Schedule D - Example Crosswalk.pdf

Taxon Common Name / Scientific Name

Project Area in Critical Habitat?

Species Habitat Suitable Habitat

Present?

Michigan Determination Key

Explanation for determination regarding suitable habitat

Project Area - Michigan

Ecological System Classification

Federal Status

Presence/ Absence survey conducted

Mammals Indiana Bat Myotis sodalis

Does not overlap

Hibernates in caves, mines, or similar structures in winter (mostly in IL, IN, KY, MO, TN, & WV). Only one winter hibernaculum in MI, not considered critical. During the summer they roost, forage, and travel in forested/wooded habitats and ocassionally adjacent/interspersed non-forested habitats like emergent wetlands, agricultural fields, old fields, and pastures. Roost in live trees and/or snags greater than 5 inches in diameter that have cracks or crevices. May be dense or loose aggregates of trees with variable canopy closure. Females form colonies in the summer; maturnity roosts are typically dead or dying trees (and infrequently in human-made structures like buildings, barns, bridges, and bat boxes) in open areas exposed to solar radiation. Sometimes form roosts in bridges and culverts below the 3rd county tier in MI and within 1000 feet of suitable forested habitats No No effect

Well-plugging operation is not in a forested area, as it will occur in the middle of a lake. Operation will not impact abandoned mines or caves.

Lake Michigan Moraines Endangered No

Mammals

Northern Long-eared Bat Myotis septentrionalis

Does not overlap

During summer, roost singly or in colonies underneath bark, in cavities, or in crevices of live or dead trees. Males and non-reproductive females may also roost in cooler places like caves and mines. Opportunistically selects roosts; prefers trees that retain barks or provide cavities. Rarely roosts in barns and sheds. Hibernates in large caves or mines with large passages and entrances with constant temperatures, high humidity, and no air currents. Found in small crevices or cracks in caves while hibernating No No effect

Well-plugging operation is not in a forested area, as it will occur in the middle of a lake. Operation will not impact abandoned mines or caves.

Lake Michigan Moraines Endangered No

Mammals

Tricolored Bat Perimyotis subflavus

Does not overlap

During spring, summer, and fall, roost among live and dead leaf clusters of live or recently dead deciduous hardoowd trees. Will also roost among pine needles, eastern red cedar, or artifical roosts like barns, porches, roofs, bridges, and concrete bunkers. Rarely roosts in caves. They prefer to stay in the same summer roosting locations year to year. Females form maternity colonies and switch roosts regularly.

Males roost singly. Hibernate in caves, mines, road-associated culverts, abandoned water wells, and occasionally tree cavities. Prefer to stay in the same winter roosting locations year to year as well. Enter hibernation early in the fall and late in the spring. Like their hibernation spots in warmer locations than other bats. Usually hibernate singly (tho occasionally in pairs or clusters). N/A No effect

Well-plugging operation is not in a forested area, as it will occur in the middle of a lake. Operation will not impact abandoned mines or caves.

Lake Michigan Moraines

Proposed Endangered

No (only needs to be considere d if project involves wind turbines)

Birds

Rufa Red Knot Calidris canutus rufa

Proposed Critical Habitat

Typically they are found in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and along Lake Huron and Erie. They tend to reside in coastal habitats. "Red knots are an uncommon migrant in Michigan and never abundant here, but could be spotted along Great Lakes shorelines heading north in late May or again in late July through September on their southern migration." (MichiganNatureAssociation 2017) No No effect

The determination key states that the project will have no effect on the Rufa Red Knot species. Rufa Red Knot only need to be considered for wind energy projects. As this is not a wind energy project, there will be no effect on this species.

Lake Michigan Moraines Threatened No

Birds Whooping Crane Grus americana

No Critical Habitat

"The whooping crane breeds, migrates, winters, and forages in a variety of wetland and other habitats, including coastal marshes and estuaries, inland marshes, lakes, ponds, wet meadows and rivers, and agricultural fields. " (USFWS 2014) No No effect

The determination key indicates that there will be no effect and no critical habitat within the proposed work area.

Lake Michigan Moraines

Experimental Population, Non-essential No

Reptiles

Eastern Massasauga Sistrurus catenatus

No Critical Habitat

Found throughout the Lower peninsula of Michigan and select areas of the Upper peninsula, with those areas being the southeastern counties of the Upper peninsula.

Prefering to live moist/wet environments including but not limited to lakes, marshes, wet praries "In Michigan, habitat generally includes a wintering area of low woods, bogs, fens, or marshes, and a summering area of drier ground, usually grassy with low shrubs; hibernation occurs in mammal burrows, crayfish burrows, rock crevices, or tree root systems, or sometimes under partially submerged trash, barn floors, or in basements" No

NLAA (may affect, not likely to adversely affect)

EGLE-OGMD will minimize impact to species if Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake (EMR) are in the area when plugging activities occur. There will be little to no disturbances done on shore to complete plugging which will minimize any impacts to EMR. Activity will be mostly limited to the middle of the lake in 7-10 ft. of water. All recommended conservation efforts and permit conditions will be applied to this project. The report indicates that there is no critical habitat within the proposed work area.

Lake Michigan Moraines Threatened No

Clams

Snuffbox Mussel Epioblasma triquetra

No Critical Habitat

Found in small areas of the Lower peninsula, primarily around Grand River near Grand Rapids and Ionia and the Detroit river. "This species is found in riffles of small and medium creeks, large rivers, and in shoals and wave-washed shores of lakes (Baker 1928; Parmalee and Bogan 1998). Except when spawning, adults are usually burrowed deep in sand, gravel or cobble substrates (USFWS 2012)." Yes No effect

The Michigan determination key specifies that there will be no effect to this species. The report indicates that there is critical habitat within the proposed work area. However, due to this being a man made lake, and not a river, there is not any impacts expected. Activity will be mostly limited to the middle of the lake in 7-10 ft. of water.

Lake Michigan Moraines Endangered No

Insects Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus

No Critical Habitat

This species is found state wide in the warmer months of the year. The species will overwinter in warmer climates during the fall and winter months. Most comonly found from May to to late October. Eggs are laid on their host plants the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), Butterfly Milkweed(Asclepias tuberosa), and Swamp Milkweed(Asclepias incarnata) which can be found state wide. No No effect

The determination key indicates that there will be no effect on the Monarch Butterfly. EGLE-OGMD will attempt to minimize impact to species if caterpillars or butterflies are in the area when plugging activities occur. If monarchs are present, EGLE-OGMD will to minimize disturbance to milkweed and blooming flowers. During Spring breeding season, EGLE-OGMD staff will check milkweed plants for monarchs, eggs, or caterpillars. EGLE-OGMD staff will mark the plants and avoid these areas if feasible. The report indicates that there is no critical habitat within the proposed work area.

Lake Michigan Moraines Candidate No

Flowering Plants

Pitcher's Thistle Cirsium pitcheri

No Critical Habitat

"Pitcher's thistle typically grows on open sand dunes and occasionally on lag gravel associated with shorelines. All of its habitats are along the Great Lakes shores, or very close proximaty to." (Michigan Natural Features Inventory Pg. 2) No No effect

The report indicates that there is no critical habitat within the proposed work area. Well plugging operation is not in a dune environment, and thus will have no effect on this species.

Lake Michigan Moraines Threatened No

Endangered Species Act - Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species

STATE OF MICHIGAN: Van Single Wells The purpose of this action is to plug and abandon two orphan wells in an old gravel pit lake. Orphan wells are abandoned or improperly plugged wells for which there is no known solvent existing owner or operator. These wells were found to be leaking in the lake, which led to a costly remediation project in 2023. It is best to plug these wells as quickly as possible, as they pose a significant risk to human health and the environment.

ESA Species Analysis