Tread Lightly
Help protect your right to ride
As a user of Sand Mountain Recreation Area, you can help protect our future
recreational opportunities at Sand Mountain by learning to minimize your impact
on the environment today. Why is this important?
There is a butterfly that is only known to exist at the Sand Mountain Recreation
Area called the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly. It is currently listed as a
species of special concern, which is one step away from federal
protection under the Endangered Species Act (which could include closing part or
all of Sand Mountain Recreation Area).
Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly
The Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly depends on its' host plant, Kearney
Buckwheat to survive. If the population of Kearney Buckwheat declines at Sand Mountain, the
Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly population would likely follow.
BLM is tasked with implementing protective measures to ensure
the population is not declining. They conduct surveys to determine population trends, and outside
organizations are currently monitoring these results. BLM is currently
looking at a few options that could impact how much of Sand Mountain is open to
OHV use. These options include asking USFWS to list the Sand Mountain
Blue as candidate for "threatened" status and closing off some areas that may have been
damaged by OHVs.
This is why it is very important to practice "Tread Lightly"
principles:
1. Avoid plants while riding.
2. Stay within designated OHV areas.
3. Remember-if you abuse it, you?ll probably lose it! Careless operation
of your OHV can cause damage and may result in closing of areas to OHV
riding enthusiasts.
4. Allow for future use of the outdoors, by leaving it better than you found
it.
5. Respect the environment and other OHV users.
6. Obey all posted signs.
Kearney Buckwheat
The future of these OHV
opportunities depends on YOU! Protect your right to ride. Respect the land, the
wildlife, and the rights of others. Ride Responsibly. By following these
simple rules, we can help avoid potential closures that have plagued other dunes
like Oceano Dunes (Pismo) and the Imperial Sand Dunes (Glamis).
-
Sand Mountain serican scarab - Serica psammobunus
-
Sand Mountain aphodius scarab - Aphodius sp.
-
Sand Mountain pygmy scarab - Coenonycha pygmaea
-
desert sunflower - Helianthus deserticola
More pictures and
information.
Scientists,
OHV Users Cooperate to Protect Unprotected Butterfly
Think can't happen in Nevada? Think again.
Carson
wandering skipper butterfly listed as endangered
Other Endangered Blue Butterflies
Smith's
Blue, El
Segundo Blue
If you would like to help spread the word about this to
other users at Sand Mountain,
email
us and request brochures that can be passed out.
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