Waterway & Wetland Handbook

Waterway Permits

Wisconsin Wetlands

Waterway and Wetland Handbook Updates

In 2005, Act 118 was signed into law and created changes to Chapter 30 of Wisconsin Statutes as well as the administrative rules that interpret these statutes. Please be aware that in most cases the contents of this handbook were written before these law changes and may be out of date or inaccurate. The contents of this handbook and supporting memos are are for informational purposes only and should not be relied upon solely. Please consult with the appropriate DNR personnel if you have additional questions. Thank you.

Chapter 10 General [PDF 1.21MB]

  • 11/30/04: Added May 14, 2004 guidance memo for the Establishment of Protective Areas for Wetlands in Runoff Management Rules, Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 151 (pp. 124-132).
  • 5/27/03: Added February 26, 2003 guidance memo on Processing Requests for Expedited Permit Reviews (pp. 120-123).
  • 4/19/02: Added November 30, 2001 memo for Permits and Approvals for New Power Plants, pp. 101-116 and January 11, 2002 memo for Water Withdrawals and Water Loss Approvals for New Power Plants, pp. 117-119.
  • 1/3/02: Added December 21, 2001, guidance memo and attachment, pp. 97-100.

Chapter 30 Navigability [PDF 103KB]

  • 9/21/01: Removed "Stream Access in Wisconsin" Q&A document, had been pp. 20-21 in PDF version, due to a change in rules enacted in the 2001 Wisconsin state budget.

Chapter 60 Bulkhead Lines, Leases and Lakebed Grants [PDF 109KB]

  • 12/6/01: Removed unnecessary blank page 13; document is now 39 instead of 40 pages long.

Chapter 75 Piers [PDF 1.38MB]

  • 5/27/03: Added January 27, 2003 guidance memo for Reviewing "Dockominium" Projects (pp. 73-74).
  • 4/15/03: Corrected a diagram from an April 4, 1995 guidance (pp. 38-40) entitled Piers Utilized for Water Ski Shows.
  • 11/13/01: Added a Nov. 7, 2001, ALJ decision relating to the application for an 88 slip marina in Okee Bay on Lake WI, pp. 62-71 in PDF.
  • 8/9/01: Added guidance memo and corresponding attachment, pp. 54-61 in PDF version, on water ski jumps and platforms.

Chapter 90 Surface Water Diversion [PDF 107KB]

  • 11/27/01: Page 1, last sentence of the first paragraph in section B. Mechanism has been corrected to read: "It also requires most persons to obtain permits for diversions from any lake or stream if the diversion will result in a water loss averaging 2,000,000 gallons per day (3.09 cfs) in any 30-day period."

Chapter 100 Ponds, Enlargement and Grading [PDF 145KB]

  • 4/15/03: Added September 5, 2002 guidance for "After-the-Fact" Construction Permits for Fish Farm Ponds, pp. 45-48 in the PDF version.
  • 11/01/01: Removed April 2, 1987 guidance memo and attached legal opinion, had been pp. 21-27 in PDF version; out of date.

Chapter 120 Dredging [PDF 570KB]

  • 2/23/04: Added February, 2004 guidance for State of Wisconsin Approval Process for Dredging of Commercial Ports.

Chapter 130 Water Levels and Flow [PDF 555KB]

  • 11/8/01: Added October 11, 2001 guidance memo and related appendices, pp. 15-35 in PDF, on Run-of-River Operations.

Chapter 140 Dams [PDF 212KB]

  • 10/18/01: Added 1997 guidance memo, pp. 80-88 in PDF version, on water quality certification of FERC-licensed hydroelectric projects.

For more information about this Web page, please contact:
Jim Vennie
(608) 266-2212

Last Revised: Friday August 21 2009