You asked how other states fund their invasive plant programs, and how they spend the money. We briefly describe programs in California, Maine, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, and Wisconsin. We also include information about funding sources and list relevant federal grant programs.

CALIFORNIA

According to the California Noxious and Invasive Weed Action Plan (September 2005, attached), California currently spends millions of dollars on the control of noxious and invasive weeds. County agriculture departments have cost-share programs with private and public land managers and weed management areas (see below) have leveraged four dollars of in-kind participation for every state dollar spent on their projects.

But the report says weed programs on state lands could use additional funding. It states that while funding is available to land managers through regular budget-line items, major control and research efforts require either special legislation for funding or obtaining a special grant. Some support activities are performed by non-governmental organizations, which depend on private foundations for funding.

Table I, below, indicates the current weed budget for California state and county agencies, the total acres each manages, and the acreage of noxious weeds. It does not include federal invasive plants programs or funding.

Table I: California Noxious Weed Funding*

*Source: California Noxious and Invasive Weed Action Plan, September, 2005

MAINE

Maine funds its program through an annual sticker required on motorized watercraft registered for use on the state's freshwater lakes and rivers. The fee is $ 10 for state residents and $ 20 for nonresidents. It applies to personal watercraft (jet skis) as well as canoes and sailboats equipped with motors. According to John McPhedran of the Maine Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), 60% of the money goes to the Maine DEP and 40% to the Department of Inland Fish and Wildlife. According to McPhedran, annual sticker revenues to DEP from FY 2003 through FY 2005 averaged $ 630,000. By law, the two departments can use the sticker revenue only for costs related to invasive plants inspections, prevention, containment, eradication and management activities.

McPhedran said the DEP also receives about $ 60,000 a year from the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) Task Force (see below). He said the DEP uses the ANS money for education and outreach, plant control, and early detection of invasive plants.

MICHIGAN

Michigan's Office of the Great Lakes administers the state's aquatic nuisance species control plan. It awards grants under the Michigan Great Lakes Protection Fund for research and demonstration projects to preserve, enhance and restore the Great Lakes and its component ecosystems. The fund, established in 1989, has awarded more than $ 10 million in grants. It derives its funds from one-third of the earnings on a $ 25 million contribution to the regional Great Lakes Protection Fund, an endowment established by the governors of the Great Lakes region. More information on the fund is available at the Office of the Great Lakes website.

NEW HAMPSHIRE

The New Hampshire Exotic Aquatic Plant Program was funded by a $ 1. 50 annual boat registration fee until January 1, 2003. The fee then increased to $ 4. 50 per boat, with the additional $ 3 going to the Milfoil and Other Exotic Aquatic Plant Prevention and Research Grant Fund. Grant money is used for activities such as education and outreach and inspecting aquatic recreational gear for attached plants and plant fragments. Revenue from the original $ 1. 50 fee funds herbicide applications, educational materials and administrative costs. According to Amy Smagula of the N. H. Department of Environmental Services, the state registers about 103,000 boats annually.

NEW YORK

According to Timothy Sinnot, of New York's Department of Environmental Conservation, the state allocated $ 1 million in general funds in 2005 for a grant program for aquatic invasive species eradication. Under the program, the state provides up to one-third of the costs of approved projects. To qualify, projects must propose to kill or permanently remove from water bodies or wetlands plants or animals defined as aquatic invasive or nuisance species. Projects that kill or remove only a portion of the population may be considered.

New York created a task force to study the invasive plant problem in 2003. According to the New York State Invasive Species Task Force's Final Report, issued in the fall of 2005, an annual funding goal of $ 10 million has been suggested as a “reasonable level of support” for invasive plants program in the state. It listed potential sources of revenue as (1) fees on importing and exporting at New York State ports of entry; (2) recreational fees for use of boats and boat launches, trailheads, parking lots and the like; and (3) fees on horticultural and aquarium sales, or recreational equipment. Other possible funding sources are the state's Environmental Protection and general funds.

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin's Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) program is funded through motorboat gas revenues.  The state Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives $ 550,000 annually to run the AIS program.  In addition, invasive species coordinator Ron Martin says that the department administers another $ 1 million annually in aid to counties, local communities, and lake districts to control the spread of aquatic invasive species.   Martin says funding will increase next year to $ 1. 5 million.

In FY 04 Wisconsin spent the following amounts on seven program components (1) watercraft inspection, $ 174,900; (2) monitoring, $ 128,600; (3) information and education, $ 221,800; (4) purple loosestrife biological control, $ 68,000; (5) “Clean Water, Clean Boats” volunteer training program, $ 75,000; (6) research, $ 20,300; and (7) AIS grants, $ 500,000.

The AIS grants, made to local governments, are used to prevent the spread of invasives, to eradicate or control non-native species, and to restore biological integrity.

FEDERAL AQUATIC NUISANCE SPECIES TASK FORCE

According to Scott Newsham of the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the service funds states that have management plans for the control and eradication of aquatic invasive plants. He said that 16 states and two interstate organizations now receive such funding. Because funding nationwide has remained steady at about $ 1 million, he said, the average grant per state has dropped as more states participate. He said the average grant last year was about $ 70,000. More information is available at the ANS website.

COOPERATIVE WEED MANAGEMENT AREAS

According to the Center for Invasive Plant Management, which promotes the ecological management of invasive plants in the western U. S. , weed management areas (WMAs) are local organization of landowners and private city, county, state and federal land managers who work together to combat invasive plants in a particular area. They often function under the authority of a memorandum of understanding. In the west, WMAs have managed invasive plants on entire watersheds, organized weed education events, developed demonstration plots, and managed eradication and mapping projects. The center provides small competitive grants and resources to help develop WMAs. Since 2002, the center has contributed funding to 79 WMAs in 14 states. More information on WMAs can be found online at Cooperative Weed Management Areas.

OTHER FUNDING SOURCES

We have attached a copy of a U. S. Department of Agriculture brochure that lists a variety of grants and programs to address invasive species research, technical assistance, prevention, and control. It also is available on line at USDA brochure.

The Center for Invasive Plant Management provides a list of grants and funding opportunities for invasive plant programs offered by the federal and state governments, wildlife and conservation groups, and corporations on its Grants and Funding website.

MORE INFORMATION

The U. S. Forest Service summarizes invasive species programs in the northeast (including funding sources) in its Invasive and Exotic Plant Species Playbook.

PF: ro