Environmental Loans December 2025 Newsletter
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR)’s Environmental Loans programs provide affordable financial assistance to Wisconsin communities for water infrastructure projects that protect and improve public health and water quality for current and future generations.
Market Rate Decrease Effective Jan. 1
The market rates for the Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program loans with municipal meetings (resolutions approving the municipal obligations and the financial assistance agreements) on or after Jan. 1, 2026, will decrease.
The market rates will be as follows:
- The market rates for tax-exempt loans with loan terms of 20 years or less will decrease from 4.700% to 4.500%, and those with loan terms of 21-30 years will decrease from 4.900% to 4.700%.
- The market rates for taxable loans will be determined after Jan. 1, 2026, and listed on the DNR’s Interest Rates webpage.
The Lead Service Line Replacement Program interest rate is not tied to the current market rate and is instead set at 0.25%.
As always, the Environmental Improvement Fund encourages applicants to diligently move forward toward closing loans as quickly as possible.
Please direct any market or interest rate questions or concerns to the DOA Capital Finance Office at DOAEIF@wisconsin.gov.
Cybersecurity For SRF-Funded Projects
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published the “Strengthening and Integrating Cybersecurity Measures into State Revolving Fund (SRF) Funded Projects” white paper/report in late October to coincide with Cybersecurity Month.
This resource is designed to help strengthen cybersecurity at drinking water and wastewater utilities that receive Clean Water or Drinking Water SRF assistance. It highlights success stories and features strategies for integrating cybersecurity into water infrastructure investments, supporting more resilient and secure systems.
This document includes tools and resources available to utilities, including the EPA’s free Cybersecurity Evaluation Program and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Agency’s free vulnerability scanning (covered on pages 2-3 of the report). We encourage you to review this valuable resource and share it with any systems that might not be as aware of the free services.
The white paper/report includes an overview of the cybersecurity threats facing drinking water and wastewater systems. Cybersecurity incidents can have significant financial and operational consequences for utilities.
The EPA has statutory responsibilities to decrease risks of cybersecurity threats in the water sector. By helping states and utilities take preventative measures to increase cybersecurity, the EPA is helping ensure that all Americans have access to safe drinking water and effective wastewater treatment.
Additional Resources
Charlie Cameron's Retirement
Charlie Cameron is retiring. Since March 2019, he has served as the West Central Region construction management engineer (CME) for the DNR Environmental Loans Section. Charlie’s last day in the office will be Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, though he will follow up on projects until Tuesday, Dec. 23, 2025.
Charlie shared with us that his retirement goals include traveling with his wife of 30 years, helping his family with their home projects, golfing, fishing, volunteering and trying to learn Spanish and guitar. We wish Charlie well as he enjoys retirement!
In 1992, Charlie began working for the DNR, utilizing his Environmental Engineering degree from Penn State University. He is a veteran of the United States Air Force who became a licensed professional engineer and licensed municipal waterworks operator during his tenure with the DNR. He served as a field engineer for various programs, including the Bureau of Water Quality as a wastewater engineer and the Bureau of Drinking Water and Groundwater as a water supply engineer. Charlie brought 27 years of relevant experience to the CME position, to the benefit of the Clean Water Fund Program and the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program. He also served on the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Works Association’s small systems and research committees, where he occasionally wrote articles that were widely read by industry professionals.
Congratulations, Charlie, on your achievements that benefit the people of Wisconsin by inspecting and managing construction projects that protect public health, protect valuable aquatic resources and meet environmental standards.
Engineer Recruitment
We are recruiting to fill a Construction Management Engineer (Wastewater Engineer Entry, Senior or Advanced) vacancy in the Environmental Loans Section.
The job (and full position description) was announced on Dec. 8, 2025, through Wisc.Jobs.
- Search for Job ID 19446
- Applications are due Dec. 18
The CME position is responsible for implementing field oversight responsibilities of the Clean Water Fund Program, Safe Drinking Water Loan Program and other DNR loan programs in the West Central Region. This position can be stationed in the DNR Office in Eau Claire, Black River Falls or La Crosse.
Project Coverage
We hope to fill Charlie’s vacancy in late winter 2026. Meanwhile, Charlie’s existing active projects may be reassigned, as needed, to other DNR CMEs, who then would be in contact with their newly assigned communities. Funding questions about projects can be directed to the DNR loan project manager.
Upcoming Deadlines And Events
The deadlines for the notice of intent to apply, application and loan closing are set in the corresponding program's annual intended use plan, see the Project Lists and Intended Use Plans webpage.
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December 2025: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2026 Safe Drinking Water Loan Program final funding list
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Dec. 23: Disbursements will occur for those who submitted complete requests for disbursement by noon on Thursday, Dec. 11. Note: No loan closings will occur on Dec. 23.
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January 2026: The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2026 Clean Water Fund Program funding list.
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Jan. 15, 2026: Requests for disbursements are due to the DNR at noon on Thursday, Jan. 15, to be paid on the disbursement date of Wednesday, Jan. 28 (schedule adjusted for Martin Luther King Day).
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Late winter/spring 2026:
- The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2027 Clean Water Fund Program and Safe Drinking Water Loan Program project priority lists.
- The DNR intends to publish the state fiscal year 2027 Lead Service Line Replacement Program intent to apply list.
Newsletter Sign Up
For timely delivery of future newsletters and bulletins, please send an email request with your contact information to Kay Christensen, DNR Environmental Loans Section outreach coordinator, at Kay.Christensen@wisconsin.gov. She will add you to the email list. If you want, she can also remove you from this list.
The DNR Environmental Loans Section tries to publish a newsletter every 1-2 months. Previous newsletters and bulletins are available on our News webpage.
Note: You can also sign up to receive updates from the Wisconsin DNR on diverse topics.
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