NSP has assisted Altoona High School freshman Derek Scheider with an independent research project titled, "Karner Blue, Where Are You?" The project proposal has been awarded a $500 grant by the Wisconsin Center for Academically Talented Youth. Derek is the son of Dan and Debra Scheider (Dan is an NSP line clearance supervisor).
The goal of Derek's project was to determine the life history, life stages, host plants and nectaries of the karner blue butterfly. The small blue to brownish butterfly was listed as a federally endangered species by the US Fish and Wildlife Service in 1992. Derek surveyed several existing and potential sites in Eau Claire County this past summer.
NSP became involved since there are several power line rights-of-way where the Karner blue butterfly is located. Dan contacted Pam Rasmussen, coordinator, transmission licensing, to find sites which would be available for Derek to survey.
"It was beneficial for NSP to have Derek review
known and suspected sites," Pam said. "Due to limited time constraints for
when surveys can be done for the butterfly, it was wonderful to be able to
have Derek do the work for us and provide data for his research. We now
have better data on actual Karner blue locations and can modify our
management of those areas to minimize impact to the butterfly."
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