Hearings set for aquatic invasive species grant program

MADISON - More groups would be eligible to receive state grants for projects to prevent the spread of invasive species and the maximum award will increase under proposed rules that are the topic of public hearings starting statewide next week.

Gov. Jim Doyle championed funding increases to the Department of Natural Resources Aquatic Invasive Species Grant Program in the 2007-2009 Budget, and lawmakers approved a $7.6 million budget for the program in 2008 and 2009, more than double the $3 million expected.

The new law also increased the cost share rates, so that communities could receive up to 75 percent of the cost of a project, up from 50 percent previously, and removed priority for local government sponsors.

Those legislative changes are reflected in the DNR’s proposed rules, which are needed to put the enhanced program in place and to put the significant increase in grant funding to work in communities to prevent the spread of invasive species and to control invaders where they are already established in lakes and rivers.

DNR also is proposing expanding the list of potential applicants to include the University of Wisconsin system, more statewide conservation groups, and other state and federal agencies. Currently, sponsorship is largely limited to local governments, tribal nations, lake associations and conservation groups that own land.

Under the proposed rules, applicants would also receive higher priority if their projects to control invasive species through chemical treatments also achieved another environmental protection goal, like restoring habitat or helping control pollution.

One other proposed change would allow communities that are successfully managing existing populations of aquatic invasive species and following state rules regarding such to recoup the aquatic plant management permit fees they now pay.

Hearings on the proposed rules are set for the following dates and locations:

July 22, Eau Claire, 7 p.m., Conference Room, DNR West Central Region Headquarters, 1300 W. Clairemont.

July 23, Spooner, 7 p.m., Conference Room, DNR Northern Region Headquarters, 810 W. Maple St.

July 29, Rhinelander, 7 p.m., Conference Room, DNR Northern Region Headquarters, 107 Sutliff Ave.

July 30, Oshkosh, 7 p.m., Conference Room, DNR Service Center, 625 E. County Road Y, Suite 700.

August 5, Watertown, 6 p.m., Conference Room, Watertown Public Library, 100 S. Water St.

The proposed rule and related information may be reviewed and comments electronically submitted Wisconsin administrative rules Web site (exit DNR). Written comments may be submitted via U.S. mail to Mr. Carroll Schaal, Bureau of Watershed Management, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921. Comments may be submitted until Aug. 29, 2008, and whether submitted electronically or by U.S. mail, these written comments will have the same weight and effect as oral statements presented at the public hearings. A personal copy of the proposed rule and fiscal estimate may be obtained from Mr. Schaal as well.

FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Carroll Schaal (608) 261-6423