Administration of Stewardship Grants

NR 51.001 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to implement and administer the stewardship program. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90.

NR 51.002 Definitions. In this chapter: (1) XAcquisition costY means the fair market value of the property as determined by department appraisal guidelines, except as provided in s. 23.0917 (7) (b) to (d), Stats., and reasonable costs related to the purchase of the property. Thes…

NR 51.003 Variances. The department may approve in writing a variance from a requirement of this chapter if the department determines that a variance is essential to effect necessary grant actions or program objectives and where special circumstances make a variance in the best i…

NR 51.004 Grants to conservation organizations. (1) Under s. 23.197 (4), Stats., the department may award one stewardship grant per group to conservation organizations that have entered into a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit organization to apply for the grant. The coopera…

NR 51.005 General requirements for all grants. (1) The sponsor shall remit to the department that percentage of all revenues from the sale of any structures, improvements, or personal property that were included in the appraisal and subsequent acquisition cost equal to the percen…

NR 51.006 Requirements for land acquisition projects. (1) GRANT COST SHARE. Except for grants issued under ss. 23.0917 (4m) (i) and (j), and 23.096 (2m), Stats., the department shall award grants for up to 50 percent of the acquisition cost. The remainder of the acquisition cost …

NR 51.007 Property uses inconsistent with the stewardship program. (1) The sponsor may not convert property purchased or developed with a grant under this chapter to uses that are inconsistent with the stewardship program or the grant contract, without the prior written approval …

NR 51.01 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish procedures and standards for the administration of grants to nonprofit conservation organizations for conservation purposes as set forth in s. 23.096, Stats. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-…

NR 51.02 Applicability. This subchapter is applicable to nonprofit conservation organizations that wish to apply for grants as specified in s. 23.096, Stats., for the following specific purposes identified in s. 23.09 (2) (d) 1. to 7., 9., 11., 12. and 15., Stats.; s. 23.0917 (4m…

NR 51.03 General provisions. (1) The sponsor shall notify the department of any change in the status or purpose of the nonprofit conservation organization as it relates to the acquisition and management of lands for conservation purposes. (2) If the nonprofit conservation organiz…

NR 51.04 Application procedures and organization eligibility for grant assistance. (1) APPLICATION PROCEDURES. (a) Nonprofit conservation organizations that apply to the department for urban greenspace grants under s. 23.09 (19), Stats., subch. XIII, aids for the acquisition and …

NR 51.05 Eligible and ineligible acquisition projects. (1) ELIGIBLE PROJECTS. The department may award grants under this chapter to nonprofit conservation organizations for acquisition of all or some of the rights of property for the following: (a) For natural areas under subch. …

NR 51.06 Acquisition priorities. (1) The department shall base its evaluation of acquisition projects on information submitted in the application as well as site visits and technical review comments. Property shall be evaluated and grants awarded History: Cr. Register, October, 1…

NR 51.07 Grant contracts for acquisition projects. (1) Stewardship grants shall be subject to the execution of a grant contract between the department and sponsor. The grant contract shall recognize the state[s interest in the property acquired and ensure that sponsors shall prov…

NR 51.08 Grant payments for acquisition projects. The department may not approve grant payments to a sponsor until the following conditions have been satisfied: (1) The sponsor has submitted a claim supported by appropriate evidence of cost. Accounting for all stewardship grants …

NR 51.09 Eligible costs and grant payments for development and habitat restoration projects. (1) ELIGIBLE COSTS. Reasonable and necessary project costs that are consistent with the project scope and incurred during the project period are eligible for grant funds. The amount the d…

NR 51.20 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish procedures and standards for the administration of grants to nonprofit conservation organizations for natural area protection purposes as set forth in s. 23.096, Stats., under the natural areas or natural area herit…

NR 51.21 Applicability. This subchapter applies to nonprofit conservation organizations that wish to apply for grants for natural areas or natural area heritage program areas as specified in s. 23.096, Stats. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90.

NR 51.22 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in s. NR 51.002, the following definitions apply to this subchapter: (1) XDedicated state natural areaY has the meaning specified in s. 23.27 (1) (b), Stats. (2) XDedicationY has the meaning specified in s. 23.27 (1) (c), Stats…

NR 51.23 Eligible applicants. Nonprofit conservation organizations are eligible to apply for natural area grants. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; am. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96.

NR 51.24 Grant conditions. Grants awarded under this subchapter shall be made with the condition that the property shall qualify for dedication and be dedicated as a state natural area under ss. 23.27 and 23.29, Stats., except for those sites that the department may, with good ca…

NR 51.26 Approval of projects. The department shall evaluate each project by considering the following: (1) A project that is within a boundary or boundaries approved by the department and is listed on the current state natural areas priority site list shall receive high priority…

NR 51.27 Approval of parcels. In a given fiscal year, parcels within an approved project or projects on the current state the chapter was last published. 11 DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES NR 51.45 natural areas priority site list shall be given a higher priority for funding by t…

NR 51.30 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish the administrative framework for the implementation of the bluff protection program to preserve Great Lakes bluff land in Wisconsin under s. 30.24, Stats. History: Emerg. cr. Register, eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: cr. Re…

NR 51.31 Applicability. This subchapter applies to the department program to acquire Great Lakes bluff land under s. 30.24, Stats., and to bluff land protection grants to nonprofit conservation organizations pursuant to s. 23.096, Stats. History: Emerg. cr. Register, eff. 9-1-00;…

NR 51.32 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in s. NR 51.002, the following definition applies to this subchapter: XBluffY means a hill, ridge or similar landform significantly elevated above the surrounding landscape, having a broad, steep face or cliff, and adjoining th…

NR 51.33 Priorities. The department shall select bluff lands for protection in the following order of priority: (1) Bluffs harboring unique or unusual natural features, including high quality biotic communities, rare plant and animal species or significant geological formations. …

NR 51.34 Factors to consider. The department shall consider the following factors when evaluating bluff protection projects: (1) The condition and quality of the bluff[s biological, archaeological or historical features or their ability to recover from past disturbance, or both. …

NR 51.40 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish the administrative framework for the implementation of the habitat areas program to protect, enhance, and restore wildlife habitat in Wisconsin in order to expand opportunities for wildlife-based recreation. The goa…

NR 51.41 Applicability. This subchapter applies to grants to nonprofit conservation organizations pursuant to ss. 23.092 and 23.096, Stats., and conservation organizations pursuant to s. 23.197 (4), Stats. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; r. and recr. …

NR 51.42 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in s. NR 51.002, the following definitions apply to this subchapter: (1) XHabitat restoration contractY means a recorded contract between the department and a nonprofit conservation organization, nonprofit organization, or cons…

NR 51.43 Designation of habitat areas. When the department issues a grant for a property acquisition under this subchapter, it has designated that property as a Habitat Area, pursuant to s. 23.092 (1m), Stats. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; r. and re…

NR 51.46 Habitat restoration grants. (1) Conservation organizations may apply for habitat restoration grants to install land management practices that restore or enhance wildlife habitat that meet the project characteristics in s. NR 51.45. The department shall provide habitat re…

NR 51.50 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish the administrative framework for acquisition of property to preserve wild lakes. History: Emerg. cr. eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: cr. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01.

NR 51.51 Applicability. This subchapter applies to the department program to acquire wild lake shoreland property, including islands, under s. 23.0917, Stats., and wild lake grants to nonprofit conservation organizations pursuant to s. 23.096, Stats. History: Emerg. cr. eff. 9-1-…

NR 51.52 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in s. NR 51.002, the following definition applies to this subchapter: XWild lakeY means a lake or flowage of at least 5 acres, or significant portions thereof, identified in the Wisconsin register of waterbodies, where human in…

NR 51.53 Priority wild lake identification. The department shall consider the following priorities for stewardship grants or department projects for acquisition of property, not listed in order of priority: (1) Existence of no or low levels of structural development on adjacent s…

NR 51.54 Grants for wild lakes. (1) Nonprofit conservation organizations are eligible to apply for grants to acquire property to protect wild lakes. (2) The department shall evaluate and award grants for wild lakes projects according to the priorities listed in s. NR 51.53. (3) A…

NR 51.60 Purpose. The purpose of this subchapter is to establish the administrative framework for the implementation of the state[s stream bank protection program to protect water quality and fish habitat of streams. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; am…

NR 51.61 Applicability. This subchapter applies to the department program to acquire property under s. 23.094, Stats., and to stream bank protection grants to nonprofit conservation organizations pursuant to s. 23.096, Stats. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11…

NR 51.62 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in s. NR 51.002, the following definition applies to this subchapter: NR 51.65 XManagement planY means a written plan describing conditions and activities which shall be enforced and allowed on property acquired by the departme…

NR 51.63 Priority stream identification. The department shall identify priority streams for department projects, using the following criteria, not listed in order of priority: (1) The extent to which the water quality and fish habitat of the stream are threatened by urban or agri…

NR 51.64 Management plans. The sponsor shall prepare a management plan for each stream or stream segment on which it intends to acquire stream bank property. Grant projects require a department approved management plan that will be incorporated by reference into the grant contrac…

NR 51.65 Land management conditions. (1) The following activities are prohibited on stream bank property acquired under this subchapter unless specifically approved by the department in the management plan: (a) Alteration of vegetative cover or other natural features. (b) Plantin…

NR 51.66 Grants to nonprofit conservation organizations. The department may award grants to nonprofit conservation organizations to acquire property on stream corridors and within the watershed of the stream which meet the criteria established in s. NR 51.63. History: Cr. Registe…

NR 51.70 Purpose. (1) The purpose of this subchapter is to encourage and provide for the establishment of a system of state trails. Increasing demand for trail-based recreation, and promoting the preservation of public access to, travel within, and enjoyment and appreciation of t…

NR 51.71 Applicability. The provisions of this section are applicable to all state trails established under s. 23.175, Stats., and the Ice Age Trail as established under ss. 23.17 and 23.293, Stats. History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90.

NR 51.72 Definitions. In addition to the definitions in s. NR 51.002, the following definitions apply to this subchapter: (1) XIce age TrailY means the trail established under s. 23.17, Stats. (2) XCertifiedY means the recognition and signing by the U.S. national park service of …

NR 51.73 Designation. (1) The 400, Ahnapee, Badger, Bearskin, Buffalo River, Capital City, Cattail, Chippewa River, Devil[s River, Eisenbahn, Elroy-Sparta, Fox River, Friendship, Gandy Dancer, Glacial Drumlin, Great River, Great Sauk, Green Circle, Hank Aaron, Hillsboro, Ice Age …

NR 51.74 Grants for state trails. (1) LAND ACQUISITION. (a) The department may make grants to nonprofit conservation organizations to acquire lands for a state trail if the proposed state trail is first designated by the legislature or the department under s. NR 51.73. (b) If all…