Green Infrastructure in Practice

NiSource Multi-Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP) to utilize Green Infrastructure Approach

NiSource, a gas transmission company, is conducting a multi-species habitat conservation plan (MSHCP) to cover routine operation and maintenance activities for a pipeline it owns that extends from the gulf-coast of Louisiana to Pennsylvania. As part of this MSHCP, our Strategic Conservation Program will develop a system-wide approach to mitigation for the NiSource MSHCP using a green infrastructure approach for strategic conservation planning. Our green infrastructure assessment will extend beyond NiSource’s 15,500 mile network to encompass the adjacent counties, eco-regions and watershed units within the 14-state area.

The result of our assessment will be a framework that can be used to identify mitigation opportunities that provide the greatest benefit for the species. In total, 75 federally listed species have habitat within the NiSource boundary. The green infrastructure assessment will not be used to determine how much mitigation should occur in response to a take, but rather will be used to guide the types and locations for such mitigation opportunities at an ecosystem level. The key product will be a green infrastructure network design that will delineate a green infrastructure core, hub, and corridor network using criteria based on habitat requirements for endangered species outlined in the NiSource MSHCP.

The Conservation Leadership Network will be conducting focus groups with state resource specialists during the months of October and November to help inform placement of mitigation opportunities as part of this project.