Grants to Wisconsin municipalities, metropolitan sewerage districts, and tribes for flood mitigation projects. Funding is intended to acquire and develop property to minimize both flooding and the environmental and structural damages caused by flooding. Eligible uses of funds include the acquisition of property and vacant land, structure removal, flood proofing, riparian restoration, and administrative support.

Recognizing the responsibility to protect life, health, and property from flood damages, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers this grant assistance package to all cities, villages, towns, tribal governments, and metropolitan sewerage districts concerned with municipal flood control management. This grant program is not intended to be an emergency relief program and instead a way to proactively mitigate the impacts of a changing climate; reduce flood hazard vulnerabilities; and improve the resilience and preparedness of Wisconsin municipalities.

Assistance is provided through the availability of two types of grants: acquisition and development grants aid in the acquisition of property or vacant land, structure removal, flood control construction or development, riparian restoration and/or mapping activities; and supported with local assistance grants to aid in administrative support activities. 

Acquisition and Development Grant

Eligible project activities in priority order for funding as determined by law (1 high through 9 low):

1. Property acquisition and removal of structures which due to zoning restrictions cannot be rebuilt (structure located directly in floodway, dam shadow or Zone A)
2. Property acquisition and removal of structures in the 100-year floodplain (structure located in flood fringe)
3. Property acquisition and removal of repetitive loss or substantially damaged structure (outside the floodplain but meets the definition of “Repetitive Loss Structure” in NR 199.03(17) and/or “Substantial Damage” in NR199.03(20))
4. Property acquisition and removal of flood damaged structures (any flood damaged structure outside floodplain)
5. Floodproofing and flood elevation project in the 100-year floodplain that will remain in the 100-year floodplain
6. Riparian Restoration project on a watercourse: (1) dam or artificial obstruction removal; (2) fish & native plant habitat restoration; (3) erosion control and streambank restoration
7. Acquisition of vacant land for flood water control/storage or flood water flowage easement
8. Flood control detention pond
9. Flood studies and flood mapping projects

For additional details, see: https://dnr.wi.gov/Aid/documents/flood/municfloodguide.pdf#page=8

Local Assistance Grant

Eligible costs:

1. Labor costs, including force account labor, required for carrying out activities identified in the grant agreement. Costs shall be based on grant recipient rates for the position including salary, fringe benefits and other items determined to be appropriated by the department.
2. Direct costs for laboratory analysis, surveys, publications, mailings, professional service contracts, development activities and similar items.
3. Engineering or planning fees necessary to complete the project may be eligible, including costs incurred on or after October 28, 1999.
4. The cost of necessary materials, supplies and equipment used exclusively for project-related purposes over its useful life, or the cost of the portion of supplies or equipment used for the project.
5. The costs of leased equipment and facilities used for project-related purposes for the length of the project. The cost of the use of the equipment owned by the grant recipient may not exceed the county highway rates established annually by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation.