News Release Archive

Reclamation released environmental document for bay checkerspot butterfly reintroduction to San Mateo County

Media Contact: Erin Curtis, 916-978-5100, 03/26/2018 12:07

For Release: March 26, 2018

Bay checkerspot butterfly SACRAMENTO, Calif. - The Bureau of Reclamation prepared an environmental assessment on providing $202,384 to the Creekside Center for Earth Observation to reintroduce the bay checkerspot butterfly to San Bruno Mountain in San Mateo County. Historically, the threatened butterfly’s populations were recognized in many San Francisco Bay Area counties.

The center would collect up to 5,000 butterfly larvae from source populations at Coyote Ridge in Santa Clara County. This collection site contains 7,000 acres of supporting, contiguous serpentine soil habitats. To prevent over collection, no more than 5 percent of the source population would be collected. Larvae would be transported to release sites and distributed by hand at two San Bruno Mountain sites.

The Central Valley Project Conservation Program would provide funding for the proposed action. The program’s primary goal is to enhance, protect, and recover listed and special-status species and their habitats affected by the Central Valley Project.

The assessment is available for public review at https://www.usbr.gov/mp/nepa/nepa_project_details.php?Project_ID=31121. Written comments are due by close of business April 9, 2018, to Doug Kleinsmith at Bureau of Reclamation, 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825 or dkleinsmith@usbr.gov, or faxed to 916-978-5055. For additional information please contact Kleinsmith at 916-978-5034 (TTY 800-877-8339).

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