Wis. Stat. § 295.61 — WI Code / Chapter 295 / Section 295.61
Withdrawals of surface waters and groundwater.
Status: in_force

(1) Definitions. In this section:

(a) “Authorized base level of water loss” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (b) .

(b) “Environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation measures” has the meaning given in s. 281.346 (1) (i) .

(c) “Great Lakes basin” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (d) .

(d) “High capacity well” has the meaning given in s. 281.34 (1) (b) .

(e) “Interbasin diversion” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (g) .

(em) “Riparian restoration project” means a project that will restore or enhance the natural beneficial uses and value of a watercourse.

(f) “Upper Mississippi River basin” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (j) .

(g) Unless the context otherwise requires, “use” includes dewatering.

(h) “Water loss” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (L) .

(i) “Withdrawal” has the meaning given in s. 281.35 (1) (m) .

(2) Permit required. No person may engage in any withdrawal or use of surface water as part of a mining operation or bulk sampling, including a withdrawal or use associated with a system or plant under s. 281.41 , unless the person has been issued a water withdrawal permit under this section. No person may engage in any withdrawal or use of groundwater, including a withdrawal or use associated with a system or plant under s. 281.41 , as part of a mining operation or bulk sampling if the capacity and rate of withdrawal of all wells involved in the withdrawal of groundwater or in the dewatering of mines exceeds 100,000 gallons each day unless the person has been issued a water withdrawal permit under this section.

(3) Permit application.

(a) Application. A person applying for a water withdrawal permit is required to submit only one application. An application for a water withdrawal permit shall include any information requested by the department under s. 295.45 (3) .

(am) Applicant status.

1. A person is not required to be the owner of a piece of riparian property in order to obtain a permit to withdraw surface water from that piece of riparian property if any of the following applies:

a. The person leases the piece of riparian property from the owner.

b. The person holds an easement on the piece of riparian property.

2. A person is not required to be the owner of a piece of property in order to obtain a permit to withdraw groundwater from that piece of property if any of the following applies:

a. The person leases the piece of property from the owner.

b. The person holds an easement on the piece of property.

c. The person has obtained permission from the owner to withdraw groundwater from that piece of property.

(b) Siting analysis. If withdrawal of water at a mining operation or for bulk sampling will involve one or more high capacity wells, the department shall require an applicant for a water withdrawal permit to submit a siting analysis for the purpose of determining the location of the high capacity wells. The analysis shall include alternate proposed locations for each high capacity well. In evaluating a submitted analysis, the department shall recognize there is a need for mining waste sites and processing facilities, including wastewater and sludge storage or treatment lagoons, to be contiguous to the location of the ferrous mineral deposit, and shall allow any high capacity well to be located so that need will be met. The department shall approve the location of each high capacity well as part of the permit issued under sub. (4) .

(c) Entry to land. After an application for a water withdrawal permit has been submitted under this section, the applicant may enter any land from which the applicant proposes to withdraw water or use water for the purpose of making any surveys required for the mining operation or bulk sampling, but no work may be commenced necessary for the mining operation or the bulk sampling until the department issues the permit under this section.

(4) Permit issuance.

(a) General requirements. The department shall issue a water withdrawal permit if it determines that the withdrawal or use of the surface water or groundwater meets all of the following requirements:

1. The proposed withdrawal and uses of the water are substantially consistent with the protection of public health, safety, and welfare and will not be significantly detrimental to the public interest.

2. The proposed withdrawal and uses of the water will not have a significant adverse impact on the environment and ecosystem of the Great Lakes basin or the Upper Mississippi River basin.

3. The proposed withdrawal and use of the water will not be significantly detrimental to the quantity and quality of the waters of the state.

4. The proposed withdrawal and use of the water will not significantly impair the rights of riparian owners or the applicant obtains the consent of the riparian owners.

5. The proposed withdrawal and use of the water will not result in significant injury to public rights in navigable waters.

6. If the withdrawal or the use of the water will result in an interbasin diversion, the requirements of s. 281.35 (5) (d) 7. are met.

7. The proposed withdrawal or use of the water will comply with any requirements imposed by the department under par. (cm) .

(b) Conservation measures. The person applying for the permit shall submit a plan to the department containing proposed conservation measures to meet the requirements under par. (a) and a proposed schedule for implementing the measures. The plan shall include one or more of the following measures:

1. Environmentally sound and economically feasible water conservation measures.

2. Restoration of hydrologic conditions and functions of the source watershed, or if the withdrawal is from a stream tributary to one of the Great Lakes, restoration of the hydrologic conditions and functions of that stream.

3. Protection of important upland groundwater recharge areas.

4. Stabilization of shorelands.

5. Restoration or enhancement of the natural beneficial uses and values of a stream or river.

6. Implementation of any feasible methods to offset impacts to water quality or quantity.

7. Supplementation of additional water to water bodies to offset lower water levels.

8. Taking steps to improve public rights or interests in navigable waters, if navigable waters are subject to the permit.

9. A mitigation program as provided in s. 295.60 (8) .

10. Measures to offset significant impacts to navigable waters by providing public access to, restoring, or enlarging up to 1.5 acres of navigable waters in exchange for each acre of natural navigable waters that is significantly impacted.

11. A riparian restoration project.

12. Measures as provided in s. 295.605 .

(bn) Plan review; finding. In reviewing the plan, the department may require that conservation measures that are in addition to, or in conjunction with, one or more of the conservation measures specified in par. (b) 1. to 12. be included in the plan. After reviewing the plan and application, if the department finds that the requirements under par. (a) will be met by implementing some or all of the conservation measures contained in the plan, the department shall determine which measures shall be required, shall approve a schedule for implementation, and shall issue the permit.

(cm) Impacts to water supplies. If the department determines that a proposed withdrawal or use of water will result in a significant impact to a public or private water supply, the department shall require the applicant to offset that impact in a manner approved by the department, which may include a requirement that the applicant provide a replacement water supply of similar quality or provide an increased amount of water to the water supply.

(e) Use of waters on nonriparian property. Water withdrawn in accordance with a water withdrawal permit may be used on nonriparian property.

(f) Limits on permit denials. If the department determines that one of the water withdrawal activities subject to an application for a water withdrawal permit does not meet the requirements for issuing the permit under par. (a) and will not be authorized under the permit, the failure to authorize the activity may not affect the department’s determination as to whether to approve or deny the permit for other water withdrawal activities that are subject to the application.

(5) Permit conditions.

(a) The department may impose reasonable conditions in a water withdrawal permit that, except as provided in par. (b) , may not interfere with the mining operation or bulk sampling or limit the amount of water needed for the mining operation or bulk sampling and that relate to any of the following:

1. The location of the withdrawal or use.

2. The authorized base level of water loss from the withdrawal or use.

3. The dates on which or seasons during which withdrawal or use of the water may occur.

4. The purposes for the withdrawal or use of the water.

5. The amount and quality of return flow required and the place of the discharge.

6. The requirements for reporting volumes and rates of withdrawal and any other data specified by the department.

7. Any other conditions that the department determines are necessary to protect the environment and the public health, safety, and welfare and to ensure the conservation and proper management of the waters of the state.