(1)    The department shall:

      (a)    Manage the land in the riverway under its ownership, supervision, management or control in conformity with ss. 30.40 to 30.49.

      (b)    Promote to the recreational users of the riverway an appreciation of the physical characteristics of the riverway and an appreciation of the local history, traditions and culture of the river valley.

      (c)    Consult with the board and with municipalities located at least in part in or adjacent to the riverway on issues concerning the riverway.

      (d)   

         1.    Promulgate rules that are applicable only to land in the riverway to regulate the cutting and harvesting of timber so that the effect of cutting or harvesting of timber on the scenic beauty and the natural value of the riverway is minimized. For land that is in the river edge zone or the bluff zone, the rules promulgated under this paragraph shall require that the cutting and harvesting of timber be solely by selection cutting and that the minimum basal area for the residual stand of timber be 60 square feet per acre. The rules promulgated under this paragraph do not apply to any cutting or harvesting of timber subject to regulation under s. 30.43 (3).

         2.    For purposes of subd. 1., the department shall, by rule, define “basal area” and “selection cutting”.

      (e)    For each county named in s. 15.345 (8) (b), assign a department employee whose office is in the county to serve as a liaison representative on issues concerning the riverway.

      (f)    Encourage an owner of land who on August 9, 1989, is subject to a contract under subch. I of ch. 77 or an order designating managed forest land under subch. VI of ch. 77 to voluntarily modify the contract or amend the order to require compliance with the rules regulating timber cutting and harvesting promulgated under par. (d).

   (2)   The department may:

      (a)    Acquire land in the riverway under s. 23.09 (2) (d) including easements and rights in land under s. 23.09 (10).

      (b)    Enter into agreements with other agencies or persons to provide continuing and necessary maintenance, management, protection, husbandry and support for the land in the riverway under the ownership, supervision, management or control of the department.

   (3)   Notwithstanding s. 227.11, the department may not promulgate rules interpreting or establishing procedures for ss. 30.44 to 30.46 except for the promulgation of rules under sub. (1) (d).

   (4)   Notwithstanding s. 15.03, the department shall process and forward all personnel and biennial budget requests by the board without change except as requested or concurred in by the board.