Municipal Dam Grants

(ss. 31.19(5) and 31.385, Wis. Stats.; ch. NR 333, NR 335, Wis. Adm. Code)

Click below to get to the information you need quickly:

1. Purpose
2. Who is Eligible to Apply
3. Funding Limits
4. Eligible Projects
5. Application Deadline
6. Application Score & Rank
7. Timeline
8. Application Form and Materials
9. Sign up for Email Updates
10. Dam Grant Program Contacts

Purpose

The Municipal Dam grant program provides a cost-sharing opportunity for eligible engineering and construction costs for dam maintenance, repair, modification, or abandonment and removal up to a maximum of $400,000.00. Funding sources outside the applicant’s own resources can be used toward the local match for this grant.

Who is Eligible to Apply

Eligible Project Sponsors: Cities, towns, villages, counties, tribes, and public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts (lake districts) may apply for grants to conduct dam maintenance, repair, modification, or abandonment and removal. Private dam owners are not eligible to apply. Dams that are inspected, approved and licensed by a federal agency under 18 CFR Part 12 are not eligible to receive funding. (NR 335.02(2)(b))

Ownership: An applicant must own the entire dam or have permanent legal access for operation and maintenance to the specific piece of land on which the dam is physically located.

Dam owners may only submit one grant application during any one grant cycle.

Funding Limits

For dam repair/reconstruction/modification projects grant awards will cover:

• 50% of the first $400,000 of eligible project costs
• 25% of the next $800,000 of eligible project costs
• 0% of project costs above $1.2 million

For dam abandonment and removal projects the grant will cover 100% of the first $400,000 of eligible project costs.

Eligible Projects

Eligible projects include dam repair, reconstruction, modification, or abandonment and removal to improve the safety of the dam. The owner must have the inspection directives or an administrative order that required the dam safety project.

Application Deadline

Applications must be received at the DNR Central Office by September 15, 2011, to be considered for funding. Applications received after September 15th will not be eligible for consideration. Please allow transit time for your application so that it is received by the department by the application deadline. Faxed or emailed applications will not be accepted.

Application Score & Rank

Applications will be scored based on the following program criteria, as defined in the application:

• Dam size.
• Dam hazard rating based on existing land use.
• Land use controls in place in the hydraulic shadow.
• Dam repair costs.
• Financial need of the municipality.

Applications will be ranked based on score. Beginning at the top of the ranked list, DNR will award grants until all funds are exhausted. The DNR expects to establish the priority ranking list by November 15, 2011.

Projects on the rank list-but not funded-will be considered in subsequent grant funding cycles should additional funds be made available by the Legislature or returned from completed projects.

Municipal Dam Grant Timeline

Application Form & Attachments

Complete applications must consist of the application form and attachments listed below. Some of these are time-consuming to prepare so start early to help assure that your application package is complete by the deadline. Municipalities and lake districts that previously applied for funds through this grant program in 2009 are required to complete an application form but will not have to resubmit documentation as long as the information is still valid and meets the requirements outlined below.

• Municipal Dam Grant Application Form (Form 3500-088 (R 6/11)). All applicants (even those who applied for funds in 2009) must complete this form. A fillable, printable form is available for your use on-line or you can just print off a copy and manually fill it out. Automatic calculations are built into both the budget and scoring sections so you don’t have to do the math! Be sure that the cost estimates match the budget summary that is included as part of the application package. This form requires a signature & date by the individual authorized by resolution.


• Municipal Dam Grant Application Instructions

ATTACHMENTS -- For all dam projects

• A resolution by the governing body of the municipality, tribe or lake district, designating an authorized representative and agreeing to pay the local share of the project costs. The language in the sample resolution is a composite of successful resolutions from past applicants. Applicants may use it as a template for their grant resolution.
• Proof of ownership. The applicant needs to be the owner of the dam prior to receiving a grant award. The applicant will need to show they have ownership or have permanent legal access to the specific piece(s) of land that contain the dam. For the purpose of the application the owner should provide a site layout that shows the dam in relation to property lines, the deed for the property on which the dam is located, and ownership information for adjacent parcels.
• Proof of an inspection directive or administrative order which prompts the need for the dam safety project. Supplying the date of the inspection report or order is adequate for application purposes.

ATTACHMENTS -- For dams to be repaired or reconstructed

• A project description and cost estimate for the repair or reconstruction with sufficient detail to determine which costs will be grant eligible. This cost estimate must reflect the figures used on the application form.
• Dam failure analysis sufficient to identify the appropriate hazard of the dam based on the current development downstream of the dam.*
• Letters to communities affected by hydraulic shadow. An explanation of the process and sample language for a letter to downstream communities is attached for your use.

ATTACHMENTS -- For dams to be removed

• A project description and cost estimate for the dam removal with sufficient detail to determine which costs will be grant eligible.
• An application under s. 31, Wis. Stats. for a permit or approval to abandon and remove the dam. The abandonment application should be completed and submitted prior to or with the grant application.
• A delineation of the 100-year floodplain upstream of the dam with the dam removed and materials necessary for inclusion in a zoning ordinance.*

* These studies need to be conducted to the standards of chs. NR 333 and NR 116, Wis. Adm. Codes. We strongly recommend that your engineering consultant contact Bill Sturtevant (contact information below). Bill can be also be contacted for information on how to hire a consultant to do this work.

Sign-up for Email Updates

• Subscribe to receive Dam Safety Grants News! We encourage you to subscribe to this mailing list (by using the automated system at the link above) as we will use this list to communicate important grant application deadlines, information, and other dam grant related issues.

Other Dam Grants Available

DNR also continually accepts applications for Dam Removal grants. Information on this grant program is available at: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/caer/cfa/Grants/DamRemov.html. Please note that 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's Dam Safety Program

by exploring the following DNR website:http://dnr.wi.gov/org/water/wm/dsfm/dams/

This program also has its own newsletter to sign up for to stay in touch with what’s going on statewide in the Dam Safety program.

Additional Information:

Procurement Guide for Local Governments Receiving DNR Grants

Caution to Project Sponsors - Protect Confidential Data

Contacts:

FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE:
Bill Sturtevant, State 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 ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANCE:
Eileen Trainor, Grant Manager
Department of Natural Resources-CF/2
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
Phone: 608-267-0848
E-mail: Eileen.Trainor@wisconsin.gov