Resource Management

Present kinds and levels of land and resource use do not pose a threat to butterfly diversity. In fact they contribute to this diversity. The major long term concern is natural succession because in the absence of natural or human-induced disturbance; the area would gradually be converted into a relatively homogenous evergreen forest. This would be most undesirable since such habitats support few butterfly species and most of the butterfly diversity of the valley would be lost.

Weeds are the primary matter that warrants continuing attention. Bio-control agents are being used to reduce knapweed and St. Johns wort populations. These efforts should continue and in some areas, consideration should be given to selective use of safe herbicides such as glyphosate to speed the weed reduction process. Some knapweed in the habitat can even be a good thing by providing nectar sources for butterflies. Thistle populations are low and these should not be exterminated because they are a popular nectar source for butterflies. Serious consideration should be given to habitat improvement on a site specific basis, on an integrated basis with knapweed reduction. For example the area around Waneta Dam would, in the absence of knapweed, support substantially more grass and likely a greater abundance of Lupinus and Eriogonum. These are important larval food plants for a number of butterfly species. Efforts to establish larger populations of these plants should accompany efforts to reduce weed populations.