Aquatic Invasive Species Control Grants

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

The revised Application Guidelines & Instructions document and revised AIS grant application (revision date 5/09) have been posted to the bottom of this page. The revised AIS grant application is necessary to be eligible for the next grant cycle—grants due August 1, and for any Early Detection and Response Grants submitted after May, 2009.

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 organizations, river management organizations, state and federal natural resource or land management agencies and FERC-licensed hydroelectric corporations are eligible to apply for funding for an aquatic invasive species prevention and control grant 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. Qualified nonprofit organizations whose purpose includes the prevention and control of aquatic invasive species are eligible project sponsors. 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 not exceed 75% of the cost of a project up to maximum amount set for the following grant subcategories:

Education, Prevention and Planning projects. The maximum award shall be $150,000. Applications shall be separated into 2 classes—those requesting less than $50,000 in state share and those requesting $50,000 or more in state share. Each class of projects shall be evaluated separately and have equal priority for funding. For watercraft inspection program projects, state share is limited to $4,000 annually for each public boat launch facility not to exceed 75% of the total project cost up to the maximum grant amount.

Early Detection and Response projects. The maximum award shall be $20,000.

Established Population Control projects. The maximum award shall be $200,000.

Research and Demonstration projects. The total available annual funding is limited to $500,000 for this category.

Maintenance and Containment projects. The maximum award 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. Award will not exceed reimbursement of permit fees.

The order of priority for funding projects is:

Control pioneer populations of aquatic invasive species
Prevent the spread of aquatic invasive species to unpopulated waters
Control established infestations of aquatic invasive species and restore native aquatic species communities
Provide research and demonstration that advances the state’s knowledge and understanding of aquatic invasive species control
Ongoing maintenance to contain aquatic invasive populations within a waterbody

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 and Research and Demonstration projects. Applications are accepted throughout the year for Early Detection and Response and Research and Demonstration 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.