Incidental Take Notice For La Crosse County
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare frog, which may result from the W3444 Structure 2 project in La Crosse 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.
Xcel Energy (Xcel) seeks to replace and stabilize six guy wire anchors on transmission line 3444 which have been compromised by shoreline erosion. Structure 2 is an existing wood monopole dead-end structure that is supported by guy wires and is located on the southern tip of French Island. Due to the proximity of the structure to the Mississippi River, the guy wire anchors have become partially exposed resulting from shoreline erosion and require replacement.
The scope of the Project includes the replacement of the six existing guy wires attached to Structure 2. Replacements will include extended guy anchors to enhance stability in an area subject to erosion from waves and ice flow on the Mississippi River. The Project also proposes the installation of approximately 231 linear feet of riprap extending from the west side of Structure 2 to the east side of Structure 1. This riprap is intended to provide long term stability to the shoreline along the southern tip of French Island and minimize the risk of future erosion and possible emergency repairs of either structure.
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 Permit and are detailed in the Jeopardy Assessment. They include having a DNR permitted biologist onsite to survey for and relocate any frogs found onsite as well as native restoration and mitigation.
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.
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 July 11, 2026 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
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