Lake Grants:
The Nuts & Bolts
with an emphasis on new
Healthy Lakes Grants
17 July 2014
Lakeshore Habitat Restoration Training for
Professionals
Pamela Toshner
DNR Lake Biologist
715-635-4073
Pamela.toshner@wi.gov
Today’s Presentation
• WDNR grant basics
• Example projects for lakeshore projects
– Small Scale Planning
– Large Scale Planning
– Protection & Classification
• New Healthy Lakes grants
Wisconsin lakes and streams are
held in trust for all citizens as
“common highways and forever
free.”
Article IX, Section 1,
Wisconsin Constitution
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Background
Water Resources Account
Motorboat tax at gas pumps
Estimated 50 gal/registered boat
$12-13 million/year for various grant programs
and positions
$6.5 million in lake planning, protection &
aquatic invasive species projects annually
All Grant Types Are Not
Created Equal
• All lake protection grants and AIS Control
grant sponsors receive reimbursement
based on eligible costs
– Lake Planning grants and some AIS grants
eligible for advance payment
• All lake grants and AIS Control grants are
Cost Share grants
Who’s an Eligible Grant
Sponsor?
• Qualified Lake Associations
– Incorporated under WI Ch. 181 at least 1 yr.
– Articles of Inc. or By-Laws specify substantial
purpose is protection or improvement of
lake(s) for benefit of public
– Demonstrated by past actions
– Statute conditions for purpose of org, voting
rights, membership numbers, etc.
• Local Units of Government
– counties, cities, towns, villages, sanitary
districts, tribes
Who’s an Eligible Grant
Sponsor?
• Nonprofit Conservation Organization
(NCO)
– IRS granted 501(c)3 status
– Art. Of Inc./Bylaws state that purpose
includes acquisition of lands for conservation
purposes
• School Districts (lake planning only)
– Partner with another eligible entity
– Resolution stating interest in sharing
information on the specific lake(s)
Surface Water Grant Types, Deadlines, State Share
& Max Award
Type
Application
Deadlines
State Share %
AIS Education, Planning &
Prevention;
AIS Clean Boats, Clean Waters
Dec 10
75
150,000
Lake Planning
Lake Classification &
Ordinance Development
AIS Established Population
Control, Maintenance &
Containment, Research &
Demonstration
Dec 10
67
25,000
Dec 10
75
50,000
Feb 1
75
200,000
Lake Protection
Feb 1
75
200,000
Continuous
75
20,000
AIS Early Detection &
Response
Max Award $
Why we’re here today…
Lake in northwestern Wisconsin, June 2009
And how grants may help…
Small Scale Planning
Educate…
• Burnett and Bayfield Counties’ and Balsam Lake’s
Controlling Runoff on Your Waterfront Property
• Eau Claire Lakes Association
partnership with Drummond School
District for Eco Education/Pontoon
Classroom event and curriculum
Small Scale Planning
Host community events…
Town of Minong Lake Fair, Washburn County
• Minong Town Lake Committee planned event over ~9 months
• Presentations, exhibits, vendors, free lunch (!) and hands-on
activities for kids and adults
• Lake fair – 626 served lunch, 800-1000 estimated attendance
Small Scale Planning
Collect lake- or property-specific info…
Lipsett Lake, Burnett County
• Soil nutrient testing on properties around the lake with
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P-free fertilizer coupons
Shoreline restoration workshop with native plant
coupons
Boat landing kiosk
Clean Boats Clean Waters
Hydrology monitoring
Large Scale Planning
Develop a plan to do something…
Pipe Lakes, Polk County
• Comprehensive planning with
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Five Year Action Plan approved
for lake protection grant
purposes
6 planning grants over 8 years
totaling $53K
Lake, tributary, aquatic plant,
and shoreline monitoring
Modeling
Sociological survey – including
property owner interest survey
for lake protection project
Lake Protection - Plan Implementation
Implement activities recommended in an
approved management plan…
Pipe Lakes, Polk County
• Restore shorelines and install infiltration
practices
• Replace culverts
• Stabilize streambanks
• Upland detention basins
• Monitoring
DNR-Approved Plan
Required
Lake Protection – Lake Classification and Ordinance Development
Classify lakes or implement lake
classification (county-only) and
develop lake-related regulations
Lake Protection – Shoreline Restoration
Restore shorelines around lake(s)
Bony Lake, Bayfield County
• Shoreline restoration, woody
BEFORE
habitat, and
infiltration/diversion
practices
• I & E and monitoring
AFTER
• 50% property
owner commitment
Lake Protection – Shoreline Restoration
Shoreline Restoration Grant Toolbox
• Partners!
• Community event (e.g. Minong Lake Fair or
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Lipsett Lake Shoreline Restoration Workshop)
Property owner interest survey
– PO commitment letters
• Project Plan
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Timeline
Documents (e.g. covenants, restoration plans)
Contractors
Plants
Etc.
The planning process…
Step 1.
Step 2.
Data
Collection
Problem
Identification
Sponsor
Goals
Lake
Appraisal
Report(s)
Appraisal
Approval
Step 3.
Additional planning or
Diagnostic/Feasibility
Study
Management Plan
Step 4.
Step 5.
Improvement
Activities
Plan
Approval
Permits
Enhancement
Activities
Protection Activities – Land Acquisition, Wetland/Shoreland Restoration, Ordinance Development, Education, Baseline or Trend Monitoring
(Continuously eligible)
Step 1. Appraisal
Collect existing easy to obtain data plus one year of basic water quality data. ID what is known about the lake, what problems are preceived and what
people desire. A comprehensive assessment that characterizes the resource determines lake’s ecological potential and sets general management strategy.
Lays the groundwork for future activities.
Protection Activities are continuously eligible - do not require plan approval. However, some data for application requirements
Step 2. Appraisal Approval
DNR approval step where partners agree on appraisal that sets a “charter” for general lake management directions. Assure foundation for future
management and avoids unnecessary planning. Department/partners determine level of assistance and commitment of resources i.e. “charter”
Check point for data, should fulfill all basic lake data needs. Results in an approved study plan including a commitment to phased planning grants
Step. 3. Management Plan
Creation of a management plan with specific management objectives. May proceed on single track i.e. APM, water quality, lake use, habitat or be
comprehensive.
Step 4. Plan Approval
The local community or sponsor must adopt the plan and request DNR (and other agency’s if applicable) approval. Approval of specific
recommendations are required for implementation of improvement or enhancement activities. Public hearings, Environmental Assessments and permits
(local, state and fed) must be completed if required. Plan should clearly state who does what and when. Plan can be approved all or in part and the
sponsor may apply for protection grants for implementation.
Step 5. Plan Implementation
Lake Protection - Plan Implementation
Healthy Lakes Grants
Goal: protect and improve the health of Wisconsin lakes by increasing waterfront
property owner participation in habitat restoration and runoff and erosion control
projects.
Primary problems we are trying to fix:
• Current implementation grants require full commitment (i.e. all-ornothing approach).
• It takes too long to get to implementation.
Customer survey to get feedback
80%
70%
Category 1: Administration & Technical Assistance
60%
Response
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0%
Contract
timelines
Technical
Assistance
Compliance
Monitoring
Essential
Per parcel
cost-share
Standardized
contracts
Nice to have
Per parcel
funding cap
Unnecessary
Landscapers/
Planners as
PM's
Unfamiliar
Mitigation
bank option
Participation
incentive
STATEWIDE HEALTHY LAKES IMPLEMENTATION PLAN
• Top 5-6 best practices across in-lake, transition, and upland zones
• Cost ranges and averages
• Companion fact sheets and guidance with technical detail
Used by do-ityour-selfers
Adopted as is
by resolution
Integrated into
local planning
efforts
Eligible for Lake Protection – Plan Implementation Lake Health
Sub-category grants
• Same eligible applicants
• $25,000 state share with 75/25 state/sponsor match
• February 1 deadline
• Practice caps based on averages
• 2-year timeline to encourage committed participants and shovel-ready projects
HEALTHY LAKES BEST PRACTICES
Zone 3 Upland: Rain Garden, Rock Infiltration Pit, French Drain/Infiltration Trench, Water Bar
$1000 cap per
practice
10% total state
share technical
assistance cap
Zone 2 Transition: 350 sq. foot
Plantings and Water Bar
Zone 1 In-lake: Fish Sticks
Photos and design images provided by Cheryl Clemens and KJE Design LLC, respectively
Discussion/Feedback
http://dnr.wi.gov/news/input/documents/guidance/HealthyLakesGuidance.pdf
Building a grant project…
• Talk with DNR Lake Coordinator and Environmental
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Grants Specialist and county land/water conservation
staff at least several months before the grant deadline
Determine sponsor eligibility
Determine project eligibility
Plan, plan, plan
Review what we already know
- ask around
- self-help lake monitoring data
- previous reports/projects
…
• Shop for consultants for grant writing (optional)
and project implementation
– County LWCD, private consultant, or other
– Local contractors
– Use choosing a consultant tools
• Engage others (e.g. neighbors, locals that don’t
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live on lake, elected officials, county
conservationist or AIS coordinator, DNR staff)
Be patient and persistent!
– Grant prep takes time
Have FUN!