Notice of Pending Application and Notice of Public Informational Meeting
for Proposed Water Levels and Operation Amendment

The Buffalo Lake Protection & Rehabilitation District (BLPRD) has petitioned the Department of Natural Resources to amend the water level order 3-WR-1823 for Buffalo Lake. The petition is for Buffalo Lake, which is located in NE 1/4, SW 1/4, Section 13, Township 15N, Range 09E, in the Town of Montello, Marquette County.

A petition was submitted to the Department from BLPRD on July 1, 2022. After Department review and a completion of the Buffalo Lake Enhancement Project in 2025, the petition was revised to include the following two requests: moving the start date of the summer water level to from May 20 to May 1 and extending the summer water level date from October 1 to October 15. No increase is proposed in either the summer or winter maximum stages.

The Department will continue to review the petition, and any information submitted to the Department during the public comment period.

The Department has made a tentative determination that it will amend the water level order to reflect the requested summer water level dates of May 1 to October 15.
If you would like to know more about this petition, please visit the Department’s permit tracking website at https://permits.dnr.wi.gov/water/SitePages/Permit%20Search.aspx and search for Marcel Dion or WP-IP-NE-2022-39-00230.

Reasonable accommodation, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be provided for qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.

BLPRD will host a public informational meeting on Monday, February 23, 2026, at 3pm at the Marquette County Services Building, 480 Underwood Ave, Montello, WI 53949. Members of the public can learn more about the petition and submit written or oral comments.

Any person may submit comments to Jeff Schure (DNR Water Management Specialist) by phone at (608) 228-8107 or email Jeff.Schure@wisconsin.gov. Alternatively, comments can be submitted in written form to 3911 Fish Hatchery Road, Fitchburg, WI 53711.

After the comment period has ended, the Department shall render a decision that approves, modifies, or denies the order that is the subject of the petition.
The final decision may be appealed as indicated in the decision document.

Docket Number IP-NE-2022-39-00230

STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
For the Secretary
BY: Jeff J Schure
Jeff Schure
Water Management Specialist