Section 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 for approval.

(2)  A project that is not within the boundary of a current state natural area or listed on the current state natural areas priority site list shall be reviewed for natural area designation pursuant to s. 23.27 (1) (e) and (f) , Stats. The criteria used to evaluate natural values of proposed project are as follows:

(a) The quality of the natural values to be protected, including a comparison of the project with others and a consideration of the size, maturity, and unique attributes of the natural values.

(b) The condition of the natural values to be protected, including an analysis of the degree to which the natural values have been damaged or altered from their optimal condition and character.

(c) The long-term viability of the natural values to be protected, including the extent to which the project meets the minimum size required by area-dependent species of concern; the adequacy of the project to maintain community function and dynamics; the impacts that fragmentation, isolation and size of community may have on its longevity; and the ability of the project to support minimum viable populations of species to be protected.

(d) The defensibility of the natural values and the project from adverse effects, both natural and anthropogenic, that threaten it.

(3)  The criteria used to evaluate and rank proposed projects are as follows:

(a) The rarity of the natural values to be protected as rated by the natural heritage inventory or other authority recognized by the scientific community.

(b) The number of natural values to be protected and their areal extent .

(c) The degree to which the natural values and the project are threatened.

(d) The value of the area for scientific research and conservation education.

(e) The degree to which acquisition, as opposed to other protection tools, will protect the natural values.

(f) The degree to which these types of natural values are already protected in the state.

(g) The value of the site as an ecological benchmark or reference area.

Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418 , eff. 11-1-90; renum. (1), r. (2), Register, February, 1996, No. 482 , eff. 3-1-96; emerg. renum. from NR 51.27, eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135 : renum. from NR 51.27, Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; CR 10-127 : am. (intro.), (1) to (3), cr. (3) (g) Register February 2012 No. 674 , eff. 3-1-12.