Chapter 23

23.0916(5)(a) (a) Provisions relating to public access for nature-based outdoor activities for all lands other than those subject to sub. (2) (a) or (am) or (3) (a) that are acquired in whole or in part with funding from the stewardship programs under ss. 23.0915 and 23.0917.

23.0916(5)(b) (b) A process for the review of determinations made under subs. (2) (b) or (c) and (3) (b) or (c).

23.0916(6) (6) Reporting requirement. The department shall prepare a biennial report that identifies all land subject to this section that has been acquired during the preceding fiscal biennium and upon which public access for any nature-based outdoor activity is prohibited. For each acquisition, the report shall specify for which of these nature-based outdoor activities public access is prohibited and shall include the reason for the prohibition. The department shall submit the report to the joint committee on finance and to the appropriate standing committees of the legislature in the manner provided under s. 13.172 (3). The department shall submit the report no later than November 15 for the preceding fiscal biennium and shall submit the first biennial report no later than November 15, 2009.

23.0916 History History: 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32, 168.

23.09165 23.09165 Stewardship programs information and public access notice.

23.09165(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

23.09165(1)(a) (a) “Department land” has the meaning given in s. 23.0917 (1) (c).

23.09165(1)(b) (b) “Land” has the meaning given in s. 23.0917 (1) (d).

23.09165(1)(c) (c) “Nonprofit conservation organization” has the meaning given in s. 23.0955 (1).

23.09165(1)(d) (d) “Stewardship land” means land that is acquired in whole or in part with funding from one or both stewardship programs.

23.09165(1)(e) (e) “Stewardship program” means the stewardship program under s. 23.0915 or 23.0917.

23.09165(2) (2) Land mapping and directory.

23.09165(2)(ac) (ac) Within 48 months after October 27, 2007, the department shall establish and maintain an interactive mapping tool at the department’s website that identifies all stewardship land that is open for public access. Public access to the mapping tool at the website shall be available without charge.

23.09165(2)(bc) (bc) Within 24 months after December 21, 2011, the department shall make available to the public a written directory of all stewardship land that is open for public access. The directory shall be organized by county and town and shall clearly show the location of the stewardship land and named or numbered roads. The directory shall be updated at least every 2 years. In lieu of the department itself making available the written directory, the department may make available a written directory that is published by a private entity and that meets the requirements of this paragraph. The department may charge a fee for either directory, but the fee may not exceed the cost of preparing and publishing the directory.

23.09165(3) (3) Notice of access to stewardship land.

23.09165(3)(a) (a) An owner of stewardship land acquired on or after October 27, 2007, shall, within 6 months after the disbursement of the stewardship program funds, provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice. The owner of stewardship land acquired before October 27, 2007, shall provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice within 48 months after October 27, 2007. The area of each sign shall be at least 108 square inches, and each sign shall be made of a durable substance. The signs shall be placed at major access points to the stewardship land.

23.09165(3)(b) (b) If the stewardship land that is acquired on or after October 27, 2007, is surrounded by department land, the department shall, within 6 months after the disbursement of stewardship program funds, provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice at the major access points to the department land. If the stewardship land that is acquired before October 27, 2007, is surrounded by department land, the department shall provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice at the major access points to the department land within 48 months after October 27, 2007. The area of each sign shall be at least 108 square inches, and each sign shall be made of a durable substance.

23.09165(3)(c) (c) The signs required under pars. (a) and (b) shall list either the primary activities that are restricted or prohibited on the stewardship land or the primary activities that are permitted on the stewardship land. The signs shall include either the name of the owner of the stewardship land or a person to contact regarding the stewardship land. Signs shall also be placed at the specified major access points that give notice that the stewardship land was acquired in whole or in part using stewardship program funds. The department may specify the amount of detail that is required on the signs to assure that the signs provide sufficient and useful information.

23.09165(3)(d) (d) If the stewardship land described under par. (a) or (b) has a cumulative acreage of 10 acres or more, the signs under par. (a) or (b) shall also include one of the following:

23.09165(3)(d)1. 1. The postal address or telephone number of the owner of the stewardship land.

23.09165(3)(d)2. 2. The postal address or telephone number of a person to contact regarding the stewardship land.

23.09165(3)(d)3. 3. An Internet website address where a person can locate the information listed in subd. 1. or 2.

23.09165(3)(ec) (ec) Within 24 months after December 21, 2011, the department shall make available to the public a written list of all stewardship land that was acquired before October 27, 2007, and for which public access has been restricted or prohibited and the reasons for that action.

23.09165(3)(f) (f) If an owner of any stewardship land fails to comply with the requirements of par. (a), that person is not eligible for any subprogram or grant or other state aid under the stewardship programs until the department determines that the person is in compliance with par. (a).

23.09165(3)(g) (g) If the department is notified that a sign required under par. (a) or (b) needs replacing, within 28 days after receiving that notification the department shall determine if the sign needs to be replaced. The department shall replace any sign required under par. (b) within 28 days after determining that the sign needs to be replaced. Within 7 days after determining that a sign required under par. (a) needs to be replaced, the department shall notify the owner of that determination. The owner of stewardship land that placed signs as required under par. (a) shall be ineligible for any subprogram or grant or other state aid under the stewardship programs if the sign is not replaced within 3 months after receiving the notice.

23.09165(3)(h) (h) If the department authorizes a nonprofit conservation organization to charge a fee for hunting on stewardship land, the fee for the hunting season may not exceed the sum of the fee for a daily resident vehicle admission receipt under s. 27.01 (7) (f) 2. and the issuing fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt under s. 27.01 (7) (gr).

23.09165(4) (4) Contact information. An owner of stewardship land shall provide information requested by the department that will enable the department to contact that owner.

23.09165(5) (5) Applicability. This section does not apply to the following stewardship land:

23.09165(5)(a) (a) Easements used for trails.

23.09165(5)(b) (b) Easements for which the primary purpose of the easement is not public access.

23.09165(5)(c) (c) Land acquired or managed under s. 23.17.

23.09165 History History: 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 95; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.

23.0917 23.0917 Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program.

23.0917(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

23.0917(1)(a) (a) “Annual bonding authority” means the amount that may be obligated under a subprogram for a fiscal year.

23.0917(1)(am) (am) “Available bonding authority” means the annual bonding authority as it may be adjusted under sub. (4g) (b), (4m) (k), (5) or (5m).

23.0917(1)(b) (b) “Baraboo Hills” means the area that is within the boundaries of the Baraboo Range National Natural Landmark.

23.0917(1)(c) (c) “Department land” means an area of land that is owned by the state, that is under the jurisdiction of the department and that is used for one of the purposes specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d).

23.0917(1)(d) (d) “Land” means land in fee simple, conservation easements, other easements in land and development rights in land.

23.0917(1)(dm) (dm) “Nonprofit conservation organization” has the meaning given in s. 23.0955 (1).

23.0917(1)(e) (e) “Obligate” means to encumber or otherwise commit or to expend without having previously encumbered or otherwise committed.

23.0917(1)(f) (f) “Owner’s acquisition price” means the amount equal to the price the owner paid for the land or if the owner acquired the land as a gift or devise, the amount equal to the appraised value of the land at the time it was transferred to the owner.

23.0917(1)(g) (g) “Remaining bonding authority” means the amount of moneys that has not been obligated.

23.0917(1)(i) (i) “Total bonding authority” means the total amount that may be obligated under a subprogram under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program over the entire duration of the program.

23.0917(2) (2) Establishment.

23.0917(2)(a) (a) The department shall establish the following subprograms under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson stewardship 2000 program:

23.0917(2)(a)1. 1. A subprogram for land acquisition for conservation and recreational purposes.

23.0917(2)(a)2. 2. A subprogram for property development and local assistance.

23.0917(2)(a)3. 3. A subprogram for bluff protection.

23.0917(2)(a)3m. 3m. A subprogram for recreational boating aids.

23.0917(2)(a)4. 4. A subprogram for land acquisition in the Baraboo Hills for conservation purposes.

23.0917(2)(b) (b) Except as provided in sub. (5m), no moneys may be obligated from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) before July 1, 2000.

23.0917(3) (3) Land acquisition subprogram.

23.0917(3)(a) (a) Beginning with fiscal year 2000-01 and ending with fiscal year 2025-26, the department may obligate moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition to acquire land for the purposes specified in s. 23.09 (2) (d) and grants for these purposes under s. 23.096, except as provided under ss. 23.197 (2m), (3m) (b), (7m), and (8) and 23.198 (1) (a).

23.0917(3)(b) (b) In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall set aside in each fiscal year $1,000,000 that may be obligated only for the department to acquire land for the ice age trail. The period of time during which the moneys shall be set aside in each fiscal year shall begin on the July 1 of the fiscal year and end on the June 30 of the same fiscal year.

23.0917(3)(bm) (bm) During the period beginning with fiscal year 2001-02 and ending with fiscal year 2021-22, in obligating money under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall set aside not less than a total of $2,000,000 that may be obligated only to provide matching funds for grants awarded to the department for the purchase of land or easements under 16 USC 2103c.

23.0917(3)(br) (br) In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall set aside the following amounts that may be obligated only to provide for grants awarded to nonprofit conservation organizations under s. 23.096:

23.0917(3)(br)1. 1. For each fiscal year beginning with 2010-11 and ending with 2014-15, $12,000,000.

23.0917(3)(br)2. 2. For each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with 2025-26, $7,000,000.

23.0917(3)(bt) (bt) In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall set aside the following amounts to be obligated only for the department to acquire land and to provide grants to counties under s. 23.0953:

23.0917(3)(bt)1. 1. For each fiscal year beginning with 2013-14 and ending with fiscal year 2014-15, $20,000,000.

23.0917(3)(bt)2. 2. For each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with fiscal year 2021-22, $9,000,000.

23.0917(3)(bt)3. 3. For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022-23 and ending with fiscal year 2025-26, $1,000,000 plus the amount transferred to the capital improvement fund under s. 20.370 (5) (hq) in that fiscal year.

23.0917(3)(bw) (bw)

23.0917(3)(bw)1. 1. In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall set aside $5,000,000 for each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with 2021-22 to be obligated only to provide grants to counties under s. 23.0953.

23.0917(3)(bw)2. 2. In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition, for each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022-23 and ending with fiscal year 2025-26, the department shall set aside the amount transferred to the capital improvement fund under s. 20.370 (5) (hr) in that fiscal year to be obligated only to provide grants to counties under s. 23.0953.

23.0917(3)(c) (c) In obligating moneys under the subprogram for land acquisition, the department shall give priority to all of the following purposes and to awarding grants under s. 23.096 for all the following purposes:

23.0917(3)(c)1. 1. Acquisition of land that preserves or enhances the state’s water resources, including land in and for the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway; land abutting wild rivers designated under s. 30.26, wild lakes and land along the shores of the Great Lakes.

23.0917(3)(c)2. 2. Acquisition of land for the stream bank protection program under s. 23.094.

23.0917(3)(c)3. 3. Acquisition of land for habitat areas and fisheries under s. 23.092.

23.0917(3)(c)4. 4. Acquisition of land for natural areas under ss. 23.27 and 23.29.

23.0917(3)(c)6. 6. Acquisition of land in the middle Kettle Moraine.

23.0917(3)(c)7. 7. Acquisition of land in the Niagara Escarpment corridor.

23.0917(3)(dm) (dm) Except as provided in subs. (4g) (b), (4m) (k), (5) and (5m), the department may not obligate under the subprogram for land acquisition more than the following amounts:

23.0917(3)(dm)1. 1. For fiscal year 2000-01, $28,500,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)1m. 1m. For fiscal year 2001-02, $34,500,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)2. 2. For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2002-03 and ending with fiscal year 2006-07, $45,000,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)3. 3. For fiscal year 2007-08, $43,500,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)3m. 3m. For fiscal years 2008-09 and 2009-10, $42,500,000 for each fiscal year.

23.0917(3)(dm)4. 4. For fiscal year 2010-11, $62,000,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)5. 5. For fiscal year 2011-12, $37,500,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)6. 6. For fiscal year 2012-13, $36,500,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)6g. 6g. For each fiscal year beginning with 2013-14 and ending with fiscal year 2014-15, $32,000,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)7. 7. For each fiscal year beginning with 2015-16 and ending with fiscal year 2021-22, $21,000,000.

23.0917(3)(dm)8. 8. For each fiscal year beginning with fiscal year 2022-23 and ending with fiscal year 2025-26, $16,000,000.

23.0917(3)(e) (e) For purposes of this subsection, the department by rule shall define “wild lake”.

23.0917(4) (4) Property development and local assistance subprogram.

23.0917(4)(a) (a) Beginning with fiscal year 2000-01 and ending with fiscal year 2025-26, the department may obligate moneys under the subprogram for property development and local assistance. Moneys obligated under this subprogram may be only used for nature-based outdoor recreation, except as provided under par. (cm).

23.0917(4)(b) (b) The purposes for which moneys may be obligated for local assistance under the subprogram for property development and local assistance are the following: