Section 51.53. Priority wild lake identification.

  The department shall consider the following priorities for stewardship grants or department projects for acquisition of property, not listed in order of priority:

(1)  Existence of no or low levels of structural development on adjacent shoreland.

(2)  Lakes or flowages with larger surface area.

(3)  The extent to which water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat are threatened by development.

(4)  The extent to which the lake provides habitat for rare species or harbors high quality natural communities.

(5)  The extent to which the lake provides quality habitat for fish and wildlife.

(6)  The extent to which threats to water quality, and fish and wildlife habitat can be protected through acquisition of property as determined by the percent of the lake's shoreline or watershed captured by the acquisition.

(7)  The degree to which the acquisition adds to previously acquired shorelands along the lake or the extent that the acquisition continues or completes a previously started project.

(8)  The extent to which the acquisition reduces fragmentation of terrestrial or aquatic habitat as evidenced by the proximity to other public lands, clusters of lakes, and linkages to other surface waters.

(9)  Other unique features including, but not limited to, natural scenic beauty, archaeological, geological or cultural features.

Emerg. cr. eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135 : cr. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; CR 10-127 : am. (intro.), (7) to (9) Register February 2012 No. 674 , eff. 3-1-12.