Incidental Take Notice For Iowa County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of a rare frog, which may result from the Halverson Dam Abandonment Project in Iowa 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 abandon the Halverson Dam at Governor Dodge State Park, which will convert the stream channel into a functioning spring-fed waterway. The project includes tree and brush clearing in planned earthwork areas, removal of the earthen embankment and existing water control structures to establish a channel for the existing spring-fed watercourse, placement of excavated soils on surrounding slopes to flatten and naturalize the surrounding areas, erosion protection and site restoration.

The presence of the state-endangered Blanchard’s cricket frog is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some frogs.

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 Blanchard’s cricket frog 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 Blanchard’s cricket frog by July 21, 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