Michigan Aquatic Invasive Plant Control Grant Program

The Michigan Aquatic Invasive Plant Control Grant Program was created through the addition of Part 414 to the Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act, 1994 PA 451, as amended. Administered by the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE), the program aims to assist eligible applicants with the prevention, detection, eradication, and control by chemical, physical, or biological methods of aquatic invasive plant species in Michigan inland lakes.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a legally constituted lake association or nonprofit, property owners association, homeowners association, lake board, or special assessment district, and must demonstrate that an active permit from the department is in effect to conduct the proposed control or eradication activities.

Eligible projects must provide public access to the inland lake for all activities associated with the project. The water body must have vegetation management goals established by a licensed commercial applicator or lake manager, and all survey, control, eradication, and documentation activities must be completed by a qualified scientist, technician, licensed commercial aquatic applicator, or university representative using best management practices. In addition, projects must utilize products approved or authorized by the U.S. EPA, EGLE, or MDARD, and efforts must target only aquatic invasive plants.

The grant program was discontinued in 2020 due to lack of funding, and applications are currently not being accepted. The program website will be updated if funding becomes available in the future. Inquiries may be directed to egle-wrd-aip@mi.gov or 517-342-4069.