(2) PLAN CONTENTS. A land and
water resource management plan shall describe all of the following in
reasonable detail:
(a) Water quality and soil
erosion conditions throughout the county, including identification of the
causes of water quality impairment and pollutant sources. The plan shall
include water quality assessments for each watershed in the county available
from DNR, if any.
(b) State and
local regulations that the county will use to implement the county plan. The
department may require the county to provide copies of relevant local
regulations, as necessary, and may comment on those regulations.
Note: See state rules under chs.
ATCP
48, ATCP 50, NR 151, and NR 243.
(c) Water quality objectives for each
watershed, including any available pollutant load reduction targets, consistent
with conditions identified in par. (a). The county shall consult with DNR to
determine water quality objectives and to identify pollutant load reduction
targets.
(d) Key water quality and
soil erosion problem areas. The county land conservation committee shall
identify key water quality problem areas in consultation with DNR.
(e) Conservation practices needed to address
key water quality and soil erosion problems.
(f) A plan to identify priority farms in the
county.
Note: The identification of priority farms may
vary between counties, depending on local conditions, strategies, and
information. A county should focus on identifying or working with the following
farms, or other categories of farms that the county identifies in its
plan:
*Farms subject to a DNR notice of intent under s.
281.20,
Stats., or notice of discharge under ch. 283, Stats.
*Farms located in watersheds draining to waters that DNR
has listed pursuant to
33 USC
1313. This is also known as the "303(d) list
of impaired waters."
*Farms that have large numbers of livestock, or significant
problems with manure management.
*Farms making clearly excessive nutrient
applications.
*Farms with clearly excessive rates of cropland
erosion.
(g) County
strategies to encourage voluntary implementation of conservation practices
under s.
ATCP
50.04. A county shall estimate the amount of
information and education, cost-sharing and other financial assistance, and
technical assistance needed to implement its plan.
(h) Compliance procedures, including notice,
hearing, enforcement, and appeal procedures, that will apply if the county
takes action against a landowner for failure to implement conservation
practices required under this chapter, ch. NR 151 or related local regulations.
Note: See ss.
ATCP
50.04 to
50.08 and subch. VII.
(i) The county's multi-year
workplan to implement the farm conservation practices under s.
ATCP
50.04, and achieve compliance with performance
standards under ch. NR 151. The plan shall identify priorities, benchmarks for
performance, and expected costs, including an estimate of costs to implement
conservation practices to achieve the objectives identified in par. (c).
Note: The county workplan under par. (i)
should be based on a reasonable assessment of available funding and
resources.
(j) The
measurable annual and multi-year benchmarks the county will utilize to
periodically monitor and measure its progress in meeting performance targets
and achieving plan goals and objectives under the workplan in par.
(i).
(jm) How a county will meet
its responsibilities for monitoring conservation compliance of landowners
claiming farmland preservation tax credits.
(k) How the county will provide information
and education related to land and water conservation, including information
related to farm conservation practices and cost-share funding.
(L) How the county will coordinate its land
and water conservation program with federal, state, and local agencies.
Note: The department and DNR will work with
counties to develop more detailed guidelines and suggestions for county land
and water resource management plans, but individual counties have some
flexibility and discretion to propose plans that are appropriate for their
local conditions.
(3) PLAN DEVELOPMENT. A county land
conservation committee, when preparing a land and water resource management
plan, shall do all of the following:
(a)
Appoint and consult with a local advisory committee of interested persons.
Note: A local advisory committee should
reflect a broad spectrum of public interests and perspectives. For example, it
could include:
*Affected farmers, businesses, and landowners.
*Agricultural, business, environmental, civic, and
recreational organizations.
*Federal, state, local, and tribal officials.
*The University of Wisconsin and other educational
institutions.
(b) Assemble
relevant data, including relevant land use, natural resource, water quality,
and soil data.
(c) Consult with
DNR.
Note: The county land conservation committee
should normally consult with the appropriate DNR staff to obtain needed
planning information, effectively address resource management concerns, and
ensure that its plan incorporates elements that satisfy planning requirements
under section 319 of the Clean Water Act.
(d) Assess resource conditions and identify
problem areas.
(e) Establish and
document priorities and objectives.
(f) Project available funding and
resources.
(g) Establish and
document a plan of action.
(h)
Identify roles and responsibilities.
(5) PLAN APPROVAL. The department shall
review a county land and water resource management plan, and shall approve or
disapprove the plan after consulting with the LWCB. The department shall review
the plan based on the criteria identified in this section, s.
ATCP
50.30(3), and s.
92.10(6),
Stats. The secretary shall sign the order approving or disapproving the county
plan. The department shall approve a plan for a specified period of time that
shall not exceed 10 years, subject to conditions that the department specifies
in the order. The department's approval does not take effect if the county
board does not approve the county plan.
The county board may approve the county land and water
resource management plan before or after the department approves the plan. The
plan approved by the county board must be the same plan approved by the
department. If the department requires changes to a plan previously approved by
the county board, the department's approval does not take effect until the
county board approves the modified plan.