Chapter 30

30.125(3)(e) (e) The removal of invasive species shall be conducted in a manner that prevents the spread of invasive species into the waters of this state and onto adjacent land.

30.125(3)(f) (f) The activity may not involve the filling of a coastal wetland or the alteration of a coastal dune.

30.125 History History: 2017 a. 281.

30.1255 30.1255 Report on control of aquatic nuisance species.

30.1255(1) (1) Definition. In this section, “aquatic nuisance species” means a nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters or that threatens a commercial, agricultural, aquacultural or recreational activity dependent on infested waters.

30.1255(3) (3) Biennial reports.

30.1255(3)(a) (a) The department shall submit to the legislature biennial reports describing all of the following:

30.1255(3)(a)1. 1. The current and potential economic and environmental impact of aquatic nuisance species on the waters of the state.

30.1255(3)(a)2. 2. Potential strategies to control aquatic nuisance species.

30.1255(3)(a)3. 3. Any geographical areas, public facilities or activities conducted in this state that need technical or financial assistance to reduce the environmental, public health or safety risk that may be caused by aquatic nuisance species.

30.1255(3)(b) (b) The department shall submit the report required under par. (a) before October 1 of each even-numbered year as part of the corresponding biennial report under s. 23.22 (6).

30.1255 History History: 1991 a. 269; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2001 a. 109; 2009 a. 55.

30.126 30.126 Regulation of fishing rafts.

30.126(2) (2) Prohibition of fishing rafts. Except as provided under subs. (3) and (4), no person may construct or place a fishing raft on any navigable water.

30.126(3) (3) Exception for fishing rafts on the Mississippi River. A person may maintain any fishing raft located below and in close proximity to a lock or dam on the Mississippi River if the fishing raft is constructed or in place prior to December 4, 1983. A person may construct, place and maintain a fishing raft below and in proximity to a lock or dam on the Mississippi River if a permit is obtained for the fishing raft under s. 30.12.

30.126(4) (4) Exception for fishing rafts on the Wolf River. A person may construct, place and maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River if the person complies with the restrictions under sub. (5). Authorized portions of the Wolf River consist of any part of the Wolf River or its stream tributaries from the Shawano dam downstream to Lake Poygan.

30.126(5) (5) Restrictions on fishing rafts on the Wolf River.

30.126(5)(a) (a) May not obstruct navigation or interfere with public rights. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River in a manner which materially obstructs navigation or which materially interferes with public rights in the navigable waters.

30.126(5)(b) (b) May not be located in channel. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River in the channel of the waterway.

30.126(5)(c) (c) May not block more than 25 percent of the waterway. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River if the raft alone or in combination with any other fishing rafts previously constructed and placed on the waterway results in the obstruction of more than 25 percent of the width of the waterway.

30.126(5)(d) (d) May not be located within 10 feet of another fishing raft. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River within 10 feet of any other fishing raft previously constructed and placed on the waterway.

30.126(5)(e) (e) May not affect riparian rights without permission of riparian owner. No person who is not the riparian owner may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft which is attached or adjacent to property of a riparian owner or which otherwise affects the rights of a riparian owner unless the person receives the written permission of the riparian owner.

30.126(5)(f) (f) May not be used during certain times of the year. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River prior to March 1 of any year. Any person who constructs, places or maintains a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River shall remove or cause the removal of the fishing raft from the waterway on or before October 31 of each year.

30.126(5)(g) (g) May not have improper flotation devices. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River unless each flotation device used on the fishing raft is clean and uncontaminated, properly attached to the fishing raft and properly maintained in conformity with minimum standards established by the department by rule. The department shall establish minimum standards for the condition, attachment and maintenance of flotation devices used on fishing rafts.

30.126(5)(h) (h) May not have improper toilets. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River if the fishing raft is equipped with a toilet which permits toilet waste to be disposed of in the waterway. A toilet on a fishing raft shall comply with rules of the department of safety and professional services as if the toilet were on a boat.

30.126(5)(i) (i) May not be abandoned. No person who constructs or places a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River may abandon the fishing raft.

30.126(5)(j) (j) May not be improperly maintained. No person who constructs or places a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River may fail to maintain the fishing raft in conformity with minimum standards established by the department by rule. After consulting with Wolf River municipalities, the department shall establish by rule minimum standards for the maintenance of fishing rafts to ensure proper repair, to promote maintenance in an aesthetically pleasing manner and to reduce the possibility that debris or litter from the fishing raft will be deposited in the waterway.

30.126(5)(k) (k) May not be used unless registered. No person may construct, place or maintain a fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River unless the fishing raft is registered under the uniform registration system and unless the registration number is displayed on the raft and on each flotation device in 3-inch block letters.

30.126(6) (6) Registration of fishing rafts on the Wolf River.

30.126(6)(a) (a) Department to establish a uniform registration system. The department shall establish by rule general standards for a uniform registration system for fishing rafts, on authorized portions of the Wolf River, which includes all the following:

30.126(6)(a)1. 1. A uniform numbering system for fishing rafts and flotation devices used on fishing rafts.

30.126(6)(a)2. 2. Provisions for the annual registration of all fishing rafts.

30.126(6)(a)3. 3. Provisions for the payment of an annual registration fee of $5 for each fishing raft.

30.126(6)(b) (b) Municipal adoption, administration and enforcement of uniform registration system.

30.126(6)(b)1. 1. A Wolf River municipality shall adopt by ordinance and administer and enforce a uniform registration system for fishing rafts consistent with the general standards established by the department.

30.126(6)(b)2. 2. A Wolf River municipality which adopts, administers and enforces a uniform registration system for fishing rafts and which adopts and enforces restrictions on fishing rafts may retain all registration fees to administer and enforce the uniform registration system and the restrictions.

30.126(6)(b)3. 3. A Wolf River municipality which adopts a uniform registration system for fishing rafts shall transmit a complete list of all registered fishing rafts and their owners to the department on or before April 1 of each year.

30.126(6)(c) (c) Failure of municipality to adopt, administer or enforce the uniform registration system. If a Wolf River municipality fails to adopt by ordinance a uniform registration system for fishing rafts within 120 days after the effective date of rules promulgated by the department under par. (a), or fails to adequately administer or enforce the uniform registration system for fishing rafts, the department, after providing notice and conducting a hearing on the matter, may adopt or administer and enforce the uniform registration system for fishing rafts in that municipality. If the department adopts, administers or enforces the uniform registration system for fishing rafts in a Wolf River municipality, the department may retain all registration fees for fishing rafts registered in that municipality.

30.126(6)(d) (d) Conflicts. Any conflict in jurisdiction arising from the enactment of ordinances for the registration of fishing rafts on authorized portions of the Wolf River by 2 or more Wolf River municipalities shall be resolved under s. 66.0105.

30.126(7) (7) Municipal regulation of fishing rafts on the Wolf River.

30.126(7)(a) (a) Municipal adoption and enforcement of restrictions on fishing rafts. A Wolf River municipality shall adopt by ordinance and enforce restrictions on fishing rafts at least as restrictive as those under sub. (5).

30.126(7)(b) (b) Failure of a municipality to adopt and enforce restrictions on fishing rafts. If a Wolf River municipality fails to adopt by ordinance restrictions on fishing rafts within 120 days after the effective date of rules promulgated by the department under subs. (5) (g) and (j) and (6) (a), or fails to adequately enforce the restrictions on fishing rafts, the department, after providing notice and conducting a hearing on the matter, may enforce restrictions on fishing rafts. If the department enforces restrictions on fishing rafts in a Wolf River municipality, the department may retain all registration fees for fishing rafts registered in that municipality.

30.126(7)(c) (c) Conflicts. Any conflict in jurisdiction arising from the enactment of ordinances restricting fishing rafts on authorized portions of the Wolf River by 2 or more Wolf River municipalities shall be resolved under s. 66.0105.

30.126(8) (8) Removal of fishing rafts.

30.126(8)(a) (a) Municipality may order removal. A Wolf River municipality may order a person who is violating restrictions under sub. (5) or restrictions on fishing rafts adopted by ordinance to comply with the restrictions or to remove the fishing raft from authorized portions of the Wolf River.

30.126(8)(b) (b) Municipality may cause removal.

30.126(8)(b)1. 1. If a person fails to comply with an order issued under par. (a) or if a Wolf River municipality is unable to issue an order under par. (a) because the fishing raft is not registered and the municipality cannot determine who constructed, placed or maintained the fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River, the municipality may remove the fishing raft and dispose of it.

30.126(8)(b)2. 2. The owner or person responsible for the fishing raft shall reimburse a Wolf River municipality for all costs associated with the removal and disposal of the fishing raft under this paragraph.

30.126(8)(c) (c) Department authority to order removal.

30.126(8)(c)1. 1. The department may order a person who is violating sub. (2) to remove the fishing raft from the navigable waters.

30.126(8)(c)2. 2. The department shall report any violation of sub. (5) to the Wolf River municipality where the violation occurred.

30.126(8)(c)3. 3. If the Wolf River municipality does not act under par. (b) 1. within 90 days after the department reports the violation, the department may order the person who is violating restrictions under sub. (5) to comply with the restrictions or to remove the fishing raft from authorized portions of the Wolf River.

30.126(8)(d) (d) Department authority to cause removal.

30.126(8)(d)1. 1. If a person does not comply with an order issued under par. (c) 1. or if the department is unable to issue an order under par. (c) 1. because the department cannot determine who constructed, placed or maintained the fishing raft on the navigable waters, the department may remove the fishing raft and dispose of it.

30.126(8)(d)2. 2. If a person does not comply with an order issued under par. (c) 3., the department may remove the fishing raft and dispose of it.

30.126(8)(d)3. 3. If the department is unable to issue an order under par. (c) 3. because the fishing raft is not registered and the department cannot determine who constructed, placed or maintained the fishing raft on authorized portions of the Wolf River and if the Wolf River municipality does not act under par. (b) 1. within 120 days after the department reports the violation, the department may remove the fishing raft and dispose of it.

30.126(8)(d)4. 4. The owner or person responsible for the fishing raft shall reimburse the department for all costs associated with the removal and disposal of the fishing raft under this paragraph.

30.126(9) (9) Enforcement.

30.126(9)(a) (a) Department and district attorney’s authority to enforce. The department or the district attorney for the county where the violation occurred may enforce this section, any rule promulgated under this section or any order issued by the department under this section. Before the department may enforce standards and rules promulgated under sub. (5) (j) with respect to a specific fishing raft and before the department may issue an order based on these standards or rules with respect to a specific fishing raft, the department shall notify and consult with the Wolf River municipality where the fishing raft is located.

30.126(9)(b) (b) Municipality’s authority to enforce. A Wolf River municipality may enforce any ordinance adopted or order issued by the municipality under this section.

30.126(10) (10) Penalties.

30.126(10)(a) (a) Violation of statute, rule or department order. A person who violates this section, any rule promulgated under this section or any order issued by the department under this section shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $250 for each offense. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.

30.126(10)(b) (b) Violation of municipal ordinance or order. A person who violates any ordinance adopted or order issued by the municipality under this section is subject to the penalty established by ordinance. A Wolf River municipality may not establish this penalty at a level which is less severe than the penalty established under par. (a).

30.126 History History: 1983 a. 100; 1987 a. 374; 1995 a. 27 ss. 1658, 9116 (5); 1999 a. 150 s. 672; 2011 a. 32.

30.126 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. NR 324, Wis. adm. code.

30.13 30.13 Regulation of wharves, piers and swimming rafts; establishment of pierhead lines.

30.13(1) (1) Construction allowed without permit under certain circumstances. A riparian proprietor may construct a wharf or pier in a navigable waterway extending beyond the ordinary high-water mark or an established bulkhead line in aid of navigation without obtaining a permit under s. 30.12 if the pier or wharf is exempt from obtaining a permit under s. 30.12 or if all of the following conditions are met:

30.13(1)(a) (a) The wharf or pier does not interfere with public rights in navigable waters.

30.13(1)(b) (b) The wharf or pier does not interfere with rights of other riparian proprietors.

30.13(1)(c) (c) The wharf or pier does not extend beyond any pierhead line which is established under sub. (3).

30.13(1)(d) (d) The wharf or pier does not violate any ordinances enacted under sub. (2).

30.13(1)(e) (e) The wharf or pier is constructed to allow the free movement of water underneath and in a manner which will not cause the formation of land upon the bed of the waterway.

30.13(1m) (1m) Swimming rafts allowed without permit under certain circumstances. A riparian owner may place a swimming raft in a navigable waterway for swimming and diving purposes without obtaining a permit under s. 30.12 if all of the following conditions are met:

30.13(1m)(a) (a) The swimming raft does not interfere with public rights in navigable waters.

30.13(1m)(b) (b) The swimming raft does not interfere with rights of other riparian owners.

30.13(1m)(c) (c) The swimming raft is placed within 200 feet of shore.

30.13(2) (2) Wharves, piers and swimming rafts regulated. A municipality may enact ordinances not inconsistent with this section regulating the construction and location of wharves, piers and swimming rafts located within or attached to land within that municipality.

30.13(3) (3) Establishment of pierhead lines.

30.13(3)(a) (a) Any municipality authorized by s. 30.11 to establish a bulkhead line may also establish a pierhead line in the same manner as it is authorized to establish a bulkhead line, except that a metes and bounds legal description is not required nor is the map required to be prepared by a professional land surveyor licensed under ch. 443 and except that if the municipality has created a board of harbor commissioners the municipality must obtain the approval of the board concerning the establishment of the pierhead line in addition to obtaining the approval of the department.

30.13(3)(b) (b) Any pierhead line established by a municipality shall be established in the interest of the preservation and protection of its harbor or of public rights in navigable waters.

30.13(4) (4) Unlawful obstruction.

30.13(4)(a) (a) Interferes with public rights. A wharf or pier which interferes with public rights in navigable waters constitutes an unlawful obstruction of navigable waters unless the wharf or pier is authorized under a permit issued under s. 30.12 or unless other authorization for the wharf or pier is expressly provided.

30.13(4)(b) (b) Interferes with riparian rights. A wharf or pier which interferes with rights of other riparian owners constitutes an unlawful obstruction of navigable waters unless the wharf or pier is authorized under a permit issued under s. 30.12 or unless other authorization for the wharf or pier is expressly provided.

30.13(4)(c) (c) Extends beyond pierhead line; exception. A wharf or pier which extends into navigable waters beyond any pierhead line established under sub. (3) constitutes an unlawful obstruction of navigable waters unless a valid permit, license or authorization for the wharf or pier is granted or unless it is a permissible preexisting wharf or pier. A wharf or pier is a permissible preexisting wharf or pier if it existed prior to the establishment of the pierhead line, if it is not extended or expanded after that date and if the ownership of the land to which it is attached did not change after that date except that a wharf or pier continues its status as a permissible preexisting wharf or pier for one year after the date the change of ownership is recorded. The seasonal removal of a wharf or pier does not affect its status as a permissible preexisting wharf or pier if it is reestablished in substantially the same form. Status as a permissible preexisting wharf or pier does not imply that authorization for the wharf or pier is provided for the purposes of par. (a) or (b). The owner of a wharf or pier may submit evidence to the municipality that it is a permissible preexisting wharf or pier at any time after the municipality establishes the pierhead line.

30.13(4)(d) (d) Violates regulations. A wharf or pier which violates the regulations contained in sub. (2) or in any ordinance enacted under sub. (2) constitutes an unlawful obstruction of navigable waters.

30.13(5m) (5m) Removal of wharves and piers in navigable waters.

30.13(5m)(a) (a)

30.13(5m)(a)1. 1. The governing body of a city, village or town or a designated officer may order the owner of a wharf or pier which constitutes an unlawful obstruction of navigable waters under sub. (4) to remove that portion of the wharf or pier which constitutes an unlawful obstruction.

30.13(5m)(a)2. 2. The governing body of a city, village or town or a designated officer may order the owner of a wharf or pier in navigable waters which in its judgment is so old, dilapidated or in need of repair that it is dangerous, unsafe or unfit for use to repair or remove the wharf or pier. If the governing body of a city, village or town or a designated officer determines that the cost of repair is likely to exceed 50 percent of the equalized assessed value of the wharf or pier or, if the wharf or pier is not subject to assessment, if the cost of repair is likely to exceed 50 percent of the current fair market value, then repair is presumed unreasonable and the wharf or pier is presumed to be a public nuisance.