NR 51.962(3)(e) (e) Any property with a perpetual easement for a use inconsistent with the purposes of the county forest law set forth in s. 28.11 (1), Stats., and this subchapter.

NR 51.962(4) (4) Matching funds.

NR 51.962(4)(a) (a) To receive a grant under this subchapter, counties shall contribute matching funds that are equal to at least 50 percent of total eligible costs. Notwithstanding s. NR 51.006 (3) (a), eligible sources of matching funds shall include any combination of the following:

NR 51.962(4)(a)1. 1. Cash from the county.

NR 51.962(4)(a)2. 2. Funds generated by local or federal governments.

NR 51.962(4)(a)3. 3. Grants or contributions from foundations, businesses, private individuals or nonprofit organizations.

NR 51.962(4)(a)4. 4. County forest loans, as provided under s. 28.11 (8) (b), Stats.

NR 51.962(4)(a)5. 5. The amount of the difference between the fair market value of the land being acquired by the county, as determined by a department-approved appraisal, and the price for which the land was purchased, if the price is less than the fair market value.

NR 51.962(4)(a)6. 6. The fair market value of land already in public ownership acquired by the county not more than one year prior to the date the county submits an application for funding under s. NR 51.966, if the department determines that land is suitable as stewardship program match, and if land is within the blocking boundary of the county forest as depicted in the county forest comprehensive land use plan under s. 28.11 (5) (a), Stats., and eligible for county forest entry under s. 28.11 (4) (b), Stats.

NR 51.962(4)(a)7. 7. Fifty percent of the fair market value of land owned by the county at the time of application that was acquired by the county more than one year prior to the date the county submits an application for funding under s. NR 51.966, if the department determines that land is suitable as stewardship program match, and if land is within the blocking boundary of the county forest as depicted in the county forest comprehensive land use plan under s. 28.11 (5) (a), Stats., and eligible for county forest entry under s. 28.11 (4) (b), Stats.

NR 51.962(4)(b) (b) Land used as match shall be entered into the county forest law under s. 28.11 (4), Stats., within one year of the date of stewardship grant award.

NR 51.962 History History: CR 10-127: cr. Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.963 NR 51.963 Memorandum of agreement. In order to be eligible for grants under this subchapter, counties shall enter into a memorandum of agreement with the department.

NR 51.963 Note Note: Memorandum of agreement is available from DNR Division of Forestry, Bureau of Forest Management, County Forest Specialist – FR/4, 101 S. Webster St., P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI. 53707-7921.

NR 51.963 History History: CR 10-127: cr. Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.964 NR 51.964 Program criteria, application ranking, and funding availability.

NR 51.964(1) (1) Program criteria and application ranking. The department shall consider the following broad criteria as well as specific indicators referenced in the memorandum of agreement in s. NR 51.963 when evaluating and ranking applications submitted under this subchapter.

NR 51.964(1)(a) (a) All the purposes identified in s. 28.11 (1), Stats.

NR 51.964(1)(b) (b) Whether the project has regional or statewide significance including recreational trail connectivity, watershed protection, the presence of regionally important wildlife or communities as identified in the natural heritage database or a conservation opportunity area as identified in the wildlife action plan.

NR 51.964(1)(c) (c) Degree to which the site is threatened by development or conversion to other land use.

NR 51.964(1)(d) (d) Whether the project is within the county forest acquisition boundary identified in the county forest comprehensive land use plan.

NR 51.964(1)(e) (e) Whether the project is identified as an important acquisition within an existing plan or database including the land legacy report, statewide forestry plan, forest legacy plan, county outdoor recreation plan, county forest comprehensive land use plan, natural heritage inventory database, or other similar plans.

NR 51.964(2) (2) Funding availability. The department shall provide notice of the annual maximum funding allotment from s. 23.0917 (3), Stats., to counties through the processes defined in the memorandum of agreement identified in s. NR 51.963. Any portion of each year’s funding allotment not awarded by the following February 28 shall revert to the department for land acquisition under s. 23.0917 (3), Stats.

NR 51.964 History History: CR 10-127: cr. Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.965 NR 51.965 Eligible and ineligible costs.

NR 51.965(1) (1) Eligible costs. Eligible costs include all the components under ss. NR 51.002 (1) and 51.006 (2). The department shall consider as eligible those project costs incurred up to one year before the date the grant application is submitted, provided that the county can demonstrate a need to proceed with the purchase at the earlier time.

NR 51.965(2) (2) Ineligible costs. Costs not listed as eligible shall not be funded by a grant under this subchapter. Ineligible costs include environmental clean up costs, brokerage fees paid by the buyer, real estate transfer taxes, or any other cost not identified in ss. NR 51.002 (1) and 51.006 (2).

NR 51.965 History History: CR 10-127: cr. Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12; corrections in (1), (2) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register March 2014 No. 699.

NR 51.966 NR 51.966 Application content and application deadline.