Incidental Take Notice For Richland County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of a rare fish, which may result from the Cruson Slough Drawdown project in Richland County.

“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.

The DNR proposes to drawdown the Cruson Slough along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. The drawdown is necessary as site preparation for reconstruction of the dam that impounds the slough. The current dam is degraded and breached, so by replacing the water control structure and repairing the spillway, the dam will be more functional and will allow habitat managers to manipulate water levels in the slough.

The presence of the state endangered starhead topminnow is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some fish.

The DNR concludes that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the species by adhering to conservation measures; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of the species or the whole plant-animal community of which it is a part; and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.

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 the starhead topminnow 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@wisconsin.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the starhead topminnow by July 30, 2023 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