NR 154.02(15) (15) “Technical guide” means the NRCS field office technical guide, published by the NRCS, which is incorporated by reference for this chapter.

NR 154.02 Note Note: Copies of the technical guide are on file with the department and the legislative reference bureau. Copies of individual standards contained in the technical guide may be obtained from a county land conservation department, an NRCS field office, or the national NRCS website at: http://www.nrcs.usda.gov, or the Wisconsin NRCS website at: http://www.wi.nrcs.usda.gov.

NR 154.02(16) (16) “Wetland” or “wetlands” has the meaning specified under s. 23.32 (1), Stats.

NR 154.02(17) (17) “WPDES permit” means a ch. 283, Stats., Wisconsin pollutant discharge elimination system permit.

NR 154.02 History History: CR 00-036: cr. Register September 2002 No. 561, eff. 10-1-02.

NR 154.03 NR 154.03 Cost-share rates.

NR 154.03(1) (1) State cost-share rates.

NR 154.03(1)(a) (a) The cost-share rates in this section apply to eligible costs in projects funded under chs. NR 153 and 155 unless specified otherwise in this section.

NR 154.03(1)(b) (b) Except in cases of economic hardship, the maximum state cost-share rate for individual best management practices cost-shared in a targeted runoff management project under ch. NR 153 may not exceed 70%.

NR 154.03(1)(c) (c) The cost-share rates for best management practices implemented in an urban nonpoint source water pollution abatement and storm water management project under ch. NR 155 are as follows:

NR 154.03(1)(c)1. 1. The cost-share rate may not exceed 70% of the eligible costs for individual best management practices committed on signed cost-share agreements or nonpoint source grants prior to October 29, 1999.

NR 154.03(1)(c)2. 2. The cost-share rate may not exceed 50% of the eligible cost for individual best management practices committed on signed cost-share agreements or nonpoint source grants after October 29, 1999.

NR 154.03(1)(d) (d) The state cost-share rates for land acquisition, storm sewer rerouting and removal of structures necessary to install structural urban best management practices may not exceed 50% of the eligible costs.

NR 154.03(1)(e) (e) Cost-share funding authorized under s. 92.14, 281.65, 281.66 or 281.665, Stats., shall be considered part of the state rate.

NR 154.03(1)(f) (f) In cases of economic hardship, cost-share rates and flat rates in this section shall be increased in accordance with sub. (3), if the project is funded under ch. NR 153.

NR 154.03(1)(g) (g) The department may provide cost sharing up to the original cost-shared rate to replace an agricultural best management practice cost-shared under ch. NR 153, in accordance with s. NR 153.15 (2) (b).

NR 154.03(1)(h) (h) The cost-share rates for agricultural best management practices on cost-share agreements funded under ch. NR 153 and signed prior to May1, 2020, may be amended to use the rates identified in this section.

NR 154.03(1)(i) (i) The following conditions further specify eligibility criteria for cost-share reimbursements under this section:

NR 154.03(1)(i)1. 1. Wildlife habitat recreation associated with implementation of contour farming and stripcropping funded under ch. NR 153 has a maximum state cost-share rate of 70%.

NR 154.03(1)(i)2. 2. Flat rates identified under par. (j) may be used in lieu of calculating cost-share amounts for any project.

NR 154.03(1)(i)3. 3. For the best management practice under s. NR 154.04 (25), riparian buffers, a single payment in addition to installation costs may be made in accordance with the following:

NR 154.03(1)(i)3.a. a. For riparian buffers under s. NR 154.04 (25), $500 per acre used for the buffer.

NR 154.03(1)(i)3.c. c. Payments under this subdivision are eligible only for acreage upon which a commodity crop was harvested in at least 2 of the 5 years prior to the signing of the cost-share agreement. The 2 years need not be consecutive if separated by non-grain portions of a normal crop rotation.

NR 154.03(1)(i)4. 4. Cost-share payments for high residue management systems may not be made for more than a total of 4 years.

NR 154.03(1)(i)5. 5. Cost-share payments for cover crop may not be made for more than a total of 4 years.

NR 154.03(1)(i)6. 6. Cost-share payments for nutrient management may not be made for more than a total of 4 years.

NR 154.03(1)(i)7. 7. Cost-share payments for pesticide management may not be made for more than a total of 4 years.

NR 154.03(1)(i)8. 8. The maximum amount cost-shared for leases of manure storage tanks shall be 70% of the down payment and lease cost of the tank during the grant period of the watershed project.

NR 154.03(1)(j) (j) A governmental unit may use the following state cost-share rates per acre in lieu of the state cost-share percentage listed in this section: