Chapter 281

281.70(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

281.70(1)(a) (a) “Floating treatment wetland” means 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.

281.70(1)(am) (am) “Producer-led group” means any group that meets the criteria under s. 93.59 (2).

281.70(1)(b) (b) “River” includes a stream or a flowage.

281.70(2) (2) Types of projects. The department shall develop and administer a financial assistance program to provide grants for planning projects and management projects.

281.70(3) (3) Amounts of grants.

281.70(3)(a) (a) A grant for a planning project may be made for up to 75 percent of the cost of the project but may not exceed $10,000 per grant.

281.70(3)(b) (b) A grant for a management project may be made for up to 75 percent of the cost of the project but may not exceed $50,000 per grant.

281.70(4) (4) Eligible recipients.

281.70(4)(a) (a) All of the following shall be eligible for grants under this section:

281.70(4)(a)1. 1. Local governmental units, as defined in s. 66.0131 (1) (a).

281.70(4)(a)2. 2. River management organizations that meet the qualifications under par. (b).

281.70(4)(a)3. 3. Nonprofit conservation organizations, as defined in s. 23.0955 (1).

281.70(4)(a)4. 4. Producer-led groups conducting producer-led group projects. If a producer-led group is not a legal entity, the eligible recipient shall be a legal entity on behalf of the producer-led group.

281.70(4)(b) (b) The department shall promulgate rules to establish the qualifications that a river management organization must meet to qualify for a grant under this section.

281.70(5) (5) Eligible activities. The department shall promulgate rules to do all of the following:

281.70(5)(a) (a) Designate activities that are eligible for grants for planning projects. Eligible activities under the rules for these grants shall include all of the following:

281.70(5)(a)1. 1. Data collection.

281.70(5)(a)2. 2. Assessments of water quality and of fish and aquatic life and their habitat.

281.70(5)(a)3. 3. Assessments of the uses of a river and the uses of the land surrounding the river.

281.70(5)(a)4. 4. Nonpoint source pollution evaluation.

281.70(5)(a)5. 5. Informational or educational programs and materials as specified in par. (b).

281.70(5)(a)6. 6. Programs and materials to assist persons in forming river management organizations or other groups to protect or improve rivers and natural riverine ecosystems.

281.70(5)(b) (b) For purposes of par. (a) 5., specify informational or educational materials that may be provided on any of the following:

281.70(5)(b)1. 1. Protecting or improving the ways in which rivers are used.

281.70(5)(b)2. 2. Protecting or improving the quality of water in rivers.

281.70(5)(b)3. 3. Protecting or improving the quality of natural riverine ecosystems.

281.70(5)(b)4. 4. Protecting or improving fish populations, aquatic life or fish habitat in rivers.

281.70(5)(c) (c) Designate activities that are eligible for grants for management projects. Eligible activities under the rules for these grants shall include all of the following:

281.70(5)(c)1. 1. The purchase of land or of a conservation easement, as defined in s. 700.40 (1) (a) if the recipient enters into a contract under s. 281.71 and if the purchase will substantially contribute to the protection or improvement of the river’s water quality or its natural ecosystem.

281.70(5)(c)2. 2. The restoration of in-stream or shoreline habitat.

281.70(5)(c)3. 3. The development of local regulations or ordinances that will protect or improve the river’s water quality or its natural ecosystem.

281.70(5)(c)4. 4. An activity that is approved by the department and that is needed to implement a recommendation made as a result of a plan to protect or improve the river’s water quality or its natural ecosystem.

281.70(5)(c)5. 5. Installation of pollution control practices.

281.70(5)(c)6. 6. The placement of a floating treatment wetland in a river.

281.70(6) (6) Eligibility; types of rivers. The department shall promulgate rules establishing the types of natural riverine ecosystems that are eligible for grants under this section.

281.70(7) (7) Eligibility; other. At the completion of a planning project, upon request of the recipient of the grant for the planning project, the department may approve as eligible activities for a management project grant the recommendations that were made as a result of the project.

281.70 History History: 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 30; 2019 a. 177; 2021 a. 240 s. 30; 2023 a. 5.

281.70 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 193, Wis. adm. code.

281.71 281.71 Lake management project grants; river protection grants; purchases.

281.71(1) (1) In order to receive a grant for a purchase under s. 281.69 (3) (b) 1. or 281.70 (5) (c) 1., the recipient shall enter into a contract with the department that contains all of the following provisions:

281.71(1)(a) (a) Standards for the management of the property to be acquired.

281.71(1)(b) (b) A prohibition against using the property to be acquired as security for any debt unless the department approves the incurring of the debt.

281.71(1)(c) (c) A prohibition against the property being closed to the public unless the department determines it is necessary to protect wild animals, plants or other natural features.

281.71(1)(d) (d) A clause that any subsequent sale or transfer of the property to be acquired is subject to subs. (2) and (3).

281.71(2) (2) The recipient of the grant used for a purchase under s. 281.69 (3) (b) 1. or 281.70 (5) (c) 1. may subsequently sell or transfer the acquired property to a 3rd party other than a creditor of the recipient if all of the following apply:

281.71(2)(a) (a) The department approves the subsequent sale or transfer.

281.71(2)(b) (b) The party to whom the property is sold or transferred enters into a new contract with the department that contains the provisions under sub. (1).

281.71(3) (3) The recipient of the grant used for a purchase under s. 281.69 (3) (b) 1. or 281.70 (5) (c) 1. may subsequently sell or transfer the acquired property to satisfy a debt or other obligation if the department approves the sale or transfer.

281.71(4) (4) If the recipient violates any essential provision of the contract, title to the acquired property shall vest in the state.

281.71(5) (5) The instrument conveying the property to the recipient shall state the interest of the state under sub. (4). The contract entered into under sub. (1) and the instrument of conveyance shall be recorded in the office of the register of deeds of each county in which the property is located.

281.71 History History: 1999 a. 9 s. 2548.

281.72 281.72 River protection; contracts with nonprofit organizations.

281.72(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “nonprofit conservation organization” means a river management organization that meets the qualifications under s. 281.70 (4) (b) or a nonprofit corporation, a charitable trust or other nonprofit association whose purposes include the protection of rivers and that is described in section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code and is exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

281.72(2) (2) Requirements to receive contracts. The department shall provide contracts to nonstock, nonprofit corporations that are described under section 501 (c) (3) or (4) of the Internal Revenue Code and that are organized in this state. For a nonstock, profit corporation to qualify for a contract, the corporation shall meet all of the following requirements:

281.72(2)(a) (a) The corporation is exempt from taxation under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code.

281.72(2)(b) (b) The corporation provides support to nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(2)(c) (c) The corporation has a board of directors that has a majority of members who are representatives of nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(2)(d) (d) The corporation contributes, to be used with the contract, $1 for every $3 it receives under the contract.

281.72(3) (3) Requirements under contracts. A corporation receiving a contract under this subsection shall do all of the following:

281.72(3)(a) (a) Assist in the establishment of nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(3)(b) (b) Provide technical assistance to nonprofit conservation organizations.

281.72(3)(c) (c) Conduct conferences on topics for which technical assistance is provided under par. (b).

281.72 History History: 1999 a. 9.

subch. VI of ch. 281 SUBCHAPTER VI

COMPENSATION

281.75 281.75 Compensation for well contamination and abandonment.

281.75(1) (1) Definitions. In this section:

281.75(1)(a) (a) “Alternate water supply” means a supply of potable water obtained in bottles, by tank truck or by other similar means.

281.75(1)(b) (b) “Contaminated well” or “contaminated private water supply” means a well or private water supply which:

281.75(1)(b)1. 1. Produces water containing one or more substances of public health concern in excess of a primary maximum contaminant level promulgated in the national drinking water standards in 40 CFR 141 and 143;

281.75(1)(b)2. 2. Produces water containing one or more substances of public health concern in excess of an enforcement standard under ch. 160; or

281.75(1)(b)3. 3. Is subject to a written advisory opinion, issued by the department, containing a specific descriptive reference to the well or private water supply and recommending that the well or private water supply not be used because of potential human health risks.

281.75(1)(c) (c) “Groundwater” means any of the waters of the state occurring in a saturated subsurface geological formation of permeable rock or soil.

281.75(1)(d) (d) “Livestock” has the meaning specified under s. 95.80 (1) (b) and includes poultry.

281.75(1)(e) (e) “Livestock water supply” means a well which is used as a source of potable water only for livestock and which is:

281.75(1)(e)1. 1. Approved by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection for grade A milk production under s. 97.24; or

281.75(1)(e)2. 2. Constructed by boring or drilling.

281.75(1)(f) (f) “Private water supply” means a residential water supply or a livestock water supply.

281.75(1)(g) (g) “Residential water supply” means a well which is used as a source of potable water for humans or humans and livestock and is connected to 14 or less dwelling units.

281.75(1)(h) (h) “Well,” if not followed by the words, “subject to abandonment,” means an excavation or opening in the ground made by boring, drilling or driving for the purpose of obtaining a supply of groundwater. “Well” does not include dug wells.

281.75(1)(i) (i) “Well subject to abandonment” means a well that is required to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26 (4) (a), Wis. Adm. Code, or that the department may require to be filled and sealed under s. NR 812.26 (4) (b), Wis. Adm. Code.

281.75(2) (2) Duties of the department. The department shall:

281.75(2)(a) (a) Establish by rule procedures for the submission, review and determination of claims under this section.

281.75(2)(b) (b) Assist claimants in submitting applications for compensation under this section.

281.75(2)(c) (c) Issue awards under this section.

281.75(2)(d) (d) Establish casing depth and other construction requirements for a new or reconstructed private water supply.

281.75(2)(e) (e) Declare an area of special eligibility for compensation for well contamination, based on contamination reported after December 31, 2005, if all of the following criteria are satisfied:

281.75(2)(e)1. 1. Results of tests performed by a laboratory certified under s. 299.11 establish that wells in the area are contaminated by fecal bacteria.