Item Description:
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Neg various agmts for aquatic invasive species prevention projects, various periods, total combined NTE $132,086
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Resolution:
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BE IT RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate the following five grant agreements to provide funding for aquatic invasive species prevention projects during a one-year period beginning on the date of execution:
• PR00008426 with Three Rivers Park District, in an amount not to exceed $30,000;
• PR00008425 with Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, in an amount not to exceed $30,000;
• PR00008419 with Bolton & Menk Inc., in an amount not to exceed $24,999;
• PR00008422 with Bolton & Menk Inc., in an amount not to exceed $21,737;
• PR00008418 with City of Eden Prairie, in an amount not to exceed $20,350; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the County Administrator be authorized to negotiate the following agreement to provide funding for an aquatic invasive species rapid response project during a one-year period beginning on the date of execution:
• PR00008417 with City of Champlin, in an amount not to exceed $5,000; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that following review and approval by the County Attorney’s Office, the County Administrator be authorized to sign the agreements on behalf of the county; that the County Administrator be authorized to approve one 12-month extension of the agreements; that costs incurred by the grantees after the board approval date be eligible for reimbursement upon execution of the agreements; and that the Controller be authorized to disburse funds as directed.
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Background:
Aquatic invasive species (AIS), such as zebra mussels and Eurasian watermilfoil, threaten natural resources and can cause economic, environmental, and human health risks. Lakes and other water resources throughout the county have been negatively affected by AIS or are highly vulnerable to the introduction of new AIS. Preventing the introduction of AIS is the foremost strategy because, once established, infestations have no viable or cost-effective remedy.
The State of Minnesota started allocating funding to counties in 2014 to prevent the introduction or limit the spread of AIS. Counties may use the funding for their own projects and programs or may provide funding to other entities in the county.
The Hennepin County Board designated oversight of the AIS Prevention Aid program to the County Administrator and delegated to the County Administrator the responsibility to prepare and implement guidelines for use of aid received for the prevention of AIS (Resolution 14-0438). Since 2014, the county has received $3.6 million in AIS Prevention funding. New guidelines for 2026-2030 were finalized in December 2025.
In January 2026, the county released two requests for proposals (RFP) for projects that prevent the introduction or limit the spread of AIS. Following feedback from stakeholders during the development of the new guidelines, for the first time a separate RFP related to supplementing existing or supporting new AIS watercraft inspection programs was released alongside a more general RFP related to early detection, education, access redesign, research, and innovation. Local government agencies, nonprofit organizations, and public entities and institutions were eligible for both grants. Businesses were eligible for AIS prevention grants.
The RFPs were promoted through lake associations, cities, watersheds, and natural resource partners, email lists, and the Environment and Energy Department’s Green Notes and AIS Prevention e-newsletters. The county received four proposals to supplement watercraft inspection programs and eight proposals for the general RFP, for a combined total of $233,162.
The watercraft inspection requests were reviewed and rated by a six-member panel consisting of county staff and external partners with AIS expertise, including representatives from the Pioneer-Sarah Creek Watershed Management Commission, University of Minnesota Invasive Species Research Center, Carver County, and Minnesota Lakes and Rivers. The AIS prevention proposals were reviewed and rated by a five-member panel consisting of the same people, except the Carver County representative.
Board approval for the following six agreements is required because the county has agreements with these organizations that exceed $100,000.
• PR00008426 with Three Rivers Park District, in an amount not to exceed $30,000, for supplemental funding to support its watercraft inspection and education activities on Medicine Lake, Fish Lake, Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, Lake Independence, and Bryant Lake.
• PR00008425 with Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, in an amount not to exceed $30,000, for supplemental funding to support its watercraft inspection and education activities at Bde Maka Ska, Lake Harriet, and Lake Nokomis.
• PR00008419 with Bolton & Menk, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $24,999, to monitor all 59 Hennepin County public boat accesses for new AIS infestations. The company will also work directly with lake associations and community members on recognizing, reporting, and helping prevent the introduction of AIS in their local waters.
• PR00008422 with Bolton & Menk, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $21,737, for research on the effectiveness of manually removing floating vegetation from public boat accesses as a strategy to reduce the unintentional transport of AIS on boats and trailers.
• PR00008418 with the City of Eden Prairie, in an amount not to exceed $20,350, for replacing an aging CD3 station at the Lake Riley Public Access. CD3 stations provide self-service tools to assist boaters in removing AIS from their boats and trailers before leaving a public water access.
• PR00008417 with the City of Champlin, in an amount not to exceed $5,000, for control of non-native Phragmites located on an island in Mill Pond. Non-native Phragmites is an aggressive grass that can harm wildlife, recreation, ecological function, and infrastructure. This project will support and protect over $18 million in recent restoration investments at Mill Pond and Elm Creek.
In addition to the agreements requested for approval by county board, the following six agreements will be approved through the administrative process:
• PR00008424 with Christmas Lake Homeowner’s Association, in an amount not to exceed $15,000, for supplemental AIS inspection and decontamination programing at the Christmas Lake public access, including inspections of incoming and outgoing watercraft with on-site decontamination.
• PR00008423 with Fish Lake Area Residents Association, in an amount not to exceed $2,800, for supplemental watercraft inspections in May and September at the Fish Lake public access.
• PR00008415 with Waterfront Restoration, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $24,636, for boater education at boat launches. Waterfront Restoration Ambassadors will be stationed at Surfside, Grays Bay, Carsons, and Halstead Bay accesses on Lake Minnetonka along with accesses on Medicine and Long Lake in 2026.
• PR00008421 with WaterGuards LLC, in an amount not to exceed $23,600, for boater education at boat launches. WaterGuards ambassadors will be stationed at high-use accesses that are not otherwise covered by ambassadors and inspectors. County staff will share information with the grantee about inspection and ambassador plans for other partners/grantees and review and approve location plans for WaterGuards ambassadors.
• PR00008416 with Lake Minnetonka Association, in an amount not to exceed $7,850, for surveys around 16 public and private accesses on Lake Minnetonka, focusing on any early detection of starry stonewort.
• PR00008420 with Lake Minnetonka Association, in an amount not to exceed $24,990, for conducting an AIS suitability survey in three bays of Lake Minnetonka. Findings from this study will be used to guide future AIS and water-quality early detection and management efforts.
Altogether, 13 agreements supporting AIS prevention work will be executed totaling $230,962.
Current Request: This request seeks to authorize the County Administrator to negotiate six agreements to provide funding for aquatic invasive species prevention projects with the following organizations:
• PR00008426 with Three Rivers Park District, in an amount not to exceed $30,000
• PR00008425 with Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, in an amount not to exceed $30,000
• PR00008419 with Bolton & Menk Inc, in an amount not to exceed $24,999
• PR00008422 with Bolton & Menk Inc, in an amount not to exceed $21,737
• PR00008418 with City of Eden Prairie, in an amount not to exceed $20,350
• PR00008417 with City of Champlin, in an amount not to exceed $5,000
The request also seeks to authorize the County Administrator to approve one 12-month extension of the agreements and to reimburse costs incurred by the grantees after the board approval date and upon execution of the grant agreements.
Impact/Outcomes: The recommended projects will prevent and slow the spread of AIS by supporting early detection, education, access re-design, watercraft inspection, and rapid response. The grantees will be required to collect data and submit final reports specific to each project’s goals. Findings will be used by county staff and shared with other water resource professionals to inform future AIS prevention work.
This request funds services that are: core services
recommendation
Recommendation from County Administrator: Recommend Approval