NR 193.09(2) (2) Application eligibility.

NR 193.09(2)(a) (a) The department will only score and rank complete applications. A complete application adheres to application instructions, provides all information requested on the application, and includes any other supporting documentation requested by the department. The department will review the application for completeness within 30 days of receipt and may request any additional information necessary to complete the application. The application is not considered complete until the additional information requested by the department has been received. If the application deadline has passed, the department may determine that an incomplete application is ineligible.

NR 193.09(2)(b) (b) The department will review complete applications for eligibility. If the department determines an application is ineligible, the department will supply an explanation for the determination in writing. A grantee may request an eligibility review from the department no fewer than 30 days prior to the application deadline by submitting a request in writing along with a complete application. Prior to the application deadline, a grantee may address the eligibility concerns and submit a revised application for reconsideration. If the application deadline has passed, a revised application will only be considered during the next annual grant cycle. An application may be considered ineligible for any of the following:

NR 193.09(2)(b)1. 1. The application lacks information needed to evaluate and score the application.

NR 193.09(2)(b)2. 2. The application lacks the clarity needed to understand the justification, activities or likely outcomes of the project.

NR 193.09(2)(b)3. 3. The application proposes activities that are inconsistent or that would result in outcomes that are inconsistent with one or more of the goals and objectives for surface water planning and management as described in this chapter, its enabling statutes, or program guidance.

NR 193.09(3) (3) Funding flexibility. The department may determine if an application fits into more than one subprogram under this chapter. Each application may be scored against criteria for all applicable subprograms for which it qualifies.

NR 193.09(4) (4) Scoring and ranking.

NR 193.09(4)(a) (a) Following review for completeness and eligibility, department staff may evaluate the strengths of each application in consideration of funding priorities established under s. NR 193.11. Applications may be scored according to criteria published by the department and ranked by subprogram, from highest to lowest project score.

NR 193.09(4)(b) (b) The department may establish a minimally acceptable score for applications submitted under each subprogram.

NR 193.09 Note Note: The department’s scoring criteria and minimally acceptable score are available on the Surface Water Grant Program website.

NR 193.09(5) (5) Applicant notice. The department will notify applicants of the status of their grant applications and the rank of their application when compared to all other applications. If the department is unable to provide the amount of grant funding requested by the applicant, the department may notify the applicant, in writing, of the basis for funding denial.

NR 193.09(6) (6) Project priority list.

NR 193.09(6)(a) (a) The department will prepare a new or update an existing project priority list following scoring and ranking of applications submitted to the department. The project priority list includes all applicants that will be offered grant funding, ranked in order of project score. Available funding will be offered to applications in the order they appear on the project priority list.

NR 193.09 Note Note: The department will publish the project priority list on the Surface Water Grant Program website.

NR 193.09(6)(b) (b) The department may offer financial assistance to an applicant in an amount less than requested for the following reasons:

NR 193.09(6)(b)1. 1. Available grant funding is insufficient to fully fund a project in that subprogram. In the event 2 or more applications have an identical score but the funding remaining is insufficient to fund both projects, the department shall offer the applicants an identical percentage of their projects’ total request.

NR 193.09 Note Note: Two projects with the same score request funding in the amounts of $200,000 and $10,000 but the available grant funding amounts to $20,000. Each of the projects shall be offered 9.52% of their total request, or $19,040 and $952 respectively.

NR 193.09 Note $10,000x+$200,000x=$20,000 where x =9.52%

NR 193.09(6)(b)2. 2. The department determines a proposed activity is not necessary to meet the goals of the Surface Water Grant Program.

NR 193.09 History History: CR 19-078: cr. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; correction in (1) (d) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2020 No. 773.

NR 193.10 NR 193.10 Public access.

NR 193.10(1) (1) Each grant application for a project on a public waterbody shall include a description of the existing and, if applicable, proposed public access. The description shall include current and future public use at all access sites, a map of the waterbody or project area, the location and numbers of carry-in sites and boat landings, numbers of car and trailer parking spaces or street parking options, and the location or proximity of public parks or other public access features.

NR 193.10(2) (2) The department may not provide grant awards for natural resources enhancement services on waterbodies that do not meet the minimum public boating access standards provided in s. NR 1.91 (4) or the alternative public boating access standards provided in s. NR 1.91 (6).

NR 193.10(3) (3) The department may provide grant awards for resource protection services under s. NR 1.91 (4) (c) if public boating access is not available on a waterbody.

NR 193.10 Note Note: Early detection and response projects funded with a grant awarded under subchapter VI for prohibited species identified in ch. NR 40 are considered resource protection services.

NR 193.10 History History: CR 19-078: cr. Register May 2020 No. 773, eff. 6-1-20; correction in (1) made under s. 35.17, Stats., Register May 2020 No. 773.

NR 193.11 NR 193.11 Priorities.

NR 193.11(1) (1) The department will establish grant funding priorities for each subprogram under this chapter, which may include a consideration of the degree to which the project will do any of the following: