31.26 Civil liabilities.
(1) The owner of any dam or of any privately owned bridge across the Wisconsin River or the Black River or any of their tributaries shall be liable for all damages occasioned to property by a failure to provide such dam or bridge with slides, booms and chutes as required by s. 31.18 (1). The person or party suffering any such damage shall have a lien upon the dam and all mills, machinery and appurtenances of such owner erected thereon, or served with water thereby, and on the lands adjoining, not exceeding 40 acres; or, as the case may be, a lien upon such bridge and its approaches.
(2) The claimant of such lien shall file a notice thereof in writing in the office of the clerk of the circuit court of the county in which the dam or bridge is located within 60 days after sustaining such damages and shall commence an action to enforce the lien within 6 months after filing such notice. Such lien shall accrue upon the filing of such notice and failure to file the same or to commence such action within the times specified therefor respectively shall operate as a waiver of the lien. Judgment for the plaintiff for the recovery of damages and declaring such lien may be enforced by an execution sale of the property affected as in ordinary actions at law, and upon such sale all rights to maintain such dam or bridge shall pass to the purchaser.
(3) In case of any personal injury by reason of any such neglect or failure the damages sustained thereby may be recovered and a lien and judgment enforced in like manner; and if death results an action may be maintained by the representatives of the deceased in the manner provided in other cases of death resulting from negligence or wrong.
(4) No common law liability, and no statutory liability provided elsewhere in these statutes, for damage resulting from or growing out of the construction, maintenance or operation of any dam is released, superseded, or in any manner affected by the provisions of this chapter; and this chapter creates no liability on the part of the state for any such damages.
Structure Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Wisconsin Statutes & Annotations
Chapter 31 - Regulation of dams and bridges affecting navigable waters.
31.02 - Powers and duties of department.
31.03 - Permits for the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.
31.045 - Permits for dams that affect drained lands.
31.05 - Applications for permits to construct.
31.07 - Applications for permits to operate and maintain existing dams.
31.09 - Proposals to accompany applications.
31.095 - Water power permits, condition precedent.
31.10 - Permit not to be valued.
31.11 - Certificate of terms and forfeiture of permits.
31.12 - Map, profile and plans.
31.13 - Raising or enlarging existing dams.
31.14 - Proof of ability to maintain dams required.
31.18 - Obligations of owners of bridges and dams.
31.185 - Permits to abandon dams.
31.19 - Inspection of dams; orders.
31.23 - Forfeitures; private bridges and dams.
31.253 - Dam removal; opportunity for hearing.
31.29 - May employ hydraulic engineer and assistants.
31.305 - Dams in the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway.
31.307 - Dam on Milwaukee River.
31.309 - Portage levee system and canal.
31.31 - Dams on nonnavigable streams.
31.32 - Dams not to injure other dams or sites.
31.33 - Jurisdiction of department.
31.34 - Flow of water regulated.
31.35 - Dams in areas leased by county; restrictions; control by circuit judge; when.
31.38 - Municipal authority to construct and maintain dams.
31.385 - Dam safety; aid program.
31.387 - Dam rehabilitation projects.