Chapter NR 44

Register November 2001 No. 551

Chapter NR 44

MASTER PLANNING FOR DEPARTMENT PROPERTIES

NR 44.01   Purpose.

NR 44.02   Applicability.

NR 44.03   Definitions.

NR 44.04   Master plan development, adoption and public involvement.

NR 44.05   Land management classification system.

NR 44.06   Land management classifications.

NR 44.07   Recreational use setting subclassifications.

NR 44.01 NR 44.01 Purpose. The purpose of this chapter is to:

NR 44.01(1) (1) Create a uniform planning process for the management and use of department managed properties.

NR 44.01(2) (2) Establish procedures for the development, revision, amendment, implementation and review of master plans for department managed properties.

NR 44.01(3) (3) Establish a land management classification system for use in master plans for department managed properties.

NR 44.01(4) (4) Establish the minimum content of master plans for department managed properties.

NR 44.01(5) (5) Ensure that opportunities for public involvement are available in the development of master plan recommendations to the board.

NR 44.01 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96.

NR 44.02 NR 44.02 Applicability. This chapter shall apply to department master plans and the master planning process.

NR 44.02 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96.

NR 44.03 NR 44.03 Definitions.

NR 44.03(1) (1) “Biological diversity” means the variety and abundance of species, their genetic composition, and the communities, ecosystems, and landscapes in which they occur. It also refers to the variety of ecological structures, functions and processes at any of these levels.

NR 44.03(2) (2) “Board” means the natural resources board.

NR 44.03(3) (3) “Cultural resource” means any archeological, architectural or historical artifact, site or structure that reflects on the human-made environment.

NR 44.03(4) (4) “Community” means an assemblage of species living together in a particular area, time and habitat.

NR 44.03(5) (5) “Department” or “DNR” means the Wisconsin department of natural resources.

NR 44.03(6) (6) “Ecological capability” means the potential of an area to support or develop one or more communities, with the potential being dependent on the area’s abiotic attributes, its flora and fauna, its ecological processes and disturbances within and upon the area.

NR 44.03(7) (7) “Facility development” means the construction of infra-structure, including buildings, roads and trails for resource management, public use or other purposes.

NR 44.03(8) (8) “Master plan” or “plan” means a department plan which describes the authorized land management, resource protection, facility development and management of recreational use on a department property, but does not include a study prepared for the purpose of considering the feasibility of land acquisition respecting a new or existing project.

NR 44.03(9) (9) “Native” means indigenous to the area or region.

NR 44.03(10) (10) “Passive management” means management where objectives are achieved without direct action.

NR 44.03(11) (11) “Property” or “properties” means areas of land approved by the governor for acquisition under s. 23.14, Stats., or otherwise established by the board.

NR 44.03 Note Note: Examples of properties include parks, state forests and recreation areas.

NR 44.03(12) (12) “Sustainable forestry” means the practice of managing dynamic forest ecosystems to provide ecological, economic, social and cultural benefits for present and future generations.

NR 44.03(13) (13) “Trail” means a way or path designated on department maps or by signs or both as open for public travel by foot, horseback, bicycle, snowmobile, ATV or highway/off-highway vehicles.

NR 44.03 History History: Cr. Register, August, 1996, No. 488, eff. 9-1-96.

NR 44.04 NR 44.04 Master plan development, adoption and public involvement.

NR 44.04(1) (1) Definitions.

NR 44.04(1)(a) (a) “Affected or interested parties” means those persons or groups who are affected by a master plan or project, and may include persons with an interest in department management practices across a specific area or statewide.

NR 44.04(1)(b) (b) “Master plan revision” or “plan revision” means a change in the goal or objectives for a property which typically may occur as a result of a 15-year review of the master plan under sub. (12).

NR 44.04(1)(c) (c) “Master plan amendment” or “plan amendment” means a change in a management classification or subclassification of a property or management area within a property without a change in the goal and objectives for the property.

NR 44.04(1)(d) (d) “Master plan variance” or “plan variance” means a change in management activity or use described in the master plan that is consistent with the area’s land management classification and does not constitute a change in an objective for management or public use of the area as specified in the plan.

NR 44.04(1)(e) (e) “Minor master plan amendment” or “minor plan amendment” means a change in a master plan through a minor expansion of the property boundary where the management activity, facility development and use on the added parcel is consistent with the master plan and the land management classification of an adjacent management area.

NR 44.04(2) (2) Authorization to conduct a planning process. Any planning process for the purpose of developing a master plan, a plan revision or a plan amendment shall be conducted in accordance with this chapter, unless otherwise directed by the board, and only after following a notification and approval process to proceed with the action established by the board.

NR 44.04(3) (3) Plan approval. A plan or plan amendment shall be approved by the board, except as provided under sub. (2). The board may adopt a proposal as submitted by the department or modify the proposal as deemed appropriate and reasonable.

NR 44.04(4) (4) Plan variance and minor plan amendment initiation and approval.

NR 44.04(4)(a) (a) A plan variance may be initiated by the department and may be approved by the department following reasonable notification of persons affected by or interested in management of the property, including persons requesting notification, and after appropriate public involvement.

NR 44.04(4)(b) (b) A minor master plan amendment may be used to assign a management and use prescription and classification to land acquired under a property boundary expansion not exceeding 160 acres, provided the prescription is consistent with the master plan’s goal and objectives. A minor amendment may be initiated by the department and may be approved by the department after appropriate public involvement.

NR 44.04 Note Note: A plan variance and minor plan amendment are approved by the department secretary or a division administrator.

NR 44.04(5) (5) Other plan changes. The department may make changes to a master plan without following the procedures in this section under the following circumstances:

NR 44.04(5)(a) (a) To comply with non-discretionary changes in the plan required due to a law or regulation change. The department shall periodically, or otherwise as appropriate, inform affected or interested parties of nondiscretionary changes in a plan.

NR 44.04(5)(b) (b) When correcting typographical errors or making corrections to maps, including the delineation of areas where management prescriptions apply, provided the changes are due to improved on-the-ground information relating to the application of the management prescriptions and are consistent with the intent of the plan.

NR 44.04(6) (6) Requests for a plan amendment, revision or variance.

NR 44.04(6)(a) (a) In addition to the review requirement in sub. (12), a plan amendment or revision may be proposed at any time by the department or any person, and an amendment or revision request shall be filed in writing with the secretary of the department. The secretary shall inform the board of requests as filed under this section, and the department shall notify the person or persons making the request of the board’s decision.

NR 44.04(6)(b) (b) A variance to the master plan may be proposed at any time by the department or any person, and a request for a variance shall be filed in writing with the person designated in accordance with sub. (9) (a) 6.

NR 44.04(7) (7) Public and other government involvement.

NR 44.04(7)(a) (a) The public shall be provided opportunities to participate throughout the planning process for a property.

NR 44.04(7)(b) (b) As appropriate to the circumstances of each planning process, and in addition to the general public involvement process described in this subsection, the department shall consult with federal, state, county, town and local units of government, local agencies and Indian tribes.

NR 44.04(7)(c) (c) During a planning process for properties lying within the ceded territory recognized by Lac Courte Oreilles v. Voigt, 700 F.2d, 341 (7th Cir. 1983), the department shall consult on a government to government basis with Indian tribes retaining off-reservation hunting, fishing and gathering rights in that territory. The department shall establish the procedures for the tribal consultation process based upon a dialogue with and the agreement of the tribes. This consultation requirement shall apply to the development, review, revision, amendment or variance of a master plan.

NR 44.04(7)(d) (d) Public involvement in the planning process may include meetings, hearings, workshops, open houses, surveys, questionnaires, letters, submitted proposals, personal contacts, study committees, advisory groups and other methods or activities tailored to the needs of the individual master planning effort.

NR 44.04(7)(e) (e) Public involvement in the planning process may be for the following purposes: