Section 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 according to criteria and priorities specific for each stewardship grant program identified in s. NR 51.05 .

(2)  In awarding grants under s. 23.0917 (3) , Stats., the department shall give priority to all of the purposes listed in s. 23.0917 (3) (c) , Stats.

(3)  Additional factors that may be considered by the department when awarding grants under s. 23.0917 (3) , Stats., include:

(a) Whether the project has regional, statewide or local significance.

(b) The degree to which the site is threatened by development or other conversion of land use.

(4)  A higher priority may be placed on existing projects or large projects, which may be pursued in collaboration with others, where the multiple acquisition of adjacent parcels will provide greater benefit for natural resource conservation than single-parcel projects.

(5)  A higher priority may be placed on projects that have been identified as important for natural resource protection in a comprehensive plan pursuant to s. 66.1001 , Stats., the Wisconsin land legacy report, another plan that has as one of its purposes the protection of natural resources, or the natural heritage inventory database.

Emerg. cr. eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135 : cr. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; CR 10-127 : am. (1), (4), (5) Register February 2012 No. 674 , eff. 3-1-12.