Chapter 30

30.44(4) (4) Public access sites.

30.44(4)(a) (a) A person shall apply for and receive a permit before starting any of the following activities on land in the riverway:

30.44(4)(a)1. 1. Construction or modification of a public access site.

30.44(4)(a)2. 2. Repair of a damaged public access site or reconstruction of a destroyed public access site unless exempt under par. (d).

30.44(4)(b) (b) A person may not be issued a permit for an activity in par. (a) unless the performance standard in par. (c) is met.

30.44(4)(c) (c) All reasonable efforts, as determined by the board, shall be taken to minimize the visual impact of the public access site, including the use of exterior colors that harmonize with the surroundings and the limited use of glass or other reflective materials.

30.44(4)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) to (c) do not apply to the repair of a damaged public access site or to the reconstruction of a destroyed public access site if all of the following apply:

30.44(4)(d)1. 1. No municipal ordinance or other municipal regulation prohibits the repair or reconstruction.

30.44(4)(d)2. 2. The repaired or reconstructed public access site will not be larger in size or more visible from the river than it was immediately before it was damaged or destroyed.

30.44(5) (5) Bridges.

30.44(5)(a) (a) A person shall apply for and receive a permit before starting any of the following activities on land in the riverway:

30.44(5)(a)1. 1. Construction, modification or reconstruction of a bridge.

30.44(5)(a)2. 2. Repair of a bridge unless exempt under par. (d).

30.44(5)(b) (b) A person may not be issued a permit for an activity in par. (a) unless the performance standard in par. (c) is met.

30.44(5)(c) (c) Visual impact shall be minimized by the use of exterior colors that harmonize with the surroundings and by the limited use of glass or other reflective materials.

30.44(5)(d) (d) Paragraphs (a) and (b) do not apply to the repair of a bridge in the riverway if all of the following are applicable:

30.44(5)(d)1. 1. No municipal ordinance or other municipal regulation prohibits the repair.

30.44(5)(d)2. 2. The repaired bridge will not be larger in size or more visible from the river than it was immediately before it was damaged.

30.44(7) (7) Conditions on permits. The board may impose on a permit a condition that is necessary to assure compliance with the performance standards in subs. (1) to (5) or to assure that the activity is completed within a reasonable time.

30.44(8) (8) Board procedure.

30.44(8)(a) (a) Except as provided under sub. (1) (f), a person shall apply for and be issued by the board a permit for an activity in subs. (1) to (5) for land in the riverway.

30.44(8)(b) (b) The board may not issue a permit under par. (a) if the performance standards for the activity are not met.

30.44(8)(c) (c) The board may grant a waiver of a performance standard for an activity in sub. (1) (b) and issue a permit under par. (a) or may grant a waiver authorizing an activity prohibited under s. 30.45 (3) or (3m) for land in the riverway if one of the following applies:

30.44(8)(c)1. 1. A municipality requests the waiver that is necessary for municipal purposes.

30.44(8)(c)2. 2. An individual requests the waiver, enforcement of the performance standard or prohibition will cause unnecessary hardship to the individual and the visual impact of the activity will be minimized to the greatest degree possible.

30.44(8)(d) (d) For purposes of par. (c) 2., unnecessary hardship must be:

30.44(8)(d)1. 1. Compelling personal needs of the individual that are not self-imposed or self-created and that are not solely based on the financial hardship of the individual; or

30.44(8)(d)2. 2. Natural causes beyond the control of the individual.

30.44(8)(e) (e) The board may not grant a waiver under par. (c) 2. for unnecessary hardship due to natural causes beyond the control of the individual if the reason for granting the waiver is based solely on the financial hardship of the individual.

30.44(8)(f) (f)

30.44(8)(f)1. 1. The board may grant a waiver to modify a limitation for a wharf in the riverway, as specified under s. 30.45 (9) (a), if an individual requests the waiver, if enforcement of the limitation will cause unnecessary hardship to the individual and if the visual impact of the wharf will be minimized to the greatest degree possible.

30.44(8)(f)2. 2. For purposes of subd. 1., unnecessary hardship must be compelling personal needs of the individual that are not self-imposed or self-created and that are not solely based on the financial hardship of the individual.

30.44(10) (10) Revocation of permit.

30.44(10)(a) (a) The board shall revoke a permit issued under sub. (8) or s. 30.44 (9), 1993 stats., if a person fails to comply with the performance standards for the permit that are not waived under sub. (8) (c) or s. 30.44 (9) (c), 1993 stats.

30.44(10)(b) (b) The board shall revoke a general permit issued under sub. (1) (f) if it finds the performance standard under sub. (1) (e) is not being met in the designated area.

30.44 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 76, 189; 1995 a. 201, 211; 1997 a. 35, 204.

30.44 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also chs. NR 37 and RB 2, Wis. adm. code.

30.443 30.443 Erosion prevention and control.

30.443(1) (1) For activities under s. 30.44 (1) (b), the board may do any of the following:

30.443(1)(a) (a) Promulgate rules establishing standards for erosion prevention or control at sites in the riverway that are not subject to the standards established under s. 101.1206 (1), 101.653 (2), or 281.33 (3) (a) and that have a natural slope of 20 percent or less.

30.443(1)(b) (b) Promulgate rules establishing standards for erosion prevention or control that are in addition to standards established under ss. 101.1206 (1) and 101.653 (2) for sites in the riverway that are subject to those standards and that have a natural slope of 12 percent or more but 20 percent or less.

30.443(2) (2) The board may impose any of the applicable standards established under sub. (1) (a) or (b) or ss. 101.1206 (1) or 101.653 (2) as a condition for receiving a permit under s. 30.44 (1), and the board may promulgate rules to enforce these standards in the riverway.

30.443 History History: 1995 a. 211; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32; 2013 a. 20.

30.445 30.445 Piers.

30.445(1) (1) No person may construct, relocate or modify a pier or reconstruct a destroyed pier in the riverway.

30.445(2) (2) No person may have or maintain a pier in the riverway after November 30, 1990, unless the board has issued a permit for the pier under sub. (3) and the board has not revoked the permit under sub. (6).

30.445(3) (3) Any person who owns a pier in the riverway that was in existence on October 31, 1989, may, before September 1, 1990, apply for a permit from the board to have and maintain the pier. Upon application the board shall issue the permit.

30.445(3m) (3m) 

30.445(3m)(a) (a) Notwithstanding subs. (2), (3) and (7), the board shall issue a permit to have and maintain a pier in the riverway to an owner of a pier in the riverway that was in existence on October 31, 1989, if the person applies for the permit before September 1, 1992, and if at least a two-thirds majority of the board votes to approve the issuance of the permit.

30.445(3m)(b) (b) If an owner fails to apply for a permit under par. (a) before September 1, 1992, or to remove the pier before that date, or if the board fails to approve the permit, the owner shall remove the pier before July 1, 1993.

30.445(4) (4) A permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) authorizes the person to whom the permit is issued to have and maintain the pier in the riverway on the condition that it be maintained in at least as good condition as it was in on the date of the application for the permit.

30.445(5) (5) A permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) authorizes repairs to the pier unless any of the following applies:

30.445(5)(a) (a) A municipal ordinance or other municipal regulation prohibits the repair.

30.445(5)(b) (b) The repaired pier will be larger in size or more visible from the river than it was immediately before the damage.

30.445(6) (6) The board shall revoke any permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) if the owner of the pier does not comply with sub. (4) or (5).

30.445(7) (7) If a person who owns a pier in the riverway that was in existence on October 31, 1989, does not apply for a permit from the board or has not removed the pier before September 1, 1990, the person shall remove the pier by November 30, 1990.

30.445(8) (8) If a permit issued under sub. (3) or (3m) has been revoked, the owner of the pier shall remove the pier within 15 days after the revocation, or if the board grants additional time for the removal, within that time.

30.445(9) (9) Subsections (1) to (8) do not apply to a pier that is not located in the river and that is constructed after December 6, 1991.

30.445 History History: 1989 a. 31; 1991 a. 76, 189, 315.

30.45 30.45 Prohibited and restricted activities in the riverway. In the riverway:

30.45(1) (1) No person may start or engage in an activity under s. 30.44 (1) to (5) or 30.445 without having any permit that is required under s. 30.44 or 30.445.

30.45(1g) (1g) No person may cut or harvest timber unless par. (c) applies and either par. (a) or (b) applies:

30.45(1g)(a) (a) The person has a permit under s. 30.44 (3).

30.45(1g)(b) (b) The cutting or harvesting of the timber is exempt under s. 30.44 (3) (c).

30.45(1g)(c) (c) The cutting or harvesting complies with any rule promulgated under s. 30.42 (1) (d) which the person must comply with under s. 77.17 or 77.82 (11m).

30.45(1r) (1r) No person may construct, modify or relocate a high-voltage transmission line unless it has been approved under s. 30.44 (3m) or 196.491 (3) (d) 3m.

30.45(2) (2) No person may violate a condition imposed under s. 30.44 (7) or under s. 30.44 (11) (d), 1993 stats.

30.45(3) (3) No person may cut woody vegetation below the ordinary high-water mark or within 75 feet beyond the ordinary high-water mark of the river except for the amount necessary for:

30.45(3)(a) (a) One strip 15 feet or less in width for each separately owned parcel of land on the river that is necessary for gaining access to the river.

30.45(3)(ag) (ag) An activity for which a permit has been issued under s. 30.44 or 30.445 and has not been revoked under s. 30.44 (10) or 30.445 (6).

30.45(3)(ar) (ar) An activity that s. 30.44 or 30.445 exempts from a permit.

30.45(3)(b) (b) Maintenance of an easement or right-of-way for a utility facility.

30.45(3)(bn) (bn) Construction, reconstruction, modification, relocation, repair or maintenance of a high-voltage transmission line.

30.45(3)(cg) (cg) Construction, modification, reconstruction or repair of a wharf as allowed under sub. (9).

30.45(3)(cr) (cr) Maintenance of a structure by a person who complies with any provision of ss. 30.44 to 30.46 and subs. (1), (2) and (4) to (13) that applies to the structure.

30.45(3)(d) (d) Maintenance of a right-of-way for a highway, private road, private drive or a railroad.

30.45(3)(de) (de) Construction, reconstruction, modification or repair of a highway or a railroad.

30.45(3)(df) (df) Construction, reconstruction, modification or repair of a private drive or private road if the width of the area subject to cutting does not exceed the minimum width necessary for safe travel, not to exceed 20 feet for a private drive or 30 feet for a private road.

30.45(3)(dg) (dg) Construction, reconstruction, modification, repair or maintenance of a recreational trail.

30.45(3)(dh) (dh) Modification, repair or reconstruction of a dam.

30.45(3)(dp) (dp) Removal of diseased woody vegetation if a forester has issued a written determination that the woody vegetation is subject to an actual, potential or incipient infestation or infection by an insect or disease that is harmful to the woody vegetation.

30.45(3)(dt) (dt) Cutting or harvesting timber if the cutting or harvesting complies with any rule promulgated under s. 30.42 (1) (d) which the landowner must comply with under s. 77.17 or 77.82 (11m).

30.45(3)(e) (e) Removal of woody vegetation damaged by natural causes.

30.45(3)(f) (f) Removal of woody vegetation that poses an imminent hazard to life or property.

30.45(3)(g) (g) Cutting woody vegetation if the cutting complies with the rules promulgated under s. 30.43 (3).

30.45(3m) (3m) No person may cut woody vegetation on land that is more than 75 feet beyond the ordinary high-water mark of the river except:

30.45(3m)(a) (a) As specified in sub. (3) (a) to (g).

30.45(3m)(b) (b) For woody vegetation cut on land owned or occupied by a person if the cut woody vegetation is used as firewood, fence posts or Christmas trees for agricultural or household use and if the cut woody vegetation is not sold or bartered to another person.

30.45(3p) (3p) The restrictions against the cutting of woody vegetation under subs. (3) and (3m) do not apply to the cutting of woody vegetation that complies with sound horticultural or arboricultural practices, that does not involve the severing of the woody vegetation from the ground and that does not increase the visibility of any structure from the river.