RHINELANDER - Wednesday the State Natural Resources Board voted to approve updates to Wisconsin's shoreline building regulations.

The rules haven't been changed in 40 years.

While the changes do restrict what you're allowed to do when building property on the water, the goal is to keep our lakes in good shape for years to come.

Natural resources here in the Northwoods like our lakes and rivers are a big part of people's everyday lives. After more than 40 years of controversy over how to protect the shorelines, the state Natural Resources Board voted to approve the first updates to the state's shoreline building regulations, known as NR-115.



Kevin Jenkins, the Governmental Affairs Director of the Northwoods Realtors Association, says "It's been going on for a long time, longer than I've been alive. This last revision has taken several years."

This revision would require property owners to limit waterproof surfaces like roofs and driveways, and homes won't be allowed to be more than 35 feet tall if they're within 75 feet of the water. These rules would only apply to people building on the water, not those who already live on the water. If you already live on the water and want to expand your property, there are no spending limits as long as you improve the water quality and habitat.

Bob Martini, the President of the Oneida County Lakes and Rivers Association, says "This code change changes how you develop lakeshores, how you build buildings on lakeshores. It makes it more restrictive and that's good for lake protection."

The Northwoods is full of lakes and rivers, with 1100 just right here in Oneida County alone, and Jenkins and Martini agree that it's up to us to keep them in good shape for future generations.

Bob Martini says "The idea is to try to make sure that the human footprint does not improach on the habitat of the lake so that the owners of the lake, the public, people who haven't even been born yet, will have their interests protected while others build houses on the lakes."

Kevin Jenkins says "Obviously our lakes are a huge segment of our economy with tourism and the real estate industry, if we don't protect them now, there's no second chance with your lakes."

Many people are hoping once NR-115 passes, a second chance won't be necessary when it comes to keeping our lakes and rivers in tact.

Martini says passing NR-115 is a step in the right direction, but he believes local governments need to enforce stricter rules as well.

NR-115 must now be passed by the Legislature's Natural Resources Committee.