Under the opinion, the DNR could no longer require well monitoring, which means decisions would be made without basic scientific information, said an attorney for property owners in a part of the state where lakes have been diminished.

“More streams, lakes, and wells will go dry at a time when these resources are already stressed, to the detriment of other property owners, recreational water users, and the environment,” said Christa Westerberg, who represents the Friends of the Central Sands.

“Citizens are already sick and tired of having to go to court and do the job the DNR should be doing to protect the state’s resources,” Westerberg said. “This opinion makes that worse, and sides instead with an anti-regulatory political philosophy and the interests of a few large water users.

Wells a battleground

High-capacity wells have become a battleground in Wisconsin because of their ability to dry up public waters and the desire of farmers, food processors and others to drill more of them.

Republicans who took over state government in the 2010 elections have made significant changes to natural resources protections, but they haven’t mustered support for a statute to speed up well permitting.