State of Wisconsin

Department of Natural Resources

Conservation Aids Projects

Section 23.09 (12) of the Wisconsin Statutes, authorizes the payment of state aids to counties on several types of fish and game projects. The general purpose of the program is to encourage counties to undertake projects to preserve and enhance fish and game habitat.

Following are some examples of the types of projects that are eligible for funds:

General

Land acquisition for fish and game habitat preservation, the development of shooting ranges which included a hunter safety program component, boat launch development, initial purchase of specialized equipment such as pumps and aerators, etc.

Fish Management

Aquatic habitat development, brush shelters in lakes, chemical rehabilitation of waters, fishing pier construction, impoundment’s for fishing, pond or lake dredging for habitat improvement, spawning area developments, streambank fencing, stream improvement devices including bank repair, fishing access sites, etc.

Wildlife Management

Construction of parking areas, diking and ditching, fence construction, flowage and pothole construction, food patches and wildlife plantings, habitat improvement including brush piles, controlled burning and nesting structures, access roads and hunter walking trail construction including seeding, mowing and signing fencing and boundary posting for hunting and fishing areas, construction of wood duck houses, etc.

There are other types of projects that improve the fish and game resource. If any doubt arises on questionable types of projects, contact the Land Conservation Department.

Nature and interpretive trails, parks and picnic areas, snowmobile/ATV facilities, operation and maintenance such as continuing operation of an aeration system, fish and game propagation, pamphlets and publications or audio/visual materials.

Trempealeau County Land Conservation Committee

Policies Involving Conservation Aids Funding

DNR allocates money to the counties on an acreage basis. Trempealeau County with 739 square miles is eligible for $1,991.00 in State funds. These funds matched with a like amount from the county total $3,982.00.

1. Sponsors of Conservation Aids Project proposals must submit a written request to the president of the Associated Rod & Gun Club by April 1^st.
2. The Associated Rod & Gun Club membership will review all submitted applications during their April meeting. The top three proposals selected by the Associated Rod & Gun Club membership will be ranked as to the proposal’s priority and then submitted to the Land Conservation Committee for their review by May 1^st.
3. The LCC will review the proposals during their May regular session and will select an Annual Conservation Aids Project for funding. Criteria for LCC selection will include:

1. Funding eligibility requirements.
2. Alternative sources for funding.
3. Priority ranking of the association.
4. The county’s long-range conservation goals.
5. Sponsor’s maintenance of existing projects.

4. The LCC will notify the president of the association as well as the sponsor of the selected project within 5 working days of the LCC’s decision.
5. The decision of the LCC Committee is final.
6. Sponsors of the project will sign a maintenance agreement with Trempealeau County, agreeing to maintain the selected project through the projects expected life span.

Land to be used for projects must be in public ownership or the county must have a lease or agreement in writing assuring public use for the life of the project. A copy of such lease or agreement must be made a part of the application where other than public lands are to be developed.