FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 20, 2024
Contact: Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
[email protected] or 608-228-9796

Incidental Take Notice For Crawford County

MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of rare snails, which may result from the American Transmission Company (ATC) Y-40 and Y-161 Cross-arm Replacement project in Crawford County.

Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened animals or plants that does not put the species' overall population at risk.

ATC's proposed project is required to resolve and reduce vulnerabilities of aging and damaged cross-arms and three structures. These structures are on steep hillsides, underlain primarily by sandy soil over sandstone, and the right-of-way is dominated by native prairie vegetation adjacent to mesic forest.

Portions of the native vegetation at these spans are a result of native seeding undertaken by ATC following previous maintenance efforts along the line. ATC will use a bucket truck to access the 14 structure locations, and grading is needed to drive down the right-of-way.

The presence of the state threatened cherrystone drop and wing snaggletooth is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some snails.

The DNR concludes that the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state, the whole plant-animal community of which they are a part of or the habitat that is critical to their existence.

Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the threatened species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the cherrystone drop and wing snaggletooth are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Stacy Rowe at 608-228-9796 or [email protected].

The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the cherrystone drop and wing snaggletooth by Jan. 26, 2025 to:

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
2514 Morse St.
Janesville, WI 53535
[email protected] or 608-228-9796