Aquatic Invasive Species Control Grants

Amended by Emergency Rule, Effective July 1, 2008

(s. 23.22, Wis. Stats., and ch. NR 198, Wis. Admin. Code)

Counties, cities, towns, villages, tribes, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts, and town sanitary districts and other local governmental units as defined in s. 66.0131 (1)(a), Stats., qualified lake associations as defined in s. 281.68 (1)(b), Stats., qualified school districts, private and public colleges, universities and technical schools, qualified nonprofit conservation organizations, and river management organizations, state and federal natural resource or land management agencies and FERC-licensed hydroelectric corporations are eligible to apply for apply for funding for an aquatic invasive species prevention or control project for any waters of the state including lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and the Great Lakes.

River management organizations and lake associations must be a qualified organization to be an eligible project sponsor. Nonprofit conservation organizations primary purpose must include the acquisition or management of property for conservation purposes including the control of aquatic invasive species to be an eligible project sponsor. Please check with your appropriate DNR Regional Environmental Grant Specialist to see if your group is currently eligible to apply, otherwise please review the qualification requirements.

Grant awards may fund up to 75% of the cost of a project up to a maximum grant amount of $200,000 for Education, Prevention and Planning projects. Early Detection and Response projects are eligible for a maximum grant of 75% of project costs up to a maximum of $20,000. Established Infestation Control projects are eligible for a maximum grant of 75% of project costs up to a maximum of $200,000. Maintenance and Containment projects are eligible for state grant funding that will be determined by the department and based on the project’s applicable application fees and specified monitoring and reporting requirements in the permit or department approved plan.

Priorities for funding projects include projects that do any of the following:

Involve multiple water bodies
Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species through education and planning
Control pioneer infestations of aquatic invasive species
Control established infestations of aquatic invasive species and restoring native aquatic species communities

Applications must be received in DNR regional offices by February 1 (spring grant cycle) and August 1 (fall grant cycle) for all projects except Early Detection and Response projects. Applications are accepted throughout the year for Early Detection and Response projects.

Caution to Project Sponsors - Protect Confidential Data

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) takes seriously its responsibility to protect all confidential data that are collected as the DNR administers its programs. For DNR grant programs, “confidential data” typically includes:

Personal -- Social Security number, date of birth, driver’s license number, signature
Financial -- Bank account numbers on cancelled checks and statements. Credit card numbers on submitted receipts. Account and credit balances or limits. Federal or Wisconsin tax returns.

If a grant is being issued to an individual, we need most of the personal data listed above before we can issue payments or reimbursements. This needed data comes to the DNR on completed W-9 forms. The DNR has a process to restrict access to and secure W-9 forms.

The DNR, however is often sent unnecessary confidential data that are attached to proofs of payment, receipts, or other documents in support of a reimbursement request. Please protect confidential data by blackening out – also called “redacting” – bank account numbers, credit card account numbers, and other confidential data before proofs of payment are sent to the DNR. Please do not redact check numbers from bank statements.

With each of us doing our part, we can protect confidential data and minimize identity theft.

Thank you for your assistance and cooperation.