Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Dam Safety Grant News Update

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The 2013-15 Wisconsin State Budget Authorizes $3.5M in Funding for the Municipal Dam Grant Program (NR 335, Wis. Adm. Code)

Applications are being accepted between August 21, 2013 and January 22, 2014.

This program provides a cost-sharing opportunity for eligible engineering and construction expenses for dam maintenance, repair, modification, or abandonment and removal up to a maximum of $400,000 per project as described below.

• Repair/modification projects:  50% of the first $400,000 of eligible project costs; 25% of the next $800,000 of eligible project costs. 
• Abandoment and removal projects:  100% of the first $400,000 of eligible project costs. 

The updated grant application form (3500-088 Rev. 8/13) and instructions are posted on the Municipal Dam grant web page under the How to apply tab.  Please refer to the grant web page for additional information and reference materials. 

http://dnr.wi.gov/aid/dammunicipal.html

Here is a list of items that may take some time to assemble.  Remember that for a grant application to be considered complete all of the following items must be submitted by the application deadline.

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.

Proof of dam ownership -- the applicant needs to be the owner of the dam prior to receiving a grant award.  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 that grant assistance was requested -- if you have received an inspection directive or order which prompts the need for the dam safety project.

A project description and detailed cost estimates.

Dam failure analysis -- sufficient to identify the appropriate hazard of the dam based on the current development downstream of the dam.  (See chs. NR 333 and NR 116, Wis. Adm. Code.)

Letters -- to communities affected by hydraulic shadow.

Dam Owners will need to hire a licensed professional engineer to design their dam project and perform other analyses that may be required for the grant application.  If the owner has retained an engineering consultant the consultant should be identified as the Owner's Consultant.  A significant amount of DNR review time can be saved if the DNR can pose technical questions directly to the design engineer.  Here is a link to our web page with information about engineers/consultants. 

http://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Dams/consultantInformation.html 

This grant program is authorized by:  Wis. Stats. 31.385 and Chapter NR 335.

Contacts:

William Sturtevant, P.E., Dam Safety Engineer

608-266-8033; William.sturtevant@wisconsin.gov

Meg Galloway, Dams & Flood Plain Section Chief

608-266-7014; Meg.galloway@wisconsin.gov

Kari Beetham, Community Financial Assistance, Grant Manager

608-264-9207; Kari.beetham@wisconsin.gov