Clean Water News

As the new home of WISPIRG's environmental work, Wisconsin Environment can be contacted with any questions regarding this news release.  

MADISON—Marking the start of the 2006 construction season, the Wisconsin Public Interest Research Group (WISPIRG) released a new report today calling on Governor Doyle to protect Wisconsin’s lakes from overdevelopment. The report, "The Difference A Year Makes: As Construction Season Begins, Wisconsin’s Lakes Lack Critical Protections", details the status of the stalled shoreland zoning rules and the threat another year of overdevelopment poses to Wisconsin’s waterways.

“At the start of construction season, we face another year that unbridled development will damage Wisconsin’s lakes,” said Eliza Simon, WISPIRG Clean Water Associate. “Wisconsinites know that overdevelopment threatens our ability to fish, swim, and enjoy our lakes, but the state has yet to solve this problem.”

WISPIRG’s report examines the impact that another year of excessive development will have on Wisconsin’s waterways. Research indicates that at the current rate of development, all privately owned shorelines will be developed by 2015. The 2006 construction season brings our waterways one year closer to this grim deadline.

The report also documents the massive public support for revisions to the shoreland zoning rules (NR 115), which would protect waterways by controlling shoreline development. During a public comment period in July and August of 2005, more than 12,000 citizens submitted comments, and at least 10,000 registered in favor of stronger water protections.

Despite this support, however, the DNR has yet to promulgate new shoreland zoning rules. Instead, the DNR has recently revealed plans to revise the rule yet again, and to hold a second public comment period.

Governor Doyle has said little publicly about the rules, but he did speak at the Wisconsin Realtors Association’s lobby day event in February 2006 – an event that included stopping updates to the shoreland zoning rules as a top priority.

“Last summer’s public comment period represented democracy in action,” said Simon. “It is now time to protect our lakes.”

WISPIRG’s report details some of damage done by excessive development, including that it:

• Increases phosphorous inputs by as much as 700%. Today, 80% of lakes contain too much phosphorous, which runs off of developed land and causes algae blooms.
• Threatens fish and wildlife. A study found that growth rates of bluegills declined as lakeshore development increased.
• Decreases property value. Clean water adds as much as $200 per frontage foot to property value, while dirty lakes damage property values and local economies.

To protect Wisconsin’s lakes from overdevelopment, WISPIRG’s report recommends four simple changes, all of which have been met or surpassed at the county level:

• Increase natural buffers to 50 feet and require full vegetation;
• Increase new lots to 20,000 square feet with an average width of 100 feet;
• Require larger lots for multi-unit structures like condominiums and resorts; and
• Limit impervious surfaces like driveways and rooftops to 20% per lot.

“At the start of the 2006 construction season, we need strong protections for our lakes more than ever before,” said Simon. “Governor Doyle should instruct the DNR to send the Natural Resources Board strong, protective shoreland zoning rules as soon as possible.”