DNR Seeking Comments On Incidental Take Notice Of Rare Lizard In Columbia County

(Columbia County) The Department of Natural Resources is taking comments on a proposed permit for a storage yard project in Columbia County that may result in the incidental taking of a rare lizard. Tjugum Investments LLC is proposing to construct a 2,688 square foot shop and material storage yard for a landscaping contractor, resulting in a total project area of 1.84 acres. DNR officials say the presence of the state endangered slender glass lizard is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. They add that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some lizards. 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. The DNR says work in the area 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 it is a part of or the habitat that is critical to its existence. Conservation measures to minimize the adverse effect on the endangered species will be incorporated into the proposed Incidental Take Permit. Comments on the project can be sent to DNR Conservation Biologist Rori Paloski by October 26th at 101 South Webster Street, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, Wisconsin 53707 or email rori.paloski@wi.gov.