State awards $2.4 million for invasive species prevention and control grants

The state of Michigan today announced that 27 projects will share $2.4 million in funding through the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program for efforts that address the prevention, detection, eradication and control of aquatic (water-based) and terrestrial (land-based) invasive species. 

To date, over $42 million has been awarded to support 328 projects undertaken by units of government, nonprofit organizations and institutions.

The program – cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy; and Natural Resources – has four key objectives: 

• Preventing the introduction of new invasive species. 
• Strengthening the statewide invasive species early detection and response network. 
• Limiting the spread of recently confirmed invasive species. 
• Managing and controlling widespread, established invasive species. 

Support in every Michigan county

This year, grants will support each of Michigan’s 22 regional cooperative invasive species management areas, the network of partnership organizations working to manage and control invasive species, actively serving all 83 counties in the state.

Each CISMA will receive $70,000 in annual support to provide education and technical assistance to landowners. Twelve CISMAs will receive additional funds for survey and treatment of high-priority invasive species including red swamp crayfish, water-primrose, wild parsnip, black swallowwort, knotweeds and kudzu. Grants to CISMAs represent $1.7 million in this cycle. 

Statewide detection and response

Grant funds also will support early detection and response efforts for watch list invasive species – those that pose an immediate or potential threat to Michigan's economy, environment or human health and either have never been confirmed in the wild in Michigan or have a limited known distribution:

• Surveying and treating hemlock woolly adelgid on the northern edge of the infestation in Benzie, Grand Traverse, Leelanau and Manistee counties along the Lake Michigan shoreline.
• Conducting survey and treatment of mile-a-minute weed infestations in Calhoun County.
• Surveying for highly invasive hydrilla in southwest Michigan waters near the known infestation in Berrien County.

Prevention efforts

Funding also will support efforts to prevent the spread of invasive species:

• Continuing support for the Clean Boats, Clean Waters program, including its grant program and mobile boat wash crew, to educate boaters and anglers on invasive species prevention actions they can take.
• Supporting continued public reporting of invasive species detections and a growing library of identification resources and training opportunities through the Midwest Invasive Species Information Network, housed at Michigan State University. 

Program progress

Initiated in 2014, the state Legislature annually provides funding for the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program to support prevention, detection and control efforts across the state. 

Through grant-funded efforts:

• More than 720,000 acres of land and water have been surveyed for invasive species.
• More than 60,000 acres have been treated for invasive terrestrial and aquatic plants.
• Through direct contact, including face-to-face interactions at boat washes, workshops, trainings and other events, 531,000 people have been reached with information about invasive species.
• An additional 52 million contacts were achieved through grantees’ indirect outreach efforts, including mail, newspapers, social media and handouts.    

Over $8 million requested

The program began accepting grant applications for this funding cycle in September 2025. A total of 55 applications were received, requesting approximately $8.3 million in support. 

The full list of grant recipients, project descriptions and award amounts is available on the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program website at Michigan.gov/MISGP.

Michigan's Invasive Species Program is cooperatively implemented by the Michigan departments of Agriculture and Rural Development; Environment, Great Lakes and Energy; and Natural Resources.