MN Sea Grant evaluates reported (but not observed) behavior changes. MN DNR watercraft inspection supervisors create annual reports on inspection efforts in their respective regions. These reports look at inspection hours and totals, and evaluate the effectiveness of hiring and training throughout the season.

Policies are driven via program staff (coordinator) with participation from regional inspection supervisors. MN’s inspection program meets annually with partner inspection organizaitons each winter to facilitate converstaions reviewing the previous season, as well as planning for the next season. Suggestions received in these meetings will be considered when making future policy decisions. The inspection program will also facilitate internal meetings including divisional leadership to evaluate the inspection program and provide guidance for the future. These procedures have helped us create systems to use for staffing accesses with inspectors and decontamination units, as well as the decision to hire a new full-time trainer position.

The University of Minnesota Aquatic Invasive Species Research Center led a study on the risk of overland transport of zebra mussels using a risk model based on Minnesota watercraft inspections. High-use accesses for the model were identified based on watercraft inspector data. This model has been used by some local inspection programs (Crow Wing County and Ramsey County) to help direct their inspection efforts. MN DNR uses an internal “tier list” which uses watercraft inspection data from the previous two seasons to help focus our efforts at high-use zebra mussel infested waters as our first priority.

Watercraft inspectors use a digital application to record observational data on every inspection they conduct. This includes compliance with state statutes (drain plug violations and transport violations (plants, AIS, water, mud). This data is uploaded to a master database and then shared with all partner inspection programs.