MADISON - A stream bank protection project on the west branch of the Little Sugar River in Green County may result in the loss of some rare species of turtles.
The Department of Natural Resources proposes to permit the "incidental" taking of Wisconsin's Blanding's turtle, which the DNR said would result from the project on a portion of the Little Sugar River located in the Town of Mt. Pleasant.
An 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.
Blanding's turtles are listed as a threatened species in Wisconsin.
To protect the species as much as possible, the project will employ turtle removals, and any temporarily disturbed habitat will be restored to its pre-activity, or better, condition.
"We ask that community members do not try to assist in removing Blanding's turtles from the Little Sugar River as they are sensitive to human disturbance and should only be handled by trained individuals with an Endangered and Threatened Species Permit," said Brittany Pietrantonio-Davis, a specialist with the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources.
A qualified biologist will conduct Blanding's turtle removals prior to each work day in the construction site.
All Blanding's turtles - and preferably other amphibians and reptiles - found will be immediately removed from the area and relocated to suitable habitat downstream from the project site. If the biologist finds Blanding's turtles on the first walk-through of the area, a second walk-through will be conducted. This process is to continue until the biologist feels confident as many frogs and turtles as possible are removed from the disturbed area.
All Blanding's turtles removed will be recorded and reported weekly to the DNR.
The Blanding's turtle is a medium-sized turtle species with an elongated and highly domed shell.
The carapace, or top shell, is usually blackish with specks or dashes of yellow. The plastron, or bottom shell, is yellow with each segment blotched black along its side.
The turtle's head color is dark brown to black, often with scattered spots or swirls of yellow.
The adult sports a brilliant yellow chin, unlike any other Wisconsin turtle.
DNR staff has determined that the Blanding's turtle is likely present in the area because of the presence of suitable habitat.
The department has concluded that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the turtle by adhering to conservation measures and is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these turtles or its plant-animal community. The department says the project benefits the public health, safety or welfare enough to justify the action.
The conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the threatened species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit.
The U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to slope about 300 feet of the actively eroding stream bank at a 2 to 1 pitch and place rock rip rap on the bank to control erosion.
The section of river where the project is to take place is bordered by a Reed Canary grass floodplain with sporadic box elder and soft maple.
The Reed Canary grass floodplain will not be negatively impacted by construction or construction machinery.
The project will take 1-2 weeks to complete, and is permitted to happen between May 1 and Aug. 6.
These limitations are in place to avoid the overwintering season and hatchling emergence period for the Blanding's turtle.
Any excess spoil from the bank shaping is permitted to be spread thinly over adjacent cropland from October 16 to May 19 to avoid the Blanding's nesting period, the hatchling emergence period, and the time in between when nests may be in the ground.
The turtles takes 17 to 20 years or more to reach maturity.
Wisconsin's endangered species laws require the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.
Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the Blanding's turtle are available on the Incidental Take page of the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/take/notices.html, or upon request from Rori Paloski, DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, Wis. 53707-7921.
Public comments will be taken through April 22, 2011 and should be sent to Paloski at the above address.
The Department of Natural Resources proposes to permit the "incidental" taking of Wisconsin's Blanding's turtle, which the DNR said would result from the project on a portion of the Little Sugar River located in the Town of Mt. Pleasant.
An 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.
Blanding's turtles are listed as a threatened species in Wisconsin.
To protect the species as much as possible, the project will employ turtle removals, and any temporarily disturbed habitat will be restored to its pre-activity, or better, condition.
"We ask that community members do not try to assist in removing Blanding's turtles from the Little Sugar River as they are sensitive to human disturbance and should only be handled by trained individuals with an Endangered and Threatened Species Permit," said Brittany Pietrantonio-Davis, a specialist with the DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources.
A qualified biologist will conduct Blanding's turtle removals prior to each work day in the construction site.
All Blanding's turtles - and preferably other amphibians and reptiles - found will be immediately removed from the area and relocated to suitable habitat downstream from the project site. If the biologist finds Blanding's turtles on the first walk-through of the area, a second walk-through will be conducted. This process is to continue until the biologist feels confident as many frogs and turtles as possible are removed from the disturbed area.
All Blanding's turtles removed will be recorded and reported weekly to the DNR.
The Blanding's turtle is a medium-sized turtle species with an elongated and highly domed shell.
The carapace, or top shell, is usually blackish with specks or dashes of yellow. The plastron, or bottom shell, is yellow with each segment blotched black along its side.
The turtle's head color is dark brown to black, often with scattered spots or swirls of yellow.
The adult sports a brilliant yellow chin, unlike any other Wisconsin turtle.
DNR staff has determined that the Blanding's turtle is likely present in the area because of the presence of suitable habitat.
The department has concluded that the proposed project will minimize the impacts to the turtle by adhering to conservation measures and is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence and recovery of the state population of these turtles or its plant-animal community. The department says the project benefits the public health, safety or welfare enough to justify the action.
The conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the threatened species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit.
The U.S.D.A. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) plans to slope about 300 feet of the actively eroding stream bank at a 2 to 1 pitch and place rock rip rap on the bank to control erosion.
The section of river where the project is to take place is bordered by a Reed Canary grass floodplain with sporadic box elder and soft maple.
The Reed Canary grass floodplain will not be negatively impacted by construction or construction machinery.
The project will take 1-2 weeks to complete, and is permitted to happen between May 1 and Aug. 6.
These limitations are in place to avoid the overwintering season and hatchling emergence period for the Blanding's turtle.
Any excess spoil from the bank shaping is permitted to be spread thinly over adjacent cropland from October 16 to May 19 to avoid the Blanding's nesting period, the hatchling emergence period, and the time in between when nests may be in the ground.
The turtles takes 17 to 20 years or more to reach maturity.
Wisconsin's endangered species laws require the Department of Natural Resources to notify the public when it proposes to authorize the incidental taking of a state endangered or threatened species.
Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the Blanding's turtle are available on the Incidental Take page of the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov/org/land/er/take/notices.html, or upon request from Rori Paloski, DNR Bureau of Endangered Resources, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, Wis. 53707-7921.
Public comments will be taken through April 22, 2011 and should be sent to Paloski at the above address.