ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, led by Executive Director Jeff Forester, has been
named one of the first ever recipients of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center’s (MAISRC)
Research Partnership Award. The award recognizes people, groups, and organizations who have gone above and
beyond to contribute to MAISRC's mission of advancing aquatic invasive species knowledge and inspiring action to
protect and restore Minnesota’s beloved waters.
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates, led by Executive Director Jeff Forester, has been
named one of the first ever recipients of the Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center’s (MAISRC)
Research Partnership Award. The award recognizes people, groups, and organizations who have gone above and
beyond to contribute to MAISRC's mission of advancing aquatic invasive species knowledge and inspiring action to
protect and restore Minnesota’s beloved waters.
Minnesota Lakes and Rivers Advocates (MLRA) works to safeguard Minnesota's natural heritage for current and
future generations by forging powerful links among lakes, lake advocates, and policy makers. MLRA’s strategy
focuses on building a strong civic infrastructure at the grassroots level and combining it with hard science, media,
and community organizing. MLRA has been actively involved and supportive of MAISRC since before the formal
establishment of the Center in 2014. Most recently, MLRA worked with MAISRC researchers to disseminate a
survey to lakeshore property owners and engaged partners with MAISRC’s ‘Stop Spiny’ campaign by organizing
lake associations and highlighting the risks of aquatic invasive species to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area
Wilderness.
“MLRA and Jeff were instrumental in MAISRC’s creation and have provided critical legislative support and
guidance to help secure long-term stable funding for the Center. In addition, MLRA has partnered with MAISRC on
numerous occasions to help disseminate our research findings and have regularly advocated for the implementation
of a science-based approach to management through webinars, legislative hearings, media outlets, newsletter
updates, and more,” said Nick Phelps, MAISRC Director.
The MAISRC Research and Partnership Awards were announced at the Center’s annual Research & Management
Showcase event recently (9/22/21). MLRA was one of four honorees in the award’s first ever cohort. Nominations
for the award were solicited from MAISRC research teams and partner program staff, and Advisory Board.
“I think it was 2006 or 2007 [...] we were talking about the need for better science [...] I have to say I’m amazed and
think it’s wonderful the progress that [MAISRC] has made. We were at a unique position with lake association
members, individual members at the local level to plug in some of those gaps, it was really exciting work — I see a
great deal of opportunity here,” explained Forester during his award acceptance on behalf of MLRA.
Funding for MAISRC is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as
recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR), the State of Minnesota,
and private donors.
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CONTACT
For interviews with MAISRC staff, contact—Kristin Loobeek, MAISRC Communications
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