Budget cut impacts invasive efforts

The state budget has cut funding for the Michigan Invasive Species Grant Program this year but it won’t reduce money for controlling invasive sea lampreys.

The Legislature and governor this month reduced the annual appropriation for the program from $3.6 million to $2.4 million.

The competitive grant program started in 2014 to provide funding and technical assistance to prevent, detect, eradicate and control terrestrial and aquatic invasive species, according to the Department of Natural Resources.