsatnocost.
 PublicAwareness(50%costshare)
 HelplocalentitiespersonalizeanddistributeAISprevention
information/educationalmaterialtotargetedaudiences
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
AIS Prevention Aid Program
MinnesotaStatute,Section477A.19
AquaticInvasiveSpeciesPreventionAid
“…mustusetheproceedssolelytopreventtheintroduction
orlimitthespreadofaquaticinvasivespeciesatall
accesssiteswithinthecounty.Thecountymustestablish,
byresolutionorthroughadoptionofaplan,guidelinesfor
theuseoftheproceeds.”
County’sreceived
paymentsstarting
inJuly2014
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
AIS Prevention Aid Program cont.
 CountyRole
 Completeoversighttoallocate
thefundinginaccordancewith
MinnesotaStatute447A.19.
 DNRPlannerRole
 Repositoryforsubmittedplans
andresolutions
 Providetechnicalguidanceto
countiesastheydraft,
implement,andevaluatetheir
AISpreventionprograms
 Facilitatecollaborationamongst
counties
 Buildrelationshipsbetween
countiesandtheDNR
BackgroundEnforcement
Distribution
 Statewide:


$4.5millionin2014
$10millioneachyear
thereafter
 County:
 50%basedonwatercraft
trailerlaunches
 50%basedonwatercraft
trailerparkingspaces
 Range(2015allocation):
 Highest:$680,790
 Lowest:$2,308
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
AIS Prevention Aid Program ‐ Highlights
BackgroundEnforcement
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Summary Provide
Toolsfor
Compliance
Informthe
Legislature
Preventthespreadof
invasivespecieswithin
Minnesota;
StatewideAIS
Prevention&
Management
Support
Local
Action
BackgroundEnforcement
Preventthe
introductionofnew
invasivespeciesinto
Minnesota;
Enforcethe
Laws
Reducetheimpacts
causedbyinvasive
speciestoMinnesota’s
ecology,society,and
economy.
RequiredTrainingPrevention/Management
Tina Wolbers, AIS Prevention Planner MN DNR | Ecological & Water Resources
tina.wolbers@state.mn.us | 651.259.5146