NR 51.04 History History: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; am. (2), (6) (a) 2., 4. b., (b) 2. and (c) 1., cr. (6) (a) 4. c., r. (6) (a) 7., 10., 11., (b) 8. and (c) 10., renum. (6) (a) 8., 9., 12., (b) 9., 10., (c) 11. to 13. to be (6) (a) 7., 8., 9., (b) 8., 9., (c) 10. to 12. and am. (6) (a) 7., Register, June, 1994, No. 462, eff. 7-1-94; r. and recr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; emerg. am. (1) (a), r. (3), renum. (4) to be (1) (d), eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: am. (1) (a), r. (3), renum. (4) to be (1) (d), Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; CR 10-127: am. (title), (2) (a), renum. (1) (a) to (d), (2) (b) to be (1) (b) 1. to 4., (2) (d) and am., cr. (1) (a), (b) (intro.), (2) (am), (b), (c), (e) Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.05 NR 51.05 Eligible and ineligible acquisition projects.

NR 51.05(1) (1) Eligible projects. The department may award grants under this chapter to nonprofit conservation organizations for acquisition of all or some of the rights of property for the following:

NR 51.05(1)(a) (a) For natural areas under subch. III; the Ice Age Trail and state trails under subch. VIII; stream bank protection under subch. VII; habitat areas and fisheries under subch. V; bluff protection under subch. IV; wild lakes under subch. VI; the Baraboo hills under subch. X; aid for local parks under subch. XII; urban green space under subch. XIII; urban rivers under subch. XIV and acquisition of development rights under subch. XV.

NR 51.05(1)(b) (b) For the Lower Wisconsin state riverway, and wild rivers designated under s. 30.26, Stats., including lands within or adjacent to their acquisition boundaries.

NR 51.05(1)(c) (c) For the middle kettle moraine.

NR 51.05(1)(d) (d) For state forests or state parks including lands within or adjacent to a state forest or state park or its acquisition boundaries.

NR 51.05(1)(e) (e) For public shooting, trapping or fishing grounds, state wildlife areas, state recreation areas, lands within or adjacent to their acquisition boundaries, or for projects that have similar purposes.

NR 51.05(1)(f) (f) For preservation of endangered or threatened species under s. 29.604, Stats.

NR 51.05(1)(g) (g) For fish farms as defined in s. 95.001 (1) (aj), Stats., doing cooperative work with the state.

NR 51.05(1)(h) (h) For acquisition of development rights to create agricultural, forestry or other buffers on lands adjacent to properties acquired for the purposes listed in this subsection.

NR 51.05(2) (2) Ineligible projects. The department may not award stewardship grants for ineligible acquisition projects including:

NR 51.05(2)(a) (a) Any property that has restrictions or other covenants that prevent or limit the property from being managed for the conservation or public recreational purposes of the stewardship program or that would preempt the department’s reversionary interests under s. 23.096 (5), Stats.

NR 51.05(2)(b) (b) Any property that was acquired more than one year before a grant application is submitted for that property. Eligible properties not funded in the fiscal year in which an application is submitted due to insufficient funds may be considered for funding in subsequent fiscal years.

NR 51.05(2)(c) (c) Any property that is used or may be used for licensed game farms, fur farms, deer farms, shooting preserves, forest nurseries or experimental stations.

NR 51.05(2)(d) (d) Any property used for commercial or industrial purposes, except with prior written approval of the department for sponsor fundraising and other activities that protect or enhance the conservation values of the project.

NR 51.05 History History: Emerg. cr. eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: cr. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; correction in (1) (g) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2005 No. 592; CR 10-127: am. (title), (1) (intro.), (2) (intro.), (b) to (d), cr. (1) (title), (2) (title) Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.06 NR 51.06 Acquisition priorities.

NR 51.06(1) (1) The department shall base its evaluation of acquisition projects on information submitted in the application as well as site visits and technical review comments. Property shall be evaluated and grants awarded according to criteria and priorities specific for each stewardship grant program identified in s. NR 51.05.

NR 51.06(2) (2) In awarding grants under s. 23.0917 (3), Stats., the department shall give priority to all of the purposes listed in s. 23.0917 (3) (c), Stats.

NR 51.06(3) (3) Additional factors that may be considered by the department when awarding grants under s. 23.0917 (3), Stats., include:

NR 51.06(3)(a) (a) Whether the project has regional, statewide or local significance.

NR 51.06(3)(b) (b) The degree to which the site is threatened by development or other conversion of land use.

NR 51.06(4) (4) A higher priority may be placed on existing projects or large projects, which may be pursued in collaboration with others, where the multiple acquisition of adjacent parcels will provide greater benefit for natural resource conservation than single-parcel projects.

NR 51.06(5) (5) A higher priority may be placed on projects that have been identified as important for natural resource protection in a comprehensive plan pursuant to s. 66.1001, Stats., the Wisconsin land legacy report, another plan that has as one of its purposes the protection of natural resources, or the natural heritage inventory database.

NR 51.06 History History: Emerg. cr. eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: cr. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; CR 10-127: am. (1), (4), (5) Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.07 NR 51.07 Grant contracts for acquisition projects.

NR 51.07(1) (1) Stewardship grants shall be subject to the execution of a grant contract between the department and sponsor. The grant contract shall recognize the state’s interest in the property acquired and ensure that sponsors shall provide adequate land management, signage in accordance with s. 23.09165, Stats., and maintenance, or in the case of easements shall monitor and enforce the conditions of the easement, in accordance with provisions contained in the grant contract and in a land management plan approved by the department. The grant contract shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds in the appropriate county.

NR 51.07(1d) (1d) The sponsor shall declare the state’s interest in the Stewardship property on the warranty deed or other appropriate instrument of conveyance recorded in the appropriate county register of deeds office, using language provided by the department.