Wetlands protection groups are generally supportive of the rule revisions, with some reservations. According to the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, On the whole, the revisions would maintain a strong wetland regulatory program while offering some relief for mom and pop type permit applicants involving very small fills. At the same time, the sequence that requires permit applicants to first look for practicable alternatives which don t impact wetlands should be retained in order to avoid needless wetland loss. Also, public notice requirements for water quality certification permits should be improved, not eliminated. Caryl Terrell, Legislative Coordinator for the John Muir Chapter of the Sierra Club, stated We strongly oppose any increase in size above the proposed tenth of an acre limitation.
Small wetlands play a vital role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
And as long as we are looking at revising NR103, we should develop a more effective enforcement mechanism for wetland regulations. Current enforcement provisions are lacking. The revisions would pertain only to wetlands rules and would not affect shoreline development activities on lakes, streams and rivers. Municipal and county responsibilities will not change because the revisions only affect the DNR s role in wetland management.