Get those pre-applications in for surface water grants
The Wisconsin DNR has announced it will award more than $6 million to local groups, to protect and improve surface water. Interested and eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for a surface water grant.
A pre-application must be submitted by Sept. 15, to compete for a grant in November.
The DNR’s Surface Water Grants Program leverages money from the state conservation fund’s water resources account, to help local communities accelerate water protection and restoration efforts across Wisconsin. The funding can support a wide range of locally driven projects that invest in watersheds and surface waters.
Activities eligible for funding include organizational capacity building; educational programs on surface water; data collection and ecological assessments; lake and river management planning; water quality improvement; habitat restoration projects; aquatic invasive species prevention and control; and conservation easements and land acquisition Eligible organizations include counties, municipalities, local government units, lake and sanitary districts, natural resource agencies, tribal governing bodies, colleges and school districts, lake associations, non-profit conservation organizations, river and surface water management organizations, and producer-led groups. Individuals are not eligible for grants (with a few exceptions), but may partner with an eligible organization willing to sponsor a project. Reach out to local environmental grant specialist, to confirm the organization’s eligibility.
The amount of funding available varies by project. For example, education projects are eligible for up to $5,000 in state support, while planning grants are available for up to $10,000 and larger management plan implementation grants can provide up to $200,000, per project. Grants operate on a reimbursement basis and require matching funds from 25-33 percent of the project cost.
Pre-application forms can be found at dnr.wisconsin. gov. Email the completed form to DNRSurfaceWater-Grants@wisconsin.gov.
