The second round of funding through the Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program has been awarded to 15 projects. $370,000 will be used to reduce impacts of aquatic invasive species on inland waters in Connecticut. The Connecticut Department of Energy and Environmental Protection awarded funding to the Candlewood Lake Authority, the Lake Lillinonah Authority, the Mamanasco Lake Improvement Fund, the town of New Fairfield for Ball Pond, and WestConn for work on Candlewood Lake/Squantz Pond.
The grant program is funded through the Aquatic Invasive Species Stamp fee applied to all registered boats using Connecticut waters. The maximum grant award was $50,000. Requests for larger grants were considered, but only for exceptional and well-justified proposals.
Matching funds were required and had to equal or exceed 25% of the total project cost. DEEP received 26 project applications.
Candlewood Lake Authority was awarded $31,104 for the Lake Steward Program to Educate Boaters on Aquatic Invasives Threatening Candlewood Lake.
The Lake Lillinonah Authority was awarded $12,374.79 for the 2022 Invasive Weed Removal Proposal.
The Mamanasco Lake Improvement Fund was awarded $32,100 to Control of Curly-Leaf Pondweed in Mamanasco Lake in Ridgefield.
New Fairfield was awarded $3,000 for Survey and Mapping of Vegetation in Ball Pond as Part of a Lake Management Plan.
Western Connecticut State University will use $7,150 for Investigations into the behaviors of triploid grass carp at Candlewood Lake and the impacts of overstocking at Squantz Pond.
