Incidental Take Notice For Sauk County
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 County Highway X Bridge Replacement 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 Department of Transportation’s project involves the replacement of a structurally deficient structure (B-56-20) that carries County Highway X over the Baraboo River and the reconstruction and reconditioning of the roadway approaches.
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.
Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Authorization and are detailed in the Jeopardy Assessment. They include time of year restrictions to minimize impacts during the frog’s breeding and overwintering periods. Additionally, the project will improve habitat conditions for the frog in several locations.
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.
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 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 Blanchard’s cricket frog by April 29, 2026 to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
2514 Morse St. Janesville, WI 53546
Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796
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