NR 47.75(9)(c)
(c) All grant records shall be audited with the normal departmental audit of the county forest program.
NR 47.75(9)(d)
(d) An approved project may not exceed 2 years in length unless written approval is obtained from the department.
NR 47.75(9)(e)
(e) Any grant funds not spent on project identified costs or not used by the termination date of the project shall be returned to the department. Failure to return the funds shall render a county ineligible for any future grants under this section.
NR 47.75 History
History: CR 01-146: cr.
Register May 2002 No. 557, eff. 6-1-02.
NR 47.80
NR 47.80 Purpose and scope. The
purpose
of this subchapter
is to establish procedures
and
standards
for the ad
ministration
of
the private
forest
landowner
grant
program as authorized
under s.
26.38, Stats.,
and to distribute
other
available
stat
e, federal,
and nonprofit
organization
funds
for the
purpose
of encouraging
private
forest
landowners
to
manage their lands
in a
manner
that benefits
the state's
forest
and
related
resources
and
the people
of the state.
NR 47.81
NR 47.81 Applicability. This subchapter is applicable to private, non-industrial forest landowners applying for or receiving grants under this subchapter.
NR 47.81 History
History: Cr.
Register, March, 1999, No. 519, eff. 4-1-99.
NR 47.82
NR 47.82 Definitions. In addition to definitions in s.
NR 47.002, the following definitions apply to this subchapter:
NR 47.82(1)
(1) “Afforestation" means establishing a forest on land not previously forested due to past land use, e.g., agricultural use.
NR 47.82(2)
(2) “Landowner forest stewardship plan" means the plan prescribing forest stewardship measures to be used on a particular site to achieve multiple natural resource goals.
NR 47.82(2m)
(2m) “Nonprofit
organization"
means
an organization
described
in section
501(c)(3) to (7) of the internal
reven
ue
code
and is exe
mpt
from federal
inco
me
tax under
section
501(a) of the internal revenue code.
NR 47.82(3m)
(3m) “Practice" means a stewardship activity or conservation measure consistent with the landowner forest stewardship plan to accomplish the landowner's desired management objectives.
NR 47.82(4)
(4) “Progra
m"
means
the private
forest
landowner
grant
program
authorized
under s.
26.38, Stats.
NR 47.82(5)
(5) “Reforestation" means establishing a forest on lands that were previously forested but where cover has been lost due to recent harvesting, land conversions, natural disasters or other destructive agents.
NR 47.82(6)
(6) “Riparian area" means the area or zone adjacent to a navigable stream or other body of water.
NR 47.82(7)
(7) “Wetlands" means an area where water is at, near or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and which has soils indicative of wet conditions.
NR 47.82 History
History: Cr.
Register, March, 1999, No. 519, eff. 4-1-99;
CR 12-029: cr. (2m), am. (4)
Register June 2013 No. 690, eff. 7-1-13.
NR 47.83
NR 47.83 Program administration. The
depart
ment
shall
ad
minister
the progra
m,
within the
guidance
provided
by
the
authorizing
statute.
Additional
guidance
may
accompa
ny
federal funding,
nonprofit
organization
funding
and
state
funding
other
than
that provided
through s.
20.370 (5) (av), Stats.
NR 47.84(1)(a)
(a) All nonindustrial private forest lands that meet the program requirements as herein stated are eligible for assistance under the program.
NR 47.84(1)(b)
(b) The owner of any nonindustrial private forest land which consists of at least 10 contiguous acres and not more than 500 acres of non-industrial private forest land in the state may apply for a grant under this subchapter.
NR 47.84(1)(c)
(c) Eligibility
for federal
funding
or nonprofit
organization
funding
may
be defined
in the grant
agreement
through
which the funding
is provided.
Further,
additional eligibili
ty
criteria
may
acco
mpany
state
funding
other
than
that provided
through s.
20.370 (5) (av), Stats.
NR 47.84(1m)
(1m)
Ineligible applicants. The
following
applicants
shall be ineligible
for a grant awarded
under
this subchapter:
NR 47.84(1m)(a)
(a) An owner who did not receive
any
p
ayment
under s.
NR 47.87 for a grant awarded under
this subchapter
which
ended
within the 24
months
prior
to the
date
the
application
was sub
mitted,
unless
the owner
ended
that
grant
within
12
months
of the award.
NR 47.84(2)(a)(a) Plan development. Landowner forest stewardship plan development which identifies landowner objectives and multiple resource management decisions. The plan shall meet the following minimum standards:
NR 47.84(2)(a)4.
4. Map or aerial photograph showing the property with stands delineated and uniquely labeled.
NR 47.84(2)(a)5.
5. Property overview, i.e., general location, major forest types, general landforms, relevant description of the landscape, etc. Also include discussion of any known threatened or endangered species. (Usually one paragraph).
NR 47.84(2)(a)6.
6. General discussion of landowner goals and the expected effects of achieving these goals on the soil and water, wildlife, recreation/aesthetics, timber and other natural resources. This may be included either as a separate item or as part of the stand recommendations.
NR 47.84(2)(a)7.
7. Stand descriptions and recommendations including: Unique stand identification keyed to the map: vegetation cover type; size class; size (acres); soil characteristics and erodibility (may be covered in a general paragraph if the description is applicable to the whole property); stand objective and its relationship to the landowner goals for the property; recommendations and a short discussion of the effects of such actions on the soil and water, wildlife, recreation/aesthetics and timber resources. Discussion of the effects is not necessary on a stand-by-stand basis if covered in the general discussion.
NR 47.84(2)(a)8.
8. Activity schedule showing all stands and approximate year of recommended actions for a 5-year period. Include all stands, even if no action is recommended.
NR 47.84(2)(a)9.
9. Contain practices that protect and enhance soil and water quality; threatened, rare or endangered species or communities; sustainable forestry; habitat for fish and wildlife; and the recreational, aesthetic and environmental benefits that the forest land provides.
NR 47.84(2)(b)
(b) Practices. The following practices are eligible for grants under this subchapter if the land is subject to a department approved forest stewardship landowner management plan. However, additional restrictions on eligible practices may accompany funding for this program other than that provided through s.
20.370 (5) (av), Stats.
NR 47.84 Note
Note: All practices will strongly encourage the use of native plant and animal species where practical.
NR 47.84(2)(b)1.
1. Reforestation and afforestation which includes establishment or reestablishment of diverse stands of native forest trees through natural regeneration, planting or direct seeding for conservation purposes and sustainable timber production.
NR 47.84(2)(b)2.
2. Forest improvement which includes practices to increase tree growth, tree quality, biological diversity, tree vigor and forest health.
NR 47.84(2)(b)3.
3. Soil and water protection and improvement which includes the maintenance or improvement of water quality and soil productivity, and the reduction of erosion on forest and related land.
NR 47.84(2)(b)4.
4. Wetland
and riparian
protection
and i
mprove
ment
which includes
the
manage
ment,
protection,
and
i
mprove
ment
of wetlands
and riparian
areas
to
maintain
water quali
ty,
protect
and i
mprove
wetlands
and riparian
areas,
reduce
sedi
mentation,
and
enhance
or i
mprove
habitat
for fish or wildlife
species.
NR 47.84(2)(b)5.
5. Terrestrial
wildlife
and habitat
enhance
ment
which
includes
the
establish
ment,
manage
ment,
and
enhance
ment
of per
manent
habitat
for ga
me
and
non-ga
me
wildlife
species.
NR 47.84(2)(b)7.
7. Endangered,
threatened,
or rare
natural
resource
protection,
manage
ment,
restoration, and enhance
ment
targeted
at threatened
or endangered
species
habitat
maintenance
or enhance
ment
and
manage
ment
of significant
natural
com
munities
or rare
n
ative
vegetation.
NR 47.84 History
History: Cr.
Register, March, 1999, No. 519, eff. 4-1-99;
CR 02-074: cr. (1) (c), am. (2) (b)
Register November 2002 No. 563, eff. 12-1-02;
CR 12-029: am. (1) (c), cr. (1m), r. and recr. (2) (b) 4. to 7., r. (2) (b) 8.
Register June 2013 No. 690, eff. 7-1-13.
NR 47.85(1)(a)(a) Grants under the program shall be used to prepare management plans or manage the following lands under an approved landowner forest stewardship plan:
NR 47.85(1)(a)1.
1. All of the nonindustrial private forest land with existing tree cover within a contiguous tract.
NR 47.85(1)(a)2.
2. Other nonindustrial private forest land within the same contiguous tract which is identified by the landowner and approved by the department as suitable for the approved program practice scheduled.
NR 47.85(1)(a)3.
3. Other contiguous related lands included in the forest stewardship plan, such as water, streams and stream corridors, wetlands, marshes, savannas, barrens and prairies.
NR 47.85(1)(b)
(b) To be eligible for a grant under this program, one or more eligible practices shall be identified in the forest stewardship plan, except that a grant may be awarded for the development of a forest stewardship plan.
NR 47.85 Note
Note: See s.
NR 47.86 for eligible practices.
NR 47.85(1)(c)
(c) Eligible costs are all those associated with the preparation or installation of a specific practice as approved by the state forester.
NR 47.85(2)(a)(a) No person may use grant funds under this subchapter for any of the following:
NR 47.85(2)(a)1.
1. Costs incurred before an application for grant assistance is approved.
NR 47.85(2)(a)2.
2. The implementation of any practice already required by law, rule, regulation or other authority, except for those practices required in the managed forest law program under ch.
77, Stats.
NR 47.85(2)(a)3.
3. Repairs or normal upkeep or maintenance of any practice, except those necessary to ensure seedling or shrub survival, restore prairies, barrens or savannas, control invasive species or other instances where several years of practice implementation are necessary to properly establish a practice, as determined by the department.
NR 47.85(2)(a)5.
5. Practices not approved by the department in writing, or changes to a previously approved practice, unless authorized by the department in writing.
NR 47.85(2)(b)
(b) Except as authorized by the department, grant assistance may not be paid for repeating practices on the same site by the same landowner which have been implemented under the forestry incentives program or any other federal, state or local government programs, except where the practices are repeated due to a failure of a prior practice without fault of the landowner.
NR 47.85 History
History: Cr.
Register, March, 1999, No. 519, eff. 4-1-99;
CR 02-074: cr. (2) (a) 4. and 5.
Register November 2002 No. 563, eff. 12-1-02; emerg. am. (2) (a) 2., eff. 10-4-05;
CR 05-087: am. (2) (a) 2.
Register May 2006 No. 605, eff. 6-1-06.
NR 47.86(1)(a)(a) A
matching
grant provided
through s.
20.370 (5) (av), Stats.,
or other state
funds
may
not be
more
than 75%
of the actual
eligible costs
depending
on availability
of funds.
If a federal
o
r nonprofit
organization
grant agree
ment provides
for cost-share
li
mitations
different
from those
specified
in this subsection,
the cost-share
rate from funds
provided
through
the federal
or nonprofit
organization
grant agree
ment
may
appl
y.
NR 47.86(1)(b)
(b) An annual
grant under
the
program
may
not
exceed
$10,000 or be less than
$100 for any
individual,
person,
or project.
NR 47.86(2)(a)(a) In selecting practices for grant assistance, the department shall give preference to projects which are directed to accomplish one or more of the following; these are not listed in order of priority:
NR 47.86(2)(a)1.
1. Establish or reestablish forests through various methods of regeneration, including planting, direct seeding or natural regeneration.
NR 47.86(2)(a)2.
2. Improve forest stand productivity, stand vigor, forest health, and the value and quality of wood products.
NR 47.86(2)(a)5.
5. Include additional land under written forest stewardship management plans.
NR 47.86(2)(a)6.
6. Provide protection and enhancement of riparian area and wetlands.
NR 47.86(2)(a)7.
7. Provide protection and enhancement of terrestrial wildlife habitat.
NR 47.86(2)(a)8.
8. Provide endangered, threatened or rare species habitat enhancement and natural community habitat maintenance and enhancement.
NR 47.86(3)(a)(a) Application
deadlines
are as follow
s unless
otherwise
provided
on
the application,
and are contingent
upon availabili
ty
of funds: M
ay
1 and
August
1. State
funds
for this program other
than
those
provided
through
s.
20.370 (5) (av), Stats.,
federal
funds
awarded
pursuant
to a federal
grant
agree
ment
and
nonprofit organization
funds awarded
pursuant
to a nonprofit
organization
grant agree
ment
may
speci
fy other
application
deadlines.
NR 47.86 Note
Note: Applications can be obtained from the local department of natural resources forester or from the State Forester, P.O. 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921.
NR 47.86(3)(b)
(b) The department shall make basic eligibility determinations, including whether the applicant meets nonindustrial private forest land ownership criteria and minimum and maximum acreage criteria.
NR 47.86(3)(c)1.1. Annuall
y,
the depart
ment
may
designate
a percentage
of the total annual
funds
for any
of the following:
