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 fish, which may result from the Long Lake Dike repairs project in Sauk 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 DNR proposes a full drawdown of Bakkens Pond along the Lower Wisconsin State Riverway. The drawdown is necessary as site preparation for reconstructing the dike and spillway that creates the impoundment. The current dike is degraded and breached at the spillway, so by repairing the full length of the embankment and improving the spillway of Long Lake Dike, the dike will be more functional and will allow habitat managers to manipulate water levels. Construction on the dike is slated for mid-July through early October 2024.

The presence of the state endangered starhead topminnow is confirmed near 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 on 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 starhead topminnow are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR conservation biologist Rori Paloski at Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-3742.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the starhead topminnow by July 12, 2024 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