Incidental Take Notice For Columbia County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the “incidental taking” of a rare lizard and turtle, which may result from the Bourbon Ridge Development. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species’ overall population at risk.

Bourbon Ridge Development proposes a minor re-alignment and extension of a public road for the purpose of providing formal access to the parcel. This will involve removing a portion of the existing paved road and gravel driveway and shifting and extending the road into a proposed cul-de-sac. Grading, paving, stormwater conveyance features and a proposed gravel driveway will be included in the project. Approximately 0.33 acres of ground disturbance will result from the project, including 0.16 acres of permanent disturbance within suitable slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle habitat.

The presence of the state endangered slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some animals.

The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part of or the habitat that is critical to their existence.

Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the endangered species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Rori Paloski at 608-516-3742 or Rori.paloski@wi.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard and the ornate box turtle by Dec. 30, 2022 to:

Department of Natural Resources
c/o Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St. Madison, WI 53707
Rori.paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-3742

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.