Incidental Take Public Notice:

Proposed Ledge Road Reconstruction

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to authorize the "incidental taking" of the state-threatened yellow gentian (Gentiana alba) resulting from the road reconstruction and widening of Ledge Road in the Town of Stockbridge, Calumet County.

The Town of Stockbridge is reconstructing and widening Ledge Road within the existing right-of-way with approximately 16 acres of disturbance. The project boundaries run northward along Ledge Road from CTH F approximately 7,985 linear feet and then eastward approximately 2,668 linear feet to Moehrke Road. The existing roadway consists of a 12-foot wide crushed aggregate base course that will be reconstructed to be a 22-foot wide pavement area with 4-foot gravel shoulders.

Through the stormwater permitting process, DNR staff identified the presence of yellow gentian (gentiana alba) along a segment of the proposed construction area in 2004. As a result, over 40 individual specimens were removed from the construction zone and relocated within nearby state and county lands in November 2004. However, a number of additional plants were found within the removal area on June 14, 2005 and the following day most were unintentionally destroyed by construction activities. The remaining plants will be removed to surrounding state-owned properties. This incidental take authorization is proposed to cover the unintentional loss due to construction and the potential loss that could occur from plant relocation.

The Department has determined that the loss is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these plants or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part; and benefits the public health, safety or welfare.

Copies of the jeopardy assessment and conservation measures are available below or upon request from:

Information & Supporting Materials:
Jeopardy Assessment and Background Information [PDF 17KB]