The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources is managing changes to the Wisconsin River Power Company Westwind Shoreline Commons Area Trail in Adams County while protecting a rare lizard species. A permit has been proposed for the "incidental take" of the state-endangered slender glass lizard, according to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The Wisconsin River Power Company is redirecting part of its Shoreline Commons Area trail after a section was found to be on private property. The new route will cover 284.2 feet on Wisconsin River Power Company land and include a 30-foot elevated boardwalk connecting the Shoreline Commons Area trail to an association stairway used for dock access. Other parts of the trail will be covered with wood chips for maintenance purposes, as reported by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says a planned trail relocation may cause the loss of some slender glass lizards. However, they found it will not likely “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.” The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will include conservation measures in the Incidental Take Permit to reduce impacts on the lizards.
