Incidental Take Notice For Columbia, Marquette And Waushara Counties

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare lizard, which may result from the ATC Grid Forward – Central Wisconsin Soil Boring Project in Columbia, Marquette and Waushara counties.

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.

ATC’s project proposes to complete soil borings at certain proposed structure locations to inform and confirm the foundation types to be utilized for the rebuild. The investigative soil bore activity also includes approximately 10-foot-wide off-ROW access routes that occur along existing paths or driveways, or along two-track paths through open fields or grassland areas. The existing ROW is regularly maintained to control woody vegetation encroachment; however, minimal clearing of saplings and shrubs may be needed at bore locations and along the off-ROW access routes.

The presence of the 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 lizards.

The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which it is a part or the habitat that is critical to its existence.

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 slender glass lizard are available on the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR conservation biologist Stacy Rowe at 608-228-9796 or Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard by Aug. 1, 2025 to:

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