Incidental Take Notice for Columbia County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the North-South Bike Trail construction project which may result in the incidental taking of a rare lizard and turtle.

Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that do not put the species' overall population at risk.

The Village of Poynette proposes to install an 8-foot paved bike path in the County Road Q and CS right-of-way between Bluebird Circle and South Main Street. The bike path will be fully contained within the road’s right-of-way, a combination of unmanicured areas, residential lawns and woods.

The state-endangered glass lizard and ornate box turtle have been confirmed to be in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some lizards and turtles.

The department has concluded 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 or the habitat that is critical to their existence.

The DNR will incorporate conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the endangered species into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle are available on the DNR’s incidental take public notice webpage or upon request from Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist (608-264-6040 or rori.paloski@wi.gov).

The public is encouraged to submit written or verbal comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle by April 15, 2021 to:  

Department of Natural Resources
C/O Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St.
P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707
rori.paloski@wi.gov or 608-264-6040