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County Conservation Aids

County conservation grants provide financial assistance to enhance county/tribal fish and wildlife programs.

This Fish and Wildlife Management Grant Program was created to assist counties in the improvement of the fish and wildlife resources. The fund was established by the Wisconsin Legislature in 1965 as an alternative to bounty payments on coyote, foxes and bobcats. Every year since the bounty program was canceled, a state allocation equal to the average annual bounty payment has been earmarked as matching money for a growing list of county-sponsored fish and wildlife habitat projects.

After the state budget is approved, funds are allocated to each county in proportion to the ratio of the size of each county to the total area of the state.

READ PROGRAM GUIDANCE BEFORE COMPLETING AN APPLICATION Program Guidance & Instructions for Applying! The deadline for CCA applications is October 1.

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Who can apply

Eligible applicants

County and tribal governing bodies participating in the county fish and wildlife programs are eligible for this program.

Eligibility

CategoryProject Description Codes
1Development project -- The development of structures, utilities, facilities or landscaping necessary for outdoor recreation use of an area
 1Anew trails1Egun range development
 1Bnew fish cribs1Fparking lot development
 1Cstream crossing1Gconstructing new fishing piers
 1Dkayak and boat launches or dock1Hnew boat launch ramp
  1Jnew accessibility upgrades

2

Habitat projects -- The implementation of a specific activity or set of activities to restore or enhance wildlife or fish habitat, natural communities or shorelines
 2Aburning2Fsite preparation, seedling purchase, seedling planting
 2Bprairie planting2Gdredging
 2Cfood plots2Hprairie restoration
 2Dstream restoration2Jmowing
 2Estreambank stabilization2Kinvasive species removal

3

Stocking projects -- The placement of fish or wildlife into their natural environment to improve population numbers.  
 3Afish stocking3Bwildlife stocking

4

Maintenance projects – Repair or refurbishment of structures, fixtures, or substrates to restore to functional condition in a routine, scheduled, or anticipated fashion
 4Arepairs to trails4Egun range repairs
 4Brepairs to culverts4Frepairs to boat docks/ boat launch ramps
 4Cflowage maintenance4Gaccessibility upgrades
 4Dbarrens maintenance  

5

Miscellaneous projects -- Any project that does not fit in categories 1 through 4.

Allocation

Annual allocation of state funds

After the state budget is approved, funds are allocated to each county in proportion to the ratio of the size of each county to the total area of the state.

The revenue to operate the program comes from the sale of hunting and fishing licenses and state sales tax on hunting and fishing equipment. The program allocates funds to each county in proportion to the ratio of the size of each county to the total area of the state. After annual allocation, unused funds revert to five regions available to county and tribal government within region boundaries.

Annual allocation

The statewide allocation for the current fiscal year is $148,500. Funds were allocated as indicated in the following table.

CountyAllocation ($)CountyAllocation ($)CountyAllocation ($)
Adams1,713Iowa2,030Polk2,577
Ashland2,576Iron2,060Portage2,175
Barron2,372Jackson2,664Price3,432
Bayfield3,993Jefferson1,560Racine914
Brown1,396Juneau2,142Richland1,558
Buffalo1,899Kenosha742Rock1,927
Burnett2,348Kewaunee884Rusk2,452
Calumet840La Crosse1,251St. Croix1,988
Chippewa2,806Lafayette1,715Sauk2,245
Clark3,271Langlade2,328Sawyer3,463
Columbia2,099Lincoln2,446Shawano2,443
Crawford1,451Manitowoc1,575Sheboygan1,357
Dane3,282Marathon4,314Taylor2,627
Dodge2,422Marinette3,755Trempealeau1,971
Door1,322Marquette1,236Vernon2,147
Douglas3,544Menominee960Vilas2,550
Dunn2,302Milwaukee638Walworth1,494
Eau Claire1,747Monroe2,442Washburn2,293
Tribal780Oconto2,728Washington1,148
Florence1,324Oneida3,259Waukesha1,537
Fond du Lac1,938Outagamie1,685Waupaca2,028
Forest2,730Ozaukee627Waushara1,696
Grant3,047Pepin634Winnebago1,308
Green1,563Pierce1,559Wood2,165
Green Lake1,006    

Applying

Application process

Download the County Conservation Aids (CCA) Application & Grant Agreement Form #8700-045A [PDF].

Complete the form online and contact appropriate DNR staff for potential permits that may be needed and if project is occurring on DNR owned land, you will need to obtain approval from the property manager.

Submit the form by clicking the Submit by Email button at the top of the form on page 1. Your application will be received and reviewed for funding.

Submit a copy of the Authorizing Resolution with any attachments to DNR Grant Program Manager via email at DNRCountyConservationAids@wisconsin.gov or postmarked no later than October 1.

The deadline for the CCA grants is October 1.

A letter of final award notification will be sent out to all applicants by October 31.

Bobbi Winebar
Grant Program Manager
WI Dept of Natural Resources
2984 Shawano Avenue
Green Bay, WI 54313
920-461-2595

Applicant share of project may include:

  • personnel, equipment and materials;
  • direct cost supported by time sheets, vouchers, or similar documents;
  • actual cost of force account labor and equipment (DOT rates apply); and
  • actual fringe benefits paid as part of the direct labor costs.

Matching requirement

If an applicant receives a grant of federal pass-through funds from the DNR, the applicant may use those federal funds to match the 50% cost-share required by the County Conservation Aids (CCA) program. An example of a federal pass-through grant is the Recreation Trails Aids program. State funds cannot be used as match for a CCA grant.

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Reimbursement

Reimbursement information

No expenditure made prior to the effective date of the appropriate DNR regional grant specialist approval will be allowed. All work must be done within the project period, except pre-approval engineering can be paid if specified in the agreement.

Local equipment rates may be used but may not exceed the WI Department of Transportation (WisDOT) equipment rate effective the year of the project activities. (Note: Rates are formulated under Wis Stat. § 84.07 and can be found in chapter 5 of the State Highway Maintenance Manual published by the WisDOT.) The WisDOT rates may be used if you do not have a locally established rate. If special equipment is rented from a vendor, the actual rental rate may be used. Links to WisDOT Equipment Rates are below.

The DNR preferred timeline for submitting payment reimbursement claims is no later than six months after the end of the project period. However, payment reimbursement claims must be submitted within one year of the project ending date or the project will be canceled. The county or tribal government may submit claims to the DNR grant specialist for payment on the following two DNR forms within six months of the project end dates. Instructions for completion and provisions of expenditure proofs are included in the forms.

The county and tribal government must maintain records for audit requirements a minimum of three years after the final payment.

Forms

Laws

Grant related statues and administrative codes

Contact

Contact information

For general question about the County Conservation Aids Grant Program, acceptance of grant award or reimbursement questions, please contact the CCA Grant Program Manager:

Bobbi Winebar
Grant Program Manager
WI Dept of Natural Resources
2984 Shawano Ave
Green Bay, WI 54313
920-461-2595