DNR Introduces New Permit Process For Waterfront Property Cleanup

The Department of Natural Resources has a new permit process for cleaning up dead fish, algae and invasive species on waterfront property.

Five years ago, the DNR created a streamlined plan for Wisconsin property owners along the Great Lakes who wanted to get rid of large accumulations of dead fish, plants and other nuisance deposits from the shoreline.

Now that same plan – a general permit, instead of a more time-consuming to get an individual permit – has been created for landowners along inland waters, too. The DNR’s Martye Griffin says an explosion of the zebra mussel population in Lake Winnebago has prompted the change.

“When big storms come in, and wind really picks up on that lake, you have zebra mussels that get blown up on shore. They’re getting in people’s boat houses, their boat lifts, around their piers…”

Griffin argues that making it easier to obtain a clean-up permit doesn’t mean more damage to the environment. He says the new system has about 20 standards landowners or contractors have to meet.

“It ranges from where you can access the water, how you clean it up if you’re using a machine, where you actually put that material after you remove it… You’re not allowed to put in a wetland, you’re not allowed to put it back into the water, you’re not allowed to put it on your neighbor’s property. You need to…dispose of it in a proper location.”

Griffin says the clean-up crew is also not allowed to disrupt fish spawning. The DNR would have 30 days to decide on the general permit and it would be good for five years. Individual permits require a month-long public comment period.