The St. Louis County board of commissioners granted preliminary approval of state funds totaling $709,992 for 8 projects to prevent the spread of Aquatic Invasive Species in county waterways. Some of those species include zebra and quagga mussels, starry stonewort, the New Zealand mudsnail, faucet snail, mystery snail, spiny water flea, Eurasian watermilfoil, and rusty crayfish.

The biggest chunk of that money is $401,861 for the North St. Louis Soil and Water Conservation District to manage watercraft inspections, decontaminations and public education on more than two dozen lakes. Other notable projects include early detection, habitat assessments, and community education.

The AIS Prevention Aid Program has been around since 2014, and in St. Louis County, 80 projects with $6.8 million in funding have already been completed in the last 11 years. The County’s version of the program operates like a grant program, distributing the funds to different groups that carry out the projects.

“I think St. Louis County is a little unique. I think we’re one of two or three other counties that coordinate our AIS prevention program kind of as a grant program, seeking out the technical expertise from these other agencies for them to coordinate the program and be the boots on the ground with these prevention projects. It’s worked very well in our county,” said St. Louis County Planning and Zoning Director Ryan Logan.

The next step is for state legislators to approve this year’s funds for the program.

Additionally, the board recapped their spending portfolio for the $54.5 million ARPA funds. Some notable projects include the new $12.5 million landfill in Virginia that mitigates forever chemicals, as well as the over $13 million infrastructure upgrades.