Karner Blue Butterfly
Male Karner Blue Butterfly photo taken by NIMO
Female Karner Blue Butterfly Jerry Oakley for DEC
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Photos
The Town of Queensbury just recently began preparation of a long-range management plan for the preservation of the Karner Blue Butterfly habitat located within the town's borders. The, "Karner Blue Butterfly Habitat Management Plan," is being prepared on behalf of the town by C.T. Male Associates in cooperation with NYS DEC and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife endangered species unit.
The Karner Blue Butterfly is an endangered species native to only three regions in New York State and in only a handful of other sites in the northeast and central parts of the country. The Karner Blue is dependent on the wild lupine plant, a wildflower whose preferred habitat are dry soils and open woods and clearings such as pine and oak savannas and barrens. Because the Karner Blue depends on wild blue lupine, federal recovery plans for the Karner Blue Butterfly include protection and management of wild lupine habitat.
The effort, spearheaded by Planning Board Chairman Craig MacEwan, is in response to the Planning Board and the development community's struggle with protection and restoration of the endangered species. MacEwan says, "This is an opportunity for the Town to take measures to preserve this federally endangered species and dedicate sensitive habitat for it's future growth. Habitat loss continues to threaten the population of the Karner Blue Butterfly and we recognize the importance of preserving this habitat."
Through the use of this website-we hope to give you some background on the Town's Official Butterfly and it ecosystem, along with some helpful information on how you can help preserve its habitat.
E mail:
Stuart Baker, Senior Planner
E mail:
Craig Brown, Zoning Administrator
Email:
Community Development Office
742 Bay Road, Queensbury, NY 12804
Office Phone: (518) 761-8220
Fax: (518) 745-4437