Water Division Objective:

Wolf River, Oxbow Rapids, Langlade Co. June 3, 2000. E.J. Judziewicz

Protect waters of the state held in trust for all the people of the state through enforcement of the Public Trust Doctrine.

Wisconsin's long history of water management is based on the fundamental idea that that water is a public resource -- a shared entity, to be held, protected and managed in trust for current and future generations. To protect and hold waters -- and their rich resources -- for the public, now and in the future, is the foundation of the goals supporting our Water Program's Public Trust Doctrine objective.

Provide an effective aquatic habitat regulatory program, which is a necessary basis for protecting rights held in trust in public waters. To manage an effective program, the following measurable concepts are in place:

• Permits must be reviewed in a clear and consistent fashion across the state.
• Permits must be issued in a timely manner.
• Continually evaluate the regulatory program to make sure it is protecting public resources and rights.
• Provide an effective shoreland zoning program, which is a necessary basis for protecting rights held in trust in public waters, and for protecting and improving shoreland functions and water quality by providing adequate.
• Existing zoning rules must be clear, consistent and enforceable
• Effectively manage a statewide aquatic plant program to ensure that native ecological systems, which are critical public trust resources, are protected effectively.
• Continue implementation of Wisconsin's statewide wetlands strategic plan “Reversing the Loss”.