Incidental Take Public Notice:

Proposed South Milwaukee High School Expansion

Proposed Incidental Take Authorization for the proposed South Milwaukee School District High School Campus Expansion, City of South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Wisconsin's endangered species law (s. 29.604, Wis. Stats.) requires the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to authorize the "incidental taking" of the state endangered bluestem goldenrod (Solidago caesia) and the state threatened Butler's gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) resulting from the construction of the proposed expansion of the South Milwaukee School District's High School. The property is located along Oak Creek Parkway near 15th Avenue (the N1/2 of the SW1/4 of Section 2 of T5N, R22E), City of South Milwaukee, Milwaukee County.

The project site includes property owned by SDSM, including property recently purchased from the Falk Corporation, and property leased by SDSM from Milwaukee County. SDSM proposes to construct a new high school adjacent to the existing high school, supporting parking, athletic and practice fields, and competition football stadium and tennis courts. The state endangered bluestem goldenrod and the state threatened Butler's gartersnake are known to exist at the site. Through the Incidental Take Consultation process, project plans have been modified to avoid significant portions of the available habitat and to set aside protected areas for both species. However, minimal take will occur for both species as a result of the proposed project.

SMSD commits to minimize the potential take of the species by adhering to conservation measures as set forth in individual Conservation and Management Plans (S. caesia - 12/18/2003 and T. butleri - 3/4/2003). In summary, take of the bluestem goldenrod will be limited to 3 individual and isolated plants, the remaining habitat will be protected from construction impacts, and a management and restoration plan for all remaining suitable habitat will be implemented. Take of the Butler's gartersnake will be minimized by the protection of a 4.6 acre area where the presence of snakes was confirmed - named the Northeast Preserve. The Preserve will be excluded from all construction activities and will be thoroughly surveyed for snakes and earthworms through the summer of 2003. Baseline data from this survey will be used to develop a management and restoration plan for the Preserve by January 2004. In addition, a snake monitoring program will be established and implemented. Disturbance barriers (silt fencing) will be installed for both species to prevent construction impacts to protected areas.

The Department has determined that the proposed project is likely to result in the take of both species. However, the Department has concluded that the SMSD will minimize the impacts to the species by adhering to conservation measures as set forth in the Conservation Plans for both species; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of either species or the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part; and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the action.

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

Information & Supporting Materials:
Conservation Plan - School District of South Milwaukee Butler's Gartersnake [PDF 549KB]