Incidental Take Notice For Door County
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of a rare plant, which may result from a trail resurfacing project at Whitefish Dunes State Park in Door 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 Natural Resources proposes to resurface the Brachiopod Trail at Whitefish Dunes State Park. The project involves laying new limestone substrate, sloping the trail shoulders and bringing the trail into Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance.
The presence of the state threatened and federally threatened dwarf lake iris is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some plants. This authorization would cover any incidental take for the state listing but would not cover any incidental take under the federal listing.
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 minimizing the project disturbance limits and relocation of dwarf lake iris plants.
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 dwarf lake iris are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Rori Paloski at 608-264-6040 or Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov.
The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to dwarf lake iris by August 21, 2026 to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI 53707
Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-264-6040
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