Incidental Take Notice For Columbia County
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare lizard and turtle, which may result from the construction of the proposed Wildenberg Park Fire Station in the Town of Lodi, Columbia 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 Town of Lodi proposes to construct a fire station within Wildenberg Park. The project involves the construction of a new fire station, which includes the construction of an associated parking area and a new access road. The location is currently a conservation park used for hiking and recreation.
The presence of the state endangered slender glass lizard and ornate box 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 lizards and turtles.
Conservation measures to minimize and mitigate 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 an environmental monitor on site during initial construction, minimizing the project size, and placing adjacent land into a conservation easement.
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 they are a part of or the habitat that is critical to their existence.
Copies of the Jeopardy Assessment and background information on the slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Rori Paloski (Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov, 608-264-6040) or Anna Rossler (Anna.Rossler@wisconsin.gov, 608-264-8968).
The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard and ornate box turtle by November 15, 2026 to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705
Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-264-6040
OR
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Anna Rossler, DNR Conservation Biologist
4822 Madison Yards Way
Madison, WI 53705
Anna.Rossler@wisconsin.gov or 608-264-8968
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