Wisconsin DNR Annual Report of Runoff Management Grants Available

Friday, April 2nd, 2021 -- 8:33 AM

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources announced the 2020-2021 Annual Report of Runoff Management Grants highlighting the work to stop polluted runoff from entering the state’s waters is available now.

With DNR runoff management grants, local governments have implemented more than 20 different pollution control practices and stormwater planning activities in 2020. Successful practices include barnyard runoff control systems, cropping practices, streambank stabilization, storm water erosion plans and urban detention systems. Grants provided over $1.9 million in reimbursements payments to local governments throughout the state.  Runoff management grants provide cost-share funding for urban or agricultural runoff management practices or urban stormwater planning. The Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grant Program offers competitive grants for local governments for the control of pollution that comes from diffuse sources, also called nonpoint source (NPS) pollution.  The TRM Grant Program reimburses costs for agricultural or urban runoff management practices in targeted, critical geographic areas with surface water or groundwater quality concerns. The Urban Nonpoint Source & Storm Water (UNPS&SW) Management Grant Program offers competitive grants to local governments for the control of pollution from diffuse urban sources that is carried by storm water runoff.  Grants from the UNPS&SW Program reimburse costs of planning or construction projects controlling urban nonpoint source and storm water runoff pollution. The UNPS&SW Planning and Construction grants are offered on alternate years.  In 2020, the DNR received 68 runoff management grant applications and awarded 45 grants totaling $7,785,961 for projects starting January 2021.

The department may award additional grants with leftover funds if projects are completed under budget.  Grant applications for the 2022 grant award cycle are due April 15, 2021. Cities, villages, towns, counties, regional planning commissions, tribal governments and special purpose lake, sewerage and sanitary districts may apply.  Addressing pollution in the environment is part of Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide initiative to ensure Wisconsinites have access to clean, safe, drinking water. The governor declared 2019 the Year of Clean Drinking Water, and his 2019-21 budget made good on that declaration by prioritizing programs that protect ground, surface, and drinking water.  The governor’s 2021-23 biennial budget unveiled in February proposes significant resources for efforts to improve water quality including more than $10 million over the next two years for urban and agricultural structural practices, stormwater planning activities and cropping practices.

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