Dredging
Waterway protection
Public Comments:
The department is announcing its intention to reissue several statewide waterway and wetland general permits and issue a statewide waterway permit:
- Wetland impacts associated with the repair or maintenance of a dam (WDNR-GP10-2021),
- Wetland impacts associated with municipal development (WDNR-GP11-2021),
- Waterway impacts associated with temporary forestry crossings (WDNR-GP12-2021),
- Waterway impacts relating to dredging in previously dredged areas (WDNR-GP13-2021) and
- Waterway impacts associated with waterway crossings (WDNR-21-2021).
Each of these proposed permits has specific eligibility criteria including the project purpose and need, size of impact, and potential environmental resources that can be impacted, among other things. Once in place, the permit will be valid for 5 years and will allow members of the public to apply for coverage under the permit if the project meets all eligibility criteria and conditions. The department is inviting written comments on the proposed general permit. Written comments must be received by close of business on February 8, 2021. Please send comments by email to Amanda Minks via email at DNRWWGuidance@wisconsin.gov or by U.S. mail at DNR-WT/3, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707-7921, phone number 608-220-0368.
An informational hearing will be held through the zoom meeting platform and is scheduled for Friday January 22, 2021 beginning promptly at 9:00 A.M. To participate in this hearing, attend this Zoom meeting:
- https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87816141408.
The meeting identification code is 8781614 1408.
Alternatively, you may participate by phone: 312-626-6799, passcode: 87816141408#.
Dredging
Waterway protection Dredging
If your project involves removal of any material from lake or streambed (muck, sand, gravel, silt, organic material, etc.) a permit may be needed. Dredging projects can pose a risk to the aquatic environment and permit authorization typically requires input from multiple department programs. It is strongly recommended that you contact your local water management specialist early on as you are developing your project.
Before you begin
- If a permit is required, applicants are required to have a pre-application meeting with their local water management specialist prior to submitting a formal permit application to determine information submittal needs.
- Some project requirements are based on specific waterway designations. Please check the department’s designated waters viewer to determine whether your waterway has a specific designation that may influence your project.
Determine permit required
This is a text link version of our dredging interactive question and answer module. If you are seeing this message, you currently have JavaScript disabled or are in compatibility mode while using Internet Explorer. This text version is here to help you understand if you need a permit from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for your dredging project, and if so, which one. Please go through and answer each question. This will help you determine which permit you will need.
Question 1 :
Is your project:
- one of the following activities and
- can it meet all of the requirements in the permit application checklist or reference?
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Manual Dredging Checklist |
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If your answer is “Yes,”:
You've answered Yes:
Your project may qualify for an exemption. It is strongly encouraged that you discuss your project with your local Water Management Specialist prior to beginning your project. Please refer to the exemption checklist or reference information for project eligibility standards that must be followed in order to complete the activity.
If your answer is "No,” go to Question 2.
Question 2 :
Is your project:
- one of the following activities and
- can it meet all of the requirements in the permit application checklist or reference?
(a) Activity name | (b) Checklist or reference |
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You've answered Yes.
If your answer is “Yes,”:
Your project may qualify for a general permit. Prior to submitting a permit application you are required to have a pre-application meeting with your local Water Management Specialist. Please refer to the permit application checklist for information that must be provided to your water management specialist.
You've answered No.
If your answer is “No,”:
It does not appear that there are any exemptions or general permits available for your project. Because of this, an individual permit is likely required. Please work with your local water management specialist to determine specific permit application needs.
Be aware there may be additional permit standards you must meet. Prior to applying for a permit, review the Permit Application Checklist [PDF] and the Sample Drawings [PDF] as you consider your project’s overall design.
Contaminated sediment sampling
- Be aware that for larger dreding projects the department may require sediment sampling under Chapter NR 347 [PDF exit DNR].
- If you are applying to dredge a large area and think you may have to do sediment sampling, please read this Guidance Document [PDF].
Riparian navigational dredging on man-made impoundments
As of October 2018, DNR has a new general permit for riparians located on man-made impoundments who want to dredge up to 50 cubic yards for up to 5 years. In addition to specific design standards detailed in General Permit 20, projects need to meet two eligibility standards.
Eligible lake list
Eligible waters list with 30% development
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First, the project needs to be located on a man-made impoundment with a watershed comprised of more than 30% combined agricultural and urban land use development based upon the department’s latest WiscLand dataset.
In order to determine whether your impoundment meets this standard, select your county from the drop-down menu in the “Eligible impoundments list” sidebar on this web page. A list of eligible impoundments, and their associated Water Body Identification Code (WBIC), will appear.
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Projects also need to be located on a man-made impoundment. Impoundments are defined as a surface water with artificially raised water levels due to the presence of a man-made structure like a dam. In order to demonstrate your project is located on a man-made impoundment, riparians can show they are located on a lake upstream from a dam structure by submitting a screenshot of the Surface Water Data Viewer Dam’s Layer, or documentation from the DNR Water Management Specialist or DNR Water Management Engineer, or other documentation. Applicants will be prompted to submit this documentation when applying for the permit.
Applicants will also be required to submit a self-certification that the dredging is exempt from consultation from the Waste Materials Management, or get separate approval from Waste Materials Management. Applicants can consult the self-certification exemption criteria flow chart for dredge material disposal facility.
Laws
Applicable statutes and codes include Section 30.20,, Wis. Stats. [exit DNR] and Chapter NR 345 [exit DNR].
Sample drawings and other materials
- Lake dredging sample drawings [PDF]
- Stream dredging sample drawings [PDF]
- Invasive management dredging sample drawings [PDF]
- Nuisance removal dredging sample drawings [PDF]
- DNR-GP5-2018-WI General Permit to remove accumulated plant and animal nuisance deposits from beds of navigable waters [PDF]
- DNR-GP17-2017-WI General Permit for Small Scale Dredging of Lakes and Streams [PDF]
- DNR-GP20-2018-WI General Permit for Riparian Navigational Dredging of Man-made Impoundments [PDF]
- Office of Energy utility permitting
- Waterway and wetland information line
- Can’t find the answer to your question on our web pages? Call or email us.
- 608-267-3125
- DNRWMSPublicInquiry@wisconsin.gov