Amounts obligated under the Warren Knowles-Gaylord Nelson Stewardship 2000 Program for water infrastructure projects in state parks. (FE)

The stewardship program consists of five subprograms. Current law establishes the amounts that DNR may obligate in each fiscal year through 2019-20 for expenditure under each of these subprograms. Prior to fiscal year 2011-12, if DNR did not obligate the full amount it was authorized to obligate in a fiscal year under a subprogram, DNR was required to adjust the annual bonding authority for that subprogram by raising the annual bonding authority for the next fiscal year by the amount unobligated in that given fiscal year. This changed beginning in fiscal year 2011-12 and, generally, under current law, if DNR does not obligate an amount authorized to be obligated for a subprogram in a fiscal year, it may not adjust the annual bonding authority for that subprogram by raising the annual bonding authority for the next fiscal year.

Under current law, the unobligated amounts for the land acquisition, property development and local assistance, and recreational boating aids subprograms from fiscal years 2011-12, 2012-13, and 2013-14 are obligated for three specific purposes:

infrastructure improvements to the Kettle Moraine Springs fish hatchery, repair or replacement of the Little Falls Dam at Willow River State Park in St. Croix County, and dam safety grants. This bill obligates not more than $4,500,000 of the unobligated amount for these subprograms from fiscal year 2016-17 to fund critical health and safety-related water infrastructure projects in state parks, prioritizing projects in those state parks with the highest demand.