MILWAUKEE — In February, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that the local sewerage district and a construction firm were facing up to $1.65 million in state fines for environmental violations during a flood control project. The specific violations included, among other things, “disturbing the habitat of the Butler’s garter snake — a threatened species [in Wisconsin] — by dumping topsoil and other fill into a special ‘temporary snake release site.’” (Alternate source: the Duluth News Tribune.)