HOUGHTON – Michigan Technological University will receive a $500-thousand grant to help prevent the spread of Eurasian watermilfoil, an invasive plant in Lakes Huron and Superior watersheds.

It is one of 11 grants for a total of $5 million awarded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to fight invasive species in the Great Lakes region.

Region 5 Administrator and Great Lakes National Program Manager Susan Hedman announced the grants Tuesday.

“These Great Lakes Restoration Initiative grants will be used to target aquatic and terrestrial invasive species in the Great Lakes basin,” Hedman said. “The projects will also help to prevent the introduction of new invasive species that pose risks to the Great Lakes ecosystem.”

Since the GLRI was launched in 2010, EPA has funded more than 70 projects totaling over $40 million to combat invasive species.