Habitat Conservation Plans

Michigan Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Conservation Plan

The Karner blue butterfly is actually the size of a dime. This is a male Karner showing the inside color of its wings. Photo by Paul Labus: The Nature Conservancy in Indiana

The Karner blue butterfly occurs on about 3,900 acres within ten counties in Michigan and nearly 2,700 acres of that habitat is on non-federal lands. 

 

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and a number of partners prepared an Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) so that they may continue to conduct their normal activities while conserving the the Karner Blue Butterfly and its habitat.  

 

The Endangered Species Act prohibits the "take" (i.e., destruction or harm) of listed species unless a permit is obtained from the U.S.Fish and Wildlife Service. The permit is called an "Incidental Take Permit" and is obtained only after an HCP is developed.  An HCP identifies how "take" will be reduced and identifies the actions that will be used to compensate for "take" that occurs. 

 

The Incidental Take Permit duration is 20 years and allows for take of Karner from habitat management, utility and transportation right-of-way maintenance, and certain development activities on non-federal lands in Michigan.

 

The Michigan DNR HCP for Karner blues identifies conservation measures that the DNR and partners will do to minimize and mitigate incidental take due to ground disturbances from habitat management, right-of-way maintenance, and development activities in Karner blue butterfly habitat.

 

Final Michigan Karner Blue Butterfly HCP

Michigan Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Conservation Plan (113 page PDF; 1MB)

 

Environmental Assessment - January 2009 (120 page PDF; 960 KB)

 

2008 Draft Documents for Public Review and Comment

Michigan DNR Draft Karner Blue Butterfly HCP and Environmental Assessment: a public comment period opened on January 25, 2008 and closed on March 25, 2008.

• Notice of Availablity and Request for Comments on the Draft HCP and Draft Environmental Assessment for Michigan DNR's application for a Karner Blue Butterfly Incidental Take Permit (Federal Register Notice: 24 January 2008)
• Draft Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP)
• Draft Environmental Assessment of the Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Conservation Plan

Back to Incidental Take and HCP page

 

Last updated: October 24, 2012