The agency also relaxed limits it previously placed on at least 38 wells, adding more than a billion gallons to the amount of water businesses were allowed to extract monthly.

“DNR’s own scientists and staff experts for months raised concerns about the direct ‘substantial’ impacts these high-capacity well permits would have on the wetlands, stream flows, groundwater, and ecology of the surrounding landscape,” the organization said in a statement.

The wells had potential to lower water levels in Pleasant Lake, Round Lake, Lake Emily, Rice Lake and Radley Creek, a Class 1 trout stream.

2011 law cited

The DNR had said it was forced to begin issuing the permits with fewer limits starting in 2016 because of a law enacted in 2011 by the state Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker limiting the authority of state agencies to create rules that hadn’t been explicitly authorized by elected officials.

The department had been withholding approval of some permit applications and setting pumping limits on others based on a series of court rulings.