Chapter NR 320

NR 320.06(3)(c) (c) Standards. Construction, placement or maintenance of a bridge or culvert that meets the standards in s. 30.123 (8) (c), Stats., may be authorized under an individual permit.

NR 320.06 History History: CR 04-084: cr. Register April 2005 No. 592, eff. 5-1-05; CR 06-038: am. (2) (b) and (c), r. and recr. (2) (d) and (e), renum. (2) (g) to be (2) (h) and am. (2) (h) 1., cr. (2) (g) Register January 2007 No. 613, eff. 2-1-07; CR 07-094: cr. (1) (c) 15., (d) 7. and (2) (c) 10. Register November 2008 No. 635, eff. 12-1-08; correction in (2) (b) made under s. 13.92 (4) (b) 7., Stats., Register May 2013 No. 689; CR 22-013: am. (1) (a), (2) (a) 1., (3) (a) 1. Register June 2023 No. 810, eff. 7-1-23.

NR 320.07 NR 320.07 Culvert area calculation, culvert sizing, and culvert length determination. Applicants shall use the following calculation and assessment methods:

NR 320.07(1) (1) Calculation of required culvert area. To determine the required culvert area, 3 measurements shall be made: channel width of the stream in feet at the ordinary high water mark (W1), channel width of the stream in feet at the stream bottom (W2), and the height in feet of the high water above the stream bottom (H) (see diagram). These 3 measurements shall be made at each of 3 locations or transects along the stream: the location of the proposed crossing, 100 feet upstream from the crossing, and 100 feet downstream from the crossing. The individual measurements of W1, W2 and H shall be averaged to derive the final W1, W2 and H values. The required culvert area is then calculated with the following equation:

Required Culvert area (square feet) = H x (W1 + W2)

NR 320.07(2) (2) Culvert sizing. Once the required culvert area has been determined, the applicant can identify the proper culvert size by reviewing the following tables. The minimum size culvert needed to pass flows must have an area that is as much or more than the required culvert area. For example, the recommended culvert size for a culvert area calculation of 8.50 square feet would be 42″.

Table 1. Round culvert diameters and corresponding culvert area.

Culvert diameter (in.)   Culvert area (sq. ft.)

  18   1.80

  24   3.10

  30   4.90

  36   7.10

  42   9.60

  48   12.60

  54   15.90

  60   19.60

  66   23.80

NR 320.07 Note Note: To find the area of any round culvert, use the following equation:

NR 320.07 Note Culvert diameter (in.) divided by 2 = _____ divided by 12 = _____ (radius in ft.)

NR 320.07 Note Radius x Radius x 3.14 = _________ (area of culvert in sq. ft.)

Table 2. Pipe arch dimensions and corresponding culvert area.

Pipe width or span (in.) Pipe height or rise (in.) Culvert area (sq. ft.)

  43   27   6.4

  50   31   8.7

  58   36   11.4

  65   40   14.3

  72   44   17.6

  73   55   22.0

  85   54   25.3

  81   59   26

  87   63   31

  95   67   35

  103   71   40

NR 320.07(3) (3) Culvert length determination. The proper culvert length is determined by the following calculation:

NR 320.07 History History: CR 04-084: cr. Register April 2005 No. 592, eff. 5-1-05.

NR 320.08 NR 320.08 Enforcement.

NR 320.08(1) (1) Noncompliance with the provisions of ss. 30.12, 30.123, 30.20 and 30.206, Stats., this chapter, or any conditions of an exemption, general permit or individual permit issued by the department, constitutes a violation and may result in a forfeiture. The department may seek abatement under s. 30.294, Stats., for any activity in violation of ss. 30.12, 30.123, 30.20 and 30.206, Stats.

NR 320.08(2) (2) If the activity may be authorized by a general permit under s. 30.206, Stats., failure of an applicant to follow the procedural requirements may not, by itself, result in abatement of the activity.

NR 320.08(3) (3) When an after-the-fact permit application has been filed with the department, the department shall follow the procedures in ch. NR 300 for violations.

NR 320.08(4) (4) Any violation of these rules shall be treated as a violation of the statutes they interpret or are promulgated under.

NR 320.08(5) (5) No person may place a bridge or culvert in or over a navigable waterway if the activity is not eligible for an exemption, authorized by a general permit or individual permit issued under this chapter, or otherwise authorized under this chapter.

NR 320.08 History History: CR 04-084: cr. Register April 2005 No. 592, eff. 5-1-05; CR 22-013: am. (3) Register June 2023 No. 810, eff. 7-1-23.