Ordinance Amendment to repeal and recreate Chapter 9 Sauk County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, and to approve the dam failure analysis for the Sensnovis Dam and incorporate the analysis as part of the Sauk County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance.

Committee Status:

Approved

Budget Status:

No Fiscal Impact

Decision Impact:

Routine

FTE Impact:

Funding Source:

Other (see budget status)

Purpose

The proposed repeal and recreation of Chapter 9 Floodplain Zoning is intended to comply with these minimum requirements by regulating floodplain development in the unincorporated areas of Sauk County to protect health, life, and property while minimizing the burden on public services, economic disruptions, discouraging victimization of unwary real estate buyers, preventing increases in flood height, and encouraging development outside of flood-prone areas.

Background

Pursuant to Wisconsin Statutes §§ 59.69, 59.692, 59.694, and 87.30 Sauk County has the authority to administer floodplain zoning ordinance regulations. Wisconsin Administrative Code ch. NR 116 establishes Wisconsin’s Floodplain Management Program, which sets the minimum requirements that must be met by development to comply with state and federal standards

On July 7, 2025, the DNR approved a dam failure analysis for the Sensnovis Dam located in the NE Quarter of the SE Quarter of Section 22, Township 13 North, Range 02 East, Town of Woodland, Sauk County, for a tributary of the Little Baraboo River. In order to reflect current floodplain information, Wis. Stat. § 87.30 and Wis. Admin. Code § NR 116.05 requires that the County formally adopt the reference to the new materials within six (6) months of the closing of the review and comment period of July 7, 2025 for the Sensnovis Dam.

The Sensnovis Dam failure analysis includes a map dated July 7, 2025 and titled, “Hydraulic Shadow – Sensnovis Dam, floodway data table dated July 7, 2025 and titled, “Sensnovis Dam Hydraulic Floodway Date” and flood profiles dated July 7, 2025 and titled, “ Sensnovis Dam Hydraulic Profile.”.

The repeal and recreation and adoption of the Sensnovis Dam Failure Analysis as part of the repeal and recreation will maintain Sauk County’s good standing with the National Flood Insurance Program, a FEMA-administered federal program that provides flood insurance to property owners, renters, and businesses, acting as an alternative to disaster aid.

The above changes, as part of the repeal and recreation and Sensnovis Dam failure analysis, are contained in the attached Appendix A.

Resolution Files:

Final Draft Floodplain 2025

Sensnovis zoning materials

Chapter 9 implementing Ordinance

Budget Status (Other/External Sources):

NONE

Resolution Body

NOW, THEREFORE, THE SAUK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:

Section 1. Any existing ordinances, codes, resolutions, or portions thereof in conflict with this ordinance shall be and hereby are repealed as far as any conflict exists.

Section 2. This ordinance shall take effect the day after passage and publication as required by law.

Section 3. If any claims, provisions, or portions of this ordinance are adjudged unconstitutional or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this ordinance shall not be affected thereby.

Section 4. Chapter 9 Sauk County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance, is repealed and recreated as seen in Appendix A.

Section 5. Section 9.002 2) g) (9) of the Sauk County Floodplain Zoning Ordinance of Sauk County, Wisconsin, is amended to include the Sensnovis Dam failure analysis as follows and as seen in Appendix A.

Map dated July 07, 2025 and titled “Hydraulic Shadow Map – Sensnovis Dam.”
Floodway data table dated July 07, 2025 and titled “Sensnovis Dam Hydraulic Shadow Floodway Data.”
Flood profiles dated July 07, 2025 and titled “Sensnovis Dam Hydraulic Shadow Profile.”

Requested Board Review Date:

Tuesday, January 20, 2026

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