Dam - Municipal

Municipal Dam Grant Program ATTENTION: The FY2025-27 Municipal Dam Grant Application period is now open! The application deadline is February 27, 2026. The FY2025-27 Biennial Budget provided $4 million for Dam Grants with the majority being committed to fund eligible engineering and construction costs associated with the or abandonment and removal of municipally owned dams. Refer to the tabs below for instructions and reference materials. The Municipal Dam grant program provides a cost-sharing opportunity for eligible engineering and construction costs for dam or abandonment and removal up to a maximum of $1,000,000.00. Funding sources outside the applicant's own resources can be used toward the local match for this grant. We encourage interested, eligible parties to begin work now on documents that must be submitted with your grant application. You can find information about these documents under the tab called Applying. Costs related to the development of these documents may be grant eligible for those applicants who receive a grant. Applicants must have an Engineer's inspection order or directive and a Dam Failure Analysis sufficient to identify the hazard potential based on the current development in the hydraulic shadow downstream of the dam.* Who can apply Eligible project sponsors public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts (lake districts) may apply for grants to conduct dam or abandonment and removal on dams that they own. Private dam owners are not eligible to apply. Dams that are inspected, approved and licensed by a federal agency under 18 CFR Part 12 are not eligible to receive funding. (NR 335.02(2)(b)) Eligibility Ownership An applicant must own the entire dam or have permanent legal access for operation and maintenance to the specific piece of land on which the dam is physically located. Eligible projects Eligible projects include dam repair, reconstruction or modification to improve the safety of the dam, or abandonment and removal. The owner must have the inspection directives or an administrative order that requires the dam safety project. Dam repair/reconstruction/modification project grant awards will cover: 50 percent of the first $1,000,000 of eligible project costs; 25 percent of the next $2,000,000 of eligible project costs; and Dam abandonment and removal project grant awards will cover 100 percent of the first $1,000,000 of eligible project costs. Deadlines Applications are accepted through the close of business on the given deadline. Applications received after the deadline are not eligible for consideration. Applications can be sent to: Wisconsin DNR Municipal Dam Grant Manager - CF/2 PO Box 7921 101 S Webster Street Madison WI 53707-7921 TIMELINE: March through May - Application review, scoring and ranking. Early June – Priority funding notification letters mailed. June – DNR water management engineers (WME) meet with applicants receiving a commitment for funding. June – December 1st Grant applicant must submit a permit application to reconstruct/repair or remove (including plans and specifications) the dam. Submit online at dnr.wi.gov/topic/Dams/permits.html Project bids are due within 90 days of the DNR WME plans and specifications approval date. The grant award agreement will be issued after the DNR WME bid approval notification to the applicant. NOTE: Construction costs incurred prior to the grant award agreement issuance will not be eligible for reimbursement. Additional steps related to project completion and reimbursement will be provided directly to successful applicants. Applying

The FY2025-27 Biennial Budget provided $4 million for Dam Grants with the majority being committed to fund eligible engineering and construction costs associated with the or abandonment and removal of municipally owned dams. Refer to the tabs below for instructions and reference materials. The Municipal Dam grant program provides a cost-sharing opportunity for eligible engineering and construction costs for dam or abandonment and removal up to a maximum of $1,000,000.00. Funding sources outside the applicant's own resources can be used toward the loca