Sand Mountain consists of a 600-foot high mound of sand that stretches for two miles. Located about 25 miles east of Fallon it is a tempting destination for off road vehicle enthusiasts and dune buggies.
Though this region might appear desolate and bleak, it has over 70 species of plants and wildlife. It is home to the Sand Mountain Blue Butterfly.
The Kearney Buckwheat plant, which is found on Sand Mountain, is the habitat that the butterfly uses for the duration of its lifecycle. It is the buckwheat population at Sand Mountain which is declining as a result of traffic. Destructive off-roading is ruining the butterflies only known home.
New rules hope to change that. Federal land managers trying to keep a rare butterfly off the list of endangered species have closed dozens of off-road vehicle trails at one of the largest sand dunes in the West.
Sand Mountain: A mountain that sings
This enormous sand dune was created by sand carried by the wind from the beaches of a prehistoric inland sea that once covered much of Nevada. The musical sounds of Sand Mountain are a result of sand particles rubbing together. Walk up Sand Mountain and you’ll hear all kinds of noises that sound like moans, booms, and loud roars coming from beneath your feet. Some of these sounds can be herd up to seven miles away!
Their 200 miles of trails of sand mountain attract an estimated 50,000 off-roaders annually on motorcycles, dune buggies and all-terrain vehicles. That is why the whole mountain is not being shut down. The main dune at Sand Mountain where most motorized use occurs will remain open.
The controversy had been carrying on for some time now. Conservationists filed a lawsuit in federal court in Sacramento, Calif., in January 2006 to try to force the Fish and Wildlife Service to declare the butterfly an endangered species. However some conservationists feel that more protection is required.
Initially most people will be educated about the off-limit trails and maps will be distributed amongst the people. However, violators will be subject to up to one year in prison and if violations continue probably the whole area would be closed down.
Source: Discovery
