The lakes and rivers in Wisconsin are some of the State's most valuable resources. The public has a right to use and enjoy these resources under the public trust doctrine. For those who are not lucky enough to own shorefront property, access to these resources is often provided through informal public-access sites created by a right-of-way extending to the banks of navigable waters. Unfortunately, many of these public-access sites are lost when neighboring landowners seek to have the public-access site discontinued. Wisconsin has passed laws to ensure that the Department of Natural Resources oversees and protects vital public access. However, more is needed to protect these assets. This Comment suggests changes to the law to protect these valuable resources for future generations.
