Timber Harvests

An Explanaton of Chapter NR 37 Wisconsin Administrative Code

AESTHETIC MANAGEMENT SPECIFICATION FOR TIMBER HARVEST

Timber harvesting within the State Riverway requires a permit issued by the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board (LWSRB). Permits establish conditions so that timber cutting or harvesting will have minimal impact on the scenic beauty and natural value of the riverway.

Permit requirements vary by zone. Zone boundaries are established on a case by case basis by LWSRB staff following inspection of the site. For more information contact the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board, an independent state agency which provides locally based oversight of the Riverway.

Note: Words are defined in the definitions section.

  1. Harvest Restrictions

    River Edge Zone

    • Selection cutting to minimum 60 ft.2 of basal area.
    • Ground frozen or dry.
    • Leaves must be off deciduous trees.
    • A 15-foot wide access strip is also allowed for each property.

    Resource Management Zone

    • No mandatory harvest restrictions.
    • Consultation with a forester is encouraged.

    Riverview Zone

    • Small regeneration cuts; with irregular boundaries.
    • Shelterwood cuts.
    • Selection cutting to minimum 60 ft.2 of basal area.
    • Ground frozen or dry.
    • Leaves must be off deciduous trees.

    Bluff Zone

    • Selection cutting only to a minimum of 60 ft.2 of basal area.
    • Ground frozen or dry.
    • Leaves must be off deciduous trees.

  2. Road Building Restrictions​

    River Edge Zone

    • A 15-foot wide access strip is allowed.
    • No additional road building.
    Note: Contact the County Zoning Administrator for other restrictions.

    Resource Management Zone

    • No restriction associated with timber harvest.

    Bluff and Riverview Zone

    • Timber harvest permit must have authorization for road construction.
    • Average grade may not exceed 10%.
    • Road width may not exceed 12 feet.
    • Roads shall be seeded after timber harvest to establish sod or other vegetative cover.
    • Variances are possible where no alternatives exist with proper techniques to control soil erosion.

  3. Permit Process
    1. Landowner contacts LWSRB for information and/or permit application to begin process.
    2. LWSRB Executive Director conducts a field inspection to determine visibility of site when viewed from the river.
    3. Riverway office prepares a general permit or schedules a visit to determine necessary conditions such as erosion control or screening vegetation.
    4. LWSRB evaluates the permit at their monthly meeting and approves permit with necessary restrictions or requirements, or acts to address state Riverway concerns.
    5. Construction or placement of a structure begins when landowner receives the permit and complies with applicable permit conditions.
    6. Compliance inspection by DNR or LWSRB during construction or at permit expiration date.

    NOTE: The permit process may take as little as one or 2 days or as long as 5 weeks. Contacting the LWSRB well in advance of the proposed construction will minimize the chances for delay.​

  4. Definitions

    Agriculture use means beekeeping; dairying; egg production; feedlots; grazing; floriculture; raising of livestock; raising of poultry; raising of fruits, nuts and berries; raising of grains, grass, mint and seed crops; raising of vegetables; and sod farming.

    LWSRB means Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board.

    Mobile home means a prefabricated unit with walls of rigid construction that is designed to be towed as a single unit or in sections upon a highway by a motor vehicle and that is used or is intended to be used for human habitation.

    Modify means to renovate, remodel, expand in size or otherwise change a structure that is not damaged or destroyed.

    Person means a natural person, corporation, partnership, association, cooperative, municipality or other local governmental unit, private or public utility, municipal power district, estate or trust, the United States, a federal agency, the state of Wisconsin or a state agency.

    Perennial means having a life cycle lasting or continuing for a long time.

    River means the Wisconsin river downstream from the dam at Prairie du Sac, but includes only that area below the ordinary high water mark of the main channel or channels, and does not include the bays, bayous and sloughs of the river bottoms.

    Riverway means the area within the boundaries of the lower Wisconsin State riverway.

    Structure means a building, facility or other unit that is constructed or otherwise erected.

    Top of the bluff means the visually most prominent portion of the bluff when viewed from the river, being either the highest geographic point or that point where there is a significant change in slope.

    Tree means a woody plant which at maturity is 20 feet or more in height with a single trunk unbranched for at least several feet above the ground and having a more or less definite crown.

    Visible from the river means possible to be seen from any point on the river.

    Visually inconspicuous means difficult to be seen and not readily noticeable from any point on the river during the time when the leaves are on the deciduous trees.

    Woody vegetation means trees that are not timber.

  5. Other information available from the LWSRB
    • Riverway Law
    • NR 37, Timer Harvesting Regulations
    • RB 1 and 2, definitions, exemption, exclusions and procedures
    • Summary of Regulations
    • Structure permits and the use of screening vegetation in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway
    • LWSRB Biennial Report
    • LWSRB Strategic Plan
    • Marketing Timer (UW-Extension)
    • Oak Management (UW-Extension)
    • Directory of Consulting Foresters

    This is provided for your information by the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board. Additional copies or related information can be obtained by writing:

    Lower Wisconsin State Riverway Board
    202 N. Wisconsin Avenue
    P.O. Box 187
    Muscoda, WI 53573
    mark.cupp@wi.gov

    Or, by calling: (608) 739-3188
    Toll Free Number: 1-800-221-3792
    ​Fax Number: (608) 739-4263

​