77.82(1)(a)(a) A parcel of land is eligible for designation as managed forest land only if it fulfills the following requirements:
77.82(1)(a)1.
1. It consists of at least 10 contiguous acres in a single municipality. The fact that a lake, river, stream or flowage, a public or private road or a railroad or utility right-of-way separates any part of the land from any other part does not render a parcel of land noncontiguous.
77.82(1)(a)2.
2. At least 80% of the parcel must be producing or capable of producing a minimum of 20 cubic feet of merchantable timber per acre per year.
77.82(1)(b)
(b) The following land is not eligible for designation as managed forest land:
77.82(1)(b)1.
1. A parcel of which more than 20% consists of land that is unsuitable for producing merchantable timber, including water, marsh, muskeg, bog, rock outcrops, sand dunes, farmland, roadway or railroad and utility rights-of-way.
77.82(1)(b)2.
2. A parcel that is developed for commercial recreation, industry, human residence or any other use determined by the department to be incompatible with the practice of forestry.
77.82(1)(c)
(c) In addition to the requirements under
pars. (a) and
(b), for land subject to a petition under
sub. (4m), all forest croplands owned by the petitioner on the date on which the petition is submitted that are located in the municipality for which the petition is submitted shall be included in the petition.
77.82(2)
(2) Petition. Any owner of land may petition the department to designate any eligible parcel of land as managed forest land. A petition may include any number of eligible parcels under the same ownership in a single municipality. Each petition shall be submitted on a form provided by the department and shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable $10 application fee unless a different amount of the fee is established by the department by rule at an amount equal to the average expense to the department of recording an order issued under this subchapter. The fee shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (cr). Each petition shall include all of the following:
77.82(2)(b)
(b) The legal description or the location and acreage of each parcel of land.
77.82(2)(c)
(c) The legal description of the area in which the parcel is located.
77.82(2)(d)
(d) A description of the physical characteristics of the land, in sufficient detail to enable the department to determine if it meets the eligibility requirements under
sub. (1).
77.82(2)(e)
(e) A statement of the owner's forest management objectives for the production of merchantable timber, in sufficient detail to provide direction for the development and approval of a management plan. The petition may also state additional forest management objectives, which may include wildlife habitat management, aesthetic considerations, watershed management and recreational use.
77.82(2)(f)
(f) Proof that each person holding any encumbrance on the land agrees to the petition.
77.82(2)(g)
(g) A map, diagram or aerial photograph showing the location and acreage of any area that will be designated as closed to the public under
s. 77.83.
77.82(2)(h)
(h) Whether the land will be designated as managed forest land for 25 or 50 years.
77.82(2)(i)
(i) If a proposed management plan is not submitted with the petition, a request that the department prepare a management plan.
77.82(3)(a)(a) The petitioner may submit a proposed management plan for the entire acreage of each parcel with the petition. The department, after considering the owner's forest management objectives as stated under
sub. (2) (e), shall either approve or disapprove the proposed plan. If the department disapproves a plan, it shall inform the petitioner of the changes necessary to qualify the plan for approval.
77.82(3)(b)
(b) If the petitioner requests that the department prepare the management plan, the department shall comply with the request.
77.82(3)(c)
(c) To qualify for approval, a management plan shall include all of the following:
77.82(3)(c)2.
2. The legal description of the parcel or of the area in which the parcel is located.
77.82(3)(c)3.
3. A statement of the owner's forest management objectives.
77.82(3)(c)4.
4. A map, diagram or aerial photograph which identifies both forested and unforested areas of the land, using conventional map symbols indicating the species, size and density of vegetation and the other major features of the land.
77.82(3)(c)5.
5. A map, diagram or aerial photograph which identifies the areas designated as open and closed under
s. 77.83.
77.82(3)(c)6.
6. A description of the forestry practices, including harvesting, thinning and reforestation, that will be undertaken during the term of the order, specifying the period in which each is intended to be completed.
77.82(3)(c)7.
7. A description of soil conservation practices that may be necessary to control any soil erosion that may result from the forestry practices specified under
subd. 6.
77.82(3)(d)
(d) The management plan may also specify activities that will be undertaken for the management of forest resources other than trees, including wildlife habitat, watersheds and aesthetic features.
77.82(3)(e)
(e) A management plan shall contain a statement that the owner agrees to comply with all of its terms and with the conditions of this subchapter and shall be signed by the owner and a representative of the department.
77.82(3)(f)
(f) An owner and the department may mutually agree to amend a management plan.
77.82(4)
(4) Additions to managed forest land. An owner may petition the department to designate as managed forest land an additional parcel of land in the same municipality if the additional parcel is at least 3 acres in size and is contiguous to any of the owner's designated land. The petition shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable $10 application fee unless a different amount of the fee is established in the same manner as the fee under
sub. (2). The fee shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (cr). The petition shall be submitted on a department form and shall contain any additional information required by the department.
77.82(4m)
(4m) Conversion of forest croplands to managed forest land. 77.82(4m)(a)(a) An owner of land that is entered as forest croplands under
s. 77.02 may petition the department under
sub. (2) to convert all or a portion of the land to managed forest land, subject to
sub. (1) (c).
77.82(4m)(b)
(b) A petition under this subsection shall specify whether the order designating the land as managed forest land will remain in effect for 25 years or 50 years, as elected by the owner.
77.82(4m)(bn)
(bn) A petition under this subsection shall be accompanied by a nonrefundable $100 application fee which shall be deposited in the conservation fund and credited to the appropriation under
s. 20.370 (1) (cr).
77.82(4m)(c)
(c) A petition under this subsection must be submitted after September 1, 1994, and before January 1, 1998.
77.82(4m)(d)
(d) An owner of land who has filed a conversion petition under this subsection and who has requested that the department prepare a management plan under
sub. (3) (b) may withdraw the request and not have it prepared by the department if the owner determines that the department is not preparing the management plan in a timely manner.
77.82(5)
(5) Notice of petition; request for denial. 77.82(5)(a)(a) Upon receipt of a petition under
sub. (2),
(4) or
(4m), the department shall provide written notice of the petition to the clerk of the municipality in which the land is located.
77.82(5)(b)
(b) The governing body of the municipality in which the proposed managed forest land is located or a resident or property tax payer of the municipality may, within 15 days after the notice under
par. (a) is provided, request the department to deny the petition on the grounds that the land fails to meet the eligibility requirements under
sub. (1) or that, if the addition is approved, the entire parcel will fail to meet those eligibility requirements. The request shall be in writing and shall specify the reason for believing that the land is or would be ineligible.
77.82(6)(a)(a) The department shall conduct any investigation necessary to reach a decision on a petition.
77.82(6)(b)1.1. If the department determines, after receipt of a request under
sub. (5) (b) or as a result of its investigation, that further information is needed, it may schedule a public hearing to take testimony relating to the eligibility of the land.
77.82(6)(b)2.
2. At least 10 days before the date of the hearing, the department shall mail written notice of the date, time and place of the hearing to the petitioner, each person who submitted a request under
sub. (5) (b) and the clerk of the municipality in which the land is located.
77.82(6)(b)3.
3. A public hearing held under this paragraph may be adjourned. No notice of the adjourned hearing is required other than an announcement of the date, time and place given at the initial hearing by the person presiding at the hearing.
77.82(7)(a)(a) After considering the testimony presented at the public hearing, if any, the facts discovered by its investigation and the land use in the area in which the land is located, the department shall approve a petition under
sub. (2) or
(4m) if it determines all of the following:
77.82(7)(a)1.
1. That the land meets the eligibility requirements under
sub. (1).
77.82(7)(a)2.
2. That all facts stated in the petition are correct.
77.82(7)(a)3.
3. That a stand of merchantable timber will be developed on at least 80% of the land within a reasonable period of time.
77.82(7)(a)4.
4. That the use of the land as managed forest land is not incompatible with the existing uses of the land in the municipality in which it is located.
77.82(7)(b)
(b) After considering the testimony presented at the public hearing, if any, and the facts discovered by its investigation, the department shall approve a petition under
sub. (4) if it determines all of the following:
77.82(7)(b)1.
1. That all facts stated in the petition are correct.
77.82(7)(b)2.
2. That the total parcel with the addition will meet the eligibility requirements under
sub. (1).
77.82(7)(b)3.
3. That there are no delinquent taxes on either the land originally designated or on the proposed additional parcel.
77.82(7)(b)4.
4. That the owner agrees to any amendments to the management plan determined by the department to be necessary as a result of the addition.
77.82(7)(c)
(c) Except as provided in
par. (d), if a petition is received on or before January 31 of any year from a petitioner who owns less than 1,000 acres in this state or on or before March 31 of any year from any other petitioner, the department shall investigate and shall either approve the petition and issue the order under
sub. (8) or deny the petition on or before the following November 21.
77.82(7)(d)
(d) The department shall approve or disapprove a petition under
par. (a) that is submitted under
sub. (4m) within 3 years after the date on which the petition is submitted to the department.
77.82(8)
(8) Order. If a petition under
sub. (2) or
(4m) is approved, the department shall issue an order designating the land as managed forest land for the time period specified in the petition. If a petition under
sub. (4) is approved, the department shall amend the original order to include the additional parcel. The department shall provide the petitioner with a copy of the order or amended order and shall also file a copy with the department of revenue, the supervisor of assessments and the clerk of the municipality, and shall record the order with the register of deeds in the county, in which the land is located.
77.82(9)
(9) Effective date of order. An order or amended order under
sub. (8) issued before November 21 of any year takes effect on the January 1 after the date of issuance. An order or amended order under
sub. (8) issued on or after November 21 of any year takes effect on the 2nd January 1 after the date of issuance.
77.82(10)
(10) Denial. If the department denies a petition, it shall notify the petitioner in writing, stating the reason for the denial.
77.82(11)
(11) Duration. An order under this subchapter remains in effect for the period specified in the petition unless the land is withdrawn under
s. 77.84 (3) (b) or
77.88. An amendment to or repeal of this subchapter does not affect the terms of an order or management plan, except as expressly agreed to in writing by the owner and the department except as provided in
sub. (11m).
77.82(11g)
(11g) Withdrawal tax on converted forest croplands prohibited. No tax or interest may be assessed under
s. 77.10 (2) (a) on land converted to managed forest land pursuant to a petition approved under
sub. (7) (d).
77.82(11m)
(11m) Orders for the land in the lower Wisconsin state riverway. An owner of timber that is exempt under
s. 30.44 (3) (c) 2. shall comply with a rule regulating timber cutting and harvesting promulgated under
s. 30.42 (1) (d):
77.82(11m)(a)
(a) If the rule is not inconsistent with the order issued under
sub. (8); or
77.82(11m)(b)
(b) If the owner agrees to amend the order issued under
sub. (8) to require compliance with the rules.
77.82(12)
(12) Renewal. The department shall notify each owner of managed forest land of the expiration date of an order no later than the January 31 preceding the expiration date. The owner may petition the department for renewal of the order. The petition shall be filed no later than the March 31 before the expiration date and shall specify whether the owner wants the order renewed for 25 or 50 years. The notice and hearing provisions under
subs. (5) and
(6) do not apply to a petition under this subsection. The department may deny the petition only if the land fails to meet the eligibility requirements under
sub. (1), if the owner has failed to comply with the management plan or if there are delinquent taxes on the land. If the petition is denied, the department shall state the reason for the denial in writing.
77.83
77.83
Closed, open and restricted areas. 77.83(1)(a)(a) An owner may designate one area in a parcel of managed forest land as closed to public access. A closed area may consist of either:
77.83(1)(a)2.b.
b. A government lot as determined by the U.S. government survey plat.
77.83(1)(a)2.c.
c. A fractional lot as determined by the U.S. government survey plat.
77.83(1)(b)
(b) If any area of an owner's managed forest land is already designated as closed, an addition to the parcel approved under
s. 77.82 (7) (b) may be designated as closed only under the following conditions:
77.83(1)(b)1.
1. The addition does not result in increasing the closed portion of the land to an area greater than that permitted under
par. (a).
77.83(1)(b)2.
2. The additional area is contiguous to the area that is already designated as closed.
77.83(1)(c)
(c) If all or any part of an owner's closed managed forest land is withdrawn or transferred as provided under
s. 77.88, the owner may designate a different or an additional closed area if it meets the requirements of
par. (b).
77.83(2)(a)(a) Except as provided in
sub. (1) and
pars. (b) and
(c), each owner of managed forest land shall permit public access to the land for hunting, fishing, hiking, sight-seeing and cross-country skiing.
77.83(2)(b)
(b) An owner may restrict public access to any area of open managed forest land which is within 300 feet of any building or within 300 feet of a commercial logging operation that conforms to the management plan.
77.83(2)(c)
(c) An owner may prohibit the use of motor vehicles, as defined under
s. 340.01 (35), or snowmobiles, as defined under
s. 340.01 (58a), or both on any open managed forest land. At the request of an owner, the department may provide assistance in enforcing the prohibition.
77.83(3)
(3) Signs. An owner may post signs specifying the designation of or restrictions applicable to any area of managed forest land. The department may, by rule, specify design standards for these signs.
