281.70 River protection grants.

(1) Definition. In this section, “river" includes a stream or a flowage.

(2) Types of projects. The department shall develop and administer a financial assistance program to provide grants for planning projects and management projects.

(3) Amounts of grants.

(a) A grant for a planning project may be made for up to 75 percent of the cost of the project but may not exceed $10,000 per grant.

(b) A grant for a management project may be made for up to 75 percent of the cost of the project but may not exceed $50,000 per grant.

(4) Eligible recipients.

(a) All of the following shall be eligible for grants under this section:

1. Local governmental units, as defined in s. 66.0131 (1) (a).

2. River management organizations that meet the qualifications under par. (b).

3. Nonprofit conservation organizations, as defined in s. 23.0955 (1).

(b) The department shall promulgate rules to establish the qualifications that a river management organization must meet to qualify for a grant under this section.

(5) Eligible activities. The department shall promulgate rules to do all of the following:

(a) Designate activities that are eligible for grants for planning projects. Eligible activities under the rules for these grants shall include all of the following:

1. Data collection.

2. Assessments of water quality and of fish and aquatic life and their habitat.

3. Assessments of the uses of a river and the uses of the land surrounding the river.

4. Nonpoint source pollution evaluation.

5. Informational or educational programs and materials as specified in par. (b).

6. Programs and materials to assist persons in forming river management organizations or other groups to protect or improve rivers and natural riverine ecosystems.

(b) For purposes of par. (a) 5., specify informational or educational materials that may be provided on any of the following:

1. Protecting or improving the ways in which rivers are used.

2. Protecting or improving the quality of water in rivers.

3. Protecting or improving the quality of natural riverine ecosystems.

4. Protecting or improving fish populations, aquatic life or fish habitat in rivers.

(c) Designate activities that are eligible for grants for management projects. Eligible activities under the rules for these grants shall include all of the following:

1. The purchase of land or of a conservation easement, as defined in s. 700.40 (1) (a) if the recipient enters into a contract under s. 281.71 and if the purchase will substantially contribute to the protection or improvement of the river's water quality or its natural ecosystem.

2. The restoration of in-stream or shoreline habitat.

3. The development of local regulations or ordinances that will protect or improve the river's water quality or its natural ecosystem.

4. An activity that is approved by the department and that is needed to implement a recommendation made as a result of a plan to protect or improve the river's water quality or its natural ecosystem.

5. Installation of pollution control practices.

(6) Eligibility; types of rivers. The department shall promulgate rules establishing the types of natural riverine ecosystems that are eligible for grants under this section.

(7) Eligibility; other. At the completion of a planning project, upon request of the recipient of the grant for the planning project, the department may approve as eligible activities for a management project grant the recommendations that were made as a result of the project.

History: 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 30.