Your drive through Peninsula State Park may be smoother, but you may also see less of a particular purple flower along the shoreline.

Last week, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources proposed to issue authorization for the incidental taking of the dwarf lake iris, which is considered to be threatened by state and federal authorities. Incidental take refers to the unintentional loss of individual endangered or threatened plants or animals that does not put the species’ overall population at risk. The DNR issued the proposal because of the Peninsula State Park Shore Road replacement project, which has needed to be done for several years. As a part of the proposed Incidental Take Authorization, DNR officials will consider conservation measures to minimize the adverse effects the project could have on the dwarf lake iris.

You can click the link to learn more about the proposed Incidental Take Authorization and how you can submit written comments regarding the project.

Picture courtesy of Wisconsin DNR