LRB-4931/3
MGG:jlg&kmg:ijs
1997 - 1998 LEGISLATURE
March 16, 1998 - Introduced by Representatives Handrick, Hutchison, Kedzie,
Nass, Notestein, Owens, Skindrud, Sykora, Urban, R. Young and Zukowski,
cosponsored by Senators Breske, Weeden, Burke and
Roessler. Referred to
Committee on Natural Resources.
AB912,1,2
1An Act to create 30.134 of the statutes;
relating to: the conveyance of riparian
2rights to use a navigable water.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
Under current law, a person who owns waterfront property on a navigable body
of water (riparian owner) has certain rights to use a certain area of the body of water
for certain purposes if granted permission to do so by statute or by the department
of natural resources. These rights include placing deposits or structures such as
piers in the water and being able to use the land for private access for swimming,
fishing or similar activities. Under current law, a riparian owner may not convey to
another any riparian right to the land. Under this bill, a riparian owner may not
convey the riparian right to berth a watercraft or place a structure or deposit in any
part of the body of water that is subject to the rights of the riparian owner. This
prohibition does not apply to a lease that is for one year or less.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB912, s. 1
3Section
1. 30.134 of the statutes is created to read:
AB912,2,3
430.134 Prohibition of conveyance of riparian rights to use navigable
5waters. (1) Beginning on the effective date of this subsection .... [revisor inserts
1date], no owner of riparian land that abuts a navigable water may convey in any
2manner the riparian right to berth a watercraft or place a structure or deposit in any
3part of the navigable water that is subject to the riparian rights of the owner.
AB912,2,5
4(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to a lease or a license with a term of one year
5or less.
