30.20(1)(1)
Permits or contracts required. 30.20(1)(a)(a) Unless a contract has been entered into with the department under
sub. (2) (a) or
(b) or authorization has been granted by the legislature, no person may remove any material from the bed of a natural navigable lake or from the bed of any outlying waters.
30.20(1)(b)
(b) Unless an individual or a general permit has been issued by the department under this section or authorization has been granted by the legislature, no person may remove any material from the bed of any lake or navigable stream that is not described under
par. (a).
30.20(1g)(a)1.1. A removal of material from the bed of a farm drainage ditch which was not a navigable stream before ditching is exempt from the individual and general permit requirements under this section unless the department finds that the proposed removal may have a long-term adverse effect on cold-water fishery resources or may destroy fish spawning beds or nursery areas.
30.20(1g)(a)2.
2. A person who proposes a removal under
subd. 1. which may have an effect on cold-water fishery resources or may affect fish spawning beds or nursery areas shall notify the department at least 10 days prior to the removal.
30.20(1g)(b)
(b) A removal of material is exempt from the permit and contract requirements under this section if the material does not contain hazardous substances, the material is not being removed from an area of special natural resource interest, and if any of the following applies:
30.20(1g)(b)1.
1. The removal is the amount necessary to place or maintain a structure that is exempt from any permitting requirements in this chapter.
30.20(1g)(b)2.
2. The removal is by hand or by hand-held devices without the use or aid of external or auxiliary power.
30.20(1g)(c)
(c) A removal of material by the drainage board for the Duck Creek Drainage District from a drain that the board operates in the Duck Creek Drainage District is exempt from the individual and general permit requirements under this section if the removal is required, under rules promulgated by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection, in order to conform the drain to specifications imposed by the department of agriculture, trade and consumer protection after consulting with the department of natural resources.
30.20(1k)(a)(a) The department may promulgate rules concerning the exempt activities under
sub. (1g) that only do any of the following:
30.20(1k)(a)1.
1. Establish reasonable procedures for undertaking the removal of material to minimize environmental impacts.
30.20(1k)(a)2.
2. Establish reasonable limitations on the location of the removal of material at the site affected by the activity.
30.20(1k)(b)
(b) Notwithstanding
par. (a), the rules under
par. (a) 1. may not establish procedures that prohibit undertaking the removal of material or that render the undertaking of the removal of material economically cost-prohibitive.
30.20(1m)
(1m) Permits or contracts in lieu of exemptions. The department may decide to require that a person engaged in an activity that is exempt under
sub. (1g) apply for an individual permit or contract, or seek authorization under a general permit if the department has conducted an investigation and visited the site of the activity and has determined that conditions specific to the site require restrictions on the activity in order to prevent any of the following:
30.20(1m)(a)
(a) Significant adverse impacts to the public rights and interests.
30.20(1m)(c)
(c) Material injury to the riparian rights of any riparian owner.
30.20(1r)(a)(a) A person may submit to the department a written statement requesting that the department determine whether a proposed activity is exempt under
sub. (1g). The statement shall contain a description of the proposed activity and site and shall give the department consent to enter and inspect the site.
30.20(1r)(b)
(b) The department shall do all of the following within 15 days after receipt of a statement under
par. (a):
30.20(1r)(b)1.
1. Enter and inspect the site on which the activity is located, subject to
s. 30.291, if the department determines such an inspection is necessary.
30.20(1r)(b)2.
2. Make a determination as to whether the activity is exempt.
30.20(1r)(b)3.
3. Notify in writing the person submitting the statement of which general permit or individual permit will be required, or whether a contract will be required, if the department determines that the activity is not exempt.
30.20(1r)(c)
(c) If the department does not take action under
par. (b), the department may not require at any time that the person proposing to engage in the activity apply for an individual permit, seek authorization under a general permit, or apply to enter a contract unless required to do so by a court or hearing examiner.
30.20(1r)(d)
(d) If a statement under
par. (a) is not given or if the statement does not give consent to inspect, the 15-day time limit under
par. (b) does not apply.
30.20(1t)(a)(a) The department shall issue statewide general permits under
s. 30.206 that authorize any person to remove material for maintenance purposes from an area from which material has been previously removed.
30.20(1t)(am)
(am) No person may be authorized to proceed under a general permit issued under
par. (a) unless the person has demonstrated to the department that material has been previously removed from the area for which the person has requested authorization to proceed.
30.20(1t)(b)
(b) The department may promulgate rules that specify other types of removals, in addition to the one listed in
par. (a), that may be authorized by statewide general permits.
30.20(2)
(2) Contracts and individual permits. 30.20(2)(a)(a) The department may enter into a contract on behalf of the state for the removal and lease or sale of any material from the bed of any navigable lake or of any outlying waters if the contract is consistent with public rights. A person seeking to enter into such a contract shall apply to the department. Each contract entered into under this paragraph shall contain any conditions that the department determines are necessary for the protection of the public interest and the interests of the state. Each contract entered into under this paragraph shall also fix the amount of compensation to be paid to the state for the material to be removed, except that the contract may not require that any compensation be paid for material if the material will not be resold. Each contract entered into under this paragraph may not run for more than 5 years. The department may allow one extension of a contract entered into under this paragraph, upon application to the department. The extension shall be for the same period as the original contract.
30.20(2)(b)
(b) The department may enter into a contract on behalf of the state for the removal and lease or sale of any mineral, ore, or other material from beneath the bed of a navigable water that the state may own if the contract will be consistent with public rights and if the navigable water will not be disturbed in the removal operation. A person seeking to enter into such a contract shall apply to the department. Each contract entered into under this paragraph shall contain any conditions that the department determines are necessary for the protection of the public interest and the interest of the state. Each contract entered into under this paragraph shall also fix the compensation to be paid to the state for the mineral, ore, or other material to be removed. Each contract entered into under this paragraph may not run for more than 75 years. Should any doubt exist as to whether the state, in fact, owns such lake bed or stream bed such contract or lease shall be for such interests, if any, as the state may own. Title to the royalties to be paid when mining operations are begun shall be determined at such future time as royalties for ores so sold are paid or are due and payable.
30.20(2)(bn)
(bn) For a removal that is not exempt under
sub. (1g) and that is not subject to a general permit under
sub. (1t), a person may apply to the department for an individual permit that is required under
sub. (1) (b) in order to remove material from the bed of any lake or stream not described under
sub. (1) (a).
30.20(2)(c)
(c) The department shall issue an individual permit pursuant to an application under
par. (bn) if the department finds that the issuance of the permit will be consistent with the public interest in the lake or stream.
30.20(2)(d)
(d) If an applicant for a permit under
par. (bn) submits the application at least 30 days before the proposed date of the removal, the department may issue the permit for a period of up to 10 years. The department may allow one extension of a permit issued under this paragraph, upon application to the department. The extension shall be for the same period of time as the original permit.
30.20(2)(e)
(e) The notice and hearing provisions of
s. 30.208 (3) to
(5) apply to an application for a permit or contract under this subsection.
30.20 Cross-reference
Cross Reference: See also chs.
NR 305,
320,
346,
347, and
353, Wis. adm. code.
30.20 Annotation
Before proceeding to remove an obstruction under s. 88.90 (3), one must obtain a permit under s. 30.20. State v. Dwyer,
91 Wis. 2d 440,
283 N.W.2d 448 (Ct. App. 1979).
30.20 Annotation
When 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.
30.201
30.201
Financial assurance for nonmetallic mining. 30.201(1)(1) If the department requires that financial assurance be provided as a condition for a permit under
s. 30.19,
30.195, or
30.20 or for a contract under
s. 30.20 for nonmetallic mining and reclamation, the financial assurance may be a bond or alternative financial assurance. An alternative financial assurance may include cash or any of the following:
30.201(1)(f)
(f) Any other demonstration of financial responsibility.
30.201(2)
(2) Any interest earned by the financial assurance shall be paid to the person operating the nonmetallic mining or reclamation project.
30.201 History
History: 2003 a. 118.
30.202
30.202
Dredge disposal in and near the Mississippi, St. Croix and Black rivers by the U.S. corps of engineers. 30.202(1)(1)
Memorandum of understanding. The department may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. corps of engineers concerning the dredging of the Mississippi, St. Croix and Black rivers and the disposal of these dredge spoils. Any memorandum of understanding shall specify approved sites where dredge spoils may be deposited and shall specify conditions and standards which are required for use of an approved site. A memorandum of understanding may contain recommended or required dredge disposal methods, equipment and policies.
30.202(2)
(2) Authorization for dredging and dredge spoil disposal. If the department enters into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. corps of engineers under
sub. (1), the U.S. corps of engineers may deposit dredge spoils from dredging the Mississippi, St. Croix and Black rivers at approved sites according to specified conditions and standards including any special conditions and standards established under
sub. (4).
30.202(3)
(3) Exemption from statutes and rules. Dredge spoil disposal activities authorized under
sub. (2) are exempt from any prohibition, restriction, requirement, permit, license, approval, authorization, fee, notice, hearing, procedure or penalty specified under
s. 29.601,
30.01 to
30.20,
30.21 to
30.99,
59.692 or
87.30 or
chs. 281 to
285 or
289 to
299, except
s. 281.48, or specified in any rule promulgated, order issued or ordinance adopted under those sections or chapters.
30.202(4)
(4) Hazardous waste dredge spoil disposal. In consultation with the U.S. corps of engineers, the department shall establish special conditions and standards for the disposal of dredge spoils which are hazardous waste, as defined under
s. 291.01 (7). These special conditions and standards shall be established to ensure that public health and the environment are protected.
30.2022
30.2022
Activities of department of transportation. 30.2022(1)(1) Activities affecting waters of the state, as defined in
s. 281.01 (18), that are carried out under the direction and supervision of the department of transportation in connection with highway, bridge, or other transportation project design, location, construction, reconstruction, maintenance, and repair are not subject to the prohibitions or permit or approval requirements specified under
s. 29.601,
30.11,
30.12,
30.123,
30.19,
30.195,
30.20,
59.692,
61.351,
62.231, or
87.30 or
chs. 281 to
285 or
289 to
299, except
s. 281.48. However, at the earliest practical time prior to the commencement of these activities, the department of transportation shall notify the department of the location, nature, and extent of the proposed work that may affect the waters of the state.
30.2022(2)
(2) The exemption under
sub. (1) does not apply unless the activity is accomplished in accordance with interdepartmental liaison procedures established by the department and the department of transportation for the purpose of minimizing the adverse environmental impact, if any, of the activity.
30.2022(3)
(3) If the department determines that there is reasonable cause to believe that an activity being carried out under this section is not in compliance with the environmental protection requirements developed through interdepartmental liaison procedures, it shall notify the department of transportation. If the secretary and the secretary of transportation are unable to agree upon the methods or time schedules to be used to correct the alleged noncompliance, the secretary, notwithstanding the exemption provided in this section, may proceed with enforcement actions as the secretary deems appropriate.
30.2022(4)
(4) The department of transportation and the department shall exchange information and cooperate in the planning and carrying out of such activities in order to alleviate, to the extent practical under the circumstances, any potential detrimental encroachment on the waters of the state.
30.2022(5)
(5) Except as may be required otherwise under
s. 1.11, no public notice or hearing is required in connection with any interdepartmental consultation and cooperation under this section.
30.2022(6)
(6) This section does not apply to activities in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, as defined in
s. 30.40 (15).
30.2022 History
History: 2003 a. 118 ss.
48 to
53,
129.
30.2023
30.2023
Seawalls; Wolf River and Fox River basins. A riparian owner is exempt from the permit requirements under
s. 30.12 for a structure that is placed on the bed of a navigable water in the Wolf River and Fox River basin area, as described in
s. 30.207 (1), and that extends beyond the ordinary high-water mark, if the following conditions apply:
30.2023(1)
(1) The structure is a vertical wall designed to prevent land from eroding into a navigable water.
30.2023(2)
(2) The structure is not a replacement for an existing structure and is placed on the bed of an artificial enlargement of a navigable water, or the structure is a replacement for an existing structure placed on the bed of a navigable water, including the bed of an artificial enlargement of a navigable water.
30.2023(3)
(3) If the structure is a replacement for an existing structure placed on the bed of a navigable water, including the bed of an artificial enlargement of a navigable water, it is placed not more than 2 feet waterward of the structure that it is replacing.
30.2023(4)
(4) The structure incorporates adequate bracing and anchors to ensure structural stability.
30.2023(5)
(5) A filter fabric lining containing a layer of gravel extends from the landward side of the structure to facilitate drainage.
30.2023(6)
(6) The base of the structure extends to a sufficient depth into the bed of the navigable water to ensure the structure's stability and to prevent the structure from failing.
30.2023(7)
(7) The structure is secured into the bank of the navigable water in a manner that prevents erosion or scouring.
30.2023(8)
(8) The riparian owner places riprap at the base of the waterward side of the structure up to the waterline or, if the structure is placed in a location where watercraft are moored, the riparian owner places riprap at the base of the waterward side of the structure up to a point that allows adequate space for the mooring of watercraft.
30.2023(9)
(9) The structure is constructed of treated wood and built so that the top of the structure meets the lower of the following:
30.2023(9)(a)
(a) The natural topography of the bank of the navigable water.
30.2023(9)(b)
(b) A point that is 4 feet above the ordinary high-water mark of the navigable water.
30.2023(9)(c)
(c) The minimum height required to prevent overtopping by wave action.
30.2023 History
History: 2003 a. 118 ss.
42,
43.
30.2025
30.2025
Lake Koshkonong comprehensive project. 30.2025(1)(1)
Definition. In this section, "district" means the Rock-Koshkonong public inland lake protection and rehabilitation district.
30.2025(2)
(2) Authorization. The district may implement a project developed and approved by the U.S. army corps of engineers to place structures, or fill, or both on the bed of Lake Koshkonong for any of the following purposes:
30.2025(2)(a)
(a) To improve navigation or to provide navigation aids.
30.2025(2)(b)
(b) To restore or protect wetland habitat or water quality.
30.2025(2)(c)
(c) To create, restore, or protect fish and wildlife habitat.
