Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Great Lakes Restoration Initiative (GLRI) Grant

Wisconsin received over $1.3 million dollars from federal agencies for FY2011 (Figure 6). With President Obama’s recognition of the importance of the Great Lakes, the federal government created the Great Lake Restoration Initiative (GLRI). This Initiative provided grant dollars to Great Lake states through US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for a few critical areas; aquatic invasive species prevention, containment and control was one of those areas. Wisconsin invested USFWS funds to increase capacity at the local level by hiring several Aquatic Invasive Species County Coordinators along the Great Lakes. These funds were also used to increase the state’s monitoring effort, conduct social marketing research to ensure effective messaging and fund an effective media campaign.

EPA funds were used to hire WDNR Monitoring Specialists aimed at increasing AIS monitoring and watercraft inspection efforts within the basin. These funds were also used in-part to hire a Great Lakes Outreach Coordinator to build AIS programs and partnerships along the Great Lakes and work with local communities to engage them in activities that would help to create a barrier against AIS expansion.

Wisconsin will continue to apply for these federal dollars and push them into critical elements of the partnership to maximize our ability to prevent, contain and control AIS.