Dam Removal Grant Program
Dam Removal Grant Program supports public and private dam owners and authorized representatives with planning, engineering, and removal work to remove dams and restore their impoundments.
Funder: Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Due Dates: Rolling (Applications) | Within 90 days of project end (Reimbursement request)
Funding Amounts: 100% of eligible costs, up to $50,000; completion within two years of application signature
Summary: Reimbursement grants support dam removal planning, physical removal, and restoration of the impoundment.
Key Information: The same dam removal cannot receive both a Municipal Dam Grant and a Dam Removal Grant.
Description
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers this program to provide financial assistance for removing dams and restoring their impoundments. Support covers work directly associated with removal, including engineering and planning, removal operations, and stabilization of land within the original pool area. Eligible expenses include labor, materials, and equipment used in these activities.
The program serves public and private dam owners, authorized entities acting on an owner’s behalf, and people with legal access to remove a declared abandoned dam. Funding is provided through reimbursement rather than advance payments. Complete applications meeting basic eligibility requirements are funded in receipt-date order until available funds are obligated.
