M.L. 2013 Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Subproject Abstract For the Period Ending June 30, 2019 SUBPROJECT TITLE: MAISRC Subproject 10: Citizen Science and Professional Training Programs to Support AIS Response SUBPROJECT MANAGER: Daniel Larkin AFFILIATION: University of Minnesota MAILING ADDRESS: 135 Skok Hall, 2003 Upper Buford Circle CITY/STATE/ZIP: St. Paul, MN 55108 PHONE: 612-625-6350 E-MAIL: [email protected] WEBSITE: http://larkinlab.cfans.umn.edu/ FUNDING SOURCE: Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) LEGAL CITATION: M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 06a SUBPROJECT BUDGET AMOUNT: $525,389 AMOUNT SPENT: $520,850 AMOUNT REMAINING: $4,539 Overall Subproject Outcome and Results Early detection of invasive species is critical. However, there are few professionals addressing aquatic invasive species (AIS) in Minnesota relative to our state’s vast water resources. Furthermore, while many efforts each year seek to control AIS, there are gaps in synthesizing treatment outcomes. These gaps limit our ability to improve management and contribute to uncertainty for lake associations and others tasked with management decision-making. We developed AIS citizen science and training programs to address these challenges. Specifically, AIS Detectors trains volunteers as “eyes on the water” for AIS detection and response, and AIS Trackers educates non-professionals on AIS management and leverages monitoring data to refine management guidance. Over 820 Minnesotans have participated; more have been reached through presentations, media, and publications. To date, 299 people have become certified AIS Detectors and gone on to contribute >10,000 hours to outreach, stewardship, citizen science, and other volunteer activities, a service value >$273,000. Outgrowths of Detectors have led to additional service, including “Starry Trek”, which annually draws ~200 volunteers statewide for targeted searches for the invasive alga starry stonewort. This event, in partnership with the Minnesota DNR and colleagues from Wisconsin, has led to identification of two new starry stonewort populations and associated opportunities for rapid response; over 500 people have participated. Through AIS Trackers, we developed a new online course to educate people about AIS management and new mechanisms for analyzing AIS treatment outcomes. Over 70 people have piloted this program, which will open in 2020 to a wide audience in Minnesota and beyond. Minnesotans benefit from our work through enhanced capacity for AIS surveillance and robust training that helps professionals and non-professionals alike make better-informed management decisions. Results show that natural resources benefit when we empower Minnesotans to contribute to AIS prevention efforts through rigorous, science-based training and service programs. These programs are now well-established and will continue to be implemented under support from MAISRC, UMN Extension, and program revenue. Subproject Results Use and Dissemination Information from our project has been disseminated through 2 publications (attached), 16 invited talks, 11 contributed presentations, 5 webinars, 69 media stories, and online resources. This project has also contributed significantly to MAISRC Subproject 8 (“Risk assessment, control, and restoration research on aquatic invasive plant species”). Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) M.L. 2013 Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Sub-Project Work Plan Final Report Date of Report: August 9, 2019 Final Report Date of Work Plan Approval: November 16, 2015 Sub-Project Phase 1 Completion Date: June 30, 2019 Project Completion Date: June 30, 2019 SUB-PROJECT TITLE: Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Sub-Project 10: Citizen Science and Professional Training Programs to Support AIS Response Sub-Project Manager: Daniel Larkin Organization: University of Minnesota – Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center Mailing Address: 135 Skok Hall, 2003 Upper Buford Circle City/State/Zip Code: St. Paul, MN 55108 Telephone Number: (612) 625-6350 Email Address: [email protected] Web Address: http://www.maisrc.umn.edu/ Location: Statewide Total ENRTF Sub-Project Budget: ENRTF Sub-Project Appropriation: $525,389 Amount Spent: $520,850 Balance: $4,539 Legal Citation: M.L. 2013, Chp. 52, Sec. 2, Subd. 06a Appropriation Language: $4,350,000 the first year and $4,350,000 the second year are from the trust fund to the Board of Regents of the University of Minnesota to develop and support an aquatic invasive species (AIS) research center at the University of Minnesota that will develop new techniques to control aquatic invasive species including Asian carp, zebra mussels, and plant species. This appropriation is available until June 30, 2019, by which time the project must be completed and final products delivered. I. SUB-PROJECT TITLE: Citizen Science and Professional Training Programs to Support AIS Response II. SUB-PROJECT STATEMENT Aquatic invasive species (AIS) pose a growing threat to Minnesota’s health, economy, and environment. Consequently, there is an increasing need to expand the effort to detect and respond to AIS. Although Minnesota has many well-designed and executed AIS outreach and educational programs, critical gaps exist: no organized statewide surveillance programs exist to target high risk areas with trained observers and no monitoring system is in place to collect and share AIS treatment response data that could inform both research and management. This project will fulfill these needs. A network of citizen scientists and professionals will be developed to enhance reporting and management of AIS. This will be achieved by: 1) Developing and implementing a program to train observers to rapidly identify and report possible AIS, 2) Training participants to work with AIS agency professionals who are responsible for evaluating and verifying AIS reports; 3) Developing and implementing a program for monitoring populations of AIS in conjunction with treatment efforts, to help advance management strategies and decision making, and; 4) Developing and launching an interactive data base for AIS population survey data. In partnership with the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center (MAISRC), University of Minnesota Extension will offer two programs, AIS Detectors and AIS Trackers. The AIS Detectors program will train citizen scientists and professionals to make credible AIS reports in coordination with MnDNR, allowing agency AIS staff to more efficiently focus on verifying new infestations. The AIS Trackers program will train citizen scientists and professionals to monitor changes in populations of AIS over time in specific locations (i.e., a lake or river reach) and to generate data useful for adaptive management, which includes assessing treatment options and evaluating response to treatment efforts. Together these programs will implement 17 actions identified as priority needs in Minnesota’s Management Plan for Invasive Species (2009), developed by the Minnesota Invasive Species Advisory Council. Both programs will recruit and train professionals (i.e., AIS managers and service providers) and citizen scientists (lake association leaders, county AIS task forces members, Master Naturalists and other motivated citizens). Successful completion of these programs will be recognized by certification. To maintain their status as a certified AIS Detector or AIS Tracker, volunteers must perform a minimum level of service and maintain and increase their expertise through continuing education opportunities offered by the programs. Annual service will include activities that are self-initiated as well as those that are organized by the programs, such as surveys of high risk lakes for new AIS occurrences or providing outreach related to reporting AIS. An interactive AIS database, A-DRUM (AIS Data Repository – University of Minnesota) will be developed to manage the information collected by AIS Trackers. This information will be fully accessible to certified trackers, to DNR AIS managers, and to MAISRC researchers. AIS Detectors, AIS Trackers, and A-DRUM will be designed so that the work of the trained citizen scientist is coordinated with professional managers, notably Minnesota Department of Natural Resource (DNR) AIS specialists, so that it can effectively extend their reach for surveillance, monitoring, response, and management. The aim of this project is to have a fully-functioning network of 240 AIS Detectors and initial groups of AIS Trackers contributing to Minnesota’s AIS efforts by 2019. III. SUB-PROJECT STATUS UPDATES: Sub-Project Status as of January 31, 2016: An online template for the online portion of the AIS Detectors course has been designed and created in Moodle, the University of Minnesota’s course delivery platform. The course information for the online portion of the course was organized into six modules and for each module, the specific learning outcomes were developed. The AIS Detectors course will initially focus on ten AIS species (4 2 fish, 3 plants, and 3 invertebrate and their native “look alikes”). These species were chosen in consultation with MAISRC’s technical committee. Work on AIS Trackers has not yet begun because we are currently hiring the Extension Educator who will provide leadership for this initiative. Amendment request February 29, 2016: MAISRC decided to withdraw its application to the Initiative Foundation for approximately 75% of the costs of Activities 1-2 due to difficulty meeting the prescribed