The Most Critical Measurement

There's a lot of precision that goes into building a house, but in Wisconsin (and maybe most states) when you build a house on a lake the evil DNR (Department of Natural Resources) comes into play.  Basically you cannot build, remodel, or enhance within 75 feet of the natural shoreline.   This applies to not just homes, but also stairs, fire pits, bridges, and gym sets.  Here's two shots of our 75 foot marker.  Not only can the house/deck not pass this point, but also any artificial landscaping like retaining walls.  I can see why bribes can become a very appealing approach to working with our public workers.