281.70 River protection grants.
(1) Definitions. In this section:
(a) “Floating treatment wetland” means an artificial, buoyant platform for keeping plants afloat that mimics the function of natural wetlands and allows plants to grow in water that is typically too deep for them and that is placed below the ordinary high-water mark in a navigable water.
(b) “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. The placement of a floating treatment wetland in a river.
(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; 2019 a. 177; 2021 a. 240 s. 30.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 281 - Water and sewage.
281.11 - Statement of policy and purpose.
281.12 - General department powers and duties.
281.13 - Surveys and research.
281.14 - Wisconsin River monitoring and study.
281.145 - River and stream monitoring and study.
281.15 - Water quality standards.
281.16 - Water quality protection; nonpoint sources.
281.165 - Compliance with water quality standards for wetlands.
281.17 - Water quality and quantity; specific regulations.
281.20 - Orders; nonpoint source pollution.
281.31 - Navigable waters protection law.
281.33 - Construction site erosion control and storm water management.
281.34 - Groundwater withdrawals.
281.343 - Great Lakes — St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact.
281.344 - Water conservation, reporting, and supply regulation; when compact is not in effect.
281.346 - Water conservation, reporting, and supply regulation; after the compact takes effect.
281.348 - Water supply service area plans for public water supply systems.
281.35 - Water resources conservation and management.
281.36 - Permits for discharges into wetlands; mitigation.
281.37 - Wetland mitigation grant program.
281.43 - Joint sewerage systems.
281.47 - Sewage drains; sewage discharge into certain lakes.
281.49 - Disposal of septage in municipal sewage systems.
281.51 - Financial assistance program; local water quality planning.
281.53 - Municipal clean drinking water grants.
281.55 - Financial assistance program.
281.56 - Financial assistance program; sewerage systems.
281.57 - Financial assistance program; point source pollution abatement.
281.58 - Clean water fund program; financial assistance.
281.59 - Environmental improvement fund; financial management.
281.60 - Land recycling loan program.
281.61 - Safe drinking water loan program.
281.62 - Other drinking water quality activities.
281.625 - Drinking water loan guarantee program.
281.63 - Financial assistance program; combined sewer overflow abatement.
281.65 - Financial assistance; nonpoint source water pollution abatement.
281.66 - Urban nonpoint source water pollution abatement and storm water management program.
281.665 - Municipal flood control and riparian restoration program.
281.68 - Lake management planning grants and lake monitoring and protection contracts.
281.69 - Lake management and classification grants and contracts.
281.695 - Aids to municipalities for prevention and abatement of water pollution.
281.70 - River protection grants.
281.71 - Lake management project grants; river protection grants; purchases.
281.72 - River protection; contracts with nonprofit organizations.
281.75 - Compensation for well contamination and abandonment.
281.77 - Damage to water supplies.
281.83 - Remedial action in the Great Lakes and their tributaries.
281.85 - Great Lakes protection fund share.
281.87 - Great Lakes contaminated sediment removal.
281.91 - State agency personnel to report water pollution.
281.93 - Hearings on certain water use actions.
281.94 - Investigation of alleged water withdrawal violations.
281.95 - Remedies; water withdrawal violations.
281.96 - Visitorial powers of department.
281.99 - Administrative forfeitures for safe drinking water violations.