Section 51.884. General provisions.

 

(1)  In order to be eligible for funding under this subchapter, acquisition of property shall:

(a) Be located in the Baraboo hills. Property located within the acquisition boundary of any state park or state-owned natural area as of March 29, 1999, is not eligible for grants under this subchapter.

(b) Provide for the perpetual protection of the conservation values of the property. Temporary agreements do not qualify for funding.

(c) Contribute to protection of the forest resource in the Baraboo hills.

(d) Be from willing sellers.

(2)  Property that is forested at the time of acquisition shall be maintained as forest. Forested lands may only be commercially harvested for timber in accordance with a forest management plan. If the property is acquired in fee by the sponsor, the forest management plan shall be approved by the department. If the acquisition is for an easement, the easement shall provide that if the landowner chooses to do forest management, it shall be done in accordance with a forest management plan approved by the party acquiring the easement.

(3)  An easement acquired with grant funds may not prohibit the landowner from the future conversion of any unforested portions of the land to forest land appropriate to the site.

(4)  The application shall include a comprehensive description of the sponsor's plans for future monitoring and management of the property.

(5)  Property acquired under the Baraboo hills grant program may not be converted to uses other than conservation.

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