(WTAQ-WLUK) — Officials say an Outagamie County road project will not jeopardize the existence of a threatened plant.
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) proposes to issue an authorization for the incidental taking of handsome sedge, which may result from the I-41 Expansion Project.
The expansion project involves converting I-41 from a four to a six-lane configuration. The expansion would be approximately 23 miles long and run from WIS 96 in Appleton to County F in De Pere. The project includes one system interchange (between I-41 and WIS 441) and 10 service interchanges within the project limits (including limited ramp work at the WIS 96 and WIS 441/OO Interchanges). The project would also construct a new service interchange at I-41 and Southbridge Road.
A new on-ramp at the WIS 15/County OO interchange will run through an area of southern mesic forest. In this area, there were 11 clusters of handsome sedge identified. Cluster 10 is located in a small patch of suitable habitat that would likely be permanently impacted by the service interchange.
DNR staff say the proposed project may result in the incidental taking of some plants and crews will minimize the impacts to the species by adhering to conservation measures.
