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Urban Nonpoint Source and Storm Water Grants (UNPS and SW)

(s. 281.66, Wis. Stats.; ch. NR 155, Wis. Adm. Code)

Cities, towns, villages, counties and tribes are eligible for grants to improve urban water quality by limiting or ending sources of urban nonpoint source (run-off) pollution. Funded projects are site-specific and targeted to address high-priority problems in urban project areas. Two types of programs are available for UNPS & SW projects: Planning Grants and Construction Grants.

Planning Grants

Storm water planning projects must currently be in an urban area or an area projected to be urban within 20 years to be eligible for funding under this program. An "urban project area" meets one of these criteria:

  • Has a population density of at least 1,000 people per square mile.
  • Has a commercial land use.
  • Is the non-permitted portion of a privately owned industrial site.
  • Is a municipally-owned industrial site (regardless of ch. NR 216 permit requirements).

Governmental units can be reimbursed up to 70 percent for eligible planning activities (awards not to exceed $85,000).

Eligible activities include:

  • Storm water planning for areas of existing development, new development, and re-development.
  • Preparation of local ordinances (such as construction site erosion control, post-construction storm water management, pet waste management, and illicit discharge management) affecting storm water.
  • Evaluating local financing options for storm water programs, including storm water utilities.

    • Administration costs (in excess of permit revenues) needed to initiate a local ordinance program.
  • Administration costs associated with initial establishment of local storm water management funding programs (such as storm water utilities).
  • Illicit discharge detection and elimination.
  • Project evaluation activities required by the grant.
  • Public participation, education, and outreach activities.

Projects are selected for funding based on a competitive process. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 15 to be considered for funding beginning the next January.

Construction Grants

Construction projects designed to control storm water runoff rates, volumes, and discharge quality from nonpoint sources within existing development are eligible for UNPS & SW Construction grant funding. Eligible project sponsors can be reimbursed up to 50 percent to construct Best Management Practices (BMP). The maximum possible grant is $200,000 ($150,000 for construction activities and $50,000 for land acquisition or easements). A project must be located in an urban area to be eligible for BMP cost sharing.

Eligible activities include:

  • Construction of structural urban BMPs such as detention basins, wet basins, infiltration trenches, infiltration basins, or wetland basins.
  • Engineering design and construction services for BMP installation.
  • Land acquisition and easement purchase, including appraisal costs (only when necessary to install the BMP).
  • Storm sewer rerouting and removal of structures (only when necessary to install the BMP).
  • Streambank and shoreland stabilization projects.

The following projects are not eligible for funding under this grant:

  • Projects solely focused on new development.
  • Projects designed to solve drainage and flooding problems.
  • Dredging projects.

Projects are selected for funding based on a competitive process.

Application Materials:

Additional Information

Property Acquisition Appraisal Guidance

Contacts:

Tim Parsons, CF/8
Bureau of Community Financial Assistance
Department of Natural Resources
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: (608) 267-9385
e-mail: Timothy.Parsons@Wisconsin.gov

Kathleen Thompson, WT/2
Bureau of Watershed Management
Department of Natural Resources
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: (608) 267-7568
e-mail: Kathleen.Thompson@Wisconsin.gov

Last Revised: Thursday August 06 2009