Nev. Dunes Restricted to Help Butterfly

This undated file image provided by the Bureau of land Management, shows the Sand Mountain blue butterfly at the Sand Mountain Recreation Area, east of Fallon, Nev. Federal land managers working to keep a rare Nevada butterfly off the list of endangered species have closed scores of off-road vehicle trails at one of the biggest, most popular sand dunes in the West, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management announced Tuesday, March 20, 2007. (AP Photo/Bureau of Land Management) (AP)

Off-roaders were less enthusiastic.

Richard Hilton, president of Friends of Sand Mountain, said the closure was "kind of pushed on us" but probably the best deal his group could hope for.

"It was one of those things where we felt like any time an environmental group sues, off-road users usually lose," he said.

Some conservationists said that even with 80 percent of the dunes closed, there still will be too much intrusion and that more protection is warranted.

"The real test of the bureau's commitment to protecting butterfly habitat will be enforcement," said Karen Schambach of Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility.

Though violators will be subject to up to one year in prison, Struble said the initial emphasis will be on distributing maps and educating visitors.

"We are trying to work it to have the habitat, protect the species out there and have recreation out there, too," he said. "We need people's help and we weren't getting it under the volunteer system we had the first two years."

Ed Waldheim, president of the California Off-Road Vehicle Association, said off-roaders would be wise to follow the rules.

"Otherwise the next step is closing," Waldheim said. "This is something that we have learned the hard way in other areas."