Wisconsin Coastal Management Program

Mission Statement

Wisconsin Coastal Manage​ment Program (WCMP) is dedicated to preserving and improving access to the natural and historic resources of Wiscon​​​sin's Great Lakes coasts. Since 1978, the program has worked cooperatively with state, local, and tribal government agencies and non-profit organizations to manage the ecological, economic, and aesthetic assets of the Great Lakes coastal areas.​​​

Wisconsin Coasta​​​l Zone

The boundaries of the coastal zone subject​ to the Wisconsin Coastal Management Program extend to the state boundary on the waterward side that includes the 15 counties with frontage on Lake Superior and Lake Michigan. View a map of Wisconsin's coastal counties​.​​

Program Docu​​ments

Program Objectives

  1. To improve the implementation and enforcement of existing state regulatory and management policies and programs affecting key coastal uses and areas;
  2. To improve the coordination of existing policies and activities of governmental units and planning agencies on matters affecting key coastal uses and areas;
  3. To strengthen local governmental capabilities to initiate and continue effective coastal management consistent with identified state standards and criteria;
  4. To provide a strong voice to advocate the wise and balanced use of the coastal environment and the recognition in federal, state, and local policies of the uniqueness of the coastal environment; and
  5. To increase public awareness and opportunity for citizens to participate in decisions affecting the Great Lakes resources.​

​Public Notice 

​Wisconsin Coastal Management Program: Submission of Program Change to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

February 2, 2026

The Wisconsin Coastal Management Program (WCMP) was approved by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in 1978, under the Federal Coastal Zone Management Act (CZMA). The approved WCMP includes enforceable policies, based on state rules and regulations, that are used for Federal Consistency. The CZMA requires approved programs to update the enforceable policies to reflect changes to state laws and regulations (15 CFR Part 923, Subpart H).  

W​CMP is providing public notice that it is submitting a program change request to the NOAA’s Office for Coastal Management (OCM), for approval of changes to the State’s policies, including:

  • Policy 1.3.1: Deletion of an enforceable policy regarding substances with the potential to cause contamination, where the regulatory standards are not incorporated into the policy.
  • Policy 1.9: Deletion of an enforceable policy regarding thermal discharges where an underlying regulation, Wisconsin Administrative Code NR 102.07, was removed and replaced. 
  • Policy 1.28: Revision of an enforceable policy for population and storm sewer system requirements, to correct a typo. 
  • Policy 2.13: Revision of an enforceable policy to reflect changes to Wis. Stats. §59.692, regarding shoreland zoning ordinance requirements.
  • Policy 2.22: Revision of an enforceable policy to reflect changes in statutory language of Wis. Stats. § 281.36 regarding wetland permits. 
  • Policy 4.2: Revision of an enforceable policy to incorporate public access requirements for subdivisions under Wis. Stats. Ch 236 and Wis. Admin. Code NR 1.93(3).
  • Policy 5.10.3: Deletion of an enforceable policy regarding certification of nuclear power plants, where the underlying state statute, Wis. Stats. § 196.493, was repealed. 
  • Deletion of policies that do not satisfy the criteria for enforceable policies. 
  • Renumbering enforceable policies. 
  • Renaming the document with the enforceable policies from “Attachment C: Specific State Coastal Policies” to “Attachment C: Enforceable Policies”.
  • Adding introductory language to the beginning of the document. 

WCMP’s change request is available on NOAA’s Program Change site: https://coast.noaa.gov/czmprogramchange

View or download the documents submitted to NOAA​ (PDF, 300 pages) for the program change request.

Comments on the incorporation of the program change into the state’s coastal management program shall be submitted to OCM within 21 days following the date of publication of this notice. All comments should be submitted directly to NOAA OCM on NOAA’s Program Change website.

For additional information, contact Kathleen Angel, Program Manager, WCMP, at 608-267-7988 or Kathleen.Angel@wisconsin.gov​. 

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