Statement of Scope
Department of Natural Resources
Relating to: | Wisconsin DNR property management regulations in chs. NR 5, 10, 11, 15, 17, 20, 26, 27, 45 and 51 |
1. Finding/nature of emergency (Emergency Rule only):
This will be a permanent rule.
2. Detailed description of the objective of the proposed rule:
Chapter NR 45, Wis. Admin. Code governs the conduct of visitors to the lands and facilities owned, eased, or leased by the department. The department reviews this chapter every 3-4 years. For this rule, the department’s focus will remain on ch. NR 45, but the department may also consider revisions to department lands rules in other related chapters of administrative code to improve consistency and organizational structure between chapters, and other changes of a minor nature. This rule would update fee structures, vehicle and boat use regulations, camping rules and hours of operation, technology regulations, rules relating to the possession of animals, general property use rules and property-specific rules. This rule will also streamline language, minimize redundancy and clarify provisions in ch. NR 45 and related administrative codes. 3. Description of the existing policies relevant to the rule, new policies proposed to be included in the rule, and an analysis of policy alternatives:
This rule will include changes in the following categories.
Fee structures
This rule will consider fee structures on various properties that charge fees for camping, parking, boat docking, rentals or other purposes. Fee modifications may include updating fees to keep pace with factors such as public use and facility management expenses, eliminating certain fees, establishing fee areas described in property master plans or for meeting facilities, and modifying fee structures.
Vehicle and boat use
The department will consider adding or modifying areas in which vehicles may be used, and may clarify rules on whether ATVs/UTVs, snowmobiles, bicycles and segways can be used on roads and trails within properties. This rule may also modify motorboat regulations for waters on state properties, including prohibiting motorboat use in some waters, allowing their use in other waters, and determining a policy for motorboat use in flowages, ditches and wetlands. This rule may also address vehicle rules that are already covered elsewhere in administrative code or statutes.
Camping and operating hours
The department will revise camping policies to bring them up to date with the new camping reservation system, and may allow or prohibit camping on certain types of department properties, such as wildlife areas, and change camping admission and facility rules and fees. This rule may also exempt hunters or trappers engaged in a legal, open season to enter wildlife areas outside regular operating hours. This rule will also review quiet hours and hours that visitors may use the property, and make changes if needed.
Technology
This rule will establish policies and restrictions for drone use on or over department lands. This rule may also propose regulations for the use of newer types of weapons, such as airsoft guns.
Animals
This rule will evaluate and potentially revise areas of properties, including facilities, where pets are allowed on and off-leash. The rule may modify restrictions on equine animals to include other non-equine, large hoofed animals, and may also revise policies on the use of equine and hoofed animals on roads open to motor vehicles. This rule will also codify rules prohibiting feeding wildlife.
General property use
This rule will address allowable uses of department-managed properties to limit detrimental uses and encourage recreational use in line with the management strategies of each property. The rule may modify regulations for gathering edible and non-edible natural materials for personal use, apply consistent regulations to firearm and non-firearm weapon use and hunting on department lands and near or within designated use areas, add counties to the list of counties where shooting is not allowed outside of the hunting seasons, clarify policies for recreational activities such as rock climbing to protect safety and property, and review policies on multi-use trails and property accessibility. The department may also review and update solicitation restrictions, review noise level rules, and update rules for certain structures placed on state lands, such as trail cameras and artificial hives or swarm traps. This rule will review closures on properties or parts of properties during part of or the entire year, and may consolidate closures into one section for simplification. This rule will also make minor changes and clarifications to language to reduce confusion and facilitate law enforcement efforts.
Property-specific regulations
The department will address regulations to meet a variety of public health, safety and welfare and land and resource management goals on state-owned and -managed properties. The department may update rules specific to individual properties, or may consolidate rules that currently apply to individual properties into a different section or structure. Proposals for specific department properties include but are not limited to:
Reviewing boating regulations.
Prohibiting access for safety, conservation or landscape preservation needs on certain state natural areas.
Revising beverage regulations on certain properties to allow drinking water.
Increasing fees for certain events and rentals at specific state parks and forests.
Revising falconry and trapping regulations.
Evaluating legal fishing methods on department lands containing a lake.
Allowing additional activities under an event permit on certain properties.
Allowing additional hunting opportunities on specific state recreation areas.
Revising camping reservation policy for units of Kettle Moraine state forest and potentially other properties with backpacking trails to limit the number of backpackers that camp at the same place on the trail for consecutive nights.
Requiring a vehicle admission sticker on one or more properties where this is not currently required.
Prohibiting grilling on docks on certain properties.
