WDNR GRANTS

Page index:

• Grant categories
• Grant cycles
• AIS control grant process
• AIS grant forms
• AIS grant scoring
• Sample grants
• Grant awards history - Vilas County
• More information
• 
  

Grant categories:

The three categories of grants that most people within the Vilas County AIS Partnership will be exposed to are LAKE PLANNING GRANTS, LAKE PROTECTION GRANTS and AIS CONTROL GRANTS. Each category has its own purposes and dedicated funding allocations. A brief explanation of each follows:

LAKE PLANNING grants provide funding to local governments and lake management organizations for the collection and analysis of information needed to manage lakes. For instance, a pre-requisite to managing invasive aquatic plants is completion of a comprehensive "Aquatic Plant Management (APM) Plan". APM plan development is eligible for lake planning grant funding.
For additional information regarding APM planning, click HERE to download the APM planning guide from the Lakes Partnership web site (Caution: this is a very large download).
For additional information regarding lake planning grants, click HERE to view a WDNR Lake Planning Grants Fact Sheet, or HERE to review Administrative Rule NR 190.

LAKE PROTECTION grants provide funding for activities that protect and improve the quality of water in lakes, the natural ecosystem of lakes or the uses of lakes.
For additional information regarding lake protection grants, click HERE to view a WDNR Lake Protection Grants Fact Sheet, or HERE to review Administrative Rule NR 191.

AIS CONTROL grants as authorized under WDNR administrative rule NR 198 provide 50% funding (increased to 75% effective in 2008) for AIS projects in three categories:

• Education, prevention and planning (maximum $75,000 State cost share per project)
• Early detection and rapid response (maximum $10,000 State cost share per project)
• Managing established infestations (maximum $75,000 State cost share per project)

Entities eligible for AIS grants include local units of government, tribes, lake districts, qualified lake associations (click HERE for definition of qualified lake association), qualified river management organizations, nonprofit conservation organizations and qualified school districts. However, local units of government have first priority for funding awards.
For additional information regarding AIS grants, click HERE to view a WDNR AIS Control Grants Fact Sheet.

Return to page index

Grant cycles:

Lake Planning grants and AIS Control grants are awarded twice yearly (with the exception of the early detection and rapid response category). Application deadlines are February 1 and August 1. It is important to understand that limited amounts of money are available each year for both Planning and AIS grants. The August cycle is the first cycle of the WDNR fiscal year, therefore the pot is full and the chances of grants being awarded are better in the August cycle. February grant awards are limited to whatever funds remain after the August cycle.

AIS early detection and rapid response grants are offered continuously on a first come, first served basis subject to available funding.

Return to page index

AIS Control Grant process:

AIS control grants are becoming increasingly competitive and are awarded for projects that are well planned with a good likelihood of achieving measurable success. The application process is time consuming, but need not be regarded as daunting. It should be understood that completing the application forms is the final and perhaps easiest piece of the grant application process. A suggested step-by-step process follows:

• Determine the scope of the intended project and which of the three category types it fits into and how the local cost share will be satisfied (dollars, donation of "in-kind" time, etc.). First time applicants have a tendency to be overly optimistic and design projects that are less than fully achievable. It's wise to error on the side of caution to assure that projects are likely to be successful.
• Determine who the grant sponsor will be. Remember that governmental entities such as towns or lake districts have higher priority in the ranking process, so applying for funding under the umbrella of a town board can make the difference between success and failure. However, the sponsor is also responsible for all aspects of the project including satisfying the local cost share. Town boards will not be eager to take on sponsorship of a grant without having confidence that the organization requesting the sponsorship will see the project through to satisfactory conclusion. Many Vilas County town boards have created Town Lakes Committees that function as advisory extensions of the boards and oversee all aspects of town sponsored grant funded projects.
• Obtain a resolution from the intended project sponsor. The resolution authorizes the project and identifies an individual who will have primary responsibility for it. Click HERE to view a sample resolution.
• Prepare a detailed narrative of the proposed project using Section VI of the grant application form as a guide (click HERE to see the form). The narrative must include an itemization of anticipated expenses and an explanation of how the local cost share will be satisfied.
• Obtain letters of support for the project, particularly from organizations who will be partnering in or will benefit from the project.
• Prepare the grant application form and submit it to the DNR with the resolution, the letters of support and all documents pertaining to the narrative description. Applications must be received by the DNR no later than the February 1 or August 1 deadlines.
• Do not spend any money on the project prior to the grant being officially awarded. Expenditures incurred prior to the award date are not eligible for grant reimbursement.
• Conduct the project in strict compliance with the declared scope of the project and/or the requirements of the award letter. Consult with your local DNR grant coordinator before deviating in any way from the project as approved.
• Upon completion of the project, prepare a final report narrative highlighting the successes, failures, or modifications to the project and submit it to the DNR in accordance with the award letter.
• Prepare and submit to the DNR an expense worksheet and a payment request form as required in the grant award letter.

Return to page index

AIS Grant forms:

• Application: DNR guidelines
• Application form (executable)
• Expense worksheet (executable)
• Payment request (executable)

Return to page index

AIS Grant scoring:

All AIS Control grants are ranked in accordance with scoring standards prescribed for each category of grants. Applicants should design their projects and prepare their applications in a manner that results in the highest score possible to be competitive in the ranking process. Click on the following links to review the ranking guidelines:

• Education, prevention, planning grants
• Existing infestation management grants
• Early detection, rapid response grants (no ranking procedure)

Return to page index

Sample grants:

Examples of successfully completed AIS Control grant applications from Vilas County can be found on town committee pages as follows. Additional examples will be linked from this page as they become available for including on this web site:

• Lac du Flambeau Town Lakes Committee home page
• St. Germain Town Lakes Committee home page

Return to page index

Grant awards history - Vilas County:

Return to Vilas County Land & Water

Return to Vilas County Land & Water

TOTAL VILAS COUNTY AWARDS TO DATE SINCE 2004: $962,397

Return to page index

More information:

Visit the WDNR web site at this page (click HERE) to access more information about AIS grants.

Return to page index

Return to Vilas County Land & Water