Dam Removal Grant Program

(ss. 31.385(2)(ag) and (ar), Wis. Stats.; ch. NR 336, Wis. Adm. Code)

Grant, Eligibility, and Application Information:

Counties, cities, villages, towns, tribes, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts, and private dam owners can apply for grant funds to remove a dam they own. Any person can apply to receive funds to remove an abandoned dam if they have obtained legal access to the property on which the dam is located. Abandoned dams are those declared abandoned using the process under s. 31.187, Wis. Stats.

The DNR will fund 100% of eligible project costs up to a maximum grant award of $50,000. Eligible project costs include labor, materials, and equipment directly related to planning the actual removal, the dam removal itself, and the restoration of the impoundment. The project sponsor is responsible for ineligible costs and project costs in excess of the maximum grant award.

Starting September 15, 2009, applications will be accepted continually. To be considered for funding, applications must be complete and meet basic eligibility criteria. Funding decisions will be made on a first-come, first-served basis based on the application receipt date.

Consult ch. NR 336, Wis. Adm. Code, for eligibility criteria.

Application Materials:

• Application form 
• Application Instructions 
• Frequently Asked Questions

Reimbursement Information:

• Form 8700-002 - Grant Payment Worksheet [PDF Fillable Form 53KB]
• Form 8700-001 - Grant Payment Request [PDF 62KB]

Other Dam Grants Available:

The Municipal Dam Grant Program provides funding to repair, reconstruct, or remove dams owned by municipalities, tribes, or public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts. Information on this grant program is available at the Municipal Dam Grant Program page.

Note: An applicant may not receive a grant from both the Municipal Dam Grant Program and the Dam Removal Grant Program for removal of the same dam.

• Learn more about WISCONSIN DAM SAFETY PROGRAM by exploring the following DNR website:  http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/dsfm/dams/
  
• To stay in touch with what's going on in the Wisconsin Dam Safety Program, sign-up for email updates on the Dam Safety Program website.

Additional Information:

• Procurement Guide for Local Governments Receiving DNR Grants [PDF 183KB]
• Caution to Project Sponsors - Protect Confidential Data [PDF 8KB]

Sign-up for Email Updates

Subscribe to receive Dam Safety Grants News! Periodically, the Department of Natural Resources will send email updates regarding grant application deadlines and other dam grant related issues. You may subscribe to this mailing list by using the automated system at the link above.

Contacts:

FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:

Bill Sturtevant, Dam Safety Engineer
Department of Natural Resources-WT/3
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: 608-266-8033
E-mail: William.Sturtevant@wisconsin.gov

Meg Galloway, Dams & Flood Plain Section Chief
Department of Natural Resources-WT/3
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: 608-266-7014
E-mail: Meg.Galloway@wisconsin.gov

FOR Grant Assistance:

Eileen Trainor, Dam Grant Manager
Department of Natural Resources-CF/2
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: 608-267-0848
Fax: 608-267-0496
E-mail: Eileen.Trainor@wisconsin.gov