DNR Land Use Programs
There are several laws that give the Wisconsin DNR responsibility and authority to address land use issues.
The agency is authorized to directly purchase and manage land for purposes of resource conservation, environmental protection, or recreation.
Sections 30.26, 30.27, and 30.275, Wisconsin Statutes give the DNR the responsibility to preserve, protect, and enhance urban and wild and scenic rivers.
Activities carried out under this chapter have land use implications. The DNR has responsibility to oversee shoreland, shoreland-wetland, and floodplain zoning.
The DNR, like other state agencies, has a responsibility under the Wisconsin Environmental Policy Act to consider the environmental effects, including land use impacts, of its proposed actions.
The department can also consider land use issues in its financial assistance programs.
Numerous Wisconsin Administrative Codes, created to implement state and federal laws, have land use elements.
This page provides access to information on some of the DNR's land use-related programs.
Brownfields Redevelopment
Brownfields are abandoned or underutilized commercial or industrial properties where expansion or redevelopment is hindered by real or perceived contamination.
On this page, you can find more information about tools for redevelopment, useful brownfields web sites (outside of the DNR), and other related resources.
Shoreland Management Program
This program requires adoption of county shoreland zoning ordinances to regulate development near navigable lakes and streams, in compliance with statewide minimum standards.
These minimum statewide standards, found in Wisconsin's Administrative Code, seek to create a balance between private rights and public responsibilities of landowners.
Floodplain Management Program
Under this program, Wisconsin's counties, cities, and villages zone their flood prone areas.
The state has set minimum standards for local regulations, but local governments can set more restrictive standards.
Floodplain zoning regulates how development can actually occur within floodplains.
The program's main goal is to protect people and their property from unwise floodplain development, as well as to protect society from the costs associated with developed floodplains.
Sewer Service Area Planning
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 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.
Wellhead Protection Planning
The groundwater that supplies community wells comes from rain and snow.
This water seeps into the ground and moves toward community wells.
Sometimes, pollutants can also seep into the ground and threaten a community's wells.
Wellhead protection planning is a preventive program that helps ensure communities have a long-term source of clean water.
The goal of is to prevent contaminants from entering public water supply wells by managing the land that contributes water to the wells.
Urban Forestry
An urban forest includes all of the trees and other vegetation in and around a town, village, or city.
The mission of the DNR's urban forestry program is "To encourage and enable sound management of Wisconsin's urban forest ecosystems."
Nonmetallic Mining Reclamation
Nonmetallic mining is a widespread activity in Wisconsin, with an estimated 2,000 mines in operation.
Wisconsin Statutes require the DNR to establish rules to implement a nonmetallic mining reclamation program.
The rules establish uniform reclamation standards and set up a locally administered reclamation permit program.
Last Revised: Friday October 17 2008
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