MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the “incidental taking” of a rare lizard, which may result from the Sand Valley Outpost Golf Course in Adams 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.
Wisconsin Dunes, LLC, proposes to construct the Outpost Golf Course south of the existing Sand Valley Golf Course. Disturbance for the development of this golf course will cover approximately 132 acres. The goal is to restore a mosaic sand barrens/sand prairie/savanna habitat within the out-of-play areas of the course.
The presence of the state-endangered slender glass lizard is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some lizards.
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 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. Copies of the jeopardy assessment and background information on the slender glass lizard are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR Conservation Biologist Rori Paloski at Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-3742.
The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the slender glass lizard by Aug. 13, 2025, to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Rori Paloski, DNR Conservation Biologist
101 S. Webster St.
Madison, WI 53707
Rori.Paloski@wisconsin.gov or 608-516-3742
