Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program
Reauthorization Summary

Passage of 07-09 Biennial Budget (2007 Wis. Act 20 [exit DNR] (see pp. 280-287)) included the reauthorization of the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. As a result, the Stewardship Program will continue through June 30, 2020 with an annual budget of $86 million beginning July 1, 2010.

New Annual Budget

• $45,000,000 for Department (& County) Land Acquisition
• $12,000,000 for Grants to Nonprofit Conservation Organizations
• $11,500,000 for Local Assistance Grants
• $10,000,000 for Development of DNR-owned Property
• $3,000,000 for Ice Age Trail & Other Trails
• $2,500,000 for Recreational Boating Aids
• $2,000,000 for purchase of land owned by Board of Commissioners of Public Lands

Program Changes Highlights

• Redirects $1.5 million in FY 08 and $2.5 million in FY 09 and thereafter from the Department's land acquisition budget to the recreational boating facilities (RBF) program.
• Through the recreational boating facilities (RBF) program, the Department provides grants to local governmental units for up to 50% of the costs of developing recreational boating facilities (e.g., boat ramps and related parking facilities) approved by the Waterways Commission.
• The Joint Committee on Finance (JCF) will review projects using $750,000 or more of Stewardship Program funds.
• Land acquired with Stewardship Program funding must be open to the public for hunting, fishing, trapping, hiking, cross-country skiing, and other nature-based outdoor recreation. (see Interim Protocol)
• DNR may contract with nonprofit conservation organization and private companies to perform land management activities on DNR-owned land.
• DNR must report to the Legislature on all land acquired with Stewardship funding and any prior fiscal year contract entered into with nonprofit conservation organizations and private companies to perform land management activities on DNR land.
• DNR must develop and maintain an interactive, Web-based mapping tool to identify all Stewardship lands open to the public. (see DNR Managed Lands web mapping)
• Owners of Stewardship land purchased after October 27, 2007 must place signs providing notice of public access at major access points to the property.
• DNR must establish a new grant program by which the DNR may award a 50/50 cost-share grant from its land acquisition funds to a county to acquire land for a county forest.
• DNR may award grants to NCOs for up to 75% of the acquisition costs of a property.
• Require a second appraisal for land to be purchased by local governments or nonprofit conservation organizations using Stewardship Program funds if the Department estimates the fair market value of the land to more than $350,000.

Earmarked Funding

2007 Wis. Act 20 also identified five projects that will be funded using Stewardship Program funds ($3,975,800 total), as follows:

• $600,000 to City of Antigo for Ice Age and Springbrook Trails;
• $1,000,000 to improve navigability for recreation boating on Mirror Lake;
• $500,000 to Vernon County for dam repair on Jersey Valley Lake;
• $1,000,000 to an NCO for property acquisition for the MMSD "Greenseams" flood management program;
• $875,800 to Green Bay for a recreational trail.

• 2007 Wis. Act 20 [exit DNR] (see pp. 280-287)
• Summary of Reauthorization Provisions [PDF 202KB]
• Details of Reauthorization Provisions [PDF 251KB] (as reported to the Natural Resources Board, January 2008)
• Interim Protocol for Grant Review
• Public Access Administrative Rule
• DNR Managed Lands Web Mapping