Washington County committee advances advisory resolution urging DNR to reconsider flood-storage rules after Druid Lake mapping

Washington County’s Land Use and Planning Committee voted to forward an advisory resolution asking the Wisconsin Legislature and the Department of Natural Resources to review state flood-storage and flood-fringe rules after recent DNR map changes that residents say would make rebuilding small lakeshore lots effectively impossible.

The committee advanced the resolution by voice vote with one abstention; Supervisor Katie Conrad said she would abstain because she joined the meeting after discussion had begun. Supervisor Jerry Pridemore moved the measure and Supervisor Andy Krebs seconded it.

Committee members and staff said the resolution aims to press state regulators for alternatives that would let existing homeowners repair or rebuild after flood damage without violating flood-storage rules that restrict bringing in fill. The discussion focused on Druid Lake, which county staff described as unusually low in elevation and the only lake in Washington County currently affected by the DNR designation.

The resolution asks that state administrative rules be re-examined so engineering alternatives — including pilings and helical piers — are recognized as acceptable methods to elevate structures without large amounts of trucked-in fill. A resident comment read aloud to the committee warned that, as written, the measure would not help many Druid Lake property owners because "the current fill requirement would make rebuilding to flood standards impossible" for lots that range from about 60 to 90 feet wide.

Jamie Ludovic, the county’s chief community development officer, told the committee the draft had been reviewed by shoreland, floodplain and FEMA attorneys and by the county executive. "This resolution was vetted. It went through specific Shoreland zoning floodplain and FEMA attorneys, that we trust in terms of the language review," Ludovic said, and recommended advancing the advisory measure while staff further explores language about grandfathering or other refinements.

Speakers also highlighted practical hurdles in the current rules: under existing state rules cited in committee discussion, homes must be elevated so the first floor sits 2 feet above the flood-elevation and, in practice, homeowners must bring in 30 feet of fill around a home to meet setbacks and elevation requirements. Committee members said that requirement is infeasible on narrow lots and that engineering options such as pylons or helical piers could achieve the same elevation without fill.

Supervisor Andy Krebs urged caution about expanding the resolution to address federal (FEMA) rules, saying that doing so could undercut the county’s request to the DNR. "If we wanna change FEMA, that should be a whole another different resolution that we're sending federally," Krebs said. The committee generally favored keeping the advisory resolution focused on state-level flood-storage rules while staff pursues technical clarifications.

County staff and supervisors agreed to seek additional supporting data before the county board hearing, notably storm and rainfall assessments from the recent heavy rain event that residents said did not flood Druid Lake. Several speakers recommended gathering that hydrologic data to strengthen the request to state lawmakers and regulators.

The measure is advisory and will be transmitted to the full Washington County Board for consideration. The committee discussion noted that adding language about grandfathering existing homes could trigger federal rules and complicate how the DNR responds; staff said they would consult attorneys and DNR contacts about workable wording.

The committee vote was called by voice; the motion passed and advanced to the county board. Supervisor Katie Conrad announced an abstention because she joined the meeting late.