Incidental Take Notice For Columbia County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of a rare turtle and lizard, which may result from the US 51 – Tomlinson to Ontario project in Columbia 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 Wisconsin Department of Transportation is in the process of developing plans for a proposed project on US Highway 51 that is located in Columbia County. The purpose of the project is to replace the existing pavement surface that has exceeded its service life. The project begins at Tomlinson Road just north of the village of Poynette intersection and extends to the US 51/Ontario intersection in the city of Portage.   

Construction of the project is scheduled to begin April 2024.

The presence of the state endangered ornate box turtle and state endangered slender glass lizard 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 and lizards.

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 they are 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 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 and/or slender glass lizard by Dec. 15, 2023 to:

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