Incidental Take Public Notice:

Proposed Rogers/Thomson/ Polzin Subdivision

Proposed Incidental Take Authorization for the proposed Rogers/Thomson/Polzin Subdivision, City of New Berlin, Waukesha County, Wisconsin.

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to authorize the "incidental taking" of the state-threatened Butler's gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) resulting from the proposed Rogers/Thomson/Polzin subdivision development. The property is located northwest of Barton Road and CTH "Y" and National Avenue in Sections 29 and 30 of Township 6 North, Range 20 East, City of New Berlin, Waukesha County.

Thomson Corporation plans to develop a 62-lot subdivision on the 152-acre site in the City of New Berlin. The site currently includes agricultural fields and forested and non-forested uplands and wetlands. The majority of the lots will be clustered within the open agricultural fields while significant portions of the existing wetlands and uplands will be maintained as open space areas. The presence of the state-threatened Butler's gartersnake was assumed because limited areas of suitable snake habitat exist at the site and the snake is known to occur within the surrounding landscape. However, take is expected to be minimal due to the limited availability of quality snake habitat.

Through the Incidental Take Consultation process, Thomson Consultation modified project plans to avoid significant portions of the potential habitat and agreed to manage existing habitat to increase suitable habitat for the snake. As a result, the Department has determined that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the snake by adhering to the conservation measures; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these snakes 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:
Jeopardy Assessment for the Butler's Gartersnake [PDF 65KB]