Section 198.12. Definitions.

  The following definitions apply to terms used in this chapter:

(1)  "Aquatic invasive species" means non-indigenous water or wetland-dwelling organisms or their hybrids whose introduction into aquatic ecosystems causes or is likely to cause adverse economic, recreational or environmental impacts or harm to human health.

(2)  "Control" means to cut and remove, otherwise remove, destroy, suppress or prevent the introduction or spread of aquatic invasive species.

(3)  "Department" means the Wisconsin department of natural resources.

(4)  "Grant period" means the time period stated in the grant agreement during which the sponsor is eligible to expend program grant funds for a project.

(5)  "Littoral area" has the meaning given in s. NR 191.22 (5) .

(6)  "Local share" means that portion of the cost of the project other than state funds administered by the department.

(7)  "Natural resource agency" means a government agency that manages lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, forests, plants, soils or agricultural lands.

(8)  "Pioneer population," means a small community of aquatic invasive species in the early stages of colonization, or re-colonization, in a particular waterbody or portion thereof. For rooted aquatic plants, a pioneer population has been present less than 5 years, or is a re-colonization following the completion of an established population control project under subch. IV , and is less than 5 acres in size or less than 5% of the littoral area which ever is greater.

(9)  "Project" means an activity to prevent or control aquatic invasive species, including education that is approved for grant funding.

(10)  "Project priority list" means a ranking by the department of completed grant project applications in the order of their scheduled receipt of funds.

(11)  "Qualified nonprofit organization" means a nonprofit corporation, a charitable trust or other nonprofit association whose purposes include the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species and that is described in section 501 (c)(3) of the internal revenue code and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the internal revenue code. Qualified nonprofit organizations include qualified nonprofit conservation organizations as defined in s. 23.0955 (1) , Stats.

(12)  "Sponsor" means the public or private entity including the local unit of government that is applying for and receiving a grant under s. 23.22 (2) (c) , Stats., and this chapter.

(13)  "Waterbody" means any lake, pond, stream, spring or wetland or portion thereof that is a water of the state.

History: CR 04-060 : cr. Register April 2005 No. 592 , eff. 5-1-05; CR 08-063 : renum. (5) to (10) to be (6), (8) to (10), (12) and (13) and am. (8) and (9), cr. (5), (7) and (11) Register June 2009 No. 642 , eff. 7-1-09.