NR 47.85(1)(a)(a) Grants under the program shall be used to prepare management plans or manage the following lands under an approved landowner forest stewardship plan:

NR 47.85(1)(a)1.1. All of the nonindustrial private forest land with existing tree cover within a contiguous tract.

NR 47.85(1)(a)2.2. Other nonindustrial private forest land within the same contiguous tract which is identified by the landowner and approved by the department as suitable for the approved program practice scheduled.

NR 47.85(1)(a)3.3. Other contiguous related lands included in the forest stewardship plan, such as water, streams and stream corridors, wetlands, marshes, savannas, barrens and prairies.

NR 47.85(1)(b)(b) To be eligible for a grant under this program, one or more eligible practices shall be identified in the forest stewardship plan, except that a grant may be awarded for the development of a forest stewardship plan.

NR 47.85(1)(c)(c) Eligible costs are all those associated with the preparation or installation of a specific practice as approved by the state forester.

NR 47.85(2)(a)(a) No person may use grant funds under this subchapter for any of the following:

NR 47.85(2)(a)1.1. Costs incurred before an application for grant assistance is approved.

NR 47.85(2)(a)2.2. The implementation of any practice already required by law, rule, regulation or other authority, except for those practices required in the managed forest law program under ch. 77, Stats.

NR 47.85(2)(a)3.3. Repairs or normal upkeep or maintenance of any practice, except those necessary to ensure seedling or shrub survival, restore prairies, barrens or savannas, control invasive species or other instances where several years of practice implementation are necessary to properly establish a practice, as determined by the department.

NR 47.85(2)(a)5.5. Practices not approved by the department in writing, or changes to a previously approved practice, unless authorized by the department in writing.

NR 47.85(2)(b)(b) Except as authorized by the department, grant assistance may not be paid for repeating practices on the same site by the same landowner which have been implemented under the forestry incentives program or any other federal, state or local government programs, except where the practices are repeated due to a failure of a prior practice without fault of the landowner.

NR 47.85 HistoryHistory: Cr. Register, March, 1999, No. 519, eff. 4-1-99; CR 02-074: cr. (2) (a) 4. and 5. Register November 2002 No. 563, eff. 12-1-02; emerg. am. (2) (a) 2., eff. 10-4-05; CR 05-087: am. (2) (a) 2. Register May 2006 No. 605, eff. 6-1-06.

NR 47.86(1)(a)(a) A matching grant provided through s. 20.370 (5) (av), Stats., or other state funds may not be more than 75% of the actual eligible costs depending on availability of funds. If a federal or nonprofit organization grant agreement provides for cost-share limitations different from those specified in this subsection, the cost-share rate from funds provided through the federal or nonprofit organization grant agreement may apply.

NR 47.86(1)(b)(b) An annual grant under the program may not exceed $10,000 or be less than $100 for any individual, person, or project.

NR 47.86(2)(a)(a) In selecting practices for grant assistance, the department shall give preference to projects which are directed to accomplish one or more of the following; these are not listed in order of priority:

NR 47.86(2)(a)1.1. Establish or reestablish forests through various methods of regeneration, including planting, direct seeding or natural regeneration.

NR 47.86(2)(a)2.2. Improve forest stand productivity, stand vigor, forest health, and the value and quality of wood products.

NR 47.86(2)(a)5.5. Include additional land under written forest stewardship management plans.