Chapter 30 — NAVIGABLE WATERS, HARBORS AND NAVIGATION

30.01 Definitions. In this chapter: (1am) “Area of special natural resource interest” means any of the following: (a) A state natural area designated or dedicated under ss. 23.27 to 23.29 and shown on a map published on the department’s Internet site. (b) A surface water identifi…

30.025 Permit procedure for utility facilities. (1b) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Commission” means the public service commission. (b) “Permit” means an individual permit, a general permit, an approval, or a contract required under this subchapter or subch. II, a permit or …

30.027 Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. For activities in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway, as defined in s. 30.40 (15), no person obtaining a permit under subchs. I, II or V may start or engage in the activity for which the permit was issued unless the person obtains any permit…

30.03 Enforcement of forfeitures; abatement of nuisances; infringement of public rights. (2) The district attorney of the appropriate county or, at the request of the department, the attorney general shall institute proceedings to recover any forfeiture imposed or to abate any nu…

30.05 Applicability of chapter to municipally-owned submerged shorelands. Nothing in this chapter relative to the establishment of bulkhead or pierhead lines or the placing of structures or deposits in navigable waters or the removal of mate- 30.07 rials from the beds of navigabl…

30.053 Applicability of chapter to artificial water bodies and certain impoundments. (1) Except in subch. V and except as specifically provided otherwise in this chapter, nothing in this chapter applies to an artificial water body, as defined in s. 30.19 (1b) (a), that is not hyd…

30.056 Exemption from certain permit requirements. Notwithstanding ss. 30.12, 30.19, 30.195 and 30.294, the city of Oak Creek may not be required to remove any structure or concrete or other deposit that was placed in Crayfish Creek in the city of Oak Creek before June 1, 1991, a…

30.06 Waiver of certain provisions of this chapter. The department, by rule, may waive the applicability to specified navigable waters of the United States of all or part of those provisions of this chapter which relate to the establishment of bulkhead or pierhead lines or the pl…

30.07 Transportation of aquatic plants and animals; placement of objects in navigable waters. (1) In this section: (a) “Aquatic animal” means any animal that lives or grows only in water during any life state and includes that animal’s eggs, larvae, or young. (b) “Aquatic plant” …

30.10 Declarations of navigability. (1) LAKES. All lakes wholly or partly within this state which are navigable in fact are declared to be navigable and public waters, and all persons have the same rights therein and thereto as they have in and to any other navigable or public wa…

30.103 Identification of ordinary high-water mark by town sanitary district. A town sanitary district may identify the ordinary high-water mark of a lake that lies wholly within unincorporated territory and wholly within the town sanitary district. The department may not identify…

30.105 Determining footage of shoreline. In determining footage of shoreline for purposes of s. 30.50 (4q), 30.77 (3) (ac), (ae) and (am) and 60.782 (2), towns, villages, cities, public inland lake protection and rehabilitation districts and town sanitary districts shall measure …

30.11 Establishment of bulkhead lines. (1) WHO MAY ESTABLISH. Any municipality may, subject to the approval of the department, by ordinance establish a bulkhead line and from time to time reestablish the same along any section of the shore of any navigable waters within its bound…

30.12 Structures and deposits in navigable waters. (1) PERMITS REQUIRED. Unless an individual or a general permit has been issued under this section or authorization has been granted by the legislature, no person may do any of the following: (a) Deposit any material or place any …

30.121 Regulation of boathouses and houseboats. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, the terms “maintain” and “repair” include replacing structural elements, including roofs, doors, walls, windows, beams, porches, floors, and foundations. (2) PROHIBITIONS. After December 16, 1979 no …

30.122 Unauthorized structures. All permanent alterations, deposits or structures affecting navigable waters, other than boathouses, which were constructed before December 9, 1977 and which did not require a permit at the time of construction, shall be presumed in conformity with…

30.123 Bridges and culverts. (2) PERMITS REQUIRED. Unless an individual or a general permit has been issued under this section or authorization has been granted by the legislature, no person may construct or maintain a bridge or construct, place, or maintain a culvert in, on, or …

30.124 Waterfowl habitat management. (1) Notwithstanding ss. 30.12, 30.20, 30.44, and 30.45, and if the department finds that the activity will not adversely affect public or private rights or interests in fish and wildlife populations, navigation, or waterway flood flow capacity…

30.125 Shoreline maintenance in outlying waters. (1) In this section: (a) “Outlying waters” has the meaning given in s. 29.001 (63). 30.126 (b) “Shoreline area” means the area that is located between the ordinary high-water mark and water’s edge. (2) If the conditions under sub. …

30.1255 Report on control of aquatic nuisance species. (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “aquatic nuisance species” means a nonindigenous species that threatens the diversity or abundance of native species or the ecological stability of infested waters or that threatens a commerci…

30.126 Regulation of fishing rafts. (2) PROHIBITION OF FISHING RAFTS. Except as provided under subs. (3) and (4), no person may construct or place a fishing raft on any navigable water. (3) EXCEPTION FOR FISHING RAFTS ON THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER. A person may maintain any fishing ra…

30.13 Regulation of wharves, piers and swimming rafts; establishment of pierhead lines. (1) CONSTRUCTION ALLOWED WITHOUT PERMIT UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. A riparian proprietor may construct a wharf or pier in a navigable waterway extending beyond the ordinary high-water mark o…

30.131 Wharves and piers placed and maintained by persons other than riparian owners. (1) Notwithstanding s. 30.133, a wharf or pier of the type which does not require a permit under ss. 30.12 (1) and 30.13 that abuts riparian land and that is placed in a navigable water by a per…

30.132 Riparian rights. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Commission” means the public service commission. (b) “Hydroelectric operator” means an operator of a project. (c) “Project” means a hydroelectric project regulated by the federal energy regulatory commission or the de…

30.133 Prohibition against conveyance of riparian rights. (1) Beginning on April 9, 1994, and except as provided in s. 30.1335, no owner of riparian land that abuts a navigable water may grant by an easement or by a similar conveyance any riparian right in the land to another per…

30.1335 (1) (a), in the navigable water. (2) This section does not apply to riparian land located within the boundary of any hydroelectric project licensed or exempted by the federal government, if the conveyance is authorized under any license, rule or order issued by the federa…

30.134 Use of exposed shore areas along streams. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Artificial ditch” means a ditch, channel, canal or other stream of water that has no prior history as a stream. (b) “Exposed shore area” means the area of the bed of a navigable body of water …

30.135 Regulation of water ski platforms and jumps. (1) A riparian owner placing a water ski platform or water ski jump in a navigable waterway is exempt from the permit requirements under this chapter if all of the following requirements are met: (a) The platform or jump does no…

30.14 Reports of and hearings on violations. (1) MUNICIPALITIES TO REPORT VIOLATIONS. The governing body of each municipality shall promptly report to the department every violation of s. 30.12 or 30.13 which occurs or which it has reason to believe is likely to occur within the …

30.15 Penalty for unlawful obstruction of navigable waters. (1) OBSTRUCTIONS PENALIZED. Any person who does any of the following shall forfeit not less than $10 nor more than $500 for each offense: (a) Unlawfully obstructs any navigable waters and thereby impairs the free navigat…

30.16 Removal of obstructions to navigation. (1) WATERCRAFT AND FLOATS. (a) Removal. The governing body of any municipality in this state may cause to be removed to a convenient and safe place any watercraft or float obstructing or interfering with the free navigation of any rive…

30.18 Withdrawal of water from lakes and streams. (2) PERMIT REQUIRED. (a) Streams. No person may withdraw water from a stream in this state without an individual permit under this section if the withdrawal meets either of the following conditions: 1. The withdrawal is for the pu…

30.19 Enlargement and protection of waterways. (1b) DEFINITION. In this section: (a) “Artificial water body” means a body of water that does not have a history of being a lake or stream or of being part of a lake or stream. (b) “Bank” means either of the following: 1. Land area t…

30.195 Changing of stream courses. (1) PERMIT REQUIRED. Unless a permit has been issued under this section or authorization has been granted by the legislature, no person may change the course of or straighten a navigable stream. (2) INDIVIDUAL PERMITS. (a) A riparian owner shall…

30.196 Enclosure of navigable waters; issuance of permits to municipalities. A municipality may enclose navigable waters by directing, placing or restricting navigable waters into an enclosed drain, conduit, storm sewer or similar structure if the department grants the municipali…

30.20 Removal of material from beds of navigable waters. (1) PERMITS OR CONTRACTS REQUIRED. (a) Unless a contract has been entered into with the department under sub. (2) (a) or (b) or authorization has been granted by the legislature, no person may remove any material from the b…

30.201 Financial assurance for nonmetallic mining. (1) If the department requires that financial assurance be provided as a condition for a permit under s. 30.19, 30.195, or 30.20 or for a contract under s. 30.20 for nonmetallic mining and reclamation, the financial assurance may…

30.202 Dredge disposal in and near the Mississippi, St. Croix and Black rivers by the U.S. corps of engineers. (1) MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING. The department may enter into a memorandum of understanding with the U.S. corps of engineers concerning the dredging of the Mississippi,…

30.2022 Activities of department of transportation. (1g) In this section, “transportation activity” means an activity carried out under the direction and supervision of the department of transportation in connection with highway, bridge, or other transportation project design, lo…

30.2023 Seawalls; Wolf River and Fox River basins. A riparian owner is exempt from the permit requirements under s. 30.12 for a structure that is placed on the bed of a navigable water in the Wolf River and Fox River basin area, as described in s. 30.207 (1), and that extends bey…

30.2025 Lake Koshkonong comprehensive project. May 22, 2026, are designated by NOTES. (Published 5-22-26) 30.2025 NAVIGABLE WATERS, HARBORS AND NAVIGATION (1) DEFINITION. In this section, “district” means the RockKoshkonong public inland lake protection and rehabilitation distric…

30.2026 Lake Belle View and Sugar River project. (1) AUTHORIZATION. (a) Subject to the restrictions under sub. (2), the village of Belleville may place fill on all or part of the portion of the bed of Lake Belle View located in Dane County for any of the following purposes: 1. Im…

30.203 Lake Winnebago comprehensive project. (1) AUTHORIZATION. The department may implement a project to place structures or fill or both on the beds of lakes Winnebago, Butte des Morts, Winneconne and Poygan for any of the following purposes: (a) To improve navigation or to pro…

30.2034 Change to existing approvals. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Fill authorization” means the authorization of fill in an area of a Great Lakes water by the legislature in specific legislation or a lake bed grant or by a submerged land lease under s. 24.39. (b) “Fill…

30.2035 Shoreline protection study. The department shall conduct a study on shoreline protection measures, including the use of seawalls, and on the environmental impact that these measures may have. No later than June 1, 1996, the department shall complete the study and shall di…

30.2037 Big Silver Lake high-water mark. The ordinary high-water mark of Big Silver Lake in the town of Marion in Waushara County shall be set by the department at 867 feet above mean sea level as determined under U.S. geological survey standards. History: 1997 a. 27.

30.2038 Milwaukee shoreline established. (1) (a) The shoreline of Lake Michigan in the city of Milwaukee is fixed and established to extend from approximately the line of East Lafayette Place extended easterly on the north to the present north harbor entrance wall of the Milwauke…

30.2039 Great Lakes and river waterfront property. (1) DEFINITIONS. In this section: (a) “Concession” means a private allowable use that is a structure or facility that provides lodging, restaurant and food and beverage services, or retail services supporting the public interest …

30.204 Lake acidification experiment. (1) AUTHORIZATION. Between May 15, 1984, and January 1, 2008, the department is authorized to conduct a lake acidification experiment on the lake specified under sub. (2). (2) LAKE SELECTION. The department shall select Little Rock Lake in th…