Pine County adopts 2025 aquatic invasive species grant program

The Pine County Board approved Resolution 2025-09 to adopt the countyaquatic invasive species (AIS) program for 2025, agreeing to distribute a total of $197,348 to local lake associations and program staffing, county staff said.

The funding package includes grants to local lake organizations and line items for watercraft inspection and a portion of the AIS coordinator's salary. David Banta, Pine County land and resources manager and the county's aquatic invasive species director, told commissioners the county received seven grant applications and accepted all of them. He summarized the recommended awards by group and amount, which together with staffing produce the $197,348 request.

Banta said the recommended grant awards included sums to the Big Pine Lake Association ($581), Cross Lake Association ($32,300), Pakegama Lakes Association ($22,400), Wild Rivers Conservancy ($16,915), Windermere Lakes Association ($60,000), an unnamed $2,000 award listed in the packet, and $2,000 to the Mississippi Headwaters Board. He also told the board that the recommendation included funding to hire five watercraft inspectors at $38,506 and a $28,546 allocation to cover a portion of the AIS coordinator's salary (the coordinator identified himself as the speaker).

County staff said the 2025 AIS request totals $197,348. Officials noted the county has $209,000 available for the 2025 plan, and that annual AIS revenue is roughly $118,000 per year. For comparison, staff said last year's budgeted AIS amount was about $220,000 and actual spending was about $173,000.

Commissioners voted by roll call to adopt Resolution 2025-09. Commissioners Roger Nelson, Commissioner Waldham, Commissioner Ludwig, Commissioner Holland and Chair Moore recorded votes in favor; the resolution was approved. The motion to adopt the resolution was moved (mover not specified in the transcript) and seconded by Commissioner Roger Nelson, according to the meeting record.

The county will notify the applying lake associations of the awards and proceed with hiring or contracting for the watercraft inspector positions and the AIS coordinator allocation, staff said.

Why it matters: AIS programs fund prevention and early detection activities'watercraft inspection and outreach'that counties and lake associations use to limit the spread of invasive plant and animal species that can harm recreation, property values and local ecosystems.

The board's action was taken as a formal resolution and recorded by roll call; there were no amendments recorded in the meeting transcript.