Municipal Flood Control Grant Program

The Municipal Flood Control Grant Program, offered by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, aims to assist local governments in managing flood risks. It provides funding for property acquisition, floodproofing, and flood control structure construction to enhance community resilience against flooding. This proactive approach addresses climate change impacts, promotes environmental sustainability, and aims to protect lives and property. Eligible projects focus on minimizing flood-related damages while maintaining natural watercourse functions.

NOTE: Please be aware that several application components such as local resolutions and appraisals can take time to complete. It is important to start the application process early to help assure a complete application package by the deadline.
Introduction
Recognizing the responsibility to protect life, health, and property from flood damages, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers this grant assistance package to all cities, villages, towns, tribal governments, and metropolitan sewerage districts concerned with municipal flood control management. This grant program is not intended to be an emergency relief program and instead a way to proactively mitigate the impacts of a changing climate; reduce flood hazard vulnerabilities; and improve the resilience and preparedness of Wisconsin municipalities.
Assistance is provided through the availability of two types of grants: acquisition and development grants aid in the acquisition of property or vacant land, structure removal, flood control construction or development, riparian restoration and/or mapping activities; and supported with local assistance grants to aid in administrative support activities.
Purpose
To help local governments minimize flooding and flood-related damages by acquiring property, floodproofing structures, creating open-space flood storage areas, constructing flood control structures, and restoring the flood-carrying capacity and natural and beneficial functions of watercourses. Projects eligible under this program will minimize harm to existing beneficial functions of water bodies and wetlands, maintain natural aquatic and riparian environments, use stormwater detention and retention structures and natural storage to the greatest extent possible, and provide opportunities for public access to water bodies and to the floodplain.