Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources, NR 100-199, ch. NR 120, Preface
The Wisconsin legislature established the nonpoint source water pollution abatement program in 1978, recognizing both urban and rural nonpoint sources as contributors to the degradation of Wisconsin's lakes, streams, groundwater and wetlands. The department identified lakes, streams, groundwater and other water resources where the uses of the waters were impaired or threatened by nonpoint sources; proposed projects to the land and water conservation board to protect or rehabilitate beneficial uses of the waters, and prepared plans in cooperation with governmental units identifying the best means to achieve the protection or rehabilitation. The department of natural resources has entered into nonpoint source grant agreements and local assistance grant agreements with governmental units and state agencies in order to implement priority watershed projects.
The legislature restructured the nonpoint source program in 1997 and 1999, creating a new targeted runoff management grant program under ch. NR 153 and a new urban nonpoint source and stormwater grant program under ch. NR 155. The legislature also instructed the department of natural resources in s. 281.16, Stats., to prescribe nonpoint source performance standards. These performance standards are listed in ch. NR 151.
The priority watershed and priority lake projects established prior to the legislative restructuring of the program are governed by this chapter and ch. ATCP 50. Section 281.65, Stats., assigns overall responsibility for this water quality program to the department of natural resources and assigns local administration and implementation responsibilities to other governmental units. Chapter ATCP 50 contains policy and procedures for DATCP to use to administer staffing grants to counties needed to operate watershed projects. No new priority watershed or priority lake projects will be selected under this chapter.
All documents incorporated by reference in this chapter may be inspected at the offices of the Department, the Secretary of State, 30 West Mifflin Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53702 and the Legislative Reference Bureau, One East Main Street, Suite 200, Madison, Wisconsin, 53701. Copies of these documents may be obtained from the Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Watershed Management, 101 South Webster Street, Madison, Wisconsin 53702.
Wis. Admin. Code Department of Natural Resources, NR 100-199, ch. NR 120, Preface