30.01(10)
(10) "Wolf River municipality" means any city, village or town which adjoins or includes any part of the Wolf River or its stream tributaries from the Shawano dam downstream to Lake Poygan.
30.01 Annotation
No threshold showing that a waterway is actually navigated for commercial or recreational purposes is necessary in order to prove that the waterway is navigable. City of Oak Creek v. DNR, 185 W (2d) 424, 518 NW (2d) 276 (Ct. App. 1994).
30.02
30.02
General provision for notice and hearing. 30.02(1)
(1) In any proceeding under this chapter where public notice is required, the department shall follow the procedures in
subs. (3) and
(4).
30.02(2)
(2) In any proceeding under this chapter where public notice is not required, the department shall follow the procedures in
subs. (3) and
(4) if it determines that substantial interests of any party may be adversely affected by the proceeding.
30.02(3)
(3) Upon receipt of a complete permit application or a request for a determination under
s. 236.16 (3) (d), the department shall either schedule a hearing or provide notice stating that it will proceed on the application or request without a hearing if, within 30 days after the publication of the notice, no substantive written objection to issuance of the permit is received or no request for a hearing concerning the determination under
s. 236.16 (3) (d) is received. The notice shall be provided to the clerk of each municipality in which the project is located and to any other person required by law to receive notice. The department may provide notice to other persons as it deems appropriate. The department shall provide a copy of the notice to the applicant, who shall publish it as a class 1 notice under
ch. 985 in a newspaper designated by the department that is likely to give notice in the area affected. The applicant shall file proof of publication with the department.
30.02(4)(a)(a) If a public hearing is ordered, the division of hearings and appeals shall mail a written notice at least 10 days before the hearing to each person given notice under
sub. (3) and in the case of an application for a permit, to any person who submitted a substantive written objection to issuance of the permit.
30.02(4)(b)
(b) The applicant shall publish a class 1 notice under
ch. 985 of the hearing in a newspaper designated by the department that is likely to give notice in the area affected. The applicant shall file proof of publication under this paragraph with the hearing examiner at or prior to the hearing.
30.02 History
History: 1987 a. 374;
1997 a. 172.
30.025
30.025
Optional permit procedure for certain electric generating facilities and high-voltage transmission lines. 30.025(1)(1) Any electric utility, as defined in
s. 196.491 (1) (d), proposing to construct a facility, as defined in
s. 196.491 (1) (e), which facility is to be located adjacent to a waterway in such a manner as to require one or more permits to be issued under this chapter and
ch. 31 may, in lieu of separate application for permits under those chapters, submit an engineering plan together with any additional information required by the department. Such plan shall be filed with the department within 20 days after an application for a certificate of public convenience and necessity is filed with the public service commission under
s. 196.491 (3). The department may require supplemental information to be furnished thereafter.
30.025(2)
(2) Once electric utilities have met the requirements of
sub. (1), the department shall schedule the matter for public hearing. Notice of the hearing shall be given to the applicant and shall be published as a class 1 notice under
ch. 985. The department may give such further notice as it deems proper, and shall give notice to persons requesting same. One copy of the application shall be available for public inspection at the office of the department, at least one copy in the district office of the department and at least one copy at the main public library of the area affected.
30.025(3)
(3) The department shall grant the necessary permits if, after hearing, it finds that the applicant has shown that the proposal:
30.025(3)(a)
(a) Complies with environmental statutes administered by the department and rules promulgated thereunder, and federal environmental standards which the department has authority to enforce.
30.025(4)
(4) The permit may be issued upon stated conditions deemed necessary to assure compliance with the criteria designated under
sub. (3). The department shall grant or deny the application within the time limit applicable under
s. 196.491 (3) (a) 3. b.
30.027
30.027
Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. For activities in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, as defined in
s. 30.40 (15), no person obtaining a permit under
subchs. I,
II or
V may start or engage in the activity for which the permit was issued unless the person obtains any permit that is required for the activity under
s. 30.44 or
30.445.
30.027 History
History: 1989 a. 31.
30.03
30.03
Enforcement of forfeitures; abatement of nuisances; infringement of public rights. 30.03(2)
(2) The district attorney of the appropriate county or, at the request of the department, the attorney general shall institute proceedings to recover any forfeiture imposed or to abate any nuisance committed under this chapter or
ch. 31.
30.03(3)
(3) All forfeitures shall be recovered by civil action as provided in
ch. 778 and when collected shall be paid directly into the state treasury.
30.03(4)(a)(a) If the department learns of a possible violation of the statutes relating to navigable waters or a possible infringement of the public rights relating to navigable waters, and the department determines that the public interest may not be adequately served by imposition of a penalty or forfeiture, the department may proceed as provided in this paragraph, either in lieu of or in addition to any other relief provided by law. The department may order a hearing under
ch. 227 concerning the possible violation or infringement, and may request the hearing examiner to issue an order directing the responsible parties to perform or refrain from performing acts in order to fully protect the interests of the public in the navigable waters. If any person fails or neglects to obey an order, the department may request the attorney general to institute proceedings for the enforcement of the department's order in the name of the state. The proceedings shall be brought in the manner and with the effect of proceedings under
s. 111.07 (7).
30.03(4)(b)
(b) No penalty may be imposed for violation of a hearing examiner's order under this subsection, but violation of a judgment enforcing the order may be punished in civil contempt proceedings.
30.03 Annotation
Initiation of proceedings under sub. (4) discussed. Omernick v. Dept. of Natural Resources, 100 W (2d) 234, 301 NW (2d) 437 (1981).
30.03 Annotation
The DNR may enforce terms of lakebed grants under sub. (4) (a) as long as the enforcement does not conflict with s. 30.05.
78 Atty. Gen. 107.
30.05
30.05
Applicability of chapter to municipally-owned submerged shorelands. Nothing in this chapter relative to the establishment of bulkhead or pierhead lines or the placing of structures or deposits in navigable waters or the removal of materials from the beds of navigable waters is applicable to submerged shorelands in Lake Michigan, the title to which has been granted by the state to a municipality.
30.056
30.056
Exemption from certain permit requirements. Notwithstanding
ss. 30.12,
30.19,
30.195 and
30.294, the city of Oak Creek may not be required to remove any structure or concrete or other deposit that was placed in Crayfish Creek in the city of Oak Creek before June 1, 1991, and may continue to maintain the structure, concrete or deposit without having a permit or other approval from the department.
30.056 History
History: 1995 a. 455.
30.06
30.06
Waiver of certain provisions of this chapter. The department, by rule, may waive the applicability to specified navigable waters of the United States of all or part of those provisions of this chapter which relate to the establishment of bulkhead or pierhead lines or the placing of structures or deposits in navigable waters or the removal of materials from the beds of navigable waters. The department may promulgate such rule only after it has entered into an agreement with the appropriate federal agency wherein it is agreed that the comparable federal law will be enforced on the waters in question in lieu of the state law which is being waived. The objective of such agreement shall be to avoid duplication of administration with respect to navigable waters over which this state and the U.S. government have concurrent jurisdiction, in those situations wherein administration by a single governmental agency will tend to avoid confusion and the necessity of obtaining permits from both the state and federal governments by those who are subject to the law and at the same time will adequately protect the public interest. The agreement may contain such further provisions as are designed to achieve this objective.
30.06 History
History: 1981 c. 390 s.
252;
1985 a. 332 s.
251 (1).
30.07
30.07
Limits and conditions for permits and contracts. 30.07(1)(a)(a) Except as provided in
par. (b), every permit or contract issued under
ss. 30.01 to
30.29 for which a time limit is not provided by
s. 30.20 (2) is void unless the project is completed within 3 years after the permit or contract was issued.
30.07(1)(b)
(b) The department may specify a time limit of less than 3 years for a permit or contract issued under
ss. 30.01 to
30.29. For good cause, the department may extend the time limit for a permit or contract issued under
ss. 30.01 to
30.29 for no longer than 2 years if the grantee requests an extension prior to expiration of the initial time limit.
30.07(2)
(2) For good cause, the department may modify or rescind any permit or contract issued under
ss. 30.01 to
30.29 before its expiration.
30.07 History
History: 1987 a. 374.
30.10
30.10
Declarations of navigability. 30.10(1)
(1)
Lakes. All lakes wholly or partly within this state which are navigable in fact are declared to be navigable and public waters, and all persons have the same rights therein and thereto as they have in and to any other navigable or public waters.
30.10(2)
(2) Streams. Except as provided under
sub. (4) (c), all streams, sloughs, bayous and marsh outlets, which are navigable in fact for any purpose whatsoever, are declared navigable to the extent that no dam, bridge or other obstruction shall be made in or over the same without the permission of the state.
30.10(3)
(3) Enlargements or improvements in navigable waters. All inner harbors, turning basins, waterways, slips and canals created by any municipality to be used by the public for purposes of navigation, and all outer harbors connecting interior navigation with lake navigation, are declared navigable waters and are subject to the same control and regulation that navigable streams are subjected to as regards improvement, use and bridging.
30.10(4)(a)(a) This section does not impair the powers granted by law under
s. 30.123 or by other law to municipalities to construct highway bridges, arches or culverts over streams.
30.10(4)(b)
(b) The boundaries of lands adjoining waters and the rights of the state and of individuals with respect to all such lands and waters shall be determined in conformity to the common law so far as applicable, but in the case of a lake or stream erroneously meandered in the original U.S. government survey, the owner of title to lands adjoining the meandered lake or stream, as shown on such original survey, is conclusively presumed to own to the actual shorelines unless it is first established in a suit in equity, brought by the U.S. government for that purpose, that the government was in fact defrauded by such survey. If the proper claims of adjacent owners of riparian lots of lands between meander and actual shorelines conflict, each shall have his or her proportion of such shorelands.
30.10(4)(c)
(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, farm drainage ditches are not navigable within the meaning of this section unless it is shown that the ditches were navigable streams before ditching. For purposes of this paragraph, "farm drainage ditch" means any artificial channel which drains water from lands which are used for agricultural purposes.
30.10 Annotation
Where there are 2 owners of land adjacent to a disputed parcel erroneously meandered under sub. (4) the judge is to divide the parcel proportionately on an equitable, but not necessarily equal, basis. Kind v. Vilas County, 56 W (2d) 269, 201 NW (2d) 881.
30.10 Annotation
The DNR properly considered the existence of beaver dams and ponds and the periods of high water caused by spring runoffs in determining the navigability of the creek, since the dams and ponds were normal and natural to the stream, and the periods of high water were of a regularly recurring annual nature. DeGayner & Co. v. DNR, 70 W (2d) 936, 236 NW (2d) 217.
30.10 Annotation
Where an error in survey results in a lot on a meandered lake being divided by lake, common law rule that an owner of land on a meandered lake takes only to the actual shoreline controls. Thus, an owner does not have a "proper claim" to the isolated parcel, making sub. (4) (b) inapplicable. Parcels separated by lake are not "adjacent" under sub. (4) (b). Bd. of Public Lands v. Thiel, 82 W (2d) 276, 262 NW (2d) 522.
30.10 Annotation
A department declaration of navigability subjecting private property to sub. (1) was a taking. Zinn v. State, 112 W (2d) 417, 334 NW (2d) 67 (1983).
30.10 Annotation
The DNR has the authority, as well as the obligation, to determine whether the waters of the state are navigable in fact and subject to regulation under ch. 30, another agency's prior ancillary finding to the contrary notwithstanding. Turkow v. DNR, 216 W (2d) 272, 576 NW (2d) 288 (Ct. App. 1998).
30.10 Annotation
This chapter applies to navigable ditches that were originally navigable streams. If a navigable ditch was originally nonnavigable or had no previous stream history, the department's jurisdiction depends upon the facts of each situation. 63 Atty. Gen. 493.
30.10 Annotation
Erroneously meandered lakeshore - the status of the law as it affects title and distribution. 61 MLR 515.
30.10 Annotation
The Muench case: A better test of navigability. Edwards, 1957 WLR 486.
30.103
30.103
Identification of ordinary high-water mark by town sanitary district. A town sanitary district may identify the ordinary high-water mark of a lake that lies wholly within unincorporated territory and wholly within the town sanitary district. The department may not identify an ordinary high-water mark of a lake that is different than the ordinary high-water mark identified by a town sanitary district under this section.
30.103 History
History: 1997 a. 237.
30.105
30.105
Determining footage of shoreline. In determining footage of shoreline for purposes of
s. 30.50 (4q),
30.77 (3) (ac),
(ae) and
(am) and
60.782 (2), towns, villages, cities, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts and town sanitary districts shall measure by use of a map wheel on the U.S. geological survey 7 1/2 minute series map.
30.105 History
History: 1995 a. 152 s.
9;
1995 a. 349 s.
11.
NAVIGABLE WATERS AND NAVIGATION IN GENERAL
30.11
30.11
Establishment of bulkhead lines. 30.11(1)
(1)
Who may establish. Any municipality may, subject to the approval of the department, by ordinance establish a bulkhead line and from time to time reestablish the same along any section of the shore of any navigable waters within its boundaries.
30.11(2)
(2) Standards for establishing. Bulkhead lines shall be established in the public interest and shall conform as nearly as practicable to the existing shores, except that in the case of leases under
sub. (5) and
s. 24.39 (4) bulkhead lines may be approved farther from the existing shoreline if they are consistent with and a part of any lease executed by the board of commissioners of public lands.
30.11(3)
(3) How established. Whenever any municipality proposes to establish a bulkhead line or to reestablish an existing bulkhead line, the municipality shall indicate both the existing shore and the proposed bulkhead line upon a map and shall file with the department for its approval 6 copies of the map and 6 copies of the ordinance establishing the bulkhead line. The map shall use a scale of not less than 100 feet to an inch or any other scale required by the department. The map and a metes and bounds description of the bulkhead line shall be prepared by a land surveyor registered in this state. The department may require the installation of permanent reference markers to the bulkhead line. Upon approval by the department, the municipality shall deliver the map, description and ordinance to the office of the register of deeds of the county in which the bulkhead line lies, to be recorded by the register of deeds.
30.11(4)
(4) Riparian rights preserved. Establishment of a bulkhead line shall not abridge the riparian rights of riparian proprietors. Riparian proprietors may place solid structures or fill up to such line.
30.11(5)
(5) Finding of public interest. 30.11(5)(a)(a) Prior to the execution of any lease by the board of commissioners of public lands concerning rights to submerged lands or rights to fill in submerged lands held in trust for the public under
s. 24.39, the department shall determine whether the proposed physical changes in the area as a result of the execution of the lease are consistent with the public interest. Thirty days before making its determination, the department shall notify, in writing, the clerk of the county and clerk of the city, village or town in which the changes are proposed and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers of the application for the lease. In making its finding the department shall give consideration to all reports submitted to it. The department shall not approve a lease applied for under
s. 24.39 (4) (a) 2. if the department determines that the lease may threaten excessive destruction of wildlife habitat.
30.11(5)(b)
(b) When considering leases to allow certain initial improvements such as, but not restricted to, filling on submerged lands to create sites for further facilities, the department may determine whether such initial improvements are consistent with the public interest in the navigable waters involved even though the exact final use to which these improvements will be put is not known. The department, at the time it finds that a proposed lease would be consistent with the public interest in the navigable waters involved, may include in its findings such limitations upon the use of improvements as it considers necessary to confine their use to functions primarily related to water transportation or otherwise of public benefit. The board of commissioners of public lands shall include in the lease such limitations on final use as is determined by the department.
30.11(5)(c)
(c) Upon the complaint of any person to the department that current use made of rights leased under
s. 24.39 (4) is inconsistent with both its original findings and the public interest, the department shall hold a public hearing thereon after the publication of a class 2 notice, under
ch. 985. If the department finds that the present use conforms neither to its original finding nor to the present public interest, it shall submit its findings to the governor. The governor may cause the attorney general or the district attorney of the proper county to bring action in the name of the state in a court of competent jurisdiction to declare the lease terminated and to institute appropriate action for removal of structures or cessation of practices in violation of such lease.
30.11(6)
(6) Shoreline not invalidated. A shoreline lawfully established before January 1, 1960, is a lawfully established bulkhead line.
30.11 History
History: 1987 a. 374;
1991 a. 32.
30.11 Annotation
A bulkhead line is not merely the natural shoreline but one legislatively established by a municipality, hence it may differ from the existing shoreline and is also distinguishable from the low- and high-water marks as heretofore judicially defined. State v. McFarren, 62 W (2d) 492, 215 NW (2d) 459.
30.11 Annotation
The private right to fill lakebeds granted under this section does not preempt the zoning power of a county over shorelands under s. 59.971. State v. Land Concepts, Ltd. 177 W (2d) 24, 501 NW (2d) 817 (Ct. App. 1993).
30.11 Annotation
Where a bulkhead line has been established, a riparian owner must nonetheless obtain a permit or contract pursuant to 30.20 prior to removing material from the bed of a navigable water landward of the bulkhead line, but within the original ordinary high water mark. 63 Atty. Gen. 445.
30.11 Annotation
A bulkhead line is not legally established until the filing requirements of sub. (3) are met. A bulkhead line established by a town on lands subsequently annexed to a municipality which has not established such line, remains in effect. 64 Atty. Gen. 112.
30.12
30.12
Structures and deposits in navigable waters prohibited; exceptions; penalty. 30.12(1)
(1)
General prohibition. Except as provided under
sub. (4), unless a permit has been granted by the department pursuant to statute or the legislature has otherwise authorized structures or deposits in navigable waters, it is unlawful:
30.12(1)(a)
(a) To deposit any material or to place any structure upon the bed of any navigable water where no bulkhead line has been established; or
30.12(1)(b)
(b) To deposit any material or to place any structure upon the bed of any navigable water beyond a lawfully established bulkhead line.
30.12(2)
(2) Permits to place structures or deposits in navigable waters; generally. The department, upon application and after proceeding in accordance with
s. 30.02 (3) and
(4), may grant to any riparian owner a permit to build or maintain for the owner's use a structure otherwise prohibited under
sub. (1), if the structure does not materially obstruct navigation or reduce the effective flood flow capacity of a stream and is not detrimental to the public interest. The procedures in this subsection do not apply to permits issued under
sub. (3).
30.12(3)
(3) Permits to place certain structures or deposits in navigable waters.
