WATER QUALITY STANDARDS FOR WETLANDS
Subchapter I — Standards
NR 103.03 Wetland water quality standards.
NR 103.04 Wetlands in areas of special natural resource interest.
Subchapter II — Implementation
NR 103.08 Department determinations.
Ch. NR 103 Note
Note: Chapter NR 103 as it existed on July 31, 1991 was repealed and a new chapter NR 103 was created effective August 1, 1991.
Corrections made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register, August, 1997, No. 500.
NR 103.01(1)
(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish water quality standards for wetlands.
Chapters NR 102,
104 and
105 and this subchapter provide water quality standards for waters of the state pursuant to s.
281.15 (2) (b), Stats.
NR 103.01(2)
(2) Water quality standards are intended to protect public rights and interest, public health and welfare and the present and prospective uses of all waters of the state for public and private water supplies, propagation of fish and other aquatic life and wild and domestic animals, preservation of natural flora and fauna, domestic and recreational uses, and agricultural, commercial, industrial and other uses. In all cases where the potential uses are in conflict, these water quality standards for wetlands shall be administered to protect the general public interest.
NR 103.01(3)
(3) This subchapter sets forth the conditions necessary to protect water quality related functions and values of wetlands including sediment and pollutant attenuation, storm and flood water retention, hydrologic cycle maintenance, shoreline protection against erosion, biological diversity and production and human uses such as recreation.
NR 103.01(4)
(4) Water quality standards serve as a basis for developing and implementing strategies to achieve legislative policies and goals. These standards also serve as a basis for decisions in regulatory, permitting, planning or funding activities that impact water quality and which impact wetlands.
NR 103.01 History
History: Cr.
Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91.
NR 103.02
NR 103.02 Definitions. In this chapter:
NR 103.02(1)
(1) “Areas of special natural resource interest" means areas as listed in
s. NR 103.04 recognized by the state or federal government as possessing special ecological, cultural, aesthetic, educational, recreational or scientific qualities.
NR 103.02(1m)
(1m) “Artificial wetland" means a landscape feature where hydrophytic vegetation may be present as a result of human modifications to the landscape or hydrology and for which there is no prior wetland or stream history.
NR 103.02(2)
(2) “Farm pond" means any artificially created open water area used solely for the purpose of watering livestock.
NR 103.02(3)
(3) “Surface waters" means all natural and artificial named and unnamed lakes and all naturally flowing streams within the boundaries of the state, but not including cooling lakes, farm ponds and facilities constructed for the treatment of wastewaters.
NR 103.02(4)
(4) “Waters of the state" includes those portions of Lake Michigan and Lake Superior within the boundaries of Wisconsin, and all lakes, bays, rivers, streams, springs, ponds, wells, impounding reservoirs, marshes, watercourses, drainage systems and other surface or ground water, natural or artificial, public or private, within the state or its jurisdiction.
NR 103.02(5)
(5) “Wetlands" means an area where water is at, near or above the land surface long enough to be capable of supporting aquatic or hydrophytic vegetation and which has soils indicative of wet conditions.
NR 103.02 History
History: Cr.
Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91; cr. (1m),
Register, May, 1998, No. 509, eff. 6-1-98.
NR 103.03
NR 103.03 Wetland water quality standards. NR 103.03(1)
(1) To protect, preserve, restore and enhance the quality of waters in wetlands and other waters of the state influenced by wetlands, the following water quality related functional values or uses of wetlands, within the range of natural variation of the affected wetland, shall be protected:
NR 103.03(1)(a)
(a) Storm and flood water storage and retention and the moderation of water level fluctuation extremes;
NR 103.03(1)(b)
(b) Hydrologic functions including the maintenance of dry season streamflow, the discharge of groundwater to a wetland, the recharge of groundwater from a wetland to another area and the flow of groundwater through a wetland;
NR 103.03(1)(c)
(c) Filtration or storage of sediments, nutrients or toxic substances that would otherwise adversely impact the quality of other waters of the state;
NR 103.03(1)(d)
(d) Shoreline protection against erosion through the dissipation of wave energy and water velocity and anchoring of sediments;
NR 103.03(1)(e)
(e) Habitat for aquatic organisms in the food web including, but not limited to fish, crustaceans, mollusks, insects, annelids, planktonic organisms and the plants and animals upon which these aquatic organisms feed and depend upon for their needs in all life stages;
NR 103.03(1)(f)
(f) Habitat for resident and transient wildlife species, including mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians for breeding, resting, nesting, escape cover, travel corridors and food; and
NR 103.03(1)(g)
(g) Recreational, cultural, educational, scientific and natural scenic beauty values and uses.
NR 103.03(2)
(2) The following criteria shall be used to assure the maintenance or enhancement of the functional values identified in
sub. (1):
NR 103.03(2)(a)
(a) Liquids, fill or other solids or gas may not be present in amounts which may cause significant adverse impacts to wetlands;
NR 103.03(2)(b)
(b) Floating or submerged debris, oil or other material may not be present in amounts which may interfere with public rights or interest or which may cause significant adverse impacts to wetlands;
NR 103.03(2)(c)
(c) Materials producing color, odor, taste or unsightliness may not be present in amounts which may cause significant adverse impacts to wetlands;
NR 103.03(2)(d)
(d) Concentrations or combinations of substances which are toxic or harmful to human, animal or plant life may not be present in amounts which individually or cumulatively may cause significant adverse impacts to wetlands;
NR 103.03(2)(e)
(e) Hydrological conditions necessary to support the biological and physical characteristics naturally present in wetlands shall be protected to prevent significant adverse impacts on:
NR 103.03(2)(e)3.
3. The chemical, nutrient and dissolved oxygen regime of the wetland;
NR 103.03(2)(f)
(f) Existing habitats and the populations of wetland animals and vegetation shall be maintained by:
NR 103.03(2)(f)3.
3. Preventing conditions conducive to the establishment or proliferation of nuisance organisms.
NR 103.03 History
History: Cr.
Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91;
CR 00-164: am. (1) (g),
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02.
NR 103.04
NR 103.04 Wetlands in areas of special natural resource interest. Wetlands in areas of special natural resource interest includes those wetlands both within the boundary of designated areas of special natural resource interest and those wetlands which are in proximity to or have a direct hydrologic connection to such designated areas. For purposes of this chapter, the following are designated as areas of special natural resource interest:
NR 103.04(2)
(2) Lakes Michigan and Superior and the Mississippi river;
NR 103.04(3)
(3) State and federal designated wild and scenic rivers, designated state riverways and state designated scenic urban waterways, s.
30.26, Stats.,
ch. NR 302,
16 USC 1271 to 1287, ss.
30.40 to
30.49, Stats., and s.
30.275, Stats.;
NR 103.04(4)
(4) Unique and significant wetlands identified in special area management plans (SAMP), special wetland inventory studies (SWIS), advanced delineation and identification studies (ADID) and areas designated by the United States environmental protection agency under section 404 (c),
33 USC 1344 (c);
NR 103.04(6)
(6) Habitat used by state or federally designated threatened or endangered species, s.
29.604, Stats.,
ch. NR 27 and
16 USC 1531 to
1543;
NR 103.04(7)
(7) State parks, forests, trails and recreation areas;
NR 103.04(8)
(8) State and federal fish and wildlife refuges and fish and wildlife management areas;
NR 103.04(12)
(12) Any other surface waters identified as outstanding or exceptional resource waters in
ch. NR 102.
NR 103.04 History
History: Cr.
Register, July, 1991, No. 427, eff. 8-1-91;
CR 00-164: am. (4) and (11),
Register January 2002 No. 553, eff. 2-1-02;
corrections in (1) and (6) made under s. 13.93 (2m) (b) 7., Stats.,
Register March 2005 No. 591.
NR 103.05(1)
(1) The purpose of this subchapter is to establish implementation procedures for application of the wetland water quality standards contained in subch.
I.
NR 103.05(2)
(2) Whenever the procedures of this subchapter are applicable to an activity, they shall supersede the regulatory provisions of
s. NR 1.95 (5).
NR 103.05 Note
Note: NR 1.95 (5) was repealed eff. 8-1-01.
NR 103.05 Note
Note: Effective July 1, 2012, 2011 Wis. Act 118, sections 119 to 141, repealed, revised, and renumbered various parts of s. 281.37.
NR 103.06
NR 103.06 Applicability. The provisions of this chapter shall, subject to the provisions below, apply to all department regulatory, planning, resource management, liaison and financial aid determinations that affect wetlands. This chapter shall only apply to specific activities which may require authorization or reauthorization after August 1, 1991 and which are subject to the requirements of statute or rules requiring a department determination concerning effects on water quality or wetlands.
NR 103.06(1)
(1) Activities subject to the requirements of this chapter include, but are not limited to:
NR 103.06(2)
(2) In addition to the requirements of
s. NR 207.03 (5), this chapter shall apply to new or increased point source discharges to wetlands.
NR 103.06(3)
(3) Wetland alterations which are directly caused by operations on a nonferrous metallic mineral prospecting site or mining site shall be regulated pursuant to specific wetland standards under
chs. NR 131 and
132, respectively.
NR 103.06(4)
(4) Exemptions. A person who proposes a project that may affect an artificial wetland shall notify the department at least 15 working days prior to initiating the project. For purposes of this chapter, the following artificial wetlands are exempt from the provisions of this chapter unless the department notifies the applicant within 15 working days from when the department receives notice of the proposed project from the applicant that the artificial wetland has significant functional values or uses under
s. NR 103.03 (1) (e),
(f) or
(g):
NR 103.06(4)(a)
(a) Sedimentation and stormwater detention basins and associated conveyance features operated and maintained only for sediment detention and flood storage purposes;
NR 103.06(4)(b)
(b) Active sewage lagoons, cooling ponds, waste disposal pits, fish rearing ponds and landscape ponds.
