The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP) is now accepting proposals for the Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Grant Program for 2025.
Donor Name: Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection
State: Connecticut
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 12/06/2024
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
There are three types of projects that are eligible for funding:
- Control/Management projects. These projects should promote restoration of a lake, pond or river in the state through the control and management of a population or populations of aquatic invasive species and/or cyanobacteria blooms.
- Research projects. These projects should be intended to enhance understanding and knowledge of aquatic invasive species and/or cyanobacteria blooms, and have direct practical applicability to lakes, ponds and rivers in Connecticut.
- Education and outreach. These projects should enhance public awareness of aquatic invasive species and/or harmful algal blooms in Connecticut and/or promote good practices to prevent the further spread of aquatic invasive species in Connecticut’s lakes, ponds and rivers.
Funding Information
$10,000 to $75,000.
Grant Period
May 1, 2025- December 31, 2026.
Eligible Projects
- Herbicide treatment to eradicate Egeria (Egeria densa) infestation in a lake with a state boat launch. (invasive species, full public access, limited populations in the CT).
- Eradication of water chestnut (Trapa natans) by dredging and hand pulling from a town-owned pond open to the public. (invasive species, publicly accessible, newer infestation, recently arrived with limited populations in the state)
- Signage at project site and targeted social media advertisements designed to inform the public about the dangers of spreading hydrilla (Hydrilla verticillata) at boat launches along the Connecticut River (invasive species, publicly accessible, newer infestation, recently arrived with limited populations in the state)
- Eligible, but lower priority projects-
- Annual use of a mechanical harvester to clear crew team boat lanes of Eurasian water milfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum) in a lake with limited public access. (little to no general public benefit since threat to other waters is minimal; species widely distributed in state).
- Diagnostic feasibility study for zebra mussels in East Twin Lake (eligible species, but study is of limited benefit, no viable control options currently exist and the population has existed in the water body for over 15 years with limited impact to the system and no apparent impact on use).
- Educational brochure on watercress (Nasturtium officinale) to be distributed at lake and pond boat launch kiosks. (eligible species, but inappropriate target audience as this species is typically not spread by boaters and generally does not cause issues in lakes and ponds).
Eligibility Criteria
State agencies (including State Colleges and universities), municipalities, and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to receive grants through this program. Local interest organizations such as unincorporated lake associations can develop project proposals in collaboration with municipalities or not-for-profit organizations but only the municipality in which the project water body is located, or the not-for-profit organizations can apply for funding. If the water body is located in more than one municipality, two or more municipalities may apply jointly, and a lake authority as established under sec. 7-151a of the Connecticut general Statutes may, when authorized by the legislative bodies of its respective towns, act as the agent for the member towns for the purposes of this AIS Grant program. The study or project must be conducted on an inland waterbody located in Connecticut.
For more information, visit DEEP.
