For over two decades, Minnesota Sea Grant has brought hundreds of partners together to reduce the economic, social and environmental impacts associated with aquatic invasive species. For example, an invasive mussel infestation can cost tens of thousands per year in operations and maintenance for a community water system. Reducing the likelihood that boaters and anglers will spread aquatic invasive species can be accomplished by increasing their awareness of the risks and helping them adopt best management practices.

In 2016, Minnesota Sea Grant directly reached more than 13,000 people and printed updated identification cards for 15 aquatic invasive species for distribution in Minnesota (445,000 cards in total). Sea Grant campaigns and assessments demonstrate significant increases in public awareness, but more importantly they indicate 97% of Minnesota boaters and anglers report taking preventative actions to protect lakes and rivers from aquatic invasive species.

Minnesota Sea Grant led the development of the ParkPointBeach.org website in 2012 to provide a full-service information site for beach goers. In 2016, real-time wave height and improved water temperature data were incorporated into to the website, which contains information about hazards (rip currents, bacteria, UV index), water conditions and weather. The National Weather Service office in Duluth uses the wave heights in determining the local rip current forecast, which is then reflected in the ParkPointBeach.org website and determines the beach flags for the day. Both data streams are available real-time to the public via the website, which continues to be the go-to beach information source for the community.

Minnesota Sea Grant partnered with the University of Minnesota Law School to garner a $10,000 grant from the Sea Grant Law Center to host the Upper Great Lakes Law and Policy Symposium. Minnesota Sea Grant led planning, fundraising, communication and execution of the symposium, which attracted 120 people from the U.S. and Canada, as well as U.S. Department of State international visitors.

Presentations from U.S., Canadian and indigenous perspectives about the laws and policies governing the Great Lakes led to ideas for tackling Great Lakes trans-boundary issues like climate, contaminants and water diversions. “This is one of the best collaborations I've seen in my 25 years in environmental protection,” said the Chairman of the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife Commission. The symposium propelled at least 10 law and policy students along their career paths and inspired global conversations on trans-boundary water management.