On Wednesday, Sept. 4, the MCWD presented a $2 million proposal to the Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Fund Council, which distributes grant money statewide for projects that protect and improve habitat. The District’s proposal aims to stop the spread of AIS within the District and create a model that could be replicated across the state. It included four key elements:
- Prevention — Central facilities for boat cleaning/decontamination and inspection, and improving boat accesses
- Applied science — Containing, monitoring and cataloging detected AIS in the watershed, expanding carp management, and more
- Public outreach — Reinforcing statewide messaging strategies, building partnerships and using social marketing principles to help people do the right thing
The Council hears many excellent proposals each year, so the District is facing tough competition. The grant winners will be announced later this fall.
