In early June 2007, biologists at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore (INDU) noted the presence of several plants of the Federally threatened Pitcher's thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) within the area to be impacted by construction activities to replace the main waste water lift station serving the West Beach bath house. 

On June 18, 2007, staff from INDU, FWS, and USGS (botanist and expert on the Pitcher's thistle) visited the proposed project site.  Four Pitcher's thistle plants were found within the area likely to be impacted by project construction; 1 was an adult that had already bloomed and set seed while the other 3 were juvenile plants.  The adult plant and the ground around it were searched for seeds; subsequent inspection of the seeds found 22 that were healthy and viable.  These 22 seeds were later planted on another nearby dune that is known to support Pitcher's thistle. 

INDU staff investigated the feasibility of renting or hiring a large tree spade to try to move the 3 juvenile plants, which have very deep roots, but the companies owning such equipment were not available to do the work.  Therefore, INDU staff wrote a Biological Assessment assuming the unavoidable loss of the 3 juvenile plants during project excavation of the site.  The BA and section 7 consultation initiation package were accepted by the Bloomington Field Office on August 29, 2007.  

The Biological Opinion delivered to INDU on October 10, 2007 concluded that the proposed action is not likely to jeopardize the continued existence of Pitcher's thistle and provided several conservation recommendations to be carried out at INDU to promote recovery of the species.