NR 51.002(26e)(26e) “Residual value” means any fair market value from an approved property donation that is not utilized as sponsor match in a grant application that may be used for sponsor match in subsequent grant applications.

NR 51.002(27)(27) “Sponsor” means the city, village, town, tribe, county, nonprofit conservation organization, conservation organization, lake sanitary district as defined in s. 30.50 (4q), Stats., public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district, or Kickapoo reserve management board that is applying for or has received a grant under this chapter.

NR 51.002(28)(28) “Sponsor match” means that portion of the acquisition or development cost which is not funded by the state. Eligible sources of sponsor match may include cash from the sponsor; funds generated by local or federal governments; grants or contributions from foundations, businesses, private individuals or nonprofit organizations; property contributions from a third party if the contribution is made within 3 years of the acquisition of the property, and is considered by the department to be eligible for a stewardship grant from the same program as the property being purchased, and was not originally purchased in whole or in part with state funds; property acquired by the sponsor within 3 years of the acquisition if the property was not purchased with state funds; and property value donated by the property owner.

NR 51.002(29)(29) “Stewardship” or “stewardship program” means the conservation, property acquisition and outdoor recreation programs specified in ss. 23.09 (2) (d), (2dm), (2p), (2q), (2r), (19), (20) and (20m), 23.0915, 23.0917, 23.092, 23.094, 23.096, 23.098, 23.17, 23.175, 23.197, 23.198, 23.27 (4), (5) and (6), 23.293 (4) and (5), 30.24 and 30.277, Stats.

NR 51.002(29m)(29m) “Stewardship advisory council” means a group appointed by the department secretary to advise the department on stewardship matters. The council shall consist of users of the stewardship grant program and other citizens.

NR 51.002 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; r. and recr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; emerg. am. (1), renum. (2) to (9) and (11) to (15) to be (6), (9), (13), (16), (17), (20), (21), (23), (25) and (27) to (30) and am. (13), (17), (25), (27), (29) and (30), cr. (2) to (5m), (7), (8), (10) to (12), (14), (15), (18), (19), (22), (24) and (26), eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: am. (1), renum. (2) to (9) and (11) to (15) to be (6), (9), (13), (16), (17), (20), (21), (23), (25) and (27) to (30) and am. (13), (17), (25), (27), (29) and (30), cr. (2) to (5m), (7), (8), (10) to (12), (14), (15), (18), (19), (22), (24) and (26), Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; correction in (5m) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats., Register April 2005 No. 592; CR 10-127: am. (1), (3), (4) (a), (7), (9), (11), (13), (17), (19), (24), (27), (28), (30), cr. (2m), (3m), (5r), (6d), (7d), (8m), (13m), (26e), (26m), (26s), (29m), (31), (32), (17d), (17m) renum. from 51.42 (4), (5) and am. Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12; CR 13-022: am. (1) Register March 2014 No. 699, eff. 4-1-14.

NR 51.003NR 51.003 Variances. The department may approve in writing a variance from a requirement of this chapter if the department determines that a variance is essential to effect necessary grant actions or program objectives and where special circumstances make a variance in the best interest of the stewardship program. Before approving a variance, the department shall take into account factors such as good cause, circumstances beyond the control of the sponsor, financial hardship and landowner demands. The department may seek the advice of the stewardship advisory council before issuing a variance. The department may not grant variances from statutory requirements.

NR 51.003 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, October, 1990, No. 418, eff. 11-1-90; r. and recr. Register, February, 1996, No. 482, eff. 3-1-96; emerg. am. eff. 9-1-00; CR 00-135: am. Register July 2001, No. 547 eff. 8-1-01; CR 10-127: am. Register February 2012 No. 674, eff. 3-1-12.

NR 51.004(1)(1) Under s. 23.197 (4), Stats., the department may award one stewardship grant per group to conservation organizations that have entered into a cooperative agreement with a nonprofit organization to apply for the grant. The cooperative agreement shall be on a form approved by the department.

NR 51.004(2)(2) Stewardship grants to conservation organizations shall be for up to 50 percent of eligible project costs. A grant shall be at least $2,500 and may not exceed $20,000, which may be paid in multiple installments during the duration of the stewardship program under s. 23.197 (4), Stats.

NR 51.004(3)(3) The stewardship grant may be used for habitat restoration projects under s. NR 51.46 or for property acquisition for the purposes described in s. NR 51.05, except that conservation organizations may not receive grants for the Baraboo hills under subch. X or bluff protection under subch. IV.

NR 51.004(4)(4) A conservation organization and nonprofit organization that enter into a cooperative agreement to apply for a stewardship grant shall also enter into a grant contract with the department if a grant is awarded. The grant contract shall contain restrictions and conditions on the use of stewardship grant funds and on any property acquired with those funds.

NR 51.004(5)(5) Title to property acquired with a stewardship grant awarded to a conservation organization shall vest in the nonprofit organization. If the nonprofit organization or conservation organization violates any essential provision of the grant contract, as described in s. NR 51.07 (3), title to the land shall vest in the state.

NR 51.004(6)(6) Conservation organizations applying for grants for property acquisition shall meet all the requirements of this chapter. The department shall evaluate the property according to the eligibility criteria and priorities in ss. NR 51.05 and 51.06.