Incidental Take Notice For Sauk County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of a rare turtle, which may result from the WIS 23 (US 14 to County GG) project.

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 Wisconsin Department of Transportation’s proposed improvements include milling and removing 2 inches of existing asphalt, then using the Cold In-Place Recycling (CIR) process to mill and relay 3 inches of the existing asphalt pavement and finally, overlay the entire roadway width with 3 inches of Hot Mix Asphalt (HMA).

The proposed typical section for WIS 23 consists of one 12-foot travel lane in each direction with a 5-foot-wide shoulder (5-foot paved) on the left and righthand sides. Right-of-way acquisition will be required for roadway side slope corrections identified through the preliminary design process. However, no right-of-way will be acquired in the location of the ornate box turtle habitat. Construction of the project is scheduled for summer 2024. 

Additional WIS 23 roadway improvements include the following:

1. Replacement of existing guardrail and end terminals to meet current standards (source of identified impact).
2. Addition of centerline rumble strips and shoulder rumble strips for safety.
3. Replacement of existing signing and pavement markings to upgrade to current standards.

The presence of the state endangered 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 turtles.

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 Authorization. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the Ornate Box Turtle are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Stacy Rowe at Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the ornate box turtle by Nov. 22, 2023 to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
2514 Morse St.
Janesville, WI 53545
Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796