Incidental Take Public Notice:

Proposed Mississippi River Pool 5 Recreational Access Dredging

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to authorize Buffalo City for the potential "incidental taking" of the State-threatened monkeyface freshwater mussel (Quadrula metanevra) resulting from the proposed recreational access dredge cuts for Pool 5 of the Mississippi River, Belvidere Slough, near Buffalo City, Wisconsin.

The State of Wisconsin, along with the State of Minnesota, and the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers have been planning and implementing periodic temporary water level reductions in various Mississippi River pools for several years. Pool 5 has been selected by these agencies and the public for water level management during the open water season of 2005. During the 2-year long planning for this project, impact analyses have been done for mussels and many other natural features.

Mussel surveys were completed at the proposed dredging locations near Buffalo City. During the first survey, the State-listed monkeyface mussel was found at one of the proposed locations. The State of Wisconsin requested an additional survey in surrounding locations to determine the possibility of changing the dredge cut configurations to avoid impacting mussels. This additional mussel survey identified one State-listed monkeyface mussel within a proposed cut area and three more of this species within the surrounding habitat. As a result, the proposed dredge cut footprint was changed to avoid known locations and minimize the direct impact to the State-listed mussel. The potential for take of the mussel is estimated to be very low (less than 10 individuals).

The Department has determined that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the monkeyface mussel by modifying dredge cut locations; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of the mussel 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 actions.

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

Information & Supporting Materials:
Jeopardy Assessment and Background Information [PDF 11KB]