Unlike the legislature, the DNR Secretary is not responsible for weighing and striking a balance between the competing interests. The DNR Secretary has one primary responsibility protect the environment. Because a permanent moratorium on all permitting activities associated with isolated wetlands provides the ultimate protection for such wetlands, the DNR Secretary would have no incentive to ever remove the moratorium. All wetlands are not created equal. Some are man-made, while others have evolved naturally over time.
Wetlands vary in size, shape, location, and qualities.
Each has a combination of unique soil types, topography, climate, hydrology, water chemistry, and vegetation. Wisconsin s wetland regulations, however, fail to recognize the unique properties of different wetlands. Whether it s the Horicon Marsh or a few cattails in the middle of a farm field, our regulations treat all wetlands the same regardless of how that wetland functions in our environment. To provide a more effective and reasonable regulatory framework, Wisconsin must develop wetland regulations that distinguish between functional and non-functional wetlands. Although silent on this issue, AB 215 does provide the legislature with the time necessary to address this and other concerns with our current wetland regulations.