MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue a permit for the incidental taking of a rare snake, the eastern ribbonsnake, which may result from the WPS Park Entrance Drive Electric Project in Door 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 Public Service (WPS), a subsidiary of WEC Energy Group (WEC), is proposing to abandon approximately 1,790 feet of underground electric lines and remove existing cross-country overhead electric lines. In addition, WPS plans to install approximately 2,311 feet of underground electric cable to maintain electric service to the Peninsula State Park.
Land cover in the impacted area is comprised of fresh (wet) meadow wetland within the utility right-of-way (ROW) and forest wetlands outside of the utility ROW. The overhead electric removal will be accomplished via a small utility task vehicle (UTV) or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) using an existing access route and the utility ROW to access and remove the facilities and fill the void space with clean gravel. The installation work will occur in October.
The presence of the state endangered eastern ribbonsnake is confirmed in the vicinity of the project site. Wisconsin DNR staff determined that the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of one or more snakes.
The Wisconsin 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 eastern ribbonsnake are available by visiting the DNR Incidental Take Public Notices webpage or upon request from DNR conservation biologist Stacy Rowe at Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796.
The public is encouraged to submit written comments regarding project-related impacts to the eastern ribbonsnake by Sept. 21, 2025, to:
Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
c/o Stacy Rowe, DNR Conservation Biologist
2514 Morse St.
Janesville, WI 53545
Stacy.Rowe@wisconsin.gov or 608-228-9796
