Purpose of Wisconsin's Shoreland Management Program

Shoreland zoning has the goal of protecting water quality, fish and wildlife habitat, recreation, and natural beauty. To accomplish these goals, the statewide minimum standards for shoreland zoning ordinances primarily do two things:

• control the intensity of development around water, and
• create a buffer around water

A buffer is a vegetated strip of land that protects water from the impacts of nearby development, provides wildlife habitat and screens buildings when viewing from the water. If properly designed and maintained, a buffer can help protect shorelands and adjacent lakes and rivers from physical, chemical, hydrological, and visual impacts.

A Partnership Between State and Local Government

Wisconsin's Shoreland Management Program is a partnership between state and local government. Local communities adopt zoning ordinances to guide development near navigable lakes and rivers, in compliance with statewide minimum development standards. These standards seek to create a balance between private rights and public interests.

For more information, contact:
Gregg Breese, Shoreland Zoning Contact
Bureau of Watershed Management
(608) 261-6430