Chapter 23

23.24(1)(g) (g) “Invasive aquatic plant” means an aquatic plant that is designated under sub. (2) (b).

23.24(1)(h) (h) “Manage” means to introduce or control.

23.24(1)(i) (i) “Native” means indigenous to the waters of this state.

23.24(1)(j) (j) “Nonnative” means not indigenous to the waters of this state.

23.24(1)(k) (k) “Waters of this state” means any surface waters within the territorial limits of this state.

23.24(2) (2) Department duties.

23.24(2)(a) (a) The department shall establish a program for the waters of this state to do all of the following:

23.24(2)(a)1. 1. Implement efforts to protect and develop diverse and stable communities of native aquatic plants.

23.24(2)(a)2. 2. Regulate how aquatic plants are managed.

23.24(2)(a)4. 4. Administer and establish by rule procedures and requirements for the issuing of aquatic plant management permits required under sub. (3).

23.24(2)(b) (b) Under the program implemented under par. (a), the department shall designate by rule which aquatic plants are invasive aquatic plants for purposes of this section. The department shall designate Eurasian water milfoil, curly leaf pondweed, and purple loosestrife as invasive aquatic plants and may designate any other aquatic plant as an invasive aquatic plant if it has the ability to cause significant adverse change to desirable aquatic habitat, to significantly displace desirable aquatic vegetation, or to reduce the yield of products produced by aquaculture.

23.24(2)(c) (c) The requirements promulgated under par. (a) 4. may specify any of the following:

23.24(2)(c)1. 1. The quantity of aquatic plants that may be managed under an aquatic plant management permit.

23.24(2)(c)2. 2. The species of aquatic plants that may be managed under an aquatic plant management permit.

23.24(2)(c)3. 3. The areas in which aquatic plants may be managed under an aquatic plant management permit.

23.24(2)(c)4. 4. The methods that may be used to manage aquatic plants under an aquatic plant management permit.

23.24(2)(c)5. 5. The times during which aquatic plants may be managed under an aquatic plant management permit.

23.24(2)(c)6. 6. The allowable methods for disposing or using aquatic plants that are removed or controlled under an aquatic plant management permit.

23.24(2)(c)7. 7. The requirements for plans that the department may require under sub. (3) (b).

23.24(3) (3) Permits.

23.24(3)(a) (a) Unless a person has a valid aquatic plant management permit issued by the department, no person may do any of the following:

23.24(3)(a)1. 1. Introduce nonnative aquatic plants into waters of this state.

23.24(3)(a)2. 2. Manually remove aquatic plants from navigable waters.

23.24(3)(a)3. 3. Control aquatic plants in waters of this state by the use of chemicals.

23.24(3)(a)4. 4. Control aquatic plants in navigable waters by introducing biological agents, by using a process that involves dewatering, desiccation, burning, or freezing, or by using mechanical means.

23.24(3)(b) (b) The department may require that an application for an aquatic plant management permit contain a plan for the department’s approval as to how the aquatic plants will be introduced, removed, or controlled.

23.24(3)(c) (c) The department may promulgate a rule to establish fees for aquatic plant management permits. Under the rule, the department may establish a different fee for an aquatic plant management permit to manage aquatic plants that are located in a body of water that is entirely confined on the property of one property owner.

23.24(4) (4) Exemptions from permits.

23.24(4)(a) (a) In this subsection:

23.24(4)(a)1. 1. “Local governmental unit” means a political subdivision of this state, a special purpose district in this state, an instrumentality or corporation of the political subdivision or special purpose district, or a combination or subunit of any of the foregoing.

23.24(4)(a)2. 2. “State agency” means any office, department, independent agency, or attached board or commission within the executive branch of state government, or any special purpose authority created by statute.

23.24(4)(b) (b) The permit requirement under sub. (3) does not apply to any of the following:

23.24(4)(b)1. 1. A person who manually removes aquatic plants from privately owned stream beds with the permission of the landowner.

23.24(4)(b)2. 2. A person who engages in an activity listed under sub. (3) (a) in the course of harvesting wild rice as authorized under s. 29.607.

23.24(4)(b)3. 3. A person who engages in an activity listed under sub. (3) (a) in the course of operating a fish farm as authorized under s. 95.60.

23.24(4)(b)4. 4. A person who engages in an activity listed under sub. (3) (a) in the course of performing shoreline maintenance as authorized under s. 30.125.

23.24(4)(c) (c) The department may promulgate a rule to waive the permit requirement under sub. (3) (a) 2. for any of the following:

23.24(4)(c)1. 1. A person who owns property on which there is a body of water that is entirely confined on the property of that person.

23.24(4)(c)2. 2. A riparian owner who manually removes aquatic plants from a body of water that abuts the owner’s property provided that the removal does not interfere with the rights of other riparian owners.

23.24(4)(c)3. 3. A person who is controlling purple loosestrife.

23.24(4)(c)4. 4. A person who uses chemicals in a body of water for the purpose of controlling bacteria on bathing beaches.

23.24(4)(c)5. 5. A person who uses chemicals on plants to prevent the plants from interfering with the use of water for drinking purposes.

23.24(4)(c)6. 6. A state agency or a local governmental unit that uses a chemical treatment in a body of water for the purpose of protecting the public health.

23.24(5) (5) Distribution prohibited. No person may distribute an invasive aquatic plant.

23.24(6) (6) Penalties.

23.24(6)(a) (a) Except as provided in par. (b), any person who violates sub. (3) shall forfeit not more than $200.

23.24(6)(b) (b) A person who violates sub. (3) and who, within 5 years before the arrest of the current conviction, was previously convicted of a violation of sub. (3) shall be fined not less than $700 nor more than $2,000 or shall be imprisoned for not less than 6 months nor more than 9 months or both.

23.24(6)(c) (c) The court may order a person who is convicted under par. (b) to abate any nuisance caused by the violation, restore any natural resource damaged by the violation, or take other appropriate action to eliminate or minimize any environmental damage caused by the violation.

23.24(6)(d) (d) A person who violates sub. (5) shall forfeit not more than $100.

23.24 History History: 2001 a. 16, 109; 2007 a. 20; 2011 a. 258; 2017 a. 281.

23.24 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 109, Wis. adm. code.

23.25 23.25 Geographic powers and duties.

23.25(1) (1) The department shall do all of the following:

23.25(1)(a) (a) Determine the correct and most appropriate names of the lakes, streams, places, and other geographic features in the state, and the spelling of those names.

23.25(1)(b) (b) Pass upon and give names to lakes, streams, places, and other geographic features in the state for which no single generally accepted name has been in use.

23.25(1)(c) (c) In cooperation with county boards and with their approval, change the names of lakes, streams, places, and other geographic features in order to eliminate, as far as possible, duplication of names within the state.

23.25(1)(d) (d) Prepare and publish an official state dictionary of geographic names and publish the dictionary, either as a completed whole, or in parts, when ready.

23.25(1)(e) (e) Serve as the state representative of the U.S. geographic board and cooperate with the U.S. geographic board so that there shall be no conflict between the state and federal designations of geographic features in the state.

23.25(2) (2) Except as provided under sub. (2m), whenever the department has given a name to any lake, stream, place or other geographic feature within the state, or determined the correct spelling of any such name, it shall be used on all maps and in all reports and other publications thereafter issued by the state or any of its political subdivisions, and it shall be the official name of the geographic feature.

23.25(2m) (2m) Notwithstanding subs. (1) and (2), the portion of the Galena River located within the state is renamed the Fever River. That name shall be used on all maps and in all reports and other publications issued by the state or any of its political subdivisions on and after May 14, 1992, and it shall be the official name of this river.

23.25(3) (3) No person shall in any advertisement or publication attempt to modify local usage or name unnamed geographic features without first obtaining the approval of the department. In case of a violation of this subsection, the department may announce its disapproval and thereafter adopt an official name for such feature.

23.25 History History: 1991 a. 284; 2005 a. 149.

23.26 23.26 Natural areas preservation council. The natural areas preservation council shall:

23.26(1) (1) Make recommendations to the department concerning the suitability of natural areas offered as donations by individuals or organizations for inclusion in the state natural areas system, make recommendations to the department concerning the purchase of natural areas to be included in the state natural areas system and make recommendations concerning the suitability of natural areas offered as dedications by individuals or organizations for inclusion in the state natural areas system.

23.26(2) (2) Make recommendations to appropriate federal agencies or national scientific organizations of natural areas in the state that are considered worthy to be listed as natural areas or scientific areas of national importance.

23.26(3) (3) Advise the department and other agencies on matters pertaining to the acquisition, development, utilization, maintenance and withdrawal of state natural areas, including determinations as to the extent of multiple use that may be allowed on state natural areas that are a part of a state park, state forest, public hunting ground or similar areas under state ownership or control.

23.26(4) (4) Prepare and publish an official list of research natural and other natural areas in the state natural area system available for research and the teaching of conservation and natural history, and recommend publication of studies made in connection with these areas.

23.26(5) (5) Cooperate with federal agencies, other states, counties or organizations concerned with preservation of natural areas.

23.26(6) (6) Take such other action as is deemed advisable to facilitate the administration, development, maintenance or protection of natural areas and the state natural areas system.

23.26 History History: 1985 a. 29; Stats. 1985 s. 23.26.

23.27 23.27 Natural areas; definitions; importance; inventory; acquisition; sales.

23.27(1) (1) Definitions. As used in this section and ss. 23.28 and 23.29:

23.27(1)(a) (a) “Council” means the natural areas preservation council.

23.27(1)(b) (b) “Dedicated state natural areas” means land accepted and recorded for dedication under the Wisconsin natural areas heritage program as provided under s. 23.29 (16).

23.27(1)(c) (c) “Dedication” means the transfer of land or a permanent interest in land to the state of Wisconsin to be held in trust for the people of Wisconsin by the department in a manner which ensures the protection and stewardship of the area and natural values associated with the area. “Dedication” also means the binding unilateral declaration by the state that land under the ownership of the state is to be held in trust for the people of Wisconsin by the department in a manner which ensures the protection and stewardship of the area and natural values associated with the area.

23.27(1)(d) (d) “Designated state natural area” means a natural area designated as a state natural area under s. 23.28 (1).

23.27(1)(e) (e) “Natural area” means an area of land or water which has educational or scientific value or is important as a reservoir of the state’s genetic or biologic diversity and includes any buffer area necessary to protect the area’s natural values. Frequently, “natural areas” are important as a reserve for native biotic communities. Frequently, “natural areas” provide habitat for endangered, threatened or critical species or for species of special concern to scientists. In some cases, “natural areas” include areas with highly significant geological or archaeological features. Generally, “natural areas” are areas which largely escaped unnatural environmental disturbance or which exhibit little evidence of recent environmental disturbance so that recovery of natural conditions has occurred.

23.27(1)(f) (f) “Natural values” includes any important values and characteristics listed under sub. (2) (a) to (i) which enable an area to be considered a natural area.

23.27(1)(g) (g) “Research natural area” means all or part of a state natural area identified by the department, with the advice of the council, as a natural area especially suitable or important for scientific research.

23.27(1)(h) (h) “State natural area”, unless otherwise limited, means any designated state natural area or dedicated state natural area.

23.27(1)(i) (i) “Stewardship” means the continuing obligation to provide the necessary maintenance, management, protection, husbandry and support for a natural area and natural values associated with that area.

23.27(2) (2) Importance. The department, with the advice of the council, shall maintain a system to evaluate the importance of natural areas. The system shall include standards for determining low, high and critical levels of importance for natural areas. This system shall consider the following natural values:

23.27(2)(a) (a) The value of the area as a preserve or reservoir which exhibits an outstanding or high quality example of a native plant or animal community.

23.27(2)(b) (b) The value of the area as a preserve or reservoir for any endangered, threatened or critical species or for a species of special concern to scientists.

23.27(2)(c) (c) The value of the area as a preserve or reservoir of genetic or biological diversity.

23.27(2)(d) (d) The degree to which the area was subject to unnatural environmental disturbance and the degree of recovery.

23.27(2)(e) (e) The value of the area for educational or scientific research purposes and as a reference site for comparison with areas subjected to environmental disturbance.

23.27(2)(f) (f) The value of the area for educational or scientific research purposes because of important or unusual characteristics.

23.27(2)(g) (g) The significance or uniqueness of the area in the locality, region and state.