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 snake, which may result from the I-90/94 Baraboo River Bridge – Abutment and Pier Repairs. 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 (WisDOT) is planning to repair bridge abutments and piers associated with the I-90/94 bridge over the Baraboo River. Methods by which this will be achieved require installation of temporary access by placing timber matting within the highway right-of-way (ROW) up to the river bank. This will take place adjacent to the westbound and eastbound lanes, both leading up to the west bank of the river. This work is anticipated to begin Sept. 6, 2022 and be completed prior to Oct. 1, 2022.

The presence of the state endangered and federally threatened eastern massasauga rattlensake is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some snakes. This permit would cover any incidental take for the state listing and would not cover any incidental take for the federal listing. During informal consultation between the WisDOT Regional Environmental Coordinator and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist and their correspondence regarding the nature of bridge repair activities, a “No Effect” determination for the eastern massasauga was concluded.

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 eastern massasauga rattlesnake are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Stacy Rowe at 608-228-9796 or stacy.rowe@wi.gov.

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the eastern massasauga rattlesnake by Aug. 26, 2022 to:

Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St. Madison, WI 53707
stacy.rowe@wi.gov or 608-228-9796