Need Help Planning?
DNR Planning Activities
The DNR is involved in many different planning efforts. Some current agency efforts and recent plan documents are identified below. Making the link between these state agency planning activities and local community planning efforts can enhance local resource stewardship and foster intergovernmental cooperation.
Please choose a planning activity from the drop-down list below for more information on how it may be helpful in community planning efforts
The Statewide Forest Plan is an effort by the DNR's forestry program and our citizen partners to articulate a commonly held vision for our forest resources and lay out a strategy for achieving that vision. We are taking a comprehensive view of the forests, accounting for their ecological, economic, and social significance. DNR considers all forests, including county, state, federal, urban, and private (industrial and non-industrial), in the planning process.
Communities can reflect aspects of the Statewide Forest Plan in the Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Economic Development, Land Use, and Intergovernmental Cooperation elements of their comprehensive plans.
Communities can reflect aspects of the Statewide Forest Plan in the Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Economic Development, Land Use, and Intergovernmental Cooperation elements of their comprehensive plans.
Each DNR property has a "master plan." These plans establish goals and objectives for the property and identify how the property will be managed and developed. The plans are designed to clearly communicate to the public how the property will look and what benefits it will provide.
Communities can use DNR property master plans as source documents when inventorying important natural resources in their area. Communities can also reflect aspects of DNR property master plans in the Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Land Use, and Intergovernmental Cooperation elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities might also refer to these plans in their Utilities and Community Facilities element where they discuss parks and recreational facilities.
Communities can use DNR property master plans as source documents when inventorying important natural resources in their area. Communities can also reflect aspects of DNR property master plans in the Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Land Use, and Intergovernmental Cooperation elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities might also refer to these plans in their Utilities and Community Facilities element where they discuss parks and recreational facilities.
The DNR's Land Legacy study identifies places that are critical in meeting Wisconsin's conservation and recreation needs over the next 50 years. The study does not address how or when these "Legacy Places" should be protected or who should be responsible for implementing protection measures. The study report can be used as an educational resource to help citizens further their understanding of Wisconsin's natural resources. The report can also be used as an information source to reference when developing plans and making land use decisions.
Communities can use the report as a source document when preparing the Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Utilities and Community Facilities, and Land Use elements of their comprehensive plans. Efforts to protect and manage specific places canbe included in the Implementation element.
Communities can use the report as a source document when preparing the Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Utilities and Community Facilities, and Land Use elements of their comprehensive plans. Efforts to protect and manage specific places canbe included in the Implementation element.
Sewer Service Area Planning is a process designed to anticipate a community's future needs for wastewater treatment. This planning helps protect communities from adverse water quality impacts through development of cost-effective and environmentally sound 20-year sewerage system growth plans. A sewer service area plan identifies existing sewered areas as well as adjacent land most suitable for new development. This planning also identifies areas where sewers should not go: environmentally sensitive areas where development would have an adverse impact upon water quality.
Communities can link their sewer service area plans with the Utilities and Community Facilities, Housing, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities might also identify the environmentally sensitive areas in their Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Land Use elements.
Communities can link their sewer service area plans with the Utilities and Community Facilities, Housing, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities might also identify the environmentally sensitive areas in their Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Land Use elements.
Wellhead protection is a preventive program designed to protect public water supply wells. The goal of wellhead protection planning is to prevent contaminants from entering public water supply wells by managing the land that contributes water to the wells.
Communities can link their wellhead protection plans to the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans.
Communities can link their wellhead protection plans to the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, Housing, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans.
The DNR has developed a Source Water Assessment Program as required by the 1996 reauthorization of the federal Safe Drinking Water Act. The 1996 amendments to the SDWA require states to delineate assessment area boundaries from which public water systems receive supplies of drinking water, inventory significant potential sources of contamination within those boundaries, determine the susceptibility of the public water systems to those potential sources of contamination, and provide the assessment results to the public.
Communities can use the source water assessments as source documents when inventorying important natural resources in their area. Communities can also reflect aspects of the assessments in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Land Use, and Intergovernmental Cooperation elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities might also refer to these plans in their Economic Development element where they discuss support for new developments.
Communities can use the source water assessments as source documents when inventorying important natural resources in their area. Communities can also reflect aspects of the assessments in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources, Land Use, and Intergovernmental Cooperation elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities might also refer to these plans in their Economic Development element where they discuss support for new developments.
Wisconsin Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, 2000-2005
This report published in 2000 offers a research base and overall guidance for providers of outdoor recreation (federal, state, county, city, village, and town governments; resorts and other businesses; and a variety of public and private organizations) throughout Wisconsin.
Communities can consult this plan when preparing the Utilities and Community Facilities element of their comprehensive plan, where they discuss park and recreational facilities. Communities might also want to review this plan when preparing their Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Economic Development elements.
Communities can consult this plan when preparing the Utilities and Community Facilities element of their comprehensive plan, where they discuss park and recreational facilities. Communities might also want to review this plan when preparing their Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Economic Development elements.
Wisconsin State Trails Network Plan
This web site includes information of the 2001 State Trail Network Plan. The plan provides a long-term, big-picture vision for establishing a comprehensive trail network for the state. It identifies existing and proposed trails and connections that would serve as the main corridors for a statewide trail system.
Communities can consult this plan when preparing the Utilities and Community Facilities element of their comprehensive plan, where they discuss park and recreational facilities. Communities might also want to review this plan when preparing their Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Economic Development elements.
Communities can consult this plan when preparing the Utilities and Community Facilities element of their comprehensive plan, where they discuss park and recreational facilities. Communities might also want to review this plan when preparing their Agricultural, Natural, and Cultural Resources and Economic Development elements.
Wisconsin's landfill siting process is considered one of the most successful in the country because it strikes a balance between the statewide need for environmentally sound waste disposal capacity and the legitimate concerns of local citizens and municipalities. The siting process requires that landfills meet stringent siting, design, construction, operation, monitoring, and performance and financial responsibility requirements to maximize the protection of public health and the environment.
Communities can address solid waste management, including landfill issues, in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans.
Communities can address solid waste management, including landfill issues, in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans.
Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation
Administrative rules to implement a program for reclamation of nonmetallic mines became effective in December 2000. State law requires that counties enact an ordinance to carry out this law. After September 2001, nonmetallic mines in Wisconsin cannot operate unless they have applied for and received a reclamation permit. The law also allows landowners to register nonmetallic mineral deposits as a tool to assist land use planners.
Communities can address issues associated with nonmetallic mining reclamation and site registration in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities should also be aware of public notification requirements associated with those who have applied for or obtained a nonmetallic reclamation permit; those who have registered a marketable nonmetallic mineral deposit; and others who have an interest in property allowing extraction of nonmetallic mineral resources.
Communities can address issues associated with nonmetallic mining reclamation and site registration in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans. Communities should also be aware of public notification requirements associated with those who have applied for or obtained a nonmetallic reclamation permit; those who have registered a marketable nonmetallic mineral deposit; and others who have an interest in property allowing extraction of nonmetallic mineral resources.
DNR's Waste Management program is responsible for reviewing proposed mining permit applications including the associated mining plan, reclamation plan, project-wide monitoring plan, and proposed mining waste facility siting and design studies. Proposed projects undergo a comprehensive review to determine whether the project will comply with the applicable laws and rules of the state. This review culminates with a contested case hearing on all regulatory aspects of the proposed project and the adequacy of the Environmental Impact Statement.
Communities can address issues associated with metallic mining in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans.
Communities can address issues associated with metallic mining in the Utilities and Community Facilities, Land Use, and Economic Development elements of their comprehensive plans.
Last Revised: Friday October 17 2008
RSS