Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Weekly Digest Bulletin

Ride Responsibly: New ATV/UTV Safety Laws

A close-up view of an ATV. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources reminds everyone to stay safe and to be courteous to others by following the new All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) and Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) laws passed by the Wisconsin State Legislature.

The new laws affect passenger requirements, headlamps, operational requirements, vehicle legal definitions and more. The new laws took effect on March 4, 2020.

ATV/UTV riding is a growing sport in Wisconsin. In 2019, there were 149 non-fatal accidents involving ATVs and UTVs. Drinking or drugs, inexperience, vehicle speed and operator error were some of the top contributors to these incidents. There also were 22 fatal ATV/UTV accidents in 2019.

To keep this sport as safe as possible and reduce injuries and deaths, the DNR urges riders to follow these safety tips and these new updates to existing laws.

ATV Passenger Rules

• ATV operators cannot have a passenger riding in or on any part of an ATV that is not designed or intended to be used by passengers. Previously, this law only applied to roadways. After market seating does not comply with the law.

New ATV/UTV Legal Definitions

• For ATVs, low-pressure tires are no longer required; instead, the only requirement is three or more tires. ATVs are required to be commercially designed and manufactured and their width cannot exceed 50 inches as measured laterally between the outermost wheel rims on each side of the vehicle.

• For UTVs, low-pressure tires are also no longer required; instead, they must have four or more tires. UTVs must be originally manufactured with, and must have at all times, a width of not more than 65 inches as measured laterally between the outermost wheel rims on each side of the vehicle.

Lighted Headlamp Display Requirements

• ATVs and UTVs must now have a lighted headlamp and tail lamp during operation – regardless of time of day and location.

• No person (except emergency services personal) may operate an ATV or UTV that is equipped with any of the following: 1.) A lamp that emits a color other than white or amber and that is visible from directly in front of the vehicle. 2.) A lamp that emits any color of light other than red, yellow, amber or white and that is visible from directly behind the ATV or UTV. 3.) A flashing, oscillating or rotating lamp that emits any color other than yellow or amber.

• Any person operating an ATV or UTV must dim his or her high-beam headlamps and any auxiliary lamps when within 500 feet of an approaching ATV/UTV or vehicle, and within 500 feet to the rear of another ATV/UTV or vehicle.

Operational Requirements and Modification Restrictions

• ATVs and UTVs cannot be operated with anything else other than tires (exception: private property or frozen waters).

ATV and UTV operators born on or after Jan. 1, 1988 who are at least 12 years old for an ATV (and at least 16 years old for UTV) must complete an ATV safety certification course to operate in Wisconsin (exception: on private property owned by operator’s immediate family). DNR Conservation Wardens recommend all ATV and UTV operators complete a safety course.

The above is a consolidated list of laws. Learn more about the new ATV/UTV safety regulations here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2020
Contact: Christine Haag, Remediation and Redevelopment Program Director
christine.haag@wisconsin.gov or 608-266-0244

DNR Seeks Public Input On PFAS Contamination
In Marinette, Peshtigo and Surrounding Communities

Online Listening Session July 15

MADISON, Wis. – The Department of Natural Resources is holding online listening sessions on Wednesday, July 15 to seek public input on PFAS contamination in Marinette, Peshtigo and surrounding communities. The meeting is the ninth in a series of 11 meetings the DNR will host for area residents. 

Representatives from the DNR and the Department of Health Services will be on hand from Noon-2 p.m., and again from 6-7:30 p.m., to provide a brief overview, answer questions and hear concerns from community members regarding PFAS investigation, cleanup and any health-related issues.

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a group of human-made chemicals used for decades in numerous products including non-stick cookware, fast food wrappers, stain-resistant sprays and certain types of firefighting foam.

These contaminants have made their way into the environment through accidental spills of PFAS-containing materials, discharges of PFAS-containing wastewater to treatment plants and certain types of firefighting foams.

The online sessions will be conducted via Zoom web and video conferencing. Participants may join either session via the preceding link, or by dialing 312-626-6799 and using this meeting ID number: 938 1582 3633. Pre-registration is not required.

Participants are strongly encouraged to submit questions in advance through email at DNRJCIPFAS@wisconsin.gov or by telephone at 888-626-3244.

Learn more about how to participate in the listening session here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 14, 2020
Contact: Brian Hanson, DNR Agricultural Runoff Specialist
(920) 366-3302 or Brian.Hanson@wisconsin.gov
Joe Baeten, DNR Northeast Watershed Management Team Supervisor
(920) 366-2072 or Joseph.Baeten@Wisconsin.gov

DNR Assisting With Cleanup
Of Manure Spill Near Pulaski

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources staff is assisting with cleanup efforts of a manure spill near Pulaski in Oconto County that entered the Little Suamico River.

Late last week and over the weekend, surface-applied manure from Betley Farms near Pulaski, ran off the intended application site and into the Little Suamico River. 

The spill started at State Hwy 55 (also called County C) and has since moved northeast of Pulaski towards the bay of Green Bay.

DNR staff has been on-site since Sunday and is assisting with cleanup efforts being led by the farm. The discharge has been stopped at the application site; however, cleanup efforts are still ongoing.

No further details are available at this time. The DNR will share additional information as it becomes available.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2020
Contact: Curtis Twellmann, DNR trapper education coordinator, 608-219-9582 Curtis.Twellmann@wisconsin.gov

Shawn Rossler, DNR furbearer specialist, 608-225-2663 or Shawn.Rossler@wisconsin.gov

Trapper Education For Adults

And Kids Now Available Online

Wisconsin trapper education will be offered online for all students in 2020. \ Photo Credit Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – In partnership with the Wisconsin Trappers’ Association, the Department of Natural Resources has adjusted trapper education course requirements for the 2020 season so adults and youth can earn their certification online or through a correspondence course. This change provides individuals an opportunity to earn their trapper education certification with limited contact with other students or instructors.

The online course, which is usually reserved for adults ages 18 years and older, is now available for beginning trappers of any age until January 1, 2021. The online course requires reading, writing and critical thinking and is designed for students ages 10 and older.

For individuals who do not have internet access, a correspondence course option is available to provide students an opportunity to complete the course work through the mail. In addition to waiving the 18-year-old age requirement, in order to reduce person-to-person contact and reduce the spread of coronavirus, the Department has waived the in-person field test requirement for trapper education students until January 1, 2021.

In addition to the online and correspondence trapper education options, in-person courses will resume starting July 13, 2020.

Those interested in becoming certified online or by correspondence should contact the Wisconsin Trappers’ Association Online and Correspondence Course Coordinator Mike Widner by email at trappereducation@yahoo.com or by phone at (608) 356-3621.

Supervised Youth and Mentored Trapping

Adults and youth in Wisconsin can try trapping before making the commitment to become certified through the Supervised Youth and Mentored Trapping Programs.

Kids under 16 years of age may trap without a license under the direct supervision of a licensed trapper. Youths may trap for the limited draw species of fisher and bobcat if a permit is awarded or transferred to them and may add the 2020 otter harvest authorizations to their GoWild profile for free. Harvest authorizations must be added in order to trap otters.

People 16 and older may purchase a mentored trapping license for $10 and trap alongside a licensed trapper. Customers may only purchase this license twice, though the purchase does not have to be in consecutive years. The river otter harvest authorizations will be added for free with the mentored trapping license.

Those using a mentored trapping license may not trap for fisher and bobcat. Successful permit winners who are 16 and over must be trapper education certified in order to trap for these two limited-draw species. Information on permit drawing for fisher and bobcat is available on the DNR website.

More information on trapper education in Wisconsin is available on the DNR website here. Additional trapper education resources are available on the Wisconsin Trappers’ Association website.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 17, 2020
Contact: Patrick Oldenburg, DNR Wisconsin River TMDL Project Coordinator
715-492-0589 or Patrick.Oldenburg@wisconsin.gov

EPA Approves Site-Specific Phosphorus Criteria For Multiple Wisconsin Lakes

Lakes Pentenwell, Castlerock and Wisconsin all received site-specific approval for phosphorus reduction. / Photo credit: Wisconsin DNR

MADISON, Wis. – Efforts made by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources to improve water quality throughout the Wisconsin River basin continue to move forward with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) approval of site-specific phosphorus criteria for Petenwell Lake, Castle Rock Lake and Lake Wisconsin.

The Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for the Wisconsin River Basin, in which the three water bodies are located, requires substantial reductions in phosphorus. While phosphorus in all three lakes needs to be reduced, the statewide criteria were not appropriate for these water bodies.

A TMDL is the calculation of the maximum amount of a pollutant allowed to enter a waterbody so that the waterbody will meet and continue to meet water quality standards for that particular pollutant. A TMDL determines a pollutant reduction target and allocates load reductions necessary to the source(s) of the pollutant. Additional information on TMDLs can be found on the EPA website.

When the EPA approved the Wisconsin River Basin in 2019, they approved allocations based both on the statewide phosphorus criteria applicable at the time and the newly approved site-specific criteria. The allocations based on site-specific criteria are presented in Appendix K of the TMDL and will be used for future wastewater permitting decisions and as the basis for locally led nonpoint reduction plans.

A copy of the EPA approved TMDL plan and associated appendices can be found here.

For questions regarding the Wisconsin River Basin TMDL or the site-specific criteria, contact Pat Oldenburg, DNR Wisconsin River TMDL Project Coordinator, at patrick.oldenburg@wisconsin.gov or (715) 492-0589.