Chapter NR 58

NR 58.32(1) (1) “Advisory team” refers to the state wildlife grant program advisory team created in s. NR 58.33 (3).

NR 58.32(2) (2) “At-risk species” means any flora or fauna species listed as endangered or threatened at the state or federal level, special concern species, or species of greatest conservation need.

NR 58.32(3) (3) “Endangered species at the federal level” means species listed in 50 CFR 17.11 to 50 CFR 17.12.

NR 58.32(4) (4) “Endangered species at the state level” means species listed in s. NR 27.03 (2).

NR 58.32(5) (5) “Guidance team” refers to the landowner incentive program guidance team created in s. NR 58.33.

NR 58.32(6) (6) “LIP” means the landowner incentive program.

NR 58.32(7) (7) “Natural communities” include the following:

NR 58.32(7)(a) (a) Aquatic habitat.

NR 58.32(7)(b) (b) Barrens.

NR 58.32(7)(c) (c) Grasslands.

NR 58.32(7)(d) (d) Northern forests.

NR 58.32(7)(e) (e) Savannas.

NR 58.32(7)(f) (f) Southern forests.

NR 58.32(7)(g) (g) Wetlands.

NR 58.32(7)(h) (h) Other rare natural communities including: algific talus slope, alvar, bedrock glade, bedrock shore, clay seepage bluff, dry cliff, felsenmeer, forested ridge and swale, great lakes alkaline rockshore, great lakes beach, great lakes dune, inland beach, moist cliff, talus forest.

NR 58.32(8) (8) “Private land” means any land not owned by a governmental entity.

NR 58.32(9) (9) “Special concern species” are those species for which there appears to be some problem of abundance or distribution. These species are listed on the Wisconsin natural heritage working list.

NR 58.32(10) (10) “Species of greatest conservation need” refers to the list of species in the comprehensive wildlife conservation plan.

NR 58.32(11) (11) “SWG” means the state wildlife grants program.

NR 58.32(12) (12) “Threatened species at the federal level” means species listed in 50 CFR 17.11 to 50 CFR 17.12.

NR 58.32(13) (13) “Threatened species at the state level” means species listed in s. NR 27.03 (3).

NR 58.32(14) (14) “Wisconsin wildlife action plan” means the statewide plan prepared by the department to identify which native Wisconsin species are of greatest conservation need. The plan presents priority conservation actions to protect the species and their habitats.

NR 58.32 Note Note: Copies of the Wisconsin wildlife action plan (also known as the comprehensive wildlife conservation plan) and the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) Working List are available from the Bureau of Endangered Resources, Department of Natural Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707. The NHI working list contains species known or suspected to be rare in the state and natural communities native to Wisconsin. It includes species legally designated as endangered or threatened and special concern species. The NHI program in the Bureau of Endangered Resources maintains and updates the list.

NR 58.32 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: renum. (1), (2), (6) to (8), (11), (12) to be (2), (14), (7), (8), (6), (12), (13), am. (2), (6), (14), cr. (1), (11) Register September 2008 No 633, eff. 10-1-08; corrections in (3), (12) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register November 2018 No. 755.

NR 58.33 NR 58.33 Program guidance/advisory team.

NR 58.33(1) (1) Creation; composition. For each grant program, department staff shall assemble a guidance or advisory team which may include representatives of the following groups:

NR 58.33(1)(a) (a) Department of Natural Resources.

NR 58.33(1)(b) (b) Natural Resources Conservation Service.

NR 58.33(1)(c) (c) United States Fish and Wildlife Service.

NR 58.33(1)(d) (d) National and statewide non-governmental conservation organizations.

NR 58.33(1)(e) (e) Any other individual or groups determined appropriate by program staff.

NR 58.33(2) (2) Role of the LIP guidance team. The team shall make recommendations to department program staff to help guide the program, designate the species or communities of special emphasis and fund proposals.

NR 58.33(3) (3) Role of the SWG advisory team. The team shall make recommendations to department program staff to fund proposals.

NR 58.33 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: am. (title), (1) (intro.) and (2) (title), cr. (3) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08.

NR 58.34 NR 58.34 Eligibility for grant assistance; preference.

NR 58.34(1) (1) LIP eligible applicants. Private landowners and organizations interested in managing and restoring habitat on private land for at-risk species are eligible to apply for an LIP grant under this subchapter. Proposals that enhance, protect or restore habitat on private land that benefits at-risk species will be considered for funding.

NR 58.34(2) (2) SWG eligible applicants. Private landowners and organizations proposing projects to benefit species of greatest conservation need, as defined in the Wisconsin wildlife action plan, are eligible to apply for a SWG grant.

NR 58.34(3) (3) Grant program special emphasis. Special emphasis may be placed, on an annual basis, on one or more geographic areas, species, or natural communities targeted by the grant program if designated in the application. The grant program guidance or advisory team and department program staff may develop special emphasis based on gaps in existing funding for species work and the need for protection of habitat of species based on threats to their habitat.

NR 58.34 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: am. (1), renum. (2) to be (3) and am., cr. (2) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08.

NR 58.35 NR 58.35 Grant selection process.

NR 58.35(1) (1) The grant program guidance team, or a subcommittee of the grant program guidance team, shall rank the grants according to criteria specified in the grant application materials.

NR 58.35(2) (2) In addition to the grant selection criteria in s. NR 58.08, factors considered in ranking LIP grant proposals include any of the following:

NR 58.35(2)(a) (a) Proposals that enhance, protect or restore habitat benefiting at-risk species.

NR 58.35(2)(b) (b) Proposals for private land with existing at-risk species populations.

NR 58.35(2)(c) (c) Proposals that provide private landowner cost-share greater than 25%.

NR 58.35(3) (3) In addition to the grant selection criteria in s. NR 58.08, factors considered in ranking SWG grant proposals include any of the following:

NR 58.35(3)(a) (a) The extent to which the proposal furthers the objectives as stated in the application materials.

NR 58.35(3)(b) (b) The degree to which the project complements other efforts and makes efficient use of all other available funding sources.

NR 58.35(3)(c) (c) The degree to which the project assists local or regional decision making or formation of a strategy to protect the species and natural communities identified in the Wisconsin wildlife action plan.

NR 58.35(3)(e) (e) The degree to which the project will provide a long term or permanent benefit for one or more species or natural communities identified within the Wisconsin wildlife action plan.

NR 58.35(3)(f) (f) The level of community support and commitment, including past efforts to benefit one or more species or natural communities identified in the Wisconsin wildlife action plan.

NR 58.35(3)(g) (g) Proposals that provide cost sharing.

NR 58.35 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: am. (1) and (2) (intro.), cr. (3) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08.

NR 58.36 NR 58.36 Grant calculation. The LIP grant under this subchapter shall be 75% or less of the actual eligible costs as provided in s. NR 58.05.

NR 58.36 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: am. Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08.

NR 58.37 NR 58.37 Grant awards. No LIP award may exceed $25,000.

NR 58.37 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: am. Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08.

NR 58.38 NR 58.38 Grant conditions. In addition to the conditions listed in s. NR 58.06, all of the following grant conditions apply to program grants:

NR 58.38(1) (1) Duration. The grant period may not exceed 3 years.

NR 58.38(2) (2) Publications. The grantee shall do all of the following:

NR 58.38(2)(a) (a) Provide the department with one copy of all publications and news releases which result from the project grant.

NR 58.38(2)(b) (b) Include in all publications and news releases which result from the project grant acknowledgement of the grant program administered by the department as a source of funding for the project.

NR 58.38(3) (3) Data availability. The grantee shall make all data requested by the grant program available for incorporation into the natural heritage inventory and the Wisconsin EcoAtlas.

NR 58.38(4) (4) Site visit. The grantee shall allow department personnel to visit the project site at reasonable times with prior notice.

NR 58.38 History History: CR 05-071: cr. Register February 2006 No. 602, eff. 3-1-06; CR 08-014: renum. to (intro.) and am., cr. (1) to (4) Register September 2008 No. 633, eff. 10-1-08.