Under this substitute amendment, a DNR decision that a riparian owner does
not fall under an exemption to the prohibition against placing a pier or wharf on the
bed of a navigable water may only be challenged through a declaratory judgment
proceeding in the circuit court for the county in which the riparian property is located
and is not subject to a contested case hearing or judicial review under the statutory
administrative review procedures. Under current law, a DNR decision against the
riparian owner is subject to a new trial.
Under this substitute amendment, an owner of riparian land abutting a
navigable water who owns a boat docking facility that is lawfully placed in that water
is not prohibited from entering into an agreement with another owner of riparian
land abutting the same navigable water to use a shared boat docking facility
provided that the agreement does not result in more slips than are authorized.
Boathouses
This substitute amendment changes the definition of a boathouse to specify
that a boathouse is a structure used for one or more years for the storage of watercraft
and associated materials regardless of its current use. The substitute amendment
also makes various changes to the regulation of boathouses, including:
1. Allows a boathouse located beyond the OHWM of a navigable waterway to
be expanded, and provides that the expansion does not require a permit, if the
boathouse is listed in the national register of historic places in Wisconsin or the state
register of historic places, the boathouse is not expanded beyond its listed historical
boundaries, and the expansion does not involve the placement of any new structure
on the bed of a navigable water.
2. Adds as a condition to the repair and maintenance of a boathouse or fixed
houseboat extending beyond the OHWM that is allowed if within certain cost limits
under current law that the repair or maintenance may not involve the placement of
a floor over a wet bay.

3. Adds foundations to the list of structural elements of a boathouse or fixed
houseboat that may be replaced within the current cost limit on repairing and
maintaining a boathouse or fixed houseboat.
4. Allows the repair or maintenance of a boathouse in existence on December
16, 1979, to affect the configuration of the boathouse and still fall under the exception
to the cost limit on repairing and maintaining such a boathouse, but adds a condition
that the repair or maintenance may not involve the placement of a floor over a wet
bay in the boathouse.
Boat shelters
Under current law, a boat shelter is a structure used for the storage of
watercraft and associated materials that has no walls or sides. This substitute
amendment eliminates the conditions that DNR may place on a general permit
authorizing a riparian owner to place a boat shelter relating to the location of the
shelter and other existing structures. Under the substitute amendment, DNR may
impose conditions on the general permit governing the architectural features of boat
shelters and the number of boat shelters that may be placed adjacent to a parcel of
land, but those conditions may not govern the distance that a boat shelter will extend
from the shore, except to prohibit the boat shelter from extending beyond the line of
navigation and may not be based on the degree to which adjacent land is developed.
Also under the substitute amendment, in determining whether to issue an
individual permit to the owner of a proposed permanent boat shelter, DNR may not
deny the permit on the basis of the distance at which a boat shelter will extend from
the shore or the degree to which adjacent land is developed, except that DNR may
deny the permit on the basis that the boat shelter will extend beyond the line of
navigation.
Seawalls
This substitute amendment requires DNR, in the general permit authorizing
a riparian owner to replace an existing seawall for which DNR has issued a permit,
to authorize a seawall for which DNR granted an exemption from a permit
requirement or for which no permit was required when the seawall was built.
Riprap
This substitute amendment requires DNR, in the general permit authorizing
a riparian owner to place riprap on the bed or bank of a navigable water adjacent to
the owner's property in certain amounts, to authorize the riprap to extend to the top
of the bank of the navigable water or four feet above the OHWM, whichever is lower.
Operation of a vehicle in navigable water
This substitute amendment exempts from the general prohibition on operating
a utility terrain vehicle or all-terrain vehicle on any navigable water or the exposed
bed of a navigable water a person engaged in activities landward of a lawfully
established bulkhead line for which no general or individual permit and no contract
is required under navigable water law.
Wetlands
Wetland permits
Current law requires DNR to issue certain wetland general permits for
discharges to wetlands that are necessary for the treatment or disposal of hazardous

waste or toxic pollutants if not more than two acres of wetlands are affected, and
discharges for commercial, residential, or agricultural purposes if not more than
10,000 square feet of wetland are affected. Current law allows DNR to establish
different requirements, conditions, and exceptions in general permits to ensure that
the discharges will cause only minimal adverse environmental effects. Current law
establishes a procedure for obtaining authorization to proceed under a wetland
general permit that is similar to the procedure for obtaining authorization under
general permits that authorize structures and other activities in or near navigable
waters. Current law also authorizes DNR to require a person to apply for and obtain
a wetland individual permit if DNR determines that conditions specific to the site
require additional restrictions on the discharge in order to provide reasonable
assurance that no significant adverse impacts to wetland functional values will
occur.
This substitute amendment exempts from the permitting requirement any
discharge that is the result of maintaining a sedimentation or stormwater detention
basin and associated conveyance features. Current law exempts from the permitting
requirement any discharge that is the result of maintaining a drainage ditch, and
this substitute amendment adds to this exemption a discharge that is the result of
a roadside ditch. However, the substitute amendment removes from these
exemptions any drainage or roadside ditch that serves as fish spawning habitat or
a passage to fish spawning habitat.
Practicable alternatives review
Under current law, DNR reviews the practicable alternatives presented in an
application for a individual permit, and must find that the project complies with
wetland quality standards if it determines that the proposed project represents the
least environmentally damaging practicable alternative, all practicable measures to
minimize the adverse impact to wetland functional values will be taken, and the
discharge will not result in significant adverse impacts to wetland functional values
or to water quality or result in any other significant adverse environmental
consequences. Upon making such a finding, DNR is authorized, but is not required,
to issue a wetland individual permit.
Current law requires DNR to limit its review of practicable alternatives to those
that are located at the site of the discharge or adjacent to that site if the applicant
has demonstrated that the proposed project causing the discharge will result in a
demonstrable economic public benefit, that the proposed project is necessary for the
expansion of an existing industrial, commercial, or agricultural facility that is in
existence at the time the application is submitted, or that the proposed project will
occur in an industrial park that is in existence at the time the application is
submitted. This substitute amendment instead requires DNR to limit its review of
practicable alternatives to those that are located at the site of the discharge or
adjacent to that site if only one of those conditions is met.
This substitute amendment also requires DNR to limit its review of practicable
alternatives to those located on the property owned by the applicant for projects
involving fewer than two acres of wetland if the project is limited to either the
construction or expansion of a single-family home and attendant features, the

construction or expansion of a barn or farm buildings, or the expansion of a small
business project. However, the substitute amendment provides that a project that
is part of a common plan of development initiated after July 1, 2012, is not eligible
for this limited review unless wetland boundaries on the project site as shown in an
onsite delineation have changed since commencement of the development project.
The substitute amendment requires DNR to limit its review of practicable
alternatives to those that are consistent with the overall purpose and scope of the
project. The substitute amendment also requires DNR to impose a level of scrutiny
and to require an applicant to provide an amount of information that is
commensurate with the severity of the environmental impact of the project, as
determined by DNR.
Utility permit procedure
Under current law, with certain exceptions, a public utility may not begin
construction on a utility project, and no person, including a public utility, may
construct a large electric generating facility or a high-voltage transmission line,
unless the Public Service Commission (PSC) has issued a certificate for the project.
A public utility is a company or municipality that produces or delivers heat, light,
water, or power to or for the public.
Generally, under current law, a person must submit an application to DNR for
each required permit, including an individual permit to conduct an activity in a
navigable water or a discharge in a wetland. If the applicant is a utility that is
required to obtain a certificate from the PSC, however, the utility must submit a
single application to DNR requesting all of the DNR permits that the utility is
required to obtain for a given project affecting navigable waters and wetlands and
must follow a different procedure for obtaining these DNR permits (utility
application procedure).
This substitute amendment removes the exemption in current law that
provides that the permit application procedures that would normally apply to an
application for an individual permit do not apply to an application for an individual
permit submitted under the utility application procedure. This substitute
amendment also removes the exemption in current law that provides that the
procedures that would normally apply to administrative and judicial review of a
DNR decision on an individual permit do not apply to decisions on an individual
permit submitted under the utility application procedure. Instead, the substitute
amendment specifies that the utility permit procedures are exclusive and apply in
lieu of any other procedures that would otherwise apply to permits applied for under
the utility permit procedure.
Also under this substitute amendment, there is no opportunity to object to, and
request a stay of, a DNR decision related to a wetland individual permit applied for
under the utility application procedure.
Nonpoint water pollution
This substitute amendment provides that, if a covered municipality has
obtained all permits required for the construction of a stormwater management pond
in an artificial water body, whether navigable or nonnavigable, DNR may not
prohibit the construction of the stormwater management pond as a method by which

the covered municipality may achieve compliance with DNR's prescribed
performance standards for sources of nonpoint water pollution, which is water
pollution from diffuse sources, or with an approved total maximum daily load
(TMDL) requirement. A covered municipality is a municipality that has been issued
an individual municipal separate storm sewer permit or that is covered by a general
municipal separate storm sewer permit. A TMDL is the maximum amount of a
pollutant that a body of water can receive and still meet water quality standards.
DNR's current rules provide that, for the purpose of determining compliance
with performance standards, DNR may give credit for the use of practices, measures,
or techniques (best management practices) that minimize pollutants carried in
runoff. The rules prohibit DNR from giving credit for a best management practice
that is located in a navigable water. The substitute amendment provides that DNR
must give credit for any pollutant reduction achieved by a pond constructed by a
covered municipality in determining compliance with performance standards
specified in a stormwater discharge permit or with an approved TMDL requirement.
The substitute amendment also provides that, if a covered municipality applies
for an individual permit for the construction of a stormwater management pond in
an artificial water body, whether navigable or nonnavigable, for the purpose of
achieving compliance with performance standards specified in a stormwater
discharge permit or with an approved TMDL requirement, in making its
determination DNR is required to take into consideration the sediment control in
and water quality improvements to the watershed as a whole that result from the
stormwater management pond.
The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do
enact as follows:
AB600-ASA2,1 1Section 1. 23.24 (4) (b) 4. of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,8,32 23.24 (4) (b) 4. A person who engages in an activity listed under sub. (3) (a) in
3the course of performing shoreline maintenance as authorized under s. 30.125.
AB600-ASA2,2 4Section 2. 30.01 (1am) (c) of the statutes is repealed.
AB600-ASA2,3 5Section 3. 30.01 (1am) (d), (e), (f), (g) and (h) of the statutes are created to read:
AB600-ASA2,8,86 30.01 (1am) (d) A body of water designated as a wild rice water under a written
7agreement between the department and the Great Lakes Indian Fish and Wildlife
8Commission.
AB600-ASA2,8,109 (e) A body of water in a wetland along Lake Michigan or Lake Superior that the
10department has identified as an ecologically significant coastal wetland.
AB600-ASA2,9,2
1(f) A river that is included in the national wild and scenic rivers system or
2designated as a wild river under s. 30.26.
AB600-ASA2,9,43 (g) Subject to s. 30.106, the portion of a body of water that contains a public
4rights feature or a sensitive area.
AB600-ASA2,9,65 (h) A unique and significant wetland specified by the department in a special
6wetland inventory study or a special area management plan.
AB600-ASA2,4 7Section 4. 30.01 (1d) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,9,118 30.01 (1d) "Boathouse" means a structure with one or more walls or sides that
9has been
used for one or more years for the storage of watercraft and associated
10materials which has one or more walls or sides, regardless of the current use of the
11structure
.
AB600-ASA2,5 12Section 5. 30.01 (3c) of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,9,1413 30.01 (3c) "Line of navigation" means the depth of a navigable water that is
14the greater of the following:
AB600-ASA2,9,1515 (a) Three feet, as measured at summer low levels.
AB600-ASA2,9,1616 (b) The depth required to operate a boat on the navigable water.
AB600-ASA2,6 17Section 6. 30.01 (5p) of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,9,2118 30.01 (5p) "Public rights feature" means a location in a body of water identified
19by the department as in need of special protection under ss. 30.12 (1p) (a) 3. and (2m),
2030.123 (6m) and (6s), 30.20 (1k) (a) 2. and (1m), 30.206 (1) (ag), (3) and (3r) to assure
21that the public's rights and interests under the public trust doctrine are protected.
AB600-ASA2,7 22Section 7. 30.01 (5r) of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,9,2423 30.01 (5r) "Riparian zone" means the area that extends from riparian land
24waterward to the line of navigation as determined by a method that establishes

1riparian zone lines between adjacent riparian owners in a manner that equitably
2apportions access to the line of navigation.
AB600-ASA2,8 3Section 8. 30.01 (6b) of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,10,74 30.01 (6b) "Sensitive area" means an area of aquatic vegetation identified by
5the department as offering critical or unique fish and wildlife habitat, including
6seasonal or lifestage requirements, or offering water quality or erosion control
7benefits to the body of water.
AB600-ASA2,9 8Section 9. 30.025 (5) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,10,129 30.025 (5) Exemption from certain Exclusive procedures. Sections 30.208
10and 30.209 do not apply to an application for any permit
The procedures provided
11under this section are exclusive and apply in lieu of any other procedures that would
12otherwise apply to permits applied for under this section
.
AB600-ASA2,10 13Section 10. 30.053 of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,10,19 1430.053 Applicability of chapter to artificial water bodies. Except in
15subch. V of this chapter and except as specifically provided otherwise in this chapter,
16nothing in this chapter applies to an artificial water body, as defined in s. 30.19 (1b)
17(a), that is not hydrologically connected to a natural navigable waterway and that
18does not discharge into a natural navigable waterway except as a result of storm
19events.
AB600-ASA2,11 20Section 11. 30.106 of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,11,2 2130.106 Approval of certain areas of special natural resource interest.
22Beginning on the effective date of this section .... [LRB inserts date], the department
23may not identify an area described under s. 30.01 (1am) (g) as an area of special
24natural resource interest unless it first notifies the joint committee for review of

1administrative rules in writing of the proposal and obtains the approval of the
2committee.
AB600-ASA2,12 3Section 12. 30.115 of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,11,9 430.115 Ownership of certain filled navigable waters. (1) Subject to any
5public easement under sub. (2), if a person placed fill on the bed of a navigable water
6before January 1, 1975, the filled area above the ordinary high-water mark is owned
7by the riparian owner in whose riparian zone the fill is located on the effective date
8of this subsection .... [LRB inserts date], if the filled area has continuously remained
9above the ordinary high-water mark since January 1, 1975.
AB600-ASA2,11,13 10(2) If by January 1, 2016, there has been public use of the filled area described
11under sub. (1) that is visible, open, and notorious and of which a reasonable riparian
12owner would be aware, then the riparian owner's ownership of the filled area under
13sub. (1) is subject to a public easement for that public use.
AB600-ASA2,11,16 14(3) The department may not require the riparian owner of a filled area
15described under sub. (1) to remove the fill, whether above or below the ordinary
16high-water mark, from that area.
AB600-ASA2,11,18 17(4) Upon request, the department shall furnish a quitclaim deed to the riparian
18owner described under sub. (1).
AB600-ASA2,11,20 19(5) This section does not apply to a lake bed area conveyed by the legislature
20as provided under s. 13.097.
AB600-ASA2,13 21Section 13. 30.12 (1g) (am) of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,11,2322 30.12 (1g) (am) A deposit of sand, gravel, or stone that is necessary to perform
23an activity authorized under s. 30.125 (2) (a).
AB600-ASA2,14 24Section 14. 30.12 (1k) (f) of the statutes is amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,12,6
130.12 (1k) (f) A decision of If the department against determines that the
2owner of a structure for which is not entitled to an exemption is claimed under this
3subsection is subject to a trial de novo, the owner may bring an action for declaratory
4judgment under s. 806.04 in the circuit court for the county in which the riparian
5property is located. The owner is not entitled to a contested case hearing or judicial
6review under ch. 227
.
AB600-ASA2,15 7Section 15. 30.12 (3) (a) 3c. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,12,138 30.12 (3) (a) 3c. Place riprap in order to replace or repair existing riprap, other
9than riprap that is exempt under sub. (1g) (i) or (j). Under the permit, the
10department shall allow riprap to extend to the top of the bank of the navigable water
11or 4 feet above the ordinary high-water mark, whichever is lower. In issuing the
12permit, the department may not impose conditions that prohibit the replacement or
13repair of riprap located in an area of special natural resource interest.
AB600-ASA2,16 14Section 16. 30.12 (3) (a) 3g. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,12,1915 30.12 (3) (a) 3g. Place riprap on the bed or bank of a navigable water adjacent
16to an owner's property in an amount up to and including 100 continuous feet in an
17inland lake of 300 acres or more. Under the permit the department shall allow riprap
18to extend to the top of the bank of the navigable water or 4 feet above the ordinary
19high-water mark, whichever is lower.
AB600-ASA2,17 20Section 17. 30.12 (3) (a) 3r. of the statutes is amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,12,2521 30.12 (3) (a) 3r. Place riprap on the bed or bank of a navigable water adjacent
22to an owner's property in an amount up to and including 300 continuous feet in a
23Great Lakes water body. Under the permit the department shall allow riprap to
24extend to the top of the bank of the navigable water or 4 feet above the ordinary
25high-water mark, whichever is lower.
AB600-ASA2,18
1Section 18. 30.12 (3) (a) 6. (intro.) of the statutes is renumbered 30.12 (3) (a)
26. and amended to read:
AB600-ASA2,13,63 30.12 (3) (a) 6. Place a permanent boat shelter adjacent to the owner's property
4for the purpose of storing or protecting watercraft and associated materials, except
5that no general or individual permit may be issued for a permanent boat shelter that
6is constructed after May 3, 1988, if any of the following apply:
.
AB600-ASA2,19 7Section 19. 30.12 (3) (a) 6. a., b. and c. of the statutes are repealed.
AB600-ASA2,20 8Section 20. 30.12 (3) (a) 12. of the statutes is created to read:
AB600-ASA2,13,109 30.12 (3) (a) 12. Place fill, sand, or other material on the bed of a lake or stream
10if all of the following apply:
AB600-ASA2,13,1211 a. The material is placed for the purpose of restoring a navigable water that was
12dredged on or after January 1, 2006.
AB600-ASA2,13,1413 am. The material is placed by a riparian owner whose riparian zone is affected
14by the dredging under subd. 12. a.
AB600-ASA2,13,1715 b. The material is placed in a manner that restores the navigable water, as
16closely as possible, to the condition of that navigable water immediately before the
17dredging was commenced.
AB600-ASA2,13,2118 c. The department has determined that the dredging under subd. 12. a. was
19conducted without a permit in violation of sub. (1) and was not exempt from the
20requirement to obtain a permit under sub. (1) and the department has issued a
21citation for the violation.
AB600-ASA2,21 22Section 21. 30.12 (3) (a) 13. of the statutes is amended to read:
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