In a move that's stirred up environmental circles, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has proposed issuing a permit for what's known as 'incidental take', tied to a soil boring project in Columbia, Marquette, and Waushara counties. This permit would allow the unintentional harm of the state endangered slender glass lizard, a species confirmed to dwell near the project site. The ATC Grid Forward – Central Wisconsin Soil Boring Project aims to bore into the soil to determine the right foundation for future constructions. For those not in the know, 'incidental take' isn't about intentionally harming these creatures, but it acknowledges that some might get caught in the crossfire, so to speak.
Understandably, the presence of a rare lizard on the brink of potential danger could send out alarm bells. Yet, the DNR appears confident that this won't spell doom for the entire species. According to a release by the Wisconsin DNR, "the proposed project is not likely to appreciably reduce the likelihood of the survival or recovery of the species within the state." This conclusion came after examining the required investigative boreholes and their potential aftermath—these include clearing minimal vegetation in paths to access points alongside fields or grassland areas that were once paths or driveways.
The DNR outlines that the project will involve soil borings at selected points to confirm foundation types for rebuilding the grid. These activities will happen along paths that have already been etched into the landscape by earlier human or natural processes. Despite assurances, the notion that some of the slender glass lizards might meet their end just so experts can learn more about the ground they rest on can come across as a hard pill to swallow for conservationists.
Still, it's the DNR's assessment that the project can proceed without bringing the species, or the larger ecosystem it inhabits, into jeopardy. Highlighting the temporary nature of the soil boring activities and the limited scale of habitat disruption, the Wisconsin DNR posits that these lizards' part in the grander narrative of Wisconsin's biodiversity will continue, with or without these borings. They stated, "minimal clearing of saplings and shrubs may be needed at bore locations and along the off-ROW access routes." a line that's opened up a conversation about what 'minimal' truly means in the context of an endangered creature's living quarters.
