SB234: Bill Text

LRB-2286/1

ZDW:kjf

2021 - 2022 LEGISLATURE

2021 Senate BILL 234

March 24, 2021 - Introduced by Senators Bernier and Felzkowski, cosponsored by Representatives Summerfield, Moses, Armstrong, Kitchens, Mursau, Novak, Oldenburg, Petryk, Skowronski and Spiros. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources and Energy.

SB234,1,3 An Act to create 20.370 (4) (na) of the statutes; relating to: biomanipulations to improve the water quality of lakes and impoundments and making an appropriation.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

This bill requires the Department of Natural Resources to provide grants during the 2021-23 fiscal biennium to local water improvement groups to conduct biomanipulations to improve the water quality of lakes and impoundments and appropriates to DNR $150,000 from the general fund for that purpose. The bill provides that, to be eligible for a grant, a biomanipulation must include the removal of aquatic zooplanktivores and aquatic benthivores or the introduction of aquatic piscivores, or both, and must include comprehensive fish studies. The bill requires DNR to select grant recipients through a competitive application process and provides that grants may cover 90 percent of the costs of projects.

For further information see the state and local fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

SB234,1 Section 1 . 20.005 (3) (schedule) of the statutes: at the appropriate place, insert the following amounts for the purposes indicated: - See PDF for table - See PDF for table - See PDF for table - See PDF for table

SB234,2 Section 2 . 20.370 (4) (na) of the statutes is created to read:

SB234,2,4 20.370 (4) (na) Lake biomanipulations. Biennially, from the general fund, the amounts in the schedule for grants under 2021 Wisconsin Act .... (this act), section 3 (1 ).

SB234,3 Section 3 . Nonstatutory provisions.

SB234,2,19 (1) In the 2021-23 fiscal biennium, from the appropriation under s. 20.370 (4) (na), the department of natural resources shall provide grants to conduct biomanipulations. Biomanipulations shall be conducted by local water improvement groups to improve the water quality of lakes and impoundments identified on the impaired waters list prepared by the department as required under 40 CFR 130.7 (b). To be eligible, biomanipulations shall include the removal of aquatic zooplanktivores and aquatic benthivores or the introduction of aquatic piscivores, or both. Biomanipulations shall also include comprehensive fish studies. The department of natural resources shall select grant recipients under this subsection through a competitive application process determined by the department. The department of natural resources shall give priority to projects that include both the removal of aquatic zooplanktivores and aquatic benthivores and the introduction of aquatic piscivores, in addition to comprehensive fish studies. Grants under this subsection may cover 90 percent of the costs of biomanipulations.

SB234,2,20 (End)