Karner Blue Butterfly
Management Partners Workgroup

September 17, 2003
Plainwell Operations Service Center
Plainwell, Michigan

Minutes

Present: Jennifer Fettinger (MNFI - Lansing), John Lerg (MDNR - Plainwell), Dale Black (Newaygo County, Brooks Twp. Supervisor), Gary Dawson (Consumer's Energy), Joe Kelly (USFS - Baldwin), Steve Mueller (Kent ISD), Rhoda deJonge (Land Conservancy of West Michigan), Vivian Lee Connor (MDNR - Plainwell), Matt Herbert (MDNR - Lansing), Kurt Pindel (USFS - Baldwin), Jessica Gourley (USFWS - Lansing), Mike DeCapita (USFWS -Lansing), John Niewoonder (MDNR - Flat River), Sue Schaefer (MDNR - Plainwell), Norah Fletchall (John Ball Zoo - Grand Rapids), Larry Visser (MDNR - Cadillac)

This was the third meeting of the Karner Blue Butterfly (KBB) Management Partners Workgroup.

I. Welcome/Introduction

John Lerg, KBB Habitat Conservation Plan Coordinator, Michigan DNR, began the meeting.

The KBB Recovery Plan has been signed by the USFWS Region III Office in its final form.

During the summer we have continued to move forward and are doing well. Draft documents were prepared on Survey Protocol, Tour Protocol, Backyard Savanna Habitat, and Private Land Management with the Butterfly Present.

II. Summer 2003 Lupine and Karner Blue Surveys

Presentation by Jennifer Fettinger, Associate Program Leader - Zoology, Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2003 Survey totaled 3,320 acres containing 256 sites (sites are separated by >200m of unsuitable habitat)

• 1,191 acres were private lands - 175 sites
• 691 acres on public land - 43 sites
• 567 acres of Consumer's Energy property - 23 sites (mainly in Muskegon County)
• 71 acres of road sides - 14 sites

This year some sites known for KBB had very few adults present. Perhaps the late spring freeze set them back. Sites surveyed with KBB/Lupine potential. (Sites are separated by >200m of unsuitable habitat.)

• 1,564 acres surveyed, 107 sites - no lupine present
• 594 acres surveyed, 68 sites - lupine present but no KBB
• 1,162 acres surveyed, 81 sites - lupine and KBB present

New sites*

• 314 acres surveyed, 31 sites

Present updates

• 94 acres surveyed, 9 sites

Extension of known sites

• 719 acres surveyed, 41 sites

No KBB found and no lupine present

• 1600 acres surveyed, 107 sites

*The new sites added in 2003 were primarily in Muskegon and Newaygo counties.

III. U.S. Forest Service progress on KBB planning

Presentation by Joe Kelly and Kurt Pindel, USFS - Baldwin, Michigan The USFS is working on modifications to the Forest Plan. The first step in implementing plan changes is to identify metapopulation boundaries on the ground. This process is underway.

• 2 recovery units - Newaygo and Muskegon
• Newaygo needs a minimum of 2 viable metapopulations to be reclassified
• Muskegon needs a minimum of 2 viable metapopulations to be reclassified

The USFS Forest Plan

• KBB was not listed when the Forest Plan was first written in 1986, but the need for savannas was noted. Plan modifications will address KBB, piping plover, and pitcher's thistle.
• Plan modifications to benefit KBB will consider presettlement habitats and then look at areas that remain largely unchanged.
• from a Forest perspective - 80% of what was historic KBB habitat was lost, and recovery potential is no longer there
• hope to have plan modifications complete this fall
• incorporation of Plan modifications into the Forest plan is 2 - 3 years out and is part of implementation package for the next 10 years. However, KBB related Plan elements are planned for interim implementation more quickly.

IV. National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA)

John Lerg NEPA

• need to make a decision internally on how we will comply with NEPA-initiate with request for consideration as Categorically Excluded, proceed with an Environmental Assessment (EA), or proceed with an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). Required to have a scoping plan with public input as a part of both NEPA and HCP
• our intent in this regard needs to be noticed in the Federal Register
• would like to hold meetings in areas where KBB are found and where there is an interest in KBB - possibly Muskegon/Oceana area, Allegan area, Newaygo area.
• soliciting ideas/suggestions for any other areas or resources for contacts for "scoping" meetings
• need to contact local interest groups, county or township political contacts, local civic leaders
• need to provide information about meetings to the press
• would like meetings to be held before November 15, 2003
• offer information to the average stakeholder in a way they will be comfortable responding to.
• utilize the website

Federal Register Notice

• explain what you are "thinking" of doing--you are giving the public the opportunity for comment
• minimum comment period is 30 days

John Lerg - would like to offer 3 alternatives for comment to initiate this review process.

1. Do nothing
2. Achieve recovery while confining efforts to a public land base
3. Accomplish recovery over a broader public and private land base.

KBB Habitat Conservation Plan Flow of Action

• oak savanna management blending with KBB management in the HCP objectives
• distinctions and connectivity between strategic and operational plans
• strategic plan objective translation to operational plan objectives in local area plans
• coordinate with USFWS to assure regulatory requirements are met
• USFWS issuance of an Incidental Take Permit to further State management efforts

V. Recovery Units in Michigan

Four Identified Recovery Units

1. Muskegon
2. Allegan
3. Newaygo
4. Ionia

Additional Recovery Unit Considerations

1. Newaygo RU Annex
2. Ionia RU Annex
3. Oak Openings PRU
4. Indiana Dunes RU Annex

VI. Recommendations for Public Participation, Stakeholder Involvement, and Management Partner Responsibilities

Discussion of Ideas

Use language that most of your audience will understand.

Nora Fletchall is working on a KBB brochure providing information such as habitat, lifecycle, and best times to observe. Has access to a graphic artist but will need funds to finance it.

Nora Fletchall is checking into applying through the Regional Consortium of Zoos for grants.

Put together a private landowner packet.

Provide a protocol of how to conduct oneself if KBB on your property (draft already prepared).

Steve Muller will be presenting a paper to the International Lepidopterists' Society at the University of Maryland this summer on the KBB's status and would like to have Jennifer Fettinger and Kurt Pindel as coauthors.

John Lerg - reported on a literature review on the KBB to be posted on the website.

Fact sheets have been going out to private landowners, but Jennifer Fettinger believes they are a little more advanced than the average person cares to read.

John Lerg - would like to bring up the objectives for oak savannah. We will be in a position to pull together some of these objectives such as conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem integrity.

VII. Future Meetings

Consensus from group is that quarterly meetings are adequate. Items on next meeting's agenda

1. Review of findings from any public meetings that John has conducted
2. More specifics on oak savannah and KBB
3. Discussion of the final recovery plan and changes made

Next Two Meetings:

Handouts:

• Meeting Agenda
• List of KBB Management Partners Workgroup
• Management Partners Workgroup Meeting for the KBB HCP in Michigan
• Map of Michigan Recovery Units
• KBB Habitat Conservation Plan - Flow of Action
• Michigan HCP Goals - Draft 8/12/03
• Michigan HCP Alternatives - Draft 7/14/03
• Glossary of Terms and Acronyms - Draft