10/01/2026
Now is the time to take action to protect County AIS Prevention Aid
As you probably know, in 2025 the MN Legislature voted to cut County Aquatic Invasive Species Prevention Aid in half, starting on July 1, 2027.
As counties set their budgets this fall for 2027, they are already reassigning AIS Coordinators to other roles, ending AIS inspector programs, cutting AIS grants to lake associations and reducing education and communication efforts.
But they are jumping the gun.
The 2027 Legislature can, and should, restore this funding so that there is no reduction on July 1, 2027. The reason is simple - the County AIS Prevention Aid formula literally bent the curve on new infestations in Minnesota.
Lake advocates have a once in a generation opportunity to impact lake and river issues for decades to come
• 45 legislators chose not to run for re-election, the most since Minnesota was formed,
• Candidates on both sides of the aisle are looking to connect with voters and are uniquely open minded and interested in new issues,
• Many of the winners of these races will be in office for many years, even decades going forward, setting lake and river policies for our children and great grandchildren.
HERE'S WHAT YOU CAN DO
• Go to https://mnlakesandrivers.org/aispa/ Download the One pager included in that Blog Post, and make sure that all of the candidates running for office in your district receive a copy, including county commissioners, township and mayoral candidates, and MN House and Senate Candidates.
• Make it a point to meet the MN House and Senate Candidates in person, tell them about the work you do, and ask them for support protecting the County AIS Prevention Aid formula. Hand them the one pager you have downloaded in person.
• Encourage your members to use Minnesota's Political Contribution Refund Program to support the candidate of their choice. Individuals can contribute $75, $150 for a married couple, and the state will refund the contribution. Encourage them to make sure the candidate of their choice receives a copy of the one pager.
• Share the video at https://mnlakesandrivers.org/aispa/ on your personal and lake association social media sites.
• Use the link on the blog to encourage your lake association members to sign up for MLR Citizens Action Network. We will use this system to send then Action Alerts so that they can contact their elected officials on lake issues with one click.
For the last ten years, Minnesota has led the nation in preventing the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS), supported through a state funding funding mechanism called County AIS Prevention Aid. Established in 2014 with the support of Minnesota Lakes & Rivers Advocates, this program allocates $1...
