Aquatic Plant Management Rules
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) withdrew proposed revisions to the aquatic plant management rule, Board Order WY-29-19, from the August Natural Resources Board meeting due to concerns expressed by some stakeholders leading up to the meeting. The proposed rule was intended to create a more effective, transparent management program for the control of aquatic invasive species and problematic aquatic plants. The proposed rule was consistent with the EPA and APM industry best management practices and included a fee increase that would have been used to improve customer service and support the program.
The scope statement for the proposed rule will expire in October. To ensure sufficient time to comprehensively engage all those who have an interest in aquatic plant management, the DNR plans to reach out to stakeholders to better understand concerns and reassess whether there is an opportunity to restart the process with a new scope statement for a modified rulemaking proposal.
The DNR maintains our commitment to best practices and healthy lake management. We will continue to engage with all of our stakeholders to ensure robust, responsible aquatic plant management for the water resources of the state according to the current rules.
To receive email updates regarding the Department’s aquatic plant management program, please sign up at Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (govdelivery.com) and choose Aquatic Plants as the topic when prompted in the sign-up process. Please contact Carroll Schaal (carroll.schaal@wisconsin.gov or 608-630-3098), the Water Quality Program’s Lakes and Rivers Section Chief, with any questions.
The following rules all relate to Aquatic Plant Management (APM).
- NR 107 (Chemical)
- NR 109 (Manual/Mechanical)
- NR 40 (Invasive Species)
- Chapter 30/31 (Waterways)
- Wisconsin Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (WPDES)
Rule Revisions
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Want to learn more about what's in the draft rule? Look through these documents for summaries of the key changes in the draft rule and a breakdown of how the draft rule was written. |
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| Big Picture Summaries | |||
| High-Level Summary of Program Changes | AIS Management Fact Sheet | Summary of Changes - Response to Comments | APM Rule Process FAQ |
| Breakdown of the Key Changes | |||
| Waivers | Fees | Large Scale Thresholds and Monitoring Requirements | IPM and Planning |
| Permit Process: Mechanical on Surface Waters Greater Than 10 Acres in Size | Permit Process: Chemical on Surface Waters Greater Than 10 Acres in Size | Permit Process: Surface Waters 10 Acres or Less in Size | Permit Process: Wetlands |
| Other Resources | |||
| AIS Management Options for Lakeshore Property Owners | Best Management Practices Handbook - 3.1: A Manager's Definition of Aquatic Plant Control | Best Management Practives Handbook - 3.2: Developing a Lake Management Plan | Aquatic Plant Management Strategic Analysis |
The Aquatic Plant Management (APM) Program is undergoing rule revisions for both NR 107 and NR 109, related to chemical and mechanical/manual management of aquatic plants, respectively. Please see below for a summary of the rule drafting efforts. This webpage will also be updated with upcoming opportunities to learn more about the proposed rule throughout 2022-2023. Please sign up for GovDelivery updates to stay up to date on the rule process, upcoming educational opportunities and webpage updates.
Please visit the DNR's Proposed Permanent Administrative Rules web page and look for WY-29-19 to find the proposed rule and EIA. Additional information is also available about the adminstrative rulemaking process.
| Topic | Date and Time | Materials | Meeting Recording and Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wisconsin Natural Resources Board hearing to consider the proposed rule |
Informational briefing: June 22, 2022 Tentative adoption: Aug 9 or 10, 2022 |
Agenda | |
| Draft Rule | Public Input Opportunity: Jan. 3 - Mar. 1, 2022 | WY-29-19 Response to Comments | Please visit the DNR's Proposed Permanent Administrative Rules web page and look for WY-29-19 to find the proposed rule and associated documents. |
| Public Hearing on Draft Rule | Feb. 22, 2022 at 1 p.m. | Public hearing recording | |
| Draft Economic Impact Analysis | Public input opportunity: Sept. 27 - Nov. 10, 2021. |
Please go the the DNR's Proposed Permanent Administrative Rules web page and look for WY-29-19 to find the Economic Impact Analysis. | |
| The department asked for public comments and questions on the white paper proposals for public notification methods and criteria through May 16, 2021. 19 individuals and organizations supplied feedback. The department supplied responses to questions and summarized all of the comments. | Public Notification Methods and Criteria - Public Feedback Summary | ||
| The department asked for public comments and questions on the white paper policy proposals through Jan. 15, 2021. 25 individuals and organizations supplied feedback. Over 400 relevant questions and comments were received. The department supplied responses to questions and summarized all of the comments. | Aquatic Plant Management Rule Development - Public Feedback Summary | ||
| APM Treatments - Public Notification Methods and Criteria Alternative |
April 15, 2021
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| Written and verbal comments on the policy proposals within the white papers were received through January 15, 2021. | |||
| White Paper Meeting 3 - Mechanical Harvesting, Private Ponds, Emergent Species Management | Nov. 19, 2020 | ||
| White Paper Meeting 2 - Planning, Invasive Species Management, Native Plant Protections | Nov. 12, 2020 | ||
| White Paper Meeting 1 - Permit Processing, Treatment Timing and Scale, Monitoring and Evaluation | Nov. 5, 2020 | ||