CT DEEP Announces the Availability of
Grants for the Control of Aquatic Invasive Species
CT DEEP is pleased to announce the 2022 rollout of the Grants for the Control of Aquatic Invasive Species Program.
In 2019, the Connecticut General Assembly established an Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp fee (Public Act 19-190) to provide a dedicated funding source for the “Connecticut Lakes, Rivers and Ponds Preservation Account" and made it available to DEEP to fund programs to protect the state’s lakes, ponds and rivers by addressing aquatic invasive species and cyanobacteria blooms. DEEP currently has up to $400,000 available for eligible control, research and education and outreach projects. The maximum grant award is $75,000. Matching funds are required and must equal or exceed 25% of the total project costs.
Municipalities, state agencies (including state colleges and universities), and not-for-profit organizations are eligible to receive grants through this program. If the water body is located in more than one municipality, two or more municipalities may apply jointly, and a lake authority may, when authorized by the legislative bodies of its respective towns, act as the agent for the member towns for the purposes of this grant program. Other organizations may collaborate with a municipality or not-for-profit organization but the municipality or not-for-profit organization must apply for the funding.
The study or project must be conducted on an inland waterbody located in Connecticut.
Eligible project proposals include:
• Conducting a project to restore an inland water body of the state through the control and management of a population of aquatic invasive species.
• Research projects to enhance understanding and knowledge of aquatic invasive species and/or cyanobacteria blooms (must have direct practical applicability to lakes, ponds and rivers in Connecticut).
• Education and outreach projects intended to 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.
• For control and management projects, the target species must have existed in the project water body as of November 21, 2022.
Deadline for application is January 6, 2023
Threats to our Lakes: Emerging Issues of Connecticut Lakes
WCSU Regional Lake Communities Symposium: Science at Night Series
December 12, 2022 - 7pm - 9pm
Register for the link to this virtual event
Western Connectict State University (WCSU) is offering a Fall Science at Night seminar series for the public, students and scientists interested in local lake conservation and management. Based on the conversation started in 2019 - 21, stakeholders this year will discuss emerging threats impacting our regional lakes.
• December 12, 2022; 7pm - 9pm
Where have the Aquatic Plant Gone?
Greg Bugbee, Associate Scientist, The Connecticut Agricultural Experimental Station, “Grass Carp in Connecticut Lakes – Something Fishy Going on Here.”
Michael J. Greer, Program Manager, Civil Works Environmental Engineering and Sciences, U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Center, Environmental Lab, “A Discussion about Fungal Pathogens and Aquatic Plants”
A local student's article was featured in the Opinions section of the CT Mirror
Connecticut’s lakes lack funding: the threat of cyanobacteria in your backyard
The article included comments from one of CFL's members.
Join us on the Board of CFL
We would love to add some new excitement to the Connecticut Federation of Lakes. We are inviting anyone interested in helping the lake community to join us.