Michigan department of environment, great lakes, and energy (egle) will work with michigan state university (MSU)to continue to employ an extension educator to develop, implement, evaluate, and…

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (MDEGLE) was awarded a $121,007 Project Grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species program (CFDA 15.608). The grant funding will support MDEGLE's work with Michigan State University (MSU) to employ an extension educator to develop, implement, evaluate, and adapt aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention programming targeting recreational boating and angling pathways.

Key activities include leading Michigan's Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program, which provides mini-grants of $1,000 to $3,000 to strategic partners for local AIS education and outreach. The grant will also fund a statewide mobile boat wash program employing college students to offer boat cleaning and AIS outreach services. The project period runs from October 1, 2024 through September 30, 2026.

Michigan department of environment, great lakes, and energy (egle) will work with michigan state university (MSU)to continue to employ an extension educator to develop, implement, evaluate, and adapt aquatic invasive species(AIS) prevention programming targeting the recreational boating and angling pathways of introduction and spread.specifically, the educator will lead michigans clean boats, clean waters (cbcw) program. Cbcw includes a minigrantsprogram ($1K - $3K each) for strategic partners who use the funds for AIS education and outreach targetingboaters and anglers at the local scale. During the initial year of the mini-grant program in 2021 using aseparate funding source, seven projects were funded across the state that included conducting outreach events forboaters, installing signage and decontamination tools at boat ramps, creating a video demonstrating proper aisdecontamination techniques for boaters, and installation of a user-operated waterless cleaning station for boats.demand continues to increase for cbcw mini-grants to implement local AIS prevention and outreach with 12 awardedin 2022 and 13 in 2023. Cbcw also includes a statewide mobile boat wash program (MBW), employing four collegestudents each summer who gain experience working with local communities to offer boat cleaning and AIS outreach.funding from a separate source supports the summer field crew program expenses (travel, student wages, andsupplies) through 2026, but not the extension educators time. We are requesting support via $90,755 for 95% ofthe extension educators time from october 1, 2024 through march 31, 2025 to continue implementation, development, and support of the full cbcw program. Egle will provide $30,252.00 of match in the form an aquaticbiologists time for grant management, coordination and collaboration with MSU on the clean boats, clean waterprogram.