Butterfly Collection Closure Area (Spring Mountains National Recreation Area)

Order Number: 04-17-26-05-03

                                             U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
                                                         Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
                                                   Spring Mountains National Recreation Area
                                                          Occupancy and Use Prohibitions

PROHIBITIONS
Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (a) and (b), the following are
prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) lands, roads, trails in the Spring
Mountains National Recreation Area, Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, described below
and shown on the attached maps incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A and Exhibit B
(the “Described Area, Roads and Trails”)
1. Possessing, storing, or transporting any of the following butterfly species, in any
life stage (egg, larva, pupa, or adult,) including individuals or parts thereof: Mount
Charleston blue (Icaricia shasta charlestonenis), Spring Mountains acastus
checkerspot (Chlosyne acastus robusta), Spring Mountains dark blue (Euphilotes
ancilla purpura and Euphilotes ancilla cryptica), and Morand’s checkerspot
(Euphydryas anicia morandi) .
36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (s).
2. Possessing, storing, or transporting any butterfly species in any life stage (egg,
larva, pupa, or adult), including individuals or parts thereof, as depicted on Exhibit
B.  36 C.F.R. § 261.58 (s)

EXEMPTIONS
Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:
1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads,
Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them
from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer
that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).
2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or
firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED AREA, ROADS AND TRAILS
Section 1 Prohibition of this Order applies to all National Forest System Lands within the
Spring Mountains National Recreation Area of the Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, as
depicted on Exhibit A. Section 2 Prohibition of this Order applies to the following areas,
as depicted on Exhibit B:
a. Upper Lee Canyon from the Old Mill and Foxtail Road turnoffs to the edge of the
canyon, from State Highway 156 to the canyon rim.
b. Two hundred meters on each side of the Bonanza Trail from the Bristlecone
Junction to the base of McFarland Peak.
c. Two hundred meters on either side of the South Loop Trail from Griffith Peak to
the Charleston Peak and the ridge to Lee Canyon.

PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect sensitive butterfly species within the Spring
Mountains National Recreation Area

IMPLEMENTATION
1. This Order shall be in effect from July 10th, 2026 at 0001 through July 10th, 2031,
at 0001, unless rescinded.
2. Maps identifying the Described Area are attached and made part of this Order as
Exhibit A and B. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A and B, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/humboldt-toiyabe/alerts
3. Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are
defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II,
Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the
Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined
by their plain language definitions.
4. A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by
a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by
imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C.
§§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5. Contact the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area at 4701 N Torrey Pines
Drive, Las Vegas NV, (702) 872-5486, and Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
Supervisor’s Office at 1200 Franklin Way, Sparks NV, (775) 331-6444, for more
information about this Order.
6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in
the Described Area.

Signed and issued on 21st of July, 2026.
Jon Stansfield
Forest Supervisor
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest