The 2026 Policies & Criteria for Environmental Corridors are now in effect following approval by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources on August 31, 2026.
The updated Policies & Criteria are part of the Dane County Water Quality Plan, the region’s framework for protecting and improving water quality while supporting thoughtful growth and development.
What Are Environmental Corridors?
Environmental corridors are connected areas of open space in urban and growing communities. They include environmentally sensitive lands, natural resources that need protection from disturbance and development, and areas used for recreation and open space.
As part of its role in administering the Dane County Water Quality Plan, CARPC establishes requirements and guides the implementation of environmental corridors within urban service areas.
How Were the Policies Updated?
CARPC began reviewing the previous Policies & Criteria in May 2025. Staff analyzed the existing policies, drafted proposed updates and worked with Wisconsin DNR water quality staff, subject matter experts and focus groups representing partner organizations, regulated municipalities and land developers to refine the document.
CARPC staff presented the proposed updates to the Commission in April 2026, followed by a public hearing in May. The Commission voted to adopt the updated Policies & Criteria as an amendment to the Dane County Water Quality Plan in June. The Wisconsin DNR approved the amendment on August 31, 2026.
What Changed?
The updated Policies & Criteria are intended to make the requirements clearer and better align the written policies with how they are applied in practice. Major updates include:
- Clarifying compatible uses, incompatible uses and exemptions
- Distinguishing between areas required for inclusion in environmental corridors and areas recommended for inclusion
- Better aligning the policies with current practices, available data and how the previous requirements have been interpreted
- Adjusting protections–to make them either more or less protective– based on new information and feedback from partners, municipalities, developers and other stakeholders
When Do the Updated Policies Apply?
The updated Policies & Criteria generally apply to new development and redevelopment proposals within sewer service areas when the “full scope” of the project, as defined by Wis. Stat. § 66.10015, was not already known before the updated policies took effect.
If the first application for local approval that included the project’s full scope was filed before August 31, 2026, the 2008 Policies & Criteria that were in effect at the time of filing will continue to apply.
Environmental corridors delineated before August 31, 2026, will not be retroactively updated under the new policies. Additional details are available in CARPC Resolution No. 2026-12.
Questions about how the updated policies apply to a specific project? Contact Environmental Resources Planner Melissa Michaud at melissam@capitalarearpc.org or 608-474-6019.
