2017 - 2018 LEGISLATURE
October 27, 2017 - Introduced by Representatives Quinn, Bernier, E. Brooks,
Felzkowski, Kleefisch, Kulp, Petryk, Ripp, Summerfield and Tauchen,
cosponsored by Senators Moulton, Harsdorf, Marklein, Stroebel and
Tiffany. Referred to Committee on Environment and Forestry.
AB599,1,3 1An Act to renumber 30.053; to renumber and amend 30.10 (2); to amend
230.053 (title); and to create 30.053 (2), 30.10 (2) (b) and 281.31 (2m) (c) of the
3statutes; relating to: determinations of navigability of a stream.
Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau
This bill establishes conditions under which, if the Department of Natural
Resources has determined that a stream is not navigable, DNR's ability to change
that determination is restricted. The bill also exempts certain impoundments from
regulations relating to navigable waters.
Current law regulates a number of actions taken in or near navigable waters
that may impact the water level, flow, and quality of navigable water bodies, such
as the placement of structures on, the deposit of materials on, or the removal of
material from the beds of navigable waters and the zoning of shorelands, wetlands,
and construction sites. Under current law, all streams that are navigable in fact for
any purpose are declared navigable to the extent that no dam, bridge, or other
obstruction may be made in or over the stream without the permission of this state.
Under this bill, if DNR makes a determination that a stream or portion of a
stream is not navigable and a dam is constructed on the stream that modifies the flow
of the stream or portion of the stream as compared to the natural flow of the stream
or portion of the stream prior to its construction, and if an artificial impoundment
created by the dam is or has been subject to a federal Fish and Wildlife Service
Partners for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Development Agreement or similar
environmental restoration project, then DNR's ability to change that determination

is restricted. Specifically, the bill prohibits DNR from changing its determination of
non-navigability with respect to the stream or portion of the stream unless all
structures that affect the flow of the stream or portion of the stream are removed, all
changes to the stream or land adjacent to the stream that could affect the flow of the
stream or portion of the stream are substantially returned to their natural state, and
a DNR evaluation of the navigability of the stream or portion of the stream conducted
after the first two conditions are met indicates that DNR's determination of
navigability should be changed.
The bill also exempts this type of impoundment from laws that regulate the
placement of structures on, the deposit of materials on, or the removal of material
from the beds of navigable waters and from regulation under shoreland zoning
ordinances, wetland zoning ordinances, and construction site erosion control and
storm water management zoning ordinances.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB599,1 1Section 1. 30.053 (title) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB599,2,3 230.053 (title) Applicability of chapter to artificial water bodies and
3certain impoundments
.
AB599,2 4Section 2. 30.053 of the statutes is renumbered 30.053 (1).
AB599,3 5Section 3. 30.053 (2) of the statutes is created to read:
AB599,2,86 30.053 (2) Except in subch. V and s. 30.10 (2) (b), nothing in this chapter applies
7to an impoundment described under s. 30.10 (2) (b) that does not discharge directly
8into a natural navigable waterway.
AB599,4 9Section 4. 30.10 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 30.10 (2) (a) and amended
10to read:
AB599,2,1511 30.10 (2) (a) Except Subject to par. (b) and except as provided under sub. (4) (c)
12and (d), all streams, sloughs, bayous, and marsh outlets, which are navigable in fact
13for any purpose whatsoever, are declared navigable to the extent that no dam, bridge,
14or other obstruction shall be made in or over the same without the permission of the
15state.
AB599,5
1Section 5. 30.10 (2) (b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB599,3,102 30.10 (2) (b) If the department makes a determination that a stream or portion
3of a stream is not navigable and a dam is constructed on the stream that modifies the
4flow of the stream or portion of the stream as compared to the natural flow of the
5stream or portion of the stream prior to its construction, and if an artificial
6impoundment created by the dam is or has been subject to a federal fish and wildlife
7service Partners for Fish and Wildlife Habitat Development Agreement or similar
8environmental restoration project, then the department may not change its
9determination of non-navigability with respect to the stream or portion of the stream
10unless all of the following conditions are met:
AB599,3,1211 1. All structures that affect the flow of the stream or portion of the stream are
12removed.
AB599,3,1513 2. All changes to the stream or land adjacent to the stream that could affect the
14flow of the stream or portion of the stream are substantially returned to their natural
15state.
AB599,3,1816 3. A department evaluation of the navigability of the stream or portion of the
17stream conducted after the conditions in subds. 1. and 2. are met indicates that the
18department's determination of non-navigability should be changed.
AB599,6 19Section 6. 281.31 (2m) (c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB599,3,2120 281.31 (2m) (c) Lands adjacent to an impoundment described under s. 30.10
21(2) (b) that does not discharge directly into a natural navigable waterway.
AB599,3,2222 (End)
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