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Waterway & Wetland Permits: Intake/Outfall Structures
“I want to place an intake or outfall structure on the bed of a lake or river. Do I need to obtain a permit and/or pay a fee?” Installing an intake or outfall habitat structure is generally exempt from permit requirements, provided your project meets certain standards and is not in a specially designated water.
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For projects in designated waters, a general permit or an individual permit is required. Follow the steps below before starting your project:
Step 1
Determine if your waterway has a special designation that might affect the exemption or permit requirements.
Visit the search page below, enter the information about your waterway, and record any designations that it may have.
If you have questions about using the Designated Waters Search tool, you may visit our Designated Waters Search Tutorial to learn how.
Step 2
Determine if your project is exempt. Intake or outfall structures are generally exempt from permit requirements. To qualify for the exemption, key requirements are that the intake or outfall structure may not be located in an "areas of special natural resource interest" (ASNRI), or within a "public rights feature" (PRF).
If your structure will not be in an ASNRI, you may qualify for an exemption if your project meets specific standards. Click on the checklist below to help you determine if your project qualifies for an exemption.
If you would like assistance from the DNR to determine if an activity is eligible for an exemption, download and print the Exemption Determination Request [PDF 25KB], or obtain the form at your local DNR Service Center. Fill in all of the requested information, sign the form, and submit it by mail or FAX to the address on the form. You will receive a response within 15 days of our receipt of your request (provided the owner of the project site has signed the form).
If your intake or outfall structure is NOT exempt, you'll need to apply for a General Pemit or Individual Permit.
Step 3
To determine if you need to apply for a General Permit or Individual Permit, review the General Permit materials to determine if you meet the standards for eligibility.
If you qualify for a general permit, send the completed application attachment, along with the Water Resources Application for Project Permits (WRAPP) [#3500-053, PDF 46KB] cover sheet , fee and Fee Sheet [#3500-053A, PDF 93KB], to the permit intake address based on the county where your project is located on our Permit Intake & Contacts page. Please note: if you are applying for more than one permit, you only need to include one WRAPP cover sheet with your application materials. For more information about how your application is reviewed, see our Web page on the Permit Process.
If your project cannot meet the general permit standards please apply for an individual permit.
Send the completed application materials, along with the fee and Fee Sheet [#3500-053A, PDF 93KB], to the permit intake address based on the county where your project is located on our Permit Intake & Contacts page.
Notice:
Federal law requires landowners of construction sites with one acre or more of land disturbance to address erosion control and storm water management by filing a Water Resources Application for Project Permits (WRAPP) along with the “Construction Erosion and Sediment Control” and “Post Construction Stormwater Management” attachments. If your project involves the disturbance of an acre or more, you will need to obtain required storm water application materials.
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How do I save and open the permit materials in ZIP format? • General Permit Attachment: Intake/Outfall [ZIP 144KB] • Individual Permit Application: Intake/Outfall [ZIP 423KB] |
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Please send your completed application materials to the permit intake address based on the county where your project is located on our Permit Intake & Contacts page.
Laws
Applicable statutes and codes include Section 30.12, Wis. Stats. [exit DNR], [PDF 627KB] and Chapter NR 329, Wis. Adm. Code. [exit DNR], [PDF 42KB].
Local permits and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regulations may also apply. We advise you to contact your local zoning office and your regional U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office [exit DNR].
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