Recreational Boating Facilities Grant Program (RBF)

The Recreational Boating Facilities Program (RBF), authorized under section 30.92, Wisconsin Statutes, encourages the development of recreational boating facilities and related activities by providing state cost sharing assistance to governmental units and qualified lake associations. The Governor appointed Wisconsin Waterways Commission (WWC) consists of 5 members each representing a specific geographic area of the state. The WWC makes funding recommendations to the DNR. The program’s funding source was a portion of a formula driven transfer of excise tax on gasoline consumed for marine purposes. In 2010, the funding source switched to the Knowles-Nelson Stewardship Program. Grants for financial assistance for recreational boating facilities are consistent with the s. 30.92, Wis. Stats. and Chs. NR 7, 1.90 and 1.91 Wis. Adm. Code.

Eligibility

Counties, towns, cities, villages, tribes, sanitary districts, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts and qualified lake associations are eligible to apply for funds.

ELIGIBLE PROJECTS
• Channel dredging - Dredging of inland water channels for recreational boating (not more than once in ten years). Wisconsin Waterways Commission Dredging Policy)
• Construction projects
o Facilities such as ramps and boarding docks required to gain access to the water.
o Harbors of refuge – structures such as bulkheads and breakwaters necessary to provide safe water conditions.
o Dredging to provide safe water depths. Dredging of basins is an eligible activity only when it is associated with project development.
o Support facilities include parking lots and signage, sanitary facilities, fencing and security lighting for the convenience of boaters.
• Improvement and repair of locks - Cost of improvement and repair of locks and facilities that provide access between waterways for operators of recreational watercrafts.
• Navigation aids - Cost of aids to navigation and regulatory markers including the cost of appropriate ground tackle.
• Rehabilitation - Rehabilitation of capital improvements that are related to recreational boating facilities.
• Trash skimming equipment - Acquisition of equipment to collect and remove floating trash and debris from a waterway.
• Weed harvesting equipment - Acquisition of equipment that is necessary to cut and remove aquatic plants.

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