(a)
The director may enter into agreements with eligible landowners pursuant to which the landowner will undertake forest resource improvement work in return for an agreement by the director to share the cost of carrying out such work. The director is authorized to share up to 90 percent of the lesser of either:
(1)
The landowner’s actual cost per acre to accomplish the work.
(2)
The prevailing per acre cost as determined by the director pursuant to Section 4799.02.
(b)
The director shall prepare a schedule of cost share percentages applicable to agreements undertaken pursuant to this section. Required landowner cost share contributions may be made in the form of materials, services, or equipment as well as funds. The cost share percentage schedule shall set forth the percentage of required landowner’s project cost share for various categories of forest resource improvement projects. The percentage of cost sharing required of the landowner may be decreased if the ownership contains less than 500 acres.
(c)
The percentage of cost sharing required of the landowner may also be decreased to the extent that:
(1)
The project or other actions of the landowner would increase recreational opportunities for the public.
(2)
The project would provide relatively more employment opportunities than other proposed projects.
(3)
Forest land conservation measures or fish or wildlife habitat improvements are included in the project.
(d)
Consistent with the criteria set forth in subdivisions (b) and (c), the director shall submit a schedule further specifying cost share percentages to the board for its review. The schedule shall apply to all agreements made pursuant to this section unless the board acts to change the schedule within 75 days of its submission by the director.