EHS:cdc&skw
2019 - 2020 LEGISLATURE
October 7, 2019 - Introduced by Representatives Loudenbeck, Brandtjen,
Dittrich, Felzkowski, Novak, Quinn, Skowronski, Thiesfeldt, Tusler,
Knodl and Born, cosponsored by Senators Testin, Fitzgerald, Cowles and
Olsen. Referred to Committee on Environment.
AB503,1,4
1An Act to renumber 281.70 (1); and
to create 281.69 (1b) (ae), 281.69 (3) (b) 6.,
2281.70 (1) (a) and 281.70 (5) (c) 6. of the statutes;
relating to: lake management
3grants and river protection management grants for floating treatment
4wetlands.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill makes the placement of a floating treatment wetland eligible for a lake
management grant and a river protection grant.
Under current law, the Department of Natural Resources administers the lake
management grant program, under which it awards grants of up to $200,000 each
for up to 75 percent of the cost of a lake management project that will improve or
protect the quality of water in lakes or in their ecosystems. Nonprofit conservation
organizations, most units of local government, and lake associations that meet
certain requirements are eligible for these grants. Under current law, activities that
are eligible for a grant include certain restoration, protection, or conservation
activities. This bill adds to the list of eligible activities the placement of a floating
treatment wetland in a lake. Under the bill, a floating treatment wetland is an
artificial, buoyant platform for keeping plants afloat that mimics the function of
natural wetlands and allows plants to grow in water that is typically too deep for
them and that is placed below the ordinary high water mark in a navigable water.
Under current law, DNR administers a financial assistance program to provide
grants for river protection management projects, under which it awards up to 75
percent of the cost of a project for up to $50,000 per management project. Nonprofit
conservation organizations, most units of local government, and river management
organizations that meet certain requirements are eligible for these grants. Under
current law, activities that are eligible for a management project grant include
certain conservation, protection, or restoration projects. This bill adds to the list of
eligible activities the placement of a floating treatment wetland in a river.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB503,1
1Section
1. 281.69 (1b) (ae) of the statutes is created to read:
AB503,2,52
281.69
(1b) (ae) “Floating treatment wetland” means an artificial, buoyant
3platform for keeping plants afloat that mimics the function of natural wetlands and
4allows plants to grow in water that is typically too deep for them and that is placed
5below the ordinary high-water mark in a navigable water.
AB503,2
6Section
2. 281.69 (3) (b) 6. of the statutes is created to read:
AB503,2,77
281.69
(3) (b) 6. The placement of a floating treatment wetland in a lake.
AB503,3
8Section 3
. 281.70 (1) of the statutes is renumbered 281.70 (1) (b).
AB503,4
9Section 4
. 281.70 (1) (a) of the statutes is created to read:
AB503,2,1310
281.70
(1) (a) “Floating treatment wetland” means an artificial, buoyant
11platform for keeping plants afloat that mimics the function of natural wetlands and
12allows plants to grow in water that is typically too deep for them and that is placed
13below the ordinary high-water mark in a navigable water.
AB503,5
14Section 5
. 281.70 (5) (c) 6. of the statutes is created to read:
AB503,2,1515
281.70
(5) (c) 6. The placement of a floating treatment wetland in a river.
