77.895 Grants for land acquisitions for outdoor activities.

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(b) “Land" means land in fee simple, conservation easements, and other easements in land.

(c) “Local governmental unit" means a city, village, town, or county.

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

(2) Program. The department shall establish and administer a program to award grants to nonprofit conservation organizations, to local governmental units, and to itself to acquire land to be used for hunting, fishing, hiking, sightseeing, and cross-country skiing.

(3) Requirements. The department shall promulgate rules establishing requirements for awarding grants under this section. The rules promulgated under this subsection shall include all of the following:

(a) A requirement that the department give higher priority to counties over other grant applicants in awarding grants under this section.

(b) A requirement that, in awarding grants to counties under this section, the department give higher priority to counties that have higher numbers of acres that are designated as closed under s. 77.83.

(c) A requirement that, in awarding grants to towns under this section, the department give higher priority to towns that have higher numbers of acres that are designated as closed under s. 77.83.

(d) A requirement that no grant may be awarded under this section without it being approved by the board of each county in which the land to be acquired is located.

(e) Requirements concerning the use of sound forestry practices on land acquired under this section.

(fm) A requirement that no more than 10 percent of grant funding available under this section may be used to acquire parcels of land that are less than 10 acres in size.

(gm) A requirement that land acquired with a grant under this section be open to hunting, fishing, and trapping during all applicable hunting, fishing, and trapping seasons.

(4) Use of land. Land acquired under this section may be used for purposes in addition to those specified in sub. (2) if the additional uses are compatible with the purposes specified in sub. (2).

History: 2007 a. 20; 2015 a. 55.