Essay Database

MICHAEL CAIN Michael Cain is an attorney for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) and he came to talk to us about the evolution of the public trust doctrine in Wisconsin dealing with navigable water and current development issues related to the public trust. The doctrine states that a sizable body of common law has developed which holds that all navigable waters are held in trust by the state for the public and through …

…system. Cain talked about some mechanisms for enforcement of public trust such as civil citations and actions for violations such as boathouses and pier structures that do not comply with the statutes I feel strongly that we need to uphold the public trust doctrine and enforce disciplinary action on those that don’t comply. We are rapidly losing shoreline habitat and natural vegetation not only with the increase in development but recreational uses as well.