AB7: Bill Text

LRB-1315/1

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2009 - 2010 LEGISLATURE

2009 Assembly BILL 7

January 27, 2009 - Introduced by Representatives Sherman, Mason, Barca, Berceau, Bies, Clark, Hebl, Milroy, Molepske, Nelson, Pocan, Richards, Turner and Vruwink, cosponsored by Senators Jauch, Cowles, Erpenbach, Holperin, Lehman, Risser and Wirch. Referred to Committee on Natural Resources.

AB7,1,3 An Act to renumber and amend 30.26 (2); to repeal and recreate 30.26 (4) (title); and to create 30.26 (2) (a) 3. and 30.26 (5) of the statutes; relating to: designating a portion of the Brunsweiler River as a wild river.

Analysis by the Legislative Reference Bureau

Under current law, the legislature may designate rivers as part of the state's wild river system. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) administers the system to preserve, protect, and enhance a river's natural beauty and unique recreational value. This bill adds to the wild river system a portion of the Brunsweiler River and requires that this portion of the river be known as the "Martin Hanson Wild River." The bill also specifically allows for the maintenance or replacement of piers and a boat landing and for the maintenance of a dam, that currently are in place on the designated portion of the Brunsweiler River.

For further information see the state fiscal estimate, which will be printed as an appendix to this bill.

The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:

AB7, s. 1 Section 1. 30.26 (2) of the statutes is renumbered 30.26 (2) (a) (intro.) and amended to read:

AB7,2,2 30.26 (2) (a) (intro.) The following rivers, or portions of rivers, are designated as wild rivers:

AB7,2,3 1. The Pike River in Marinette County, and the.

AB7,2,5 2. The Pine River and its tributary Popple River in Florence and Forest counties are designated as wild rivers and.

AB7,2,9 (b) The rivers designated under par. (a) shall receive special management to assure their preservation, protection and enhancement of their natural beauty, and their unique recreational and other inherent values in accordance with guidelines outlined in this section.

AB7, s. 2 Section 2. 30.26 (2) (a) 3. of the statutes is created to read:

AB7,2,16 30.26 (2) (a) 3. The portion of the Brunsweiler River, described as follows: from the point at which the Brunsweiler River leaves the SW-1/4 of the SW-1/4 of Sec. 22, T. 44 N., R. 4 W. downstream to the point at which the Brunsweiler River crosses the boundary of the Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest in the NW-1/4 of Sec. 22, T. 45 N., R. 4 W. This portion of the Brunsweiler River shall be known as the "Martin Hanson Wild River".

AB7, s. 3 Section 3. 30.26 (4) (title) of the statutes is repealed and recreated to read:

AB7,2,18 30.26 (4) (title) Snowmobiles and all-terrain vehicles.

AB7, s. 4 Section 4. 30.26 (5) of the statutes is created to read:

AB7,2,21 30.26 (5) Brunsweiler River. (a) As part of the management of the designated portion of the Brunsweiler River, all of the following shall apply:

AB7,3,2 1. The U.S. forest service may maintain the dam that impounds Beaver Dam Lake that is in place on the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date]. If the U.S. forest service receives authorization from the department to abandon the dam, the department may carry out restoration activities to restore the natural appearance of the lake and the river.

AB7,3,4 2. The U.S. forest service may maintain or replace the boat landing on Mineral Lake that is in place on the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date].

AB7,3,10 3. Any pier that is in place on the river on the effective date of this paragraph .... [LRB inserts date], may be maintained or replaced. A replacement pier may have no more boat slips than did the original pier. A replacement pier shall either be limited to the dimensions of the original pier or the dimension requirements specified in s. 30.12 (1g) (f), whichever dimensions result in a smaller square area for the pier and any accompanying platform.

AB7,3,13 (b) Compliance with any applicable permitting or other requirements under chs. 30 and 31 is required for the maintenance and replacement activities authorized under this subsection.

AB7,3,14 (End)