To protect natural scenic beauty, fish and wildlife habitat, and water quality, the removal of vegetation in shoreland areas shall be consistent with the following: standards that consider sound forestry and soil conservation practices, as well as the effect of vegetation removal on water quality, including soil erosion, and the flow of effluents, sediments and nutrients.
To protect water quality, fish and wildlife habitat and natural scenic beauty, and to promote preservation and restoration of native vegetation, land that extends from the ordinary high-water mark to a minimum of 35 feet inland shall be designated as a vegetative buffer zone and removal of vegetation in the vegetative buffer zone is prohibited except as follows:
A. 
The County may allow routine maintenance of vegetation.
B. 
The County may allow removal of trees and shrubs in the vegetative buffer zone to create access and viewing corridors. Per § 59.692(1f)(b), Wis. Stats., the viewing corridor may be up to 35 feet wide for every 100 feet of shoreline frontage. The viewing corridor may run contiguously for the entire maximum width of shoreline frontage owned.
C. 
The County may allow removal of trees and shrubs in the vegetative buffer zone on a parcel with 10 or more acres of forested land consistent with "generally accepted forestry management practices" as defined in § NR 1.25(2)(b), Wis. Adm. Code, and described in the Department publication "Wisconsin Forest Management Guidelines" (publication FR-226), provided that vegetation removal is consistent with these practices.
D. 
The County may allow removal of vegetation within the vegetative buffer zone to manage exotic or invasive species, damaged vegetation, vegetation that must be removed to control disease, or vegetation creating an imminent safety hazard, provided that any vegetation removed is replaced by replanting in the same area as soon as practicable.
E. 
The County may authorize, by permit, additional vegetation management activities in the vegetative buffer zone. The permit issued under this subsection shall require that all management activities comply with detailed plans approved by the County and designed to control erosion by limiting sedimentation into the water body, to improve the plant community by replanting in the same area, and to maintain and monitor the newly restored area. The permit also shall require an enforceable restriction to preserve the newly restored area.
Note: The County shall not require a property owner to establish a vegetative buffer zone on previously developed land or expand an existing vegetative buffer zone. However, as part of a shoreland mitigation plan, the establishment or expansion of the vegetative buffer remains an option.