(1b) In this section, “nonprofit conservation organization” has the meaning given in s. 23.0955 (1). (1m) The department shall designate habitat areas in order to enhance wildlife-based recreation in this state, including hunting, fishing, nature appreciation and the viewing of game and nongame species. The department may not designate an area as a habitat area under this subsection if the area is located within the boundaries of a project established by the department before August 9, 1989. (2) For each area designated under sub. (1m), the department shall prepare a plan, based upon the specific qualities of the area designated, that is designed to protect, enhance or restore the habitat in the designated area. After preparation of a plan for a designated area, the department shall encourage landowners to use specific management practices that are designed to implement the plan. (3) The department may acquire easements for habitat areas by gift or devise or beginning on July 1, 1990, by purchase. The department may acquire land for habitat areas by gift, devise or purchase. (4) The department may share the costs of implementing land management practices with landowners, or with nonprofit conservation organizations that are qualified to enhance wildlifebased recreation if these organizations have the landowner’s permission to implement the practices. The department may share the costs of acquiring easements for habitat areas with landowners or with these nonprofit conservation organizations. If the funding for cost-sharing under this subsection will be expended from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) , the amount expended for the cost-sharing may not exceed 50 percent of the cost of the management practices or of the acquisition costs for the easement except as provided in s. 23.096 (2m). (5) (a) The department shall determine the value of land or an easement donated to the department that is within a habitat area and is dedicated for purposes of habitat protection, enhancement or restoration. For an easement, the valuation shall be based on the extent to which the fair market value of the land is diminished by the transfer. Except as provided in par. (b), an amount of money equal to the value of the donation shall be released from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) or (tz) or both to be used for habitat protection, enhancement or restoration activities for the same habitat area in which any donation was made on or after August 9, 1989. The department shall determine how the moneys being released are to be allocated from these appropriations. (b) If the moneys allocated under par. (a) for release from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) to match a donation under par. (a) will exceed the annual bonding authority for the subprogram under s. 23.0917 (3) for a given fiscal year, as adjusted under s. 23.0917 (5), the department shall release from the moneys appropriated under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) the remaining amount available under that annual bonding authority, as adjusted under s. 23.0917 (5), for the given fiscal year and shall release in each following fiscal year from the moneys appropriated under s. 20.866 (2) (ta) an amount equal to that annual bonding authority, as adjusted under s. 23.0917 (5), or equal to the amount still needed to match the donation, whichever is less, until the entire amount necessary to match the donation is released. (6) Except as provided in s. 23.0915 (2), the department may not expend from the appropriation under s. 20.866 (2) (tz) more than $1,500,000 under this section for fisheries, for habitat areas and for grants for this purpose under s. 23.096 in each fiscal year.
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