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Grants

2027 DNR invasive plant grants: what boards can prepare now

October 24, 2026 · Eric Barrett

Last reviewed: October 24, 2026. Grant dates and amounts change; check the linked DNR pages before you apply.

If your lake has curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil, flowering rush or starry stonewort, the Minnesota DNR’s Invasive Aquatic Plant Management (IAPM) grant is probably the most useful state money your association can apply for. It helps pay for permitted treatment work. The round for 2027 work is coming up quickly, and the window is only about a month long. Here is what a board needs to know, in plain terms.

The dates, and why they are “announced but not yet official”

The Crow Wing County Lakes and Rivers Alliance (LARA) reports, citing a DNR email posted on its homepage, that the round for 2027 work opens Monday, November 9, 2026 at 9 a.m. and closes Wednesday, December 9, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. That same email says the DNR will post more details on its grant page the week of November 2.

As of October 24, 2026, the DNR’s own grant page has not posted these dates. It still shows last year’s round. So treat the LARA-reported dates as announced but not yet official. Confirm them on the DNR’s grant page before you apply. If anything on the DNR page differs from what you read here or elsewhere, the DNR page wins.

Two practical notes on timing:

  • Don’t submit early. Last year the DNR said applications received before the opening time would not be accepted. Expect the same this year.
  • Don’t wait for the last afternoon. Late applications are not considered. Early December is a busy time for volunteers, so aim to be ready before Thanksgiving.

What the grant pays for

The program reimburses lake associations, watershed districts, cities, counties and Tribal governments for invasive plant management done under a DNR IAPM permit. “Reimburses” matters: your association generally does the work, pays the bills, then gets paid back under the terms of the grant agreement. Make sure your treasurer knows that.

Last year’s round (for 2026 work) offered two types of grants. The 2027 details may change, so check the new Request for Proposals when it posts. For reference, last year looked like this:

  • Small-scale grants, roughly $5,000 to $15,000 for curly-leaf pondweed, Eurasian watermilfoil or flowering rush. Starry stonewort projects were higher and got top priority.
  • Population-scale grants for Eurasian watermilfoil, roughly $25,000 to $49,999, for projects addressing the whole population in a lake. These were scored on written answers.

Only one application of each type per lake was considered, by the lake’s DNR Lake ID number. If two groups share a lake, talk to each other now.

Small-scale awards are a random draw

This surprises many boards. Last year small-scale applications for curly-leaf pondweed, milfoil and flowering rush were ordered randomly for funding. An equal share was funded in each DNR region, and lakes that had not been funded in the previous two years had a better chance.

That means a beautifully written small-scale application doesn’t beat a plain one. For those, a complete, on-time application is what matters. A missing signature, a missing permit detail or a late submission is what knocks you out.

A short checklist for your board

Before November 9, it helps to have these lined up:

  1. Your lake’s DNR Lake ID number. Find it on DNR LakeFinder. While you’re there, check your lake’s listing for Eurasian watermilfoil or other invasive species, and compare it with the DNR’s infested waters list.
  2. A conversation with your DNR Regional Invasive Species Specialist. They handle IAPM permits and can tell you whether your project fits. Their contact list is linked below.
  3. Your survey and treatment plan. Last year the DNR required that the delineation survey be done by a different contractor than the one doing the treatment. Check whether that rule still applies.
  4. Who signs. The application asks for an “official with delegated authority to sign.” For many associations that’s the president, but confirm it in your bylaws or board minutes.
  5. A rough budget and a treasurer who understands reimbursement. If you’re awarded a grant, the state will also need a SWIFT vendor (supplier) ID for your association.
  6. Board approval on record. A quick motion in your minutes saying the board authorizes the application keeps things clean.

If you have questions

Last year the DNR set a deadline for questions about a week before applications closed and posted the answers on the grant page. Your Regional Invasive Species Specialist is the best first call. LARA is also a good local resource for Crow Wing County lakes.

A small offer

If your board isn’t sure where your lake stands, we’re glad to help. A Free Lake Snapshot is a one-page summary of public DNR and MPCA information on your lake, including water clarity and listed invasive species. It’s a good place to start before grant season. You can request one on our website, or email [email protected].

Sources

Keep reading

Water quality

How to read your lake’s water clarity
Invasive species

Eurasian Watermilfoil Is Now Confirmed in Gull Lake: What Associations Can Do