Checkerspot Butterfly Protection May Change Bike Race Course

After another successful High Altitude Classic bike race this year, the route may be changing due to the Forest Service efforts to protect a butterfly habitat.

The National Forest Service aims to reduce the recreation use of roughly 200 acres in Bailey Canyon — and parts of Pumphouse Canyon Road — to protect a butterfly habitat.

Called the Sacramento Mountain Checkerspot Butterfly Permanent Fences, the Forest Service website describes it this way:

“Checkerspot Butterfly Permanent Fences: The Forest Service proposes to construct permanent fences to protect and improve the Sacramento Mountains Checkerspot Butterfly’s habitat. The purpose of this proposed action is to protect existing habitat with permanent fencing and improve the action areas by revegetating with native plants that will meet the habitat lifecycle requirements of the butterfly. There are four action areas designated for permanent fences: one area in Bailey Canyon, two areas in James Canyon, and one area in Little Apache Canyon. In Bailey Canyon, the action area will be approximately 0.70 acres. In James Canyon, there will be two smaller action areas, approximately 100 feet in diameter/long. In Little Apache Canyon, the proposed fencing will be approximately 200 feet. Staging will take place on adjacent roads. Nonnative vegetation will be removed with hand tools and rakes, and native plants will be planted.”

If you’d like to comment on this project, go here. Comments will be accepted through October 10th.