Incidental Take Public Notice:

Proposed Springdale Road

The Department of Natural Resources proposes to authorize the incidental taking of the state threatened Butler’s gartersnake (Thamnophis butleri) resulting from the replacement of the Springdale Road bridge over the Fox River in the cities of Brookfield and Pewaukee, Waukesha County. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the overall population of the species at risk.

The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) and Waukesha County propose to replace the Springdale Road (CTH SR) bridge over the Fox River which is located within the cities of Brookfield and Pewaukee. The existing bridge over the Fox River at Springdale Road is narrow and dams up water behind the bridge under high flow events and will be replaced with a new four span bridge. The approaches to the new structure will be reconstructed to provide additional clearance. The existing roadbed will be removed to provide additional hydraulic capacity for the Fox River in flood stage.

The proposed bridge at Springdale Road will be constructed in suitable Butler’s gartersnake. Although Butler’s gartersnakes have been documented in wetlands on both sides of the bridge, much of the habitat in the vicinity of the bridge is poor quality snake habitat so take of the snake is expected to be limited. The new bridge will connect the habitat on the east side of Springdale Road to the habitat on the west side of the road. The connectivity will result in an overall gain to the habitat patch, which will ultimately benefit the snake. The proposed project will actually provide a benefit to the species at this location by improving the habitat at the site.

The Department has determined that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the snake; is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of the snake or the whole plant-animal community of which it are a part; and has benefit to the public health, safety or welfare that justifies the actions.

Copies of the background information on the Butler’s gartersnake and the jeopardy assessment are available on the DNR website at http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/take/notices.html or upon request from Rori Paloski, Department of Natural Resources, Bureau of Endangered Resources, PO Box 7921, Madison, WI 53707, 608-264-6040. Public comments will be taken through June 30th, 2009 and should be sent to Ms. Paloski at the above address.FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Rori Paloski, DNR, Bureau of Endangered Resources, 608-264-6040 or P.O. Box 7921 Madison, WI 53707-7921.

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

Public comments will be taken through June 30, 2009 and should be sent to the above address.

Information & Supporting Materials:
Jeopardy Assessment [PDF 104KB]