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Protect our Lakes and Streams Twenty-Eight Conservation and Environmental Groups Ask DNR to Adopt Emergency Rules to Protect Wisconsin’s Lakes and Streams February 10, 2004
Madison----Twenty-eight conservation and environmental groups, in a letter to Secretary Scott Hassett, have asked the Department of Natural Resources to propose emergency rules for the February Natural Resources Board Meeting restoring the environment regulatory standards to protect public rights in navigable waters that were removed from Chapter 30, Wisconsin Statutes by the Legislature in 2003 Wisconsin Act 118, (which has been referred to as the Jobs Creation Act of 2003). Specifically, the letter asks the DNR to adopt emergency rules for activities that were exempted from getting DNR permits such as the placement of certain structures, culverts and material on the beds of lakes and streams and the removal of material from the beds of waterways. The letter requests that the rules require that the exemptions not harm fish and wildlife habitat including fish spawning, natural scenic beauty and water quality, impede navigation or in any other way harm Constitutionally established public rights in navigable waters. "Time is of the essence for the DNR to adopt these emergency rules," stated George Meyer, Executive Director of the Wisconsin Wildlife Federation. "In less than 90 days spring will be here and bulldozers will be reshaping the beds of our lakes and streams in southern Wisconsin thereby causing irreparable damage to our waterways," continued Meyer. "It is critically important that these rules be in place to protect the very important near-shore fish habitat especially those areas of our lakes and streams that are spawning and nursery areas for walleye and other fish," stated Tom Soles, Executive Director for Walleyes for Tomorrow. "Our organization has spent untold amounts of money to increase fish populations in this state and we do not want to see valuable fish habitat destroyed throughout the state because the Legislature removed public rights protections from the statutes." "The immediate adoption of these rules by the DNR Board is necessary to carry out the strong commitments made by Governor Doyle, Senate Majority Leader Panzer, and Assembly Speaker Gard that the Chapter 30 regulatory changes made in Act 118 would not in any way lower environmental standards protecting Wisconsin’s invaluable lakes and streams, stated, Steve Hiniker, Executive Director for the 1000 Friends of Wisconsin. "Passing this law does not end the constitutional obligation of the State to perpetually protect public rights to the use and enjoyment of the waters of the State," said Caryl Terrell, Chapter Director, Sierra Club-John Muir Chapter. "Adoption of a comprehensive package of environmental rules is needed to fill major gaps newly created in Wisconsin law."
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