Incidental Take Notice For Ashland County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to reissue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare turtle, which may result from the Bad River Meander Stabilization project. This permit was previously issued on Dec. 20, 2023; however, there has been a change in project activities resulting in a larger footprint, so the DNR has determined that a new public notice is warranted.

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.

Enbridge Energy, Limited Partnership (Enbridge) plans to protect approximately 562 feet (approximately 0.93 acres) of the Bad River shoreline through the use of log jacks. The shoreline to be protected is an area where erosion naturally occurs, and Enbridge has been closely monitoring the site for several years. This location is where the riverbank is closest to Line 5. Enbridge plans to begin work upon receipt of applicable permits/authorizations. Enbridge anticipates a duration of up to two months to complete.

The presence of the state threatened wood turtle 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.

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 of or the habitat that is critical to its existence.

Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the threatened species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the wood 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 wood turtle by Oct. 25, 2024 to:

Wisconsin 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