The project purpose is to support six sciencebased initiatives to address invasive species management in virginia

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $121,509 Project Grant under the Fish and Aquatic Conservation - Aquatic Invasive Species (CFDA 15.608) program to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR). The grant, awarded on September 1, 2024, supports six science-based initiatives to address invasive species management in Virginia. Key activities include interagency coordination, training of staff and volunteers in data collection and monitoring, management of two-horned trapa and phragmites, and public education and outreach on invasive species issues via web and social media. Expected outcomes include restoring and maintaining healthy populations of native plants and animals, increasing interagency cooperation, and enhancing public awareness and engagement on invasive species. The grant does not involve any sub-recipient activities.

These initiatives directly align with the goals outlined in the 2018 virginia invasive species management plan. Activities to be performed include interagency coordination training of staff and volunteers in data collection surveys and monitoring of the abundance and distribution as well as management of twohorned trapa and phragmites and education and outreach on invasive species issues via the web and social media. Expected outcomes include restoring and maintaining healthy and sustainable populations of native plants and animalswhich supports the department of conservation and recreations mission of conservationincreasing interagency cooperation and enhancing public awareness and engagement with invasive species issues. Intended beneficiaries are the public who use and appreciate the natural resources managed by the state. There are no subrecipient activities.