Utility Infielder. Applied Pragmatician. Data Scientist.
The Butterfly and the Concrete Bathtub
The Butterfly and the "Concrete Bathtub" In 1978, while surveying a 178-acre site in Albany, NY, I stumbled upon a clearing of blue lupine—and a butterfly that looked like it flew straight out of a Disney movie. It was the Karner Blue, an endangered species famously described by novelist Vladimir Nabokov.
When my census revealed the largest known colony of the species on the exact spot where a major anchor store was planned, I had to deliver the news: the hill stayed, or the permit died. Even a sit-down with the legendary Mayor Erastus Corning couldn't move that hill. I developed a preservation plan to protect the habitat, and the butterfly colony has thrived since.
My deep dive into the site’s ecology eventually saved the project in a different way, as well. While reviewing the revised site plans, I realized the civil engineer had set the grade eight feet below the static water table. By "connecting the dots" between geology and engineering, I saved the developer from building a 178-acre "concrete bathtub."
The Takeaway: Expertise is only useful if you’re willing to step outside your silo to ensure the whole project holds water.