23.09165 Stewardship programs information and public access notice.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Department land" has the meaning given in s. 23.0917 (1) (c).

(b) “Land" has the meaning given in s. 23.0917 (1) (d).

(c) “Nonprofit conservation organization" has the meaning given in s. 23.0955 (1).

(d) “Stewardship land" means land that is acquired in whole or in part with funding from one or both stewardship programs.

(e) “Stewardship program" means the stewardship program under s. 23.0915 or 23.0917.

(2) Land mapping and directory.

(ac) Within 48 months after October 27, 2007, the department shall establish and maintain an interactive mapping tool at the department's website that identifies all stewardship land that is open for public access. Public access to the mapping tool at the website shall be available without charge.

(bc) Within 24 months after December 21, 2011, the department shall make available to the public a written directory of all stewardship land that is open for public access. The directory shall be organized by county and town and shall clearly show the location of the stewardship land and named or numbered roads. The directory shall be updated at least every 2 years. In lieu of the department itself making available the written directory, the department may make available a written directory that is published by a private entity and that meets the requirements of this paragraph. The department may charge a fee for either directory, but the fee may not exceed the cost of preparing and publishing the directory.

(3) Notice of access to stewardship land.

(a) An owner of stewardship land acquired on or after October 27, 2007, shall, within 6 months after the disbursement of the stewardship program funds, provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice. The owner of stewardship land acquired before October 27, 2007, shall provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice within 48 months after October 27, 2007. The area of each sign shall be at least 108 square inches, and each sign shall be made of a durable substance. The signs shall be placed at major access points to the stewardship land.

(b) If the stewardship land that is acquired on or after October 27, 2007, is surrounded by department land, the department shall, within 6 months after the disbursement of stewardship program funds, provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice at the major access points to the department land. If the stewardship land that is acquired before October 27, 2007, is surrounded by department land, the department shall provide notice of public access to the stewardship land by the placement of signs adequate to give notice at the major access points to the department land within 48 months after October 27, 2007. The area of each sign shall be at least 108 square inches, and each sign shall be made of a durable substance.

(c) The signs required under pars. (a) and (b) shall list either the primary activities that are restricted or prohibited on the stewardship land or the primary activities that are permitted on the stewardship land. The signs shall include either the name of the owner of the stewardship land or a person to contact regarding the stewardship land. Signs shall also be placed at the specified major access points that give notice that the stewardship land was acquired in whole or in part using stewardship program funds. The department may specify the amount of detail that is required on the signs to assure that the signs provide sufficient and useful information.

(d) If the stewardship land described under par. (a) or (b) has a cumulative acreage of 10 acres or more, the signs under par. (a) or (b) shall also include one of the following:

1. The postal address or telephone number of the owner of the stewardship land.

2. The postal address or telephone number of a person to contact regarding the stewardship land.

3. An Internet website address where a person can locate the information listed in subd. 1. or 2.

(ec) Within 24 months after December 21, 2011, the department shall make available to the public a written list of all stewardship land that was acquired before October 27, 2007, and for which public access has been restricted or prohibited and the reasons for that action.

(f) If an owner of any stewardship land fails to comply with the requirements of par. (a), that person is not eligible for any subprogram or grant or other state aid under the stewardship programs until the department determines that the person is in compliance with par. (a).

(g) If the department is notified that a sign required under par. (a) or (b) needs replacing, within 28 days after receiving that notification the department shall determine if the sign needs to be replaced. The department shall replace any sign required under par. (b) within 28 days after determining that the sign needs to be replaced. Within 7 days after determining that a sign required under par. (a) needs to be replaced, the department shall notify the owner of that determination. The owner of stewardship land that placed signs as required under par. (a) shall be ineligible for any subprogram or grant or other state aid under the stewardship programs if the sign is not replaced within 3 months after receiving the notice.

(h) If the department authorizes a nonprofit conservation organization to charge a fee for hunting on stewardship land, the fee for the hunting season may not exceed the sum of the fee for a daily resident vehicle admission receipt under s. 27.01 (7) (f) 2. and the issuing fee for a daily vehicle admission receipt under s. 27.01 (7) (gr).

(4) Contact information. An owner of stewardship land shall provide information requested by the department that will enable the department to contact that owner.

(5) Applicability. This section does not apply to the following stewardship land:

(a) Easements used for trails.

(b) Easements for which the primary purpose of the easement is not public access.

(c) Land acquired or managed under s. 23.17.

History: 2007 a. 20; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 95; 2017 a. 365 s. 112.