The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposed Endangered Species Act protections on Tuesday for the Bleached Sandhill Skipper butterfly.
The rare butterfly can be found in far-northern Nevada, primarily in alkali wetlands.
The proposal comes as the butterfly faces threats to its habitat from declining groundwater levels due to farming use, lands trampled by livestock, and drought and increased heat.
There are fewer than 1,000 of the butterflies in the wild, according to a recent survey.
The skipper takes residence in three alkali wetlands in Humboldt County, Nevada, all within a dozen miles of each other.
Highly mineralized thermal springs in the area discharge warm water throughout the year, which ensures that the habitat doesn't freeze solid in the winter.
Patrick Donnelly, Great Basin director at the Center for Biological Diversity, points out, "With these endangered species protections, we aren’t just protecting charming little butterflies and their wetland habitat. We’re protecting the water that sustains all life in the desert, including our own."
