2013 - Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton's Agenda

Minnesota Governor Mark Dayton is the 2013 Chair of the MGA and has announced his agenda as addressing invasive species. In particular, the governor wants to bring states together to discuss and collaborate on aquatic invasive species.

Every year invasive species cause huge economic losses and dramatic ecological changes. The National Invasive Species Information Center estimated that these pests, at the low end, cause $138 billion annually in damages and reduced production. Given the combined significance of aquatic species, the agricultural sector, expansive forestlands and vast rural areas, invasive species are an extreme threat to the Midwestern way of life.

Several of the proposed activities for this agenda include:

Policy Maker Summit

• In partnership with the Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA) the summit will focus will be on information sharing about best practices, current efforts underway to slow the spread of Asian carp, eliminating communication barriers, model draft legislation, survey of rules and regulations, and model regulations.

Co-host Regional Invasive Species Events

• The MGA will lend its name to conferences and forums that focus on invasive species in the Midwest. 

Coordinated Media Outreach

• MGA will work with UMRBA, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and other groups to highlight state and federal partnerships related to invasive species through press releases, the MGA Facebook page, and a new MGA invasive species LinkedIn group.