Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Aquatic Invasive Species topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Metro park districts seek $1.5 million for aquatic invasive species prevention in metro system
Summary
House File 2218 would appropriate $1.5 million from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council for grants to the 10 metropolitan implementing agencies for aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and mitigation. Park district and county officials testified in support; the committee laid the bill over.
Representative Fueker (Faulkner in transcript) presented House File 2218, requesting $1.5 million from the general fund to the Metropolitan Council to fund grants for the 10 metropolitan implementing agencies to address aquatic invasive species in the seven‑county metro regional parks system.
Beau Carlson, superintendent of Three Rivers Park District, said the regional park system includes about 55,000 acres and sees roughly 65 million visits per year, with many recreation sites dependent on lakes and water bodies. Washington County Commissioner Fran Miron told the committee that federal and state funding reductions have strained local AIS prevention efforts and cited a recent zebra‑mussel finding in Big Marine Lake as an example of the threat.
The sponsor said AIS harm recreation, local businesses and property values and noted statewide economic stakes, including testimony that outdoor recreation generates roughly $13.5 billion and supports about 96,000 jobs in Minnesota. The bill’s sponsor asked the committee to restore funding cut in the governor’s proposal that would reduce county AIS prevention aid by 50%.
Washington County described leveraging state AIS prevention aid with local matches to double local investment and pointed to data showing reduced new infestations when funding was sustained; county testimony warned that cuts would jeopardize years of progress. The bill author said metro funding benefits statewide prevention because lake users move between metro and greater Minnesota water bodies.
Representative Schultz pressed whether the metro‑focused funding approach would leave Greater Minnesota counties behind; the sponsor suggested bipartisan work to extend assistance as needed. The committee laid HF2218 over for possible inclusion.
Outlook: The measure aims to maintain inspection and prevention capacity in the metropolitan regional parks system; lawmakers signaled willingness to consider metro needs but also questioned statewide equity given the budget context.
