LINCOLN COUNTY – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) this week announced that approximately $6 million in grant funding was allocated to lake organizations, nonprofit organizations and municipal and county governments, and numerous area groups and initiatives were among those supported.
A release from the DNR said the Surface Water Grant program provides cost-sharing for projects that restore and protect surface water.
“Surface water is defined as all water open to the atmosphere, including rivers, streams, lakes, ponds, impoundments and wetlands,” the DNR stated. “This year, the program received 471 applications from eligible applicants requesting nearly $7.3 million. Of the applications received, 426 grants were awarded, totaling over $6.1 million. The projects are incredibly diverse, including education and outreach activities, management planning, habitat restoration, runoff management, water quality improvement projects and aquatic invasive species (AIS) prevention and management.”
The DNR noted that the projects selected “leverage substantial local funding and commit to making significant contributions to Wisconsin’s natural resource legacy.”
“Annually, the program supports many local and regional partnerships working to improve water quality across counties and watersheds,” the DNR said. “This year, the program funded several projects to implement river and lake restoration and management plans.”
“It is always rewarding to see implementation and restoration projects get funded that will have a long-lasting positive impact on our water resources,” said Michelle Nault, DNR Lakes and Rivers Section Manager.
A total of 157 organizations will receive support to participate in the Clean Boats, Clean Waters (CBCW) program and 39 organizations will receive support to participate in the Lake Monitoring and Protection Network (LMPN).
The DNR explained that as part of CBCW, local advocates focus on education and outreach to empower watercraft users to help prevent the spread of AIS.
The LMPN supports lake monitoring and AIS prevention activities at the county level and remains present in 70 of 72 counties in Wisconsin.
“While the grant projects from this year are just getting underway, next year’s grant cycle will begin soon,” the DNR stated. “Local organizations that could benefit from a Surface Water Grant are encouraged to reach out now to determine eligibility and begin developing ideas before the Sept. 2026 pre-application deadline.”
Local organizations, projects supported
Numerous area organizations and projects were supported by Surface Water Grants.
The Lincoln County Lake Monitoring and Protection Network (LMPN) was awarded $16,224.09, and a $12,000.00 grant went to the county’s Clean Boats Clean Waters program.
The Lake Nokomis Lake District received a pair of grants. A $9,102.28 allocation will go toward the 2026-2027 Lake Nokomis System Aquatic Plant Management (APM) Planning Project’s Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) Mapping and Reporting phase, while a $9,373.14 award will support the project’s Point Intercept (PI) Survey and Stakeholder phase.
The Deer Lake District will use a grant to conduct targeted small-scale EWM management and monitoring.
A $25,000.00 award received by the Spirit Reservoir Association will be allocated to comprehensive planning.
The Lincoln County Land Services Department received a $10,000.00 grant for phase two of its county culvert inventory project. The department was also awarded funding for improvements to the Papoose Creek and Big Pine Creek stream crossings.
The Oneida County LMPN was supported by a $22,003.33 grant.
Also in Oneida County, the Willow Region Sportsman's and Snowmobile Club received funding for Aquatic Plant Management Plans on Willow Lake and Pier Lake. A total of $10,000.00 was allocated to each project.
The University of Wisconsin was awarded $199,998.65 to conduct research into the ecosystem effects of Eurasian Watermilfoil in Oneida and Vilas Counties.
Learn more on DNR’s website
For more information about the Surface Water Grant program or to find a list of projects, visit www.tinyurl.com/bdhx9xkd.
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