Section 50.19. Scenic urban waterways grant program.

 

(1)   Purpose. The purpose of this section is to establish standards for the implementation and administration of the scenic urban waterways grant program under s. 30.275 , Stats.

(2)   Applicability. The provisions of this section are applicable to all counties, cities, villages, towns and Indian tribes within a designated scenic urban waterway and to the department.

(3)   Eligible projects. The following types of projects are eligible for funding under this section:

(a) Acquisition and development of land for parks, open spaces, scenic easements, public access, automobile parking, fish and wildlife habitat, woodlands, wetlands and trails.

(b) Layout and development of scenic drives.

(c) Improvement of surface water quality and surface water flow.

(4)   Application procedure. Applications for project grants shall be submitted to the department no later than November 1 of each state fiscal year for which funding is requested. The department shall review applications for completeness. An application shall contain the following items:

(a) A completed application form.

(b) A resolution adopted by the governing body of the municipality, Indian tribe or the department designating an authorized representative to apply for grants under s. 30.275 , Stats., and this section on behalf of the municipality, Indian tribe or the department. The authorized representative shall be an official or employee of the municipality, Indian tribe or the department.

(c) Description of project; including proximity to urban areas, types of water-based recreational activities the project would promote, a detailed estimate of project costs, and an estimate of the number of people who would be expected to enjoy the benefits of the project.

(d) Plans and specifications for the project.

(e) Other information as requested by the department.

(5)   Allocation of funds. Annual appropriations will be allocated equally among all designated scenic urban waterways as soon as possible after July 1 of each year. Funds allocated to a designated scenic urban waterway that are not needed to fund applications received by November 1, may be reallocated equally among designated scenic urban waterways which have requested funds in excess of their allocations. The reallocation shall be completed by February 1 of the following year.

(6)   Watershed committees. The selection of projects within a designated scenic urban waterway shall be made by a watershed committee for that scenic urban waterway appointed by the department. The committee shall have members from each county within the designated scenic urban waterway; some cities, villages, towns and inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts within the designated scenic urban waterway; the department and independent citizens within the designated scenic urban waterway. Existing watershed committees may be used to select projects. Regional planning commissions may and the department shall be coordinators and advisors to the committee.

(7)   Selection of projects. The watershed committee shall give priority to local government projects. Department projects may be selected only if sufficient funds remain after local government projects within the designated scenic urban waterway are selected. Priority shall be given to applications based on the degree to which the potential benefits of each project correspond to the program's purpose pursuant to s. 30.275 (1) , Stats.

(8)   Grant awards. The department shall issue grant awards by February 28 of each year. The state share of the project cost shall be no greater than 80 percent of the eligible project costs. The department may not issue grants to applicants whose application is not complete.

(9)   Grant conditions.

(a) Grant awards are subject to the conditions of this section and s. 30.275 , Stats.

(b) Projects funded under this section shall be consistent with any approved areawide water quality management plan encompassing the project.

(c) Nonpoint source projects to improve surface water quality and surface water flow are subject to the requirements of ss. NR 120.14 and 120.15 .

(d) The general provisions of s. NR 50.05 apply to awards made under this section.

Cr. Register, November, 1986, No. 371 , eff. 12-1-86.

Note

Application forms may be obtained, at no charge, from the Bureau of Community Financial Assistance, Department of Natural Resources, Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin 53707. Microsoft Windows NT 6.1.7601 Service Pack 1