Chapter 92

92.05 History History: 1981 c. 346; 1983 a. 410 s. 2200 (2); 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (8); 1987 a. 27; 1991 a. 309; 1995 a. 227; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 28.

92.05 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See also ch. ATCP 50, Wis. adm. code.

92.06 92.06 Land conservation committees.

92.06(1) (1) Creation; membership.

92.06(1)(a) (a) Creation. Each county board shall create a land conservation committee.

92.06(1)(b) (b) Membership.

92.06(1)(b)1. 1. The county board shall appoint to the land conservation committee at least 2 persons who are members of the committee on agriculture and extension education created under s. 59.56 (3) (b).

92.06(1)(b)2. 2. The county board shall appoint to the land conservation committee a person who is engaged in an agricultural use, as defined under s. 91.01 (2) (a) 1. to 7.

92.06(1)(b)3. 3. The county board may appoint to the land conservation committee any number of members who are also members of the county board.

92.06(1)(b)4. 4. The county board may appoint to the land conservation committee up to 2 members who are not members of the county board.

92.06(1)(c) (c) Terms. Each member of the land conservation committee shall serve for a term of 2 years or until a successor is appointed, whichever is longer.

92.06(1)(d) (d) Reimbursement. Each member of the land conservation committee shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses and shall be paid the same per diem as members of other county board committees.

92.06(1)(e) (e) Programs and responsibilities. The county board may assign other programs and responsibilities to the land conservation committee.

92.06(2) (2) Designated representatives. The county board shall designate a representative of each county committee with responsibilities related to natural resource management to serve as an adviser to the land conservation committee. The county board shall designate, at a minimum, representatives from any county zoning or land use, forestry, parks and solid waste committees. In addition, the land conservation committee may invite any state, federal or local agency with which the county or committee has a memorandum of understanding to designate a representative to advise the land conservation committee.

92.06(4) (4) Public participation. The committee shall actively solicit public participation in the planning and evaluation of soil and water conservation programs.

92.06 History History: 1981 c. 346; 1985 a. 29; 1995 a. 201; 2011 a. 263; 2023 a. 32.

92.06 Annotation Appointments to the conservation committee are made by the county board, not the county executive. 76 Atty. Gen. 173.

92.06 Annotation Discussing committee responsibilities and prohibitions of private interests in public contracts. 76 Atty. Gen. 184.

92.07 92.07 Land conservation committee; powers.

92.07(1) (1) Powers generally. Each land conservation committee may carry out the powers delegated to the committee subject to the approval of the county board.

92.07(2) (2) Standards. Each land conservation committee may develop and adopt standards and specifications for management practices to control erosion, sedimentation and nonpoint source water pollution. The standards and specifications for agricultural facilities and practices that are constructed or begun on or after October 14, 1997, and, if cost-sharing is available to the owner or operator under s. 92.14 or 281.65 or from any other source, for agricultural facilities and practices that are constructed or begun before that date shall be consistent with the performance standards, prohibitions, conservation practices and technical standards under s. 281.16 (3). The land conservation committee shall use the rules promulgated under s. 281.16 (3) (e) to determine whether cost-sharing is available.

92.07(3) (3) Distribute funds. Each land conservation committee may distribute and allocate federal, state and county funds made available to the committee for cost-sharing programs or other incentive programs for improvements and practices relating to soil and water conservation on private or public lands, and within the limits permitted under these programs, to determine the methods of allocating these funds.

92.07(5) (5) Educational and other programs. Each land conservation committee may encourage research and educational, informational and public service programs, advise the University of Wisconsin System on educational needs and assist the University of Wisconsin System and the department in implementing educational programs under ss. 36.25 (7), 59.56 (3) and 92.05.

92.07(6) (6) Preventive and control measures and works of improvement. Each land conservation committee may carry out preventive and control measures and works of improvement for flood prevention and for conservation, development, utilization and control of water within the county. These preventive and control measures and works of improvement may include, but are not limited to, changes in the use of land and use of engineering operations such as terraces, terrace outlets, desilting basins, floodwater retarding structures, floodways, dikes and ponds, methods of cultivation and the growing of vegetation. These preventive and control measures and works of improvement may be carried out on lands owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, with the cooperation of the agency administering and having jurisdiction of the land, and on any other lands within the county upon obtaining the consent of the landowner or the necessary rights or interests in the land.

92.07(7) (7) Assistance. Each land conservation committee, in the name of the county, may cooperate with, enter into agreements with, or furnish financial, technical, planning or other assistance to any agency, governmental or otherwise, or any landowner or land user within the incorporated or unincorporated parts of the county, in carrying out resource conservation operations and works of improvement for flood prevention or for the conservation, development, utilization and protection of soil and water resources within the county.

92.07(7m) (7m) Assistance to the department of transportation. Each land conservation committee shall cooperate with the department of transportation as requested under s. 85.195.

92.07(8) (8) Obtain property. Each land conservation committee, in the name of the county, may obtain options upon and acquire, by purchase, exchange, lease, gift, grant, bequest, devise or otherwise, any property or rights or interests in property or in water. A land conservation committee may maintain, administer and improve any properties acquired. A land conservation committee may receive income from these properties on behalf of the county and may expend this income in carrying out the purposes and provisions of this chapter. A land conservation committee may sell, lease or otherwise dispose of the property or interests in property in furtherance of the purposes and the provisions of this chapter.

92.07(9) (9) Machinery availability. Each land conservation committee may make available, on terms it may prescribe, to landowners and land users within the incorporated and unincorporated parts of the county, agricultural and engineering machinery and equipment, fertilizer, seeds and seedlings, and other material or equipment which will assist the landowners and land users in carrying on operations upon their lands for the conservation of soil resources, for the prevention and control of soil erosion, for flood prevention, for the conservation, development and utilization of water or for the prevention of nonpoint source water pollution.

92.07(10) (10) Structures. Each land conservation committee may construct, improve, operate and maintain structures necessary or convenient for the performance of any of the operations or activities authorized in this chapter.

92.07(11) (11) Administration of projects or programs. Each land conservation committee, in the name of the county, may acquire, by purchase, lease or otherwise, and administer, any soil conservation, flood prevention, water management or nonpoint source water pollution abatement project or combinations of these projects, and participate in programs concerned with the conservation of natural resources located within the county undertaken by the United States or any of its agencies, or by this state or any of its agencies. A land conservation committee may administer, as agent of the United States or any of its agencies, or of this state or any of its agencies, any soil conservation, flood prevention, water management, water quality improvement, nonpoint source water pollution abatement, erosion control, erosion prevention project or resource conservation program within the county. A land conservation committee may act as agent for the United States, or any of its agencies, or for this state or any of its agencies, in connection with the acquisition, construction, operation or administration of any resource conservation program within the county. A land conservation committee, on behalf of the county, may accept donations, gifts and contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise from any source and use or expend these moneys, services, materials or other contributions in carrying on its operations.

92.07(12) (12) Contracts; rules. Each land conservation committee, in the name of the county, may make and execute contracts and other instruments necessary or convenient to the exercise of its powers.

92.07(13) (13) Contributions; agreements. As a condition to extending any benefits under this chapter to, or the performance of work upon, any lands not owned or controlled by this state or any of its agencies, a land conservation committee may require contributions in money, services, materials or otherwise to any operations conferring the benefits, and may require landowners and land users to enter into and perform agreements or covenants respecting the use of land as will lead to conservation of soil and water resources.

92.07(14) (14) Enter upon lands. Each land conservation committee may enter upon any lands within the county to examine the land and make surveys or plans for soil and water conservation without being liable for trespass in the reasonable performance of these duties. This authorization applies to the land conservation committee members and their agents.

92.07(15) (15) Administration and enforcement of ordinances. A land conservation committee may, if authorized by the county board, administer and enforce those provisions of an ordinance enacted under s. 101.65 (1) (a) related to construction site erosion, a zoning ordinance enacted under s. 59.693 or an ordinance enacted under authority granted under s. 101.1206.

92.07 History History: 1981 c. 346; 1983 a. 410 s. 2200 (2); 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (8); 1991 a. 309; 1993 a. 16; 1995 a. 201; 1997 a. 27; 1999 a. 9; 2009 a. 28; 2011 a. 32.

92.07 Cross-reference Cross-reference: See ss. 59.70 (20) (c) and 60.10 (2) (i) for authorization of county or town appropriations.

92.09 92.09 Land conservation committee staff. The land conservation committee may employ county soil and water conservation staff, subject to the approval of the county board. The county soil and water conservation staff is responsible for the administration of the county soil and water conservation program and may exercise the powers granted to the land conservation committee.

92.09 History History: 1981 c. 346.

92.10 92.10 Land and water resource management planning program.

92.10(1) (1) Creation. There is created a land and water resource management planning program. The department, board and land conservation committees jointly shall develop and administer this program.

92.10(2) (2) Purposes. The purposes of the land and water resource management planning program are to conserve long-term soil productivity, protect the quality of related natural resources, enhance water quality and focus on severe soil erosion problems.

92.10(4) (4) Implementation; department duties.

92.10(4)(a) (a) Data. The department shall develop a systematic method of collecting and organizing data related to soil erosion. The department shall cooperate with the department of administration under s. 16.967 in developing this methodology or any related activities related to land information collection.

92.10(4)(c) (c) Plan assistance. The department shall assist land conservation committees in preparing land and water resource management plans.

92.10(4)(d) (d) Plan review. The department shall review and approve or disapprove land and water resource management plans submitted by the land conservation committees. The department may require land conservation committees to indicate specific projects to be funded under each plan and the related cost-sharing rates.

92.10(5) (5) Implementation; board duties.

92.10(5)(a) (a) Plan review. The board shall review land and water resource management plans submitted by the land conservation committees and make recommendations to the department.

92.10(5)(b) (b) Solicit comments. The board shall solicit comments on land conservation committee plans from the agencies identified as advisers to the board under s. 15.135 (4).

92.10(6) (6) Implementation; committee duties.

92.10(6)(a) (a) Plan preparation. A land conservation committee shall prepare a land and water resource management plan that, at a minimum, does all of the following:

92.10(6)(a)1. 1. Includes an assessment of water quality and soil erosion conditions throughout the county, including any assessment available from the department of natural resources.

92.10(6)(a)2. 2. Specifies water quality objectives for each water basin, priority watershed, as defined in s. 281.65 (2) (c), and priority lake, as defined in s. 281.65 (2) (be).

92.10(6)(a)3. 3. Identifies the best management practices to achieve the objectives under subd. 2. and to achieve the tolerable erosion level under s. 92.04 (2) (i).

92.10(6)(a)4. 4. Identifies applicable performance standards and prohibitions related to the control of pollution from nonpoint sources, as defined in s. 281.65 (2) (b), and to soil erosion control, including those under this chapter and chs. 281 and 283 and ss. 59.692 and 59.693.

92.10(6)(a)5. 5. Includes a multiyear description of planned county activities, and priorities for those activities, related to land and water resources, including those designed to meet the objectives specified under subd. 2. and to ensure compliance with the standards and prohibitions identified under subd. 4.

92.10(6)(a)6. 6. Describes a system to monitor the progress of activities described in the plan.

92.10(6)(a)7. 7. Includes a strategy to provide information and education related to soil and water resource management.

92.10(6)(a)8. 8. Describes methods for coordinating activities described in the plan with programs of other local, state and federal agencies.

92.10(6)(b) (b) Notification. A land conservation committee shall notify landowners and land users of the results of any determinations concerning soil erosion rates and nonpoint source water pollution, and provide an opportunity for landowners and land users to present information relating to the accuracy of the determinations during preparation of the land and water resource management plan.

92.10(6)(c) (c) Hearings. A land conservation committee shall hold one or more public hearings on the land and water resource management plan.

92.10(6)(d) (d) Plan submission. A land conservation committee shall submit the land and water resource management plan to the board and department.

92.10(8) (8) Duties of the department of natural resources. The department of natural resources shall provide counties with assistance in land and water resource management planning, including providing available water quality data and information, providing training and support for water resource assessments and appraisals and providing related program information.

92.10 History History: 1981 c. 346; 1983 a. 524; 1985 a. 29; 1987 a. 27; 1989 a. 31; 1997 a. 27 ss. 2488s to 2489L, 9456 (3m); 1999 a. 9; 2003 a. 33 s. 2811; 2003 a. 48 ss. 10, 11; 2003 a. 206 s. 23; 2005 a. 25 ss. 1742, 2493.

92.11 92.11 Regulation of local soil and water resource management practices.

92.11(1) (1) Proposed ordinances. To promote soil and water conservation or nonpoint source water pollution abatement, a county, city, village or town may enact ordinances for the regulation of land use, land management and pollutant management practices.

92.11(2) (2) Applicability; contents.

92.11(2)(a) (a) An ordinance enacted under this section may be applicable throughout the county or to any part of the county, including both incorporated and unincorporated areas.

92.11(2)(b) (b) An ordinance enacted under this section may prohibit land uses and land management practices which cause excessive soil erosion, sedimentation, nonpoint source water pollution or storm water runoff.

92.11(3) (3) Presentation; notice; hearing; county board adoption. Any ordinance proposed by the land conservation committee under this section shall be presented to the county board together with a report on the need for the ordinance and its expected economic and environmental impact. Within 2 weeks after its receipt, the county board shall publish the proposed ordinance as a class 2 notice, under ch. 985, in a newspaper having general circulation throughout the county and make the report available for public inspection. The county board shall hold one or more public hearings on the proposed ordinance before taking final action. The county board shall adopt, adopt with revisions or disapprove the ordinance.

92.11(4) (4) Referendum; local approval required.

92.11(4)(a) (a) Definition. As used in this subsection, “affected area” means the entire town, all of a village within the county or all of a city within a county if an ordinance adopted under this section or a revision to an ordinance adopted under this section is applicable to any part of the town, village or city.

92.11(4)(b) (b) Referendum required. No ordinance adopted under this section and no revision to an ordinance adopted under this section may take effect in any affected area in that county unless the ordinance or revision is approved by referendum.

92.11(4)(c) (c) Wording of ballot question; procedure. The county board shall include the wording of the question to be placed before the electors in the referendum as a part of the ordinance adopted under this section or the revision to an ordinance adopted under this section. Upon the adoption of the ordinance or revision the county board shall forward a copy of the ordinance or revision to the county clerk who shall cause the question to be placed before the voters of the affected area in the next spring or general election occurring not less than 70 days after the adoption of the ordinance or revision. The form of the ballot shall correspond substantially to the form prescribed under s. 5.64 (2).

92.11(4)(d) (d) Approval; disapproval. If the question placed before the electors in the referendum is approved by a majority of all votes cast on that subject in an affected area in that county, the ordinance adopted under this section or the revision to an ordinance adopted under this section takes effect in that affected area. Otherwise, the ordinance or revision does not take effect in that affected area.

92.11(5) (5) Enforcement.

92.11(5)(a) (a) The county board shall by ordinance prescribe administrative procedures and provide personnel necessary for the enforcement of any ordinance enacted under this section. Ordinances enacted under this section may be enforced through civil forfeiture or through issuance of an injunction by the circuit court in an action initiated by the county or land conservation committee. The court may award reasonable attorney fees to any plaintiff in a successful action for enforcement through injunction.

92.11(5)(b) (b) At least one year before the county or land conservation committee may initiate an action for enforcement, the land conservation committee shall make a reasonable effort to contact the landowner or land user in person and to furnish the landowner or land user all of the following:

92.11(5)(b)1. 1. An explanation orally and in writing of the reasons for the excessive soil erosion.

92.11(5)(b)2. 2. A management plan which, if followed, would reduce soil erosion to a rate established as acceptable by the land conservation committee. The management plan shall, with reasonable limits, set forth all of the options which are available to the landowner or land user to achieve acceptable soil erosion rates.

92.11(5)(b)3. 3. An explanation of the financial aids and technical assistance which are available to the landowner or land user. These may include, but are not necessarily limited to, cost-sharing, loans, tax incentives and technical assistance available from the land conservation committee and other agencies.

92.11(6) (6) Board of adjustment. The county board shall provide for the appointment of a board of adjustment in any county which adopts an ordinance under this section.

92.11(7) (7) Construction. Any ordinance enacted under this section shall be liberally construed in favor of the county. It shall be construed as setting minimum requirements for the purposes stated and not as a limitation on other powers granted the county board and land conservation committee.

92.11 History History: 1981 c. 346; 1987 a. 27; 1993 a. 246; 1999 a. 182; 2011 a. 75.

92.11 Annotation An ordinance passed under this section may be applicable to incorporated as well as unincorporated areas of the county. 77 Atty. Gen. 87.

92.115 92.115 Municipal soil conservation on private lands. Any city, village or town by its governing body or through a committee designated by it for the purpose, may contract to do soil conservation work on privately owned lands but no contract may involve more than $1,000 for any one person and the amount of work done for any one person may not exceed $1,000 annually.

92.115 History History: 1975 c. 312; 1981 c. 317, 346; 1999 a. 150 s. 371; Stats. 1999 s. 92.115.

92.12 92.12 Intergovernmental cooperation. Counties, cities, villages, towns and public agencies with natural resource responsibilities in the same or different counties may cooperate in carrying out the purposes of this chapter. If a problem of soil or water conservation is defined in part by drainage basin boundaries beyond a single county’s borders or otherwise transcends these borders, the respective counties, cities, villages, towns and public agencies with natural resource responsibilities may enter into mutually binding agreements and contracts containing, but not limited to, provisions for mutually enforced and administered regulatory ordinances and cost-sharing distribution arrangements.

92.12 History History: 1981 c. 346; 1983 a. 410 s. 2200 (2); 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (8).

92.13 92.13 State and local agencies to cooperate. Agencies of the state having jurisdiction over, or charged with the administration of any state-owned lands, and any county or other governmental subdivision of the state having jurisdiction over, or charged with the administration of any county-owned or other publicly owned lands, shall cooperate to the fullest extent with the land conservation committee in carrying out programs under this chapter. The land conservation committee may enter and perform work upon these publicly owned lands. The provisions of land conservation practices ordinances enacted under s. 92.11 are applicable to these publicly owned lands, and shall be in all respects observed by the agencies administering the lands.