Glossary of Terms

is the fair market value of the property as determined by department appraisal guidelines, except as provided in s. 23.0917(7)(b) to (d), Stats., plus reasonable costs related to the purchase of the property including; appraisal fee, land survey, relocation costs, title evidence, recording fees, initial posting of signage limited to $1,000, attorney fees limited to $1,000, historical, cultural and environmental assessments.

is a grant project which includes the purchase of land. The land can be one or more parcels of land that are contiguous or in close proximity which include features or outdoor recreational opportunities that are eligible for grants.

signed into law on July 26, 1990, is a wide-ranging civil rights law that prohibits, under certain circumstances, discrimination based on disability.

is a subprogram of the Stewardship Program to acquire and develop property for nature-based outdoor recreation.

is a subprogram of the Stewardship Program where a voluntary land protection program enacted by a governmental unit or non-profit organization that compensates landowners for limiting future development on their land.

an inventory of the features of a property including reports, maps, photographs, and other materials that provides an accurate representation of the property at the time an easement is executed to protect it.

the minimum improvement necessary to enable people to make use of recreation sites with minimum maintenance.

a database that houses the identification of contaminated sites in the state of Wisconsin.

enacted July 2, 1964, is a landmark piece of civil rights legislation in the United States that outlawed major forms of discrimination against racial, ethnic, religious minorities and women.

a noncommercial activity in an urban community involving the raising of vegetables, fruits, flowers and herbs for personal consumption or use.

the document prepared and adopted by governmental units that summarize planning efforts for recreation, open space preservation and resource protection.

a holder's nonpossessory interest in real property imposing any limitation or affirmative obligation the purpose of which includes retaining or protecting natural, scenic or open space values of real property, assuring the availability of real property for agricultural, forest, recreational or open space use, protecting natural resources, maintaining or enhancing air or water quality, preserving a burial site, or preserving the historical, architectural, archaeological or cultural aspects of real property.

an agreement between a conservation organization and nonprofit organization under s. 23.197(4)(b), Stats, setting forth the obligations of each.

Department staff specializing in grant funding.

is the owner who has the title of the property who sells the property to the sponsor.

is the sponsor's matching funds. These funds are dedicated or restricted by the donor or funding source to be used exclusively for a particular parcel.

is land accepted and recorded for dedication under the Wisconsin natural areas heritage program as provided under s. 23.29(16), Stats.

is an agency within the state of Wisconsin. Referred to as "the department."

are the department procedures by which contracted appraisers are required to assess the fair market value of a property where the title is to be acquired in fee simple or easement with funds.

is a natural area designated as a state natural area under s. 23.28(1), Stats.

is the construction, renovation, or modification of structures, utilities, facilities, landscaping, or restoration or enhancement of natural communities and other department-approved improvements for the purposes of nature-based outdoor recreation.

are the rights of a landowner to develop their property as allowed under state and local laws and ordinances.

A project intended to benefit both nonmotorized recreational trail use and motorized recreational trail use. This category includes projects where motorized use is permitted, but is not the predominant beneficiary. This category includes projects where motorized and nonmotorized uses are separated by season, such as equestrian use in summer and snowmobile use in winter.

is a certain right to use the property of another without possessing the property.

an assessment of a site to identify potential or known areas of environmental contamination.

is the dollar value assigned to a property by a department-approved appraisal conducted in accordance with department appraisal guidelines for the grant.

is the period beginning on July 1 of one year and ending on June 30 of the following calendar year.

is the performance of a development or maintenance project with the forces and resources of the sponsor, including labor, equipment and materials.

are the employer's costs for an employee's social security, life and health insurance, unemployment insurance, worker's compensation insurance, retirement and authorized absences such as annual, sick, court or military leave. These costs must be equitably distributed to all employee labor activities.

is an unrecorded contract between a sponsor and the department setting forth the obligations of each party.

is a recorded contract between a sponsor and the department setting forth the obligations of each party.

is a project that addresses the important habitat needs of wildlife in the state as specified in NR 51.45(1)(a), of the Wisconsin Administrative Code.

is the implementation of a specific activity or set of activities to restore or enhance wildlife or fish habitat, natural communities or shorelines.

are those ordinary operating expenses of the sponsor not directly related to a specific stewardship project.

is the United States Internal Revenue Service.

The Joint Committee on Finance is a statutory, 16-member standing committee of the Wisconsin Legislature. The Committee's primary responsibility is to serve as the principal legislative committee charged with the review of all state appropriations and revenues.

is a plan approved by the department detailing how property acquired by a nonprofit conservation organization or a conservation organization with grants under this chapter shall be managed, maintained and used by the public.

is a practice, technique, or measure approved by the department that is determined to be an effective, practicable means of protecting, restoring or enhancing wildlife or fish habitat.

means any individual, partnership, corporation, city, village, town, county, tribe, nonprofit organization, taxing authority or other person holding title to the land by title in fee simple.

the sponsor has signed the Wisconsin Green Tier Legacy Community Charter before the current grant application deadline of May 1 and agrees to take actions to achieve superior environmental performance in the areas of water resources management and/or sustainability practices and to share the results of their Green Tier Legacy efforts.

is a letter from the department allowing the sponsor to purchase the project property before the grant applications deadline. However it is important to note that this letter does not guarantee the sponsor will be awarded a grant.

is a town, village, city, county, tribe or the Kickapoo reserve management board.

is a federal program enacted in 1965, to provide funds and matching grants to federal, state and local governments for the acquisition of land and water, and easements on land and water for the benefit of all Americans.

is a trail that allows for motorized uses such as ATV, UTV and snowmobiles.

a project primarily intended to benefit more than one mode of motorized recreational use, such as: motorcycle and ATV use; or ATV use in summer and snowmobile use in winter. A project may be classified in this category if the project also benefits some nonmotorized uses (it is not necessary to exclude nonmotorized uses), but the primary intent must be for the benefit of motorized use.

is an office established in 1916 of the U.S. Department of the Interior.

an area of land or water which has educational or scientific value or is important as a reservoir of the state's genetic or biologic diversity and includes any buffer area necessary to protect the area's natural values. Frequently, "natural areas" are important as a reserve for native biotic communities.

Signed into law on Jan. 1, 1970. Acknowledging the decades of environmental neglect that had significantly degraded the nation's landscape and damaged the human environment, the law was established to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.

is legislation intended to preserve historic and archaeological sites in the United States. The act created the National Register of Historic Places, the list of National Historic Landmarks and the State Historic Preservation Offices.

there are 5 NBOAs which are identified by the Natural Resources Board (NRB). They are hunting, trapping, fishing, hiking, and cross-country skiing.

are activities where the primary focus or purpose is the appreciation or enjoyment of nature. These activities may include but are not limited to hiking, bicycling, wildlife or nature observation, camping, nature study, fishing, hunting, trapping, public shooting range, boating, picnicking, cross-country skiing, canoeing and multi-use trail activities.

is a database containing the location and biological status of each natural community and rare species that has been inventoried and evaluated by the natural heritage inventory program.

is a group appointed by the Governor to advise the department on stewardship policy.

is a trail that only allows non-motorized uses such as walking, equestrian, biking, skating and cross-country skiing.

a project primarily intended to benefit more than one mode of nonmotorized recreational trail use such as: walking, bicycling and skating; both pedestrian and equestrian use; or pedestrian use in summer and cross-country ski use in winter.

an organization whose bylaws, charter or incorporation papers reflect as a purpose of the organization the acquisition of property for conservation purposes.

is a tract of land which is being conveyed by one deed.

the recreational or conservation purpose for which the property is being acquired or developed for.

is the length of time specified in a grant agreement or grant contract during which all work shall be accomplished and expenses incurred in order to be eligible for reimbursement.

is land or rights in land.

as a condition of the grant contract, a sponsor acquiring property through title in fee simple with a grant shall ensure that the property is available for public access as provided in s. 23.0916, Stats.

is a financial assistance program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The RTP provides funds to the States to develop and maintain recreational trails and trail-related facilities for motorized and nonmotorized recreational trail uses.

is one of the 5 department administrative areas within the state.

is any fair market value from an approved property donation that is not utilized as sponsor match in a grant application that may be used for sponsor match in subsequent grant applications.

is the right of the department to assume ownership of a property acquired with a grant as specified in the grant contract.

is the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan prepared by the department.

an office under the Wisconsin Historical Society that assists communities, organizations, agencies and individuals identify and protect archaeological sites, burial places and historic properties in Wisconsin.

all land purchased with funds from the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship program must be posted as stated in s. 23.09165, Stats.

is a comprehensive land use plan compliant with s. 66.1001, Stats., and has been adopted by ordinance.

is the city, village, town, tribe, county, nonprofit conservation organization, conservation organization, lake sanitary district as defined in s. 30.50(4g), Stats., public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district or Kickapoo reserve management board that is applying for or has received a grant under this chapter.

is that portion of the acquisition or development cost which is not funded by the state. Eligible sources of sponsor match may include cash from the sponsor; funds generated by local or federal governments; grants or contributions from foundations, businesses, private individuals or nonprofit organizations; property contributions from a third party if the contribution is made within 3 years of the acquisition of the property, and is considered by the department to be eligible for a stewardship grant from the same program as the property being purchased, and was not originally purchased in whole or in part with state funds; property acquired by the sponsor within 3 years of the acquisition if the property was not purchased with state funds; and property value donated by the property owner.

a grant program administered by the department to provide an adequate and flexible system for the protection, development, and use of forests, fish and game, lakes, streams, plant life, flowers and other outdoor resources in this state.

is a group appointed by the department secretary to advise the department on stewardship matters. The council shall consist of users of the stewardship grant program and other citizens.

is a federally recognized tribe or band of tribe in this state.

are officially designated by a federally-recognized Indian tribe to direct a program approved by the National Park Service and the THPO must have assumed some or all of the functions of State Historic Preservation Officers on Tribal lands.

is any area that is within or is characteristic of a city or village.

is open natural space within or in proximity to urban development that has scenic, ecological or natural values. Urban Green Space is a subprogram of the Stewardship Program.

is a river within a proximity to an urban area. Urban Rivers is a subprogram of the Stewardship program.

a state law designed to encourage environmentally sensitive decision making by state agencies. Signed into law in 1972, WEPA spells out the state's environmental policy and requires the DNR and other state agencies to consider the environmental effects of their actions to the extent possible under their other statutory authorities.