S Cooper* Stephen V

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natural areas on
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Biodiversity
and Representativeness of
Research Natural Areas on
National Wildlife Refoges

in Montana

Designated Areas Within Benton Lake, Charles M. Russell,

Lake Mason, Medicine Lake, and Red Rock Lakes

National Wildlife Refuges

FINAL REPORT
August, 1999

Submitted to the ^''^-'

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

Prepared by:
Stephen V Cooper and Bonnie L. Heidei

MONTANA

Natural Heritage
Program

RflONTANA STATE LIBRARY

3 0864 0014 5466 2

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577.6

Cooper f Stephen V
liodi ve psi ty and

Nlibrrn representativeness

1999 of research

natural, areas on
national wildlife
refuges in
UAItUUt

^,Vi ANA STATE LIBRARY
1515 East 6th Avenue
Helena, MT 59620-1800

OCT

1939

Biodiversity and

Representiveness of

Research Natural Areas on

National Wildlife Refiiges in

Montana

Designated Areas Within Benton Lake, Charles M. Russell,

Lake Mason, Medidne Lake, and Red Rock Lakes

National Wildlife Refuges

August, 1999

©1999 Montana Natural Heritage Program

State Library Building . P.O. Box 201800 .1515 East Sixth Avenue . Helena, MT . 59620-1800 . 406-444-3009

This document should be cited as follows:

Cooper, S. V. and B. L. Heidel. 1999. Biodiversity and representativeness of Research Natural Areas on National
Wildlife Refuges in Montana: designated areas within Benton Lake, Lake Mason, Medicine Lake, Red Rock Lakes and C.
M. Russell National Wildlife Refuges. Unpublished report to U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Montana Natural Heritage
Program, Helena. 63 pp. plus appendices.

i

There are fifteen Research Natural Areas (RNAs) on National Wildlife
Abstract Refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in Montana. Each

was inventoried for significant ecological and botanical attributes: outstand-
ing plant association examples, rare plant associations, and Montana plant
species of special concern. Two more study sites with existing or prospective
special management designation were also considered in the inventory work.
Biodiversity and representativeness information was prepared for each study
site, including a profile of all well-developed and uncommon native plant
associations, description of any rare plant species populations, and a summary
of biodiversity significance that incorporates this new data with original
RNA designation records. Related information was compiled to help put
results in context for each site, including description of environment, land
use, management notes, and recognized non-biological values.

As a result, ten outstanding plant association examples, four rare plant
associations, and four Montana plant species of special concern were docu-
mented within twelve of the study sites. Most of the study sites are located in
the Great Plains, complementing one another and generally representing
biodiversity features not otherwise under special management designation in
Montana. These include riparian and dune systems, once-widespread grass-
land plant associations that have been drastically reduced elsewhere and rare
grassland plant associations that have not been reported in Montana before,
uncommon forest and woodland plant associations, and suites of successional
habitats associated with black-tailed prairie dog colonies. Individually and
collectively, these RNAs help anchor the conservation of Great Plains natural
environments and their component plant associations and species.

We recommend additional surveys that extend beyond current RNA bound-
aries to identify areas that would fill gaps and achieve representation at scales
more consistent with ecological processes and the historic nature of once-
widespread vegetation types. The greatest potential for such areas is in the
Charles M. Russell NWR and on surrounding public lands, which offer
unique opportunities for identification and conservation of representative
large-scale landscape systems.

The expertise and interest of all USFWS personnel with whom we worked is

AcknOwlcd-KCniCntS gratefully acknowledged, along with the project support of the U.S. Fish and

Wildlife Service (USFWS) - Upper Missouri/ Yellowstone River Ecosystem
Team and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Ecological Services Office in
Helena. We thank Steve Martin of Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge
whose interest and support catalyzed this project. Jim Stutzman - USFWS
Montana Wildlife Habitat Office lent initial project support in an agreement
between the Montana Partners for Wildlife Program and Montana Natural
Heritage Program. Refuge coordination and access were gratiously provided
by Mike Rabenberg (Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge), Steve Martin
(Benton Lake National Wildlife Rehige), Mike Hedrick, Bill Berg, Bill
Haglan, Everett Russell, and Matt DeRosier (Charles M. Russell National
Wildlife Refuge) and Daniel Gomez (Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife
Refuge); with able navigation and assistance provided by skippers Glen
Guenther and Jody Jones. The report was reviewed in draft form, and
comments and corrections were provided by Steve Martin, Bill Haglan, Tedd
Gutzke, Mike Rabenberg, and Jim McCoUum.

This work also benefited from the time and skills of Montana Natural
Heritage (MTNHP) staff Jim Vanderhorst provided botanical expertise in
field inventory at one site. Scott Lee-Chadde digitized sampling locations
and contributed GIS map products. Steve Chadde and Cedron Jones
conducted the original work in years prior to this project that set up the
databases with RNA information, subsequently used to plan this inventory
and provide a framework for compiling new information. The Biological
Conservation Database and its linked series of datasets represent the contri-
butions of many MTNHP staff, as well as the work of biologists statewide.

This project was funded under two, separate one-year work order and
challenge cost-share agreements between the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Program, the U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Ecological Services Office in
Helena, and the Montana Natural Heritage Program.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction i

Study Areas 4

Methods 6

Results lo

Benton Lake National Wildlife REFUGE 13

Mullan Trail Research Natural Area 13

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge 15

Fourth Ridge Research Natural Area 15

Hell Creek Potential Research Natural Area 17

Limber Pine Research Natural Area 18

Manning Corral Prairie Dog Town Research Natural Area 22

Missouri River Bottomlands Research Natural Area 24

Prairie Dog Island Research Natural Area 28

Spring Creek Research Natural Area 30

Two Calf-Douglas-fir Research Natural Area 33

York Island Research Natural Area 36

Lake Mason National Wildlife Refuge 39

Lake Mason Research Natural Area 39

Medicine Lake NATIONAL Wildlife Refuge 41

Big Island Research Natural Area 41

Brace's Island Research Natural Area 45

Homestead Research Natural Area 46

Medicine Lake Sandhills 47

Tepee Hills Research Natural Area 49

Red Rock Lakes NATIONAL Wildlife Refuge 53

Sheep Mountain Research Natural Area 53

Discussion 57

Conclusions and Recommendations 59

Literature Cited 61

HGURES

Figure 1. Location of U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service-administered Research Natural Areas in Montana 5

Figure 2. Big Island Research Natural Area: Map of plant communities and associatior\s 43

Figure 3. Tepee Hills Research Natural Area: Map of distribution of plant communities and associations 51

TABLES

Table 2. Synonyms among scientific names for dominant graminoids 9

Table 3. Matrix of plant communities / associations by Research Natural Area within Montana's National Wildlife

Refuges (arranged alphabetically within lifeform) 1 1

Table 4. Partial matrix of National Wildlife Refuge RNA criteria and sites in Montana 57

APPENDICES

Appendix A. Community survey form

Appendix B. Plant species of special concern survey form

Appendix C. Photographs of state -significant vegetation features

Appendix D. Vegetation constancy-cover sampling data

Appendix E. Element occurrence records for Montana plant species of special concern

Appendix F. Illustrations of Montana plant species of special concern

Appendix G. Vascular plants cited in this report, by common names, scientific names, and six-letter acronyms

INTRODUCTION

The puqxDse of this study is to develop a baseline of
ecological and bxatanical information on each Research
Natural Area (RNA) within the National Wildlife
Refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service (USPOC'S) in Montana. The study results
provide a reference for refuge managers and
researchers, a standard for comparing throughout the
Refuge system in the Region, and a contribution to the
systematic evaluation of natural areas across the
Montana landscape as a whole. This report presents the
information on plant associations and rare plants
collected at all RNAs over the two years of study,
replacing the previous Part 1 report that was submitted
as a draft, and which described half of the RNAs.

Plant associations and species that are threatened,
endangered and sensitive are central "elements" of
biodiversity catalogued by the Montana Natural
Heritage Program statewide. The centralized database
and computer-assisted inventories focus on the state's
rarest animals and plants, as well as high-quality
examples of "natural" plant communities. As part of
the ongoing operations, we assess the "relative
endangerment of species and natural communities"
(Center 1986), a daunting task in eastern Montana
with the relative paucity of information on biodiversity
features and their location. This was the rationale in
proposing an inventory of RNA biological features
among National Wildlife Refuges in Montana,
emphasizing community types, and also considering
threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species. It
was designed to contribute to the statewide framework
for identifying and filling representative natural areas
targets in eastern Montana, to identify the features
protected by them, and to increase the potential
wildlife management usefulness of existing RNAs for
the USPOCS while also contributing to the
understanding of ecological and botanical resources.

From the early years of wildlife management and the
emphasis on regulating mortality and productivity for
individual species, the scope has broadened to
managing species' habitat, habitat processes, and the
fauna and flora at large.

The USFWS adopted an ecosystem approach to fish
and wildlife conservation in 1994, defined as
"Protecting or restoring the function, structure, and
species composition of an ecosystem, recognizing that
all components are interrelated" (Martin 1996).

Ecosystem management and sustainability hinge on the
maintenance of plant and animal species diversity as
well as natural processes, including disturbance (e. g.
fire, grazing), succession, and evolution. Biological
processes and biodiversity can be defined at a variety of
spatial and temporal scales, including genetic, species,
population, community, ecosystem, landscape and
regional (Noss 1983). Like the "ecosystem
management" term, "natural" has acquired numerous
potential meanings. A conceptual point of reference in
considering "natural conditior«" is comparison to the
ecosystem's condition prior to European settlement,
though this is not readily reconstructed in grassland
landscapes, complicated by their dynamic nature at
several short- and long-term scales. Using a
compendium of historic information (Knowles and
Knowles 1993) and current information, preliminary
deductions and identification of geographic priorities
can be developed. On this basis, some of the National
Wildlife Refiiges or areas within them offer the last or
best vestiges of natural conditions as reference areas for
ecosystem management.

Research Natural Areas are critical to ecosystem
management in the following ways:

Reference and Monitoring Sites:

The number of examples of natural ecosystems that
remain is finite and shrinking as landscapes are altered
and degraded (Noss 1987). It is judicious to manage
some ecosystems for their existing natural conditions to
reduce the risks associated with our limited knowledge
of ecosystem functions and to insure ecosystem
diversity, health, and sustainability.

Many natural resource management activities can be
conceived of as experiments; their outcome, including
changes in vegetation, animal populations, soils quality,
plant susceptibility to insect and disease vectors, and
changes in future productivity are, at best, incompletely
understood (Franklin 1992). As such, reference points
are needed to evaluate the experiment's success.
Regardless of the entity monitored, small mammal
demography, breeding bird success, neotropical migrant
birds, health of endangered species populations, site
productivity, or impacts of road density on ungulate
distribution, reference points are essential. The
reference or benchmark function is one of the principal
merits of RNAs and similar areas for management and
environmental analysis. The availability of RNAs as

demography, breeding bird success, neotropical
migrant birds, iiealth of endangered species
populations, site productivity, or impacts of road
density on ungulate distribution, reference points
are essential. The reference or benchmark function
is one of the principal merits of RNAs and similar
areas for management and environmental analysis.
The availability of RNAs as sites for pure and
applied scientific research is closely linked to their
importance as reference and monitoring sites, for
which research is nonmanipulative and
nondestructive.

Broader Research Applications:

RNAs provide more than a framework to answer
refuge or regional management questions. RNAs are
available to investigate the functioning of
ecosystems and the sustainability of both ecosystem
processes and community components. They
present an opportunity for studying given ecological
processes and the natural range of ecosystem
variability. Research Natural Area systems are ideally
pristine examples that collectively represent the full
range of ecosystem types, and the accompanying
range of biota, landform, ecosystems, soils, climate,
successional stages, disturbance regimes and other
ecological processes (see Ryan et al. 1994 for the
Rocky Mountain Region types identified to date
and Chadde et al. 1996 for the Intermountain
Region). In a similar tone, the Refuge Manual states
that "RNAS are intended to represent the full array
of North American ecosystems; biological
communities, habitats, and phenomena; and
geological and hydrological formation and
conditions" as part of a larger network for
understanding cumulative effects and large-scale
changes.

Biodiversity Protection:

One of the stated goals of ecosystem management is
the protection of biodiversity. The RNA system
functions at the "fine filter" level in harboring
populations of rare or localized animals, plants, and
plant communities. The RNA system may also serve
as core areas of genetic diversity for common plant
and animal species and their habitats and as a safety
net for little known elements of biological diversity
(e.g. soil microflora and fauna, terrestrial and
aquatic invertebrates, etc.) and their contribution to
ecosystem processes. In this capacity they thus serve
as part of the "coarse filter" paradigm for protecting
biodiversity (Hunter 1991); all the more critical in

fragmented landscapes and patchworks of
management objectives.

Research Natural .reas are established consistent
with the Objectives Handbook of the National
Wildlife Reftige System (USFWS Reftige Manual 8
RM 10; referred to as "Refuge Manual in the rest
of text). Their establishment rests on the Handbook
policy that "The Service recognizes the importance
of preserving plant and animal communities in a
natural state for research purposes." They are
categorized according to one or more of the
following biological or physical features, consistent
with their contribution to ecosystem management:

A. Biological features

1. An ecological community significandy
illustrating characteristics of a physiographic
province or a biome.*

2. A biota of relative stability maintaining
itself under prevailing natural conditions,
such as a climax community.*

3. An ecological community significandy
illustrating the process of succession and
restoration to a climax condition following
a naturally caused disruptive change. A
habitat supporting a vanishing, rare, or
restricted species.*

4. A seasonal haven for concentrations of
native animals or a vantage point for
observing concentrated populations such as
a constricted migration route.

B. Physical features

1 . Outstanding geological formations or
features significandy illustrating geological
processes.*

2. Significant fossil evidence.

3. Any site containing significant evidence
illustrating important scientific discoveries.

*(From.- USFWS Refuse Manual 8 RM 10.7)

Many of the 15 RNAs were originally designated
based on their biological significance as providing
ecological communities characteristic of the
physiographic area. Others were cited as having
significance in providing relict habitat or habitat for
restricted species. This study was designed to
evaluate all of the 15 RNAs in Montana for their
ecological and botanical significance as they relate to
five of the criteria in the Refuge Manual (asterisked
above).

This contrasts with a field-oriented approach that
focuses on plant associations. This "ground up"
approach was used in keeping with the plant
associations of Bourgeron and Engelking (1995). Plant
associations and alliances represent the existing, on-site
composition as recognized in the National Vegetation
Classification Standard (Federal Geographic Data
Committee 1997), rather than a generalized mapping
unit. While the new federal standard establishes the
upper physiognomic classification levels nationwide,
the alliance and plant association (floristic levels) have
not been standardized and are in progress. The latter
are the levels at which targets are set. Most of the
detailed classifications are from western Montana
compared to eastern Montana (Pfister et al. 1977,
Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Hansen et al. 1995,

DeVelice et al. 1995, Cooper et al. 1995).
Nevertheless, a synthesis of vegetation research results
from eastern Montana and adjoining states and
provinces provides a sound framework upon which to
build and incorporate the fijU breadth of Great Plains
plant community diversity.

There has not been an interagency synthesis of RNA
information since the work by the Federal Committee
on Ecological Reserves (1977) at the national level. In
addition to all previously-mentioned objectives, this
project contributes new and standardized information
for incorporation into statewide, regional, and national
natural areas efforts and applications.

STUDY AREAS

Eight established research natural areas (RNAs) were
inventoried in 1997 and seven were inventoried in
1998, representing all designated RNAs administered
by the U.S. Fish and WildUfe Service (USFWS) on the
national wildlife refuge (NWR) system in Montana
(Figure 1). Together they total 11,756 acres.

The fifteen research natural areas fall within five
National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), including Benton
Lake, Charles M. Russell, Lake Mason (administered by
Charles M. Russell), Medicine Lake, and Red Rock
Lakes National Wildlife Refuges. They are part of the
NWR System that includes more than 500 refuges
nationwide encompassing over 92 million acres of land
and water, supporting a diversity of flora and fauna, and
established for many different purposes.

The five National Wildlife Reftiges of this study are
among the largest NWRs in the state, including most of
the NWRs east of the Continental Divide. They were
established to protect specific wildlife values, briefly
highlighted below. This summary provides a basis for
considering the contributions of the RNAs within them
to the overarching refuge goals.

Lake Mason NWR was established in 1941 and
provides habitat for breeding and migratory waterfowl,
shorebirds, passerines, raptors, and antelope.

Medicine Lake NWR was established in 1934 through
the passage of the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act,
as a "prodigious" waterfowl nesting area for Canada
geese, dabblers, and divers. It has been subsequently
recognized for its value for colonial nesting birds, as a
migration stopover, and as habitat for upland grassland
birds, including upland game, that are declining
elsewhere in their range.

Red Rock Lakes NWR was established in 1935 through
the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act as a major
trumpeter swan breeding and wintering area. It has
subsequendy been recognized for its value for
threatened and sensitive raptors, reintroduced
peregrine falcons, waterfowl migration stopover, and
habitat for lacustrine Arctic graying, Clarke's grebe,
black-crowned night-heron, colonial nesting birds, and
a host of others.

Benton Lake NWR was established in 1929 as a "refuge
and breeding ground for birds." It is a significant
breeding ground and migration stopover for ducks,
geese and swans and is a recognized shorebird site of
the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network.
It also harbors colonial nesting bird Species of Special
Concern including Franklin's gull, double-crested
cormorant, white-faced ibis, black-crowned night-
heron, black-necked stilt, coinmon tern, forster's tern
and black tern, and upland grassland birds declining
elsewhere in their range.

Charles M. Russell NWR was established as a national
game range in 1936, later converted to a national
wildlife refuge in 1976 in recogiution of key game and
non-game species occupying its rugged terrain and
extensive habitat. They include: pronghom antelope,
white-tailed and mule deer, reintroduced elk,
introduced Rocky Mountain bighorn, colonial nesting
birds, piping plover, raptors, mountain plovers, black-
tailed prairie dogs, upland grassland birds declining
elsewhere in their range, and reintroduced black-footed
ferret.

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METHODS

Two sets of information were compiled for each RNA
site before fieldwork. First, written information was
reviewed about the RNAs. This was in the RNA
establishment information as available from the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service. It had previously been
collected and entered by Montana Natural Heritage
Program in the Biological Conservation Database
(BCD) as representing recogniied natural areas and
public lands (Site Basic Record Database, and Managed
Areas Database, respectively.)

Second, U.S.G.S. topographic maps (7.5') and available
aerial photos were assembled prior to or in conjunction
with fieldwork at each site, and RNA boundaries were
copied onto the maps. The photographs were used for
site stratification and plarming traverses across the
major features of the RNA. Mylar overlays were used to
map out areas having spectral signatures to consider for
ground-truthing, and as base maps for future map
production. Often photos were not readily available, so
that the topographic maps were used to guide the site
traverses, focusing mainly on unique combinations of
slope, aspect and elevation throughout the site. In
addition, comments were routinely requested from
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologists familiar with
the RNAs for information on biological features and
management, and for information and clarification
about access and boundaries. Additional botany and
ecology resources were compiled in techiucal
preparation (described separately in methods.)

Field investigations were restricted to established RNA
boundaries, with two additions. The Sandhills area of
the Medicine Lake NWR was included in surveys
because it shares some of the rare plant species features
as Big Island RNA, and has a special designation as
part of wilderness area. In addition, an area west of
Hell Creek State Park was identified by Bill Haglan
(Charles M. Russell NWR) as possessing features
potentially worthy of considering for RNA designation.
We refer to the set of seventeen study sites as including
the Medicine Lake Sandhills and Hell Creek areas
though they are not designated as RNAs.

Ecological and botanical iriformation collected in the
field was used to expand the RNA establishment
information, fully described in this report and
summarized in BCD. In addition, the individual rare
plant records have been entered in BCD, and

vegetation plot data is stored in vegetation databases
and draft classification documents.

Ecological Methods

Plant communities were identified and documented in
terms of their community composition, structure and
associated abiotic enviroiunental parameters by
establishing representative 1/10 acre plots (37.2 ft
radius). Data were recorded on a standardized
Community Survey Form as used by Montana Natural
Heritage Program consistent with ECADS vegetation
ordination analysis (Ecosystem Characterization and
Description System, USPS 1996; see Appendix A).

At each RNA, plant associations were documented
that met one or more of the four following criteria:

L Prevailing plant associatioris within designated
areas, i.e., the most extensive vegetation features
dominated by native plant species,

2. Plant associations that were the basis of original
designation, e.g., the Douglas fir forest at the Two
Calf'Douglas-fir RNA,

3. Well-developed plant associations that are
potentially rare statewide or rangewide, and

4. Well-developed plant associations in outstanding
ecological condition regardless or rarity of extent
at the site.

Vegetation sampling plots were placed within each
major natural vegetation type based on observed aerial
extent of the type. This approach provided
documentation for common vegetation types, but was
not intended for exhaustive sampling of localized or
atypical environments, large replications, or full
gradient representation. In some instances, a given
common community type may span a range of
environments, in which case the attempt was made to
sample the modal expression of a commuiuty's
environmental range. Sampling sites were chosen
"subjectively, but without preconceived bias" (Mueller-
Dombois and EUenberg 1974) to meet the criteria of
homogeneous vegetation composition, least
disturbance, and representative setting. Plot points are
mapped on U.S.G.S. topographic maps with 300 feet
precision.

On the first Refuge visited, Medicine Lake, excellent
quality aerial photography was available at 8 inches /
mile that served as a base layer upon which vegetation

Table 1. Target list of Montana plant species of special concern in the study area

SCIENTIFIC NAME
COMMON NAME

COUNTY

GLOBAL/

STATE

RANK'

NO. OF

OCCURRENCES IN

COUNTY(IES) vs

INSTATE

Cyperus schweinitzii
Schweinitz' Flatsedge

Sheridan

G5S1

1/4

Elodea longivaginata
Long Sheath Waterweed

Phillips

G4G5S1

2/4

Lobelia spicata
Pale-spiked Lobelia

Sheridan

G5SH

1/2

Mirahilis hirstaa
Hairy Four o'clock

Sheridan

G5S1

1/4

Phacelia thermdis
Hot Spring Phacelia

Garfield, Phillips

G3G4S1

2/3

Plagiobothrys leptocladus
Slender-branched Popcorn-flower

Phillips

G4S1

1/3

Psilocarphus brevissimus
Dwari^ Woolly-heads

Mussellshell,
Phillips

G5S1

4/7

Scirpus heterochaettis
Slender spikerush

Sheridan

G5S1

l/I

SoUdago sparsiflora
Few-flowered Goldenrod

Gariield

G?S1

1/2

'Species and communities are evaluated and ranked by the Heritage Program on the basis of their global (rangewide)
status and their state (statewide) status according to a standardized procedure, using the following set of values and
accompanying deftnnitions.
Rank Definition

Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences, or very few remaining individuals) or

because of extinction-prone factors.

Imperiled because of rarity (6-20 occurrences), or because of other factors making it demonstrably vulnerable to

extinction.

Vulnerable because of rarity (21-100 occurrences) or found in a restricted range.

Apparently secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

Demonstrably secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range.

Known only from historic records; possibly extirpated but concerted searches have not been conducted

Table 2. Synonyms among scientific names for dominant graminoids

Common name

Booth (1950), Great
Plains Flora Assoc. (1986)

Dom (1984)

Kartesz (1994)

Western wheatgrass

Agropyron smithii

Elymus smithii

Pascopyrum smithii

Bluebunch wheatgrass

Agropyron spicatum

Elymus spicatus

Pseiidoroegneria spicata

Sun sedge

Carex pensylvanica

Carex pensylvanica

Carex inops ssp. heliophila

Green needlegrass

Stipa viridula

Stipa viridula

Nasella viridula

In this report, we have cross-referenced each species by
both scientific name and common name the first time
the species is mentioned under each heading, and by
scientific name throughout the remainder of the
section. Appendix G is added as a synopsis of common,

scientific and six -character acronyms. Common names
are based on the list developed by the U.S. Forest
Service of Region 1, generally consistent with major
floras and the USFWS (Dittbemer and Olson 1983).

RESULTS

The fifteen Research Natural Areas and two additional
study sites encompass over 50 plant associations,
including four that are potentially globally rare. The
plant associations provisionally identified as significant
representations of globally rare habitats include:

hotspring phacelia {Phacelia themuilis) was relocated on
York Island. The records for the four species that are
tracked are presented in Appendix E, and illustrations
of them accompanied by descriptions are presented in
Appendix F.

Douglas fir / littleseed ricegrass forest {Pseudotsuga
menziesii I Orjzopsis mkraruha Forest) on Two Calf
- Douglas-fir RNA of C. M. Russell NWR
Rocky Mountain juniper / Wyoming big sagebrush
Shrubland Quniperus scopulorum/ Artemisia
tridentata ssp. wyomingensis Shrubland on Fourth
Ridge RNA of C. M. Russell NWR
Porcupine needlegrass - thickspike wheatgrass
grassland (Stipa curtiseta - Elymus lanceolatus
Herbaceous Vegetation) on Teepee Hills RNA of
Medicine Lake NWR
Indian ricegrass / lemon scurf-pea barretis
{Oryzopsis hymenoides I Psoralea lanceolata Sparse
Vegetation) on Medicine Lake Sandhills
Wilderness area of Medicine Lake NWR

This new information was added to prior information in
order to characterize each RNA by its primary
biological attributes among the RNA criteria in the
Refuge Manual. These also include the composite
significance of landscape gradients, envirotunental
processes, and biological processes, whether they are
separate from or complementing single species and
plant association features.

Ten more plant associations are outstanding examples
of more conmion habitats. Each of the state- and
globally-significant plant coitununities are bold-faced in
the following table (Table 3. Matrix of plant
communities/ associations by Research Natural Area.)
This table represents all vegetation sampling conducted
in the course of the study for documenting plant
community biodiversity significance. Most state- and
globally-significant features are highlighted in
photographs presented in Appendix C, and all
vegetation sampling data is documented in constancy-
cover tables in Appendix D.

Two Montana plant species of special concern were
documented on the Big Island RNA, including plains
phlox (Phlox andicola; G5 S2) and hairy four o'clock
(Mirahilis hirsuta G5 S3) . Both species also occur in the
Medicine Lake Sandhills, along with two additional
rare species, Fendler cat's-eye {Cryptantha fendkri ; G4
SI) and Schweinitz' flatsedge {Cyperus schweinitzii; 05
82) . Each of these is a widespread species but rare from
a state perspective. The Sandhills have the highest
number of rare plant species among the study sites. We
note that the Big Island and Medicine Lake sandhills
field evaluations provided the basis for changing the
status of Mirabilis hirsuta from a species of special
concern to watch. In addition, the known population of

10

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< O)
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ill!

Kir «m

11

The following pages present a summary of all ecological
and botanical data collected in the field, in addition to
observations and much background information
assembled for interpreting results. Background
information includes description of environment, land
use prior to and subsequent to National Wildlife
Refuge establishment, and management comments as
preliminary identification of management concerns or
questions associated with ecological and botanical
features.

An overall statement of biodiversity significance has
been drafted, building on previous RNA information.
Other non-biological values are also cited much as they
were addressed in the original RNA records.

This background information is all the more important
and difficult to compile in light of the dynamic nature
of the Great Plains vegetation, and the absence of
precise vegetation information for reconstructing
landscape conditions. The references that are made to
fire and grazing in the following pages as historically
widespread factors that shaped the landscape are based
on such works as Higgins (1986) and Umbanhowar
(1998) for fire, and on such works as Hanson (1984)
and Peden et al. (1974) for bison grazing. This is made
in full recognirion that there are different theories on
how these apply to current landscapes and
management practices. One of the common methods
for investigating this is through vegetation
manipulation experiments with a control. Grazing
studies have often used comparative vegetation
sampling inside and outside exclosures, as with a recent
Rocky Mountain study of grazing affects that included
study sites on the Charles M. Russell NWR (Stohlgren
et al. 1999). The reader is referred to such works in the
management literature, and the management notes
that are included in the following pages are
rudimentary context for the vegetation data.

The study sites are sequenced alphabetically by refuge
name, and alphabetically by RNA name within refuges.
Plant associations are described as they occur in each
RNA. They are sequenced by relative extensiveness
within the RNA, listing the most widespread plant
associations first. The classification and
characterization of major plant associations is derived
from vegetation plot sampling data. The plots provide
basic documentation of the existing vegetation, and
provided a basis for cor^sidering their classification as
well as their condition. The plot information regarding
species composition is arranged in "synthesis" tables
(Appendix D) in the same order of presentation as in
the text. "Constancy/cover" tables are also included to
convey the variability across a community type. Finally,
we note less extensive plant associations and provide
qualitative description.

12

Benton Lake National Wildlife Refuge

MuLLAN Trail Research Natural Area

ENVIRONMENT:

The MuUan Trail RN A is a 392 acre segment of gently
rolling terrace and fan landforms associated with
Glacial Lake Great Falls. There are no surface drainage
features, and it lies within the closed-basin topography
surrounding Lake Benton. The limited relief in
elevation ranges from 3628 to 3650 ft. Soils have
developed from alluvium and lacustrine deposits, made
up of fine-textured clays of the Pendroy Series (two
map units represented) with slow to moderate rates of
runoff. The semi-arid continental climate has peak
precipitation in May followed by June (Climate data
from Great Falls, Western Regional Climate Center).

VEGETATION:

The vegetation is well-developed and relative uniform,
made up a single grassland plant association. The
overall visual impression is of homogeneity across the
"sea of grass." It is an island of intact natural
vegetation, a fragment of a formerly extensive type,
now surrounded by agricultural lands and tamegrass.

Pascopyrum srrdtha — NaseUa iAridula Herbaceous

Vegetation

[PASSMI-NASVIR]

western wheatgrass - green needlegrass grassland

This is the one major plant association present in the
RNA. Its composition differs from place to place within
the RNA but the two plots established at the far ends
of the area evidence a high degree of similarity in
both composition and cover by the dominant species.
Western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) , green
needlegrass (Nasella viridula), prairie junegrass (Koeleria
macraruha) and narrow-leaved sedge (Carex stenophylla)
are the dominant graminoids with this component's
total canopy cover ranging around 70%. The forb
component is low in species, with three that are more
common than all others: poverty- weed (Iva axillaris),
plains bahia (Picraderuopsis oppositifolia) , and scarlet
globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccirxea). It is possible that
forb numbers and flowering levels are suppressed by
litter accumulation, but this association as found on
heavy soils is intrinsically limited in forb diversity.
Patterns of variation from place to place within the

area may correspond with land use differences or small-
scale natural disturbance such as burrowing animals.

The PASSMI - NASVIR plant association occurs in
Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming,
Saskatchewan, and southwestern Manitoba. It is
ranked G4 by TNC (Schneider et al. 1997). Nasella
viridula is both more palatable and more sensitive to
grazing than Pascopyrum smithii and also has a narrower
ecological amplitude. In the Yellow Water Triangle
area jorgensen (1979) notes the indicator value of
Nasella viridula for recognizing sites with a higher soil
moisture status, such as swales, toeslopes and moist
terraces dominated by silver sage (Artemisia carui).

There is a need to refine U.S. and Canadian vegetation
classification as it involves this type. Based on a study
of relict and near pristine sites, Coupland (1961)
identifies a porcupine grass - thickspike wheatgrass
grassland (Sapa curtiseta - Agropyron dasystachyum
Herbaceous Vegetation) as the major grassland type on
dark brown and brown soil zones of southern Canada,
essentially the prevaling mesic sites in landscape.
Coupland notes that south of the 49'*' parallel the
importance value of porcupine grass (Sapa curtiseta;
includes some or all of what has been treated as Stipa
spartea in Montana) as determined by cover declines
drastically and that Agropyron dasystachyum (synonym:
Elymus lanceolatus) exhibits a gradual decrease as well.
Stipa curtiseta was noted as dominant elsewhere in the
RNA system at Tepee Hills. DeVelice et al. (1995)
documented the importance of a PASSMI - NASVIR
association across the northern tier of Montana
counties. They recognized Poscofryrum smithii and
Elymus lanceolatus as ecological equivalents for site
identification and noted the difficulty of field
discrimination of these two species based on vegetative
or reproductive characters. [Plots
NHMTECMT97SC0001, NHMTECMT97SC0002]

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
The MuUan Trail RNA represents a good quality
occurrence of what may have been a common if not the
prevalent plant association of the Hi-Line (Glaciated
Plains Section) of Montana under presettlement
conditior«. It is a mesic, productive grassland type of
the Great Plains biome, and it is estimated that over 90
% of its original pre-settlement extent has been plowed.

13

While this is not globally rare, few other occurrences
are protected and documented on public lands in
Montana, and they are smaller or lower
quality/condition. The absence of surrounding natural
vegetation does constrain options for landscape-scale
management if not also its value in having landscape
context. Nevertheless, it provides a good rangeland
reference and ecological baseline.

The RNA may contribute habitat to previously-
documented upland grassland bird Species of Special
Concern including Ferruginous Hawk, Burrowing Owl,
Loggerhead Shrike and Baird's Sparrow, but does not
contain the wetlands that provide primary habitat for
the waterfowl and colonial nesting birds found
elsewhere on the Refuge. Wildlife values were not
evaluated.

intermedium) are at low levels within and outside the
RNA. The very aggressive yellow sweetclover
(MeUlotus officinalis) and crested wheatgrass (Agropyon
cristatum) probably pose greater threats in the long
term. A narrow band of encroaching crested wheatgrass
is found along the road grade disturbance zone along
the west boundary of the area.

Historically, ftre and bison grazing were two major
driving forces in this landscape, responsible for
renewing the vigor of the grasses, stimulating forb
numbers, and keeping shrub density low.
Reintroduction of appropriately timed fire is a
management option to consider in containing nearby
weed populations and stimulating forbs; realizing that it
can help control or increase Bromus tectorum and
MeUlotus officinalis depending on conditions.

OTHER VALUES:

The RNA also preserves a segment of the Old MuUan
Trail, part of a 642 mile wagon road linking the
western-most navigable waters of the Missouri River at
Fort Benton with the eastern-most navigable waters of
the Columbia River at Walla Walla, Washington.

LAND USE:

Prior to and after refuge establishment in 1929, the
area was grazed as a part of a large common grazing
allotment. A summer-fall season grazing permit system
was instituted in the 1940s. After the refuge was staffed
and facilities developed in the early 1960s, a new
grazing management plan provided for a much-reduced
level of suimner and fall grazing. Although it is not
possible to determine the exact grazing regime applied
to the RNA, grazing on the whole refuge dropped from
about 2,700 animal utut months (AUMs) in 1960 to
1,631 AUMs in 1966. In 1976, livestock grazing was
terminated on the refuge, and the area has been rested
since that time. The existing composition suggests that
is was part of secondary range or more likely a relatively
recovered primary range in good condition.

Since the time of RNA establishment, there has been
at least one experimental fertilizer application over
undefined segments of the area. Refuge records indicate
that it did not have the desired effect of increasing
productivity or stand structure, and was discontinued.
Records do not specify treatment area, application
concentrations, or include monitoring.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
Exotic species are uncommon at present. Although
both are present, populations of cheatgrass (Bromus
tectorum) and intermediate wheatgrass (Agropyron

14

Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge

Fourth Ridge Research Natural Area

environment:

The Fourth Ridge RNA spans 1,480 acres representing
one among a repeating series of shale ridges at the
northeast end of Fort Peck Reservoir. Outcrops of
Bearpaw Shale are exposed at the surface. Soils have
developed from this parent material and thus are
heavy-textured with clays predominating. The shale
outcrop landscape is predominantly gently rolling with
parts of the landscape prominently erosion-sculpted
with pitches and rolls that would be registered orJy on
a large-scale map. The semi-arid continental climate
has peak precipitation in June followed by July and May
(mean armual precipitation of 11.6 inches; climate data
from Fort Peck Power Plant, Western Regional Climate
Center, 1956-1997).

VEGETATION:

The vegetation is made up of two extensive upland
plant associations that compose a mosaic of shrubland
and open woodland. The RNA does not include
ponderosa pine {Pinus potvierosa) vegetation types as
indicated in the establishment report, raising the
question of whether boundaries need to be reviewed.

Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis I Pascopryrum

smithii Shrubland

[ARTTSW/PASSMI]

Wyoming big sagebrush / western wheatgrass shrubland

This is the prevailing vegetation type on Fourth Ridge
RNA. Its occurrence is close to defining the
northeastern-most distribution of big sagebrush
(Artemisia tridentata) as a species and as a vegetation
type in North America, regardless of subspecies (Shultz
1984). This shrubland occurs on benches and gentle
backslopes with fine-textured soils (silty clays to silty
clay loam) weathered firom shale and claystone. The
amount of bare ground and litter is inversely related
and highly variable, perhaps depending on past grazing
history. The shrub layer is dominated by Wyoming big
sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis; the
Great Plains subspecies) but total canopy cover ranges
between 10-20 %, seldom exceeding 25 %, so that
according to the National Vegetation Classification
Standard (1997) this community is technically
grassland with a shrub component. The dominant and

diagnostic grass is western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum
smithii) with subordinate graminoids like threadleaved
sedge (Carex fdifolia) , Sandberg's bluegrass (Poa
secunda), andjunegrass (Koeleria macrantha) attaining
only a fraction of the 40 % plus canopy cover of the
dominant graminoid. The highly palatable green
needlegrass (Nasella viridula) is present in only trace
amounts. Forb diversity is low, not surpassing 15 per
plot and individual cover values seldom exceed trace
amounts; American vetch (Vicia americana), white
otuon (A/!ium textile), bastard toadflax (Commarvira
umbellata), prickly pear (Opuntia polyacantha) , and
yellow sweetclover (MeUhtus officiruilis) have high
constancy in the community. Melilotus officiruilis is
uncommon and widely scattered in this type, and may
be increasing. [Plots NHMTECFR97SC0001,
NHMTECFR97SC0003, NHMTECFR97SC0006]

Junipenis scopulorum /Artemisia tridentata ssp.

11 wyomingensis Woodland

[JUNSCO/ARTTSW]

Rocky Mountain juniper / Wyoming big sagebrush

woodland

Rocky Mountain juniper / Wyoming big sagebrush
woodland (Juruperus scopulorum I Artemisia tridentata
ssp. wyominger\sis Woodland) is an extensive type
within this landscape, generally occurring on higher
positions with silty clay soils derived from one of the
subsidiary shale members of the Bearpaw Shale.
JUNSCO / ARTTSW is ranked globally imperiled (G2;
Schneider et al. 1997) and is cited to occur only in
Montana, Wyoming and Colorado. It is noted to grade
most frequently to the ARTTSW / PASSMI
community type, which occupies similar positions in
the landscape. Sometimes the difference in these
communities may reflect past disturbance, such as fire,
but the mosaic pattern at Fourth Ridge as it
cortesponds with gentle dips may indicate edaphic
microhabitat differences. The Bearpaw Shale includes
mostly non-calcareous members but also has calcareous
and bentorutic shale beds.

]uniperus scopulorum is the only tree present, occurring
as short-statured and highly branched forms and in a
rather clumped distribution. Canopy height ranged
from 5-10 ft. At Fourth Ridge, as elsewhere along this
area of the Missouri River, its growth form is rounded
and generally without a central axis. It is not known if

15

the peculiar growth form is genetically- or
environmentally-induced. Its sporadic distribution
challenges accurate estimates of canopy cover, which
range from 15-30 %, placing these stands, according to
the parameters of the National Vegetation
Classification Standard, in both the woodland and
grassland categories. The relatively species diverse
shrub layer is dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush
{Artemisia tridemaia ssp. wjiommgensis) , whose variable
canopy cover appears to be a function of competition
with neighboring trees. Graminoid and forb cover vary
depending on aridity, with western wheatgrass
{Pascopr^rum smxthii), prairie junegrass {Koeleria
macrantha) and yarrow (AchiUea millejoUum) in the
widespread, less arid conditions, and little bluestem
{Schizachrjium scoparium), sun sedge (Carex inops), and
few-flowered wild buckwheat {Eriogonum pauciflorum)
in driest places.

PitccmeOia nuttktUUma Sparse Vegetation

[PUCNUT]

Nuttall's alkaligrass barrens

This association is sparsely-vegetated with Nuttall's
alkaligrass (PuccinnelUa nuttallii) as dominant, occurring
as a broken stringer along an intermittent drainage that
feeds into Third Coulee. It constitutes the vegetation
band closest to the incised charmel on a floodplain
position with silty loam alluvial soils; salt efflorescence
was not observed but this community is known to occur
on salt-affected soils that have a slightly wetter,
temporarily inundated, moisture regime. Within the
TNC tracking system this community type has been
reported only from Colorado as Gl ? but Heidel and
Cooper (1996) have documented it from western plains
of Montana near the Rocky Mountain Front, noted it
in field reconnaissance, and cited it from the Canadian
literature (synonym: PucdnnelUa airoides, Dodd and
Coupland 1966).

The Fourth Ridge example of this type has low diversity
and is compositionally very similar to other observed
Montana occurrences with PucdmWia matalliana
dominant at around 40 % canopy cover; inland
saltgrass (^^tkUis spicata) and povertyweed (Iva
coaMris) are the ordy other forbs exhibiting more than
trace coverages. This community grades to Distichilis
spicata-dominated sites on drier positions. Wyoming
big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) in
trace amounts was the only shrub noted within the
plot. Within the channelway, yellow sweetclover
QAelilotus officinalis) was noted as forming extensive,
virtually unbroken swathes in the same position as

PUCNUT and extending to the drier Distichilis stricta
association positions £is well.

Downstream from the PUCNUT sampling site a
comparable landscape position was occupied by what
has been described as western wheatgrass - irJand
saltgrass grassland {Pascopyrum smithii - Distichlis spicata
Herbaceous Vegetation; 04; WY, ND). This type has
not been formally described from MT, but probably has
been subsumed to date within the Distichilis stricta or
Pascopyrum smithii community types of Hansen et al.
(1995). [Plot NHMTECFR97SC0004]

Calamovilfa longifolia - Carex inops

Herbaceous Vegetation

(CALLON- CARING]
prairie sandreed - sun sedge grassland

There are sites occurring as tiny woodland openings at
higher positions in the landscape that appear to be
developed on a more erosive shale member that
weathers to a fissile texture (functions as sandy soil
analogue) and may be acidic in its reaction. These sites
have a high percent of exposed soil (in excess of 80 %),
a much reduced vegetation cover and the composition
in dominant vegetation is highly variable across the
landscape. They are in erodible settings, which
complicates interpretation. The sample plot appears to
be most similar in site and vegetation parameters to the
prairie sandreed - sun sedge grassland (Calamovilfa
km^folia - Carex inops Herbaceous Vegetation) that has
been identified for southeastern Montana (Hansen and
Hoffman 1988).

The vegetative aspect is dominated by rhizomatous
graminoids, sun sedge (Carex inops) and Calamovilfa
longifolia (prairie sandreed) with plains reedgrass
(Calamagrostis mcmtar\ensis) and Pascopyrum smithii just
exceeding trace amounts. We hypothesize that an
acidic reaction of the substrate is reflected in the forb
component dominance by few-flowered buckwheat
(Eriogonum pauciflorum). Shrubs like prairie rose (Rosa
arfeansana) and trees like Rocky Mountain juniper
(Juniperus scopulorum) constitute less than 3 % canopy
cover and their population structure does not indicate a
change in their contribution. (Plot
NHMTECFR97SC0005]

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
Fourth Ridge RNA features a woodland community
dominated by Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus
scopulorum) in good condition. It is part of one of the
most extensive Rocky Mountain juniper woodland
stands in the Great Plains portion of the state, and near

16

the northern limits of its distribution. It also represents
]urupems scopulorum as dominant in a low, rounded
growth form. It is not known if the peculiar growth
form is genetically- or enviroimientally-induced, i.e,
whether the plant association is appropriately
recognized as discrete from all others. The rank may be
elevated accordingly.

The Wyoming big sagebrush/ western wheatgrass
shrubland {Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis I
Pascopyrum smithii Shrubland) is also near its
northernmost extent, subject of biogeographic interest,
and in notably good condition. The Nuttall's saltgrass
barrens (Puccinnellia nuttalliana Sparse Vegetation)
signifies an under-documented vegetation type of the
northern plains. Wildlife values were not evaluated.
Overall values are enhanced by the continuity with
native vegetation on all upland borders.

LAND USE:

The area is grazed by livestock. The current condition
suggests that it is part of secondary range or a grazing
regime that maintains good ecological condition. The
area lies north of The Pines Recreation Area. Signs of
recreational use that were noted include hunter and
limited OHV use.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:

There are few exotic species in this habitat, with the

exception of yellow sweetclover {Melilotus officinalis). It

is widespread but sparse throughout most of the area,

and particularly abundant along the ephemeral

watercourses.

There were no signs of fire in the landscape. Fire is
lethal to ]uniperus scopulorum under most conditions, a
species that is highly-combustible whether it is dead or
alive.

Hell Creek Potential Research
Natural Area

environment:

This area includes rolling uplands at the head of Cold
Turkey Coulee but could certainly be expanded to
include some of the surrounding highly dissected
Missouri Breaks terrain. The climate is essentially
Continental (refer to the characterization of the
Missouri River Bottomland on the basis of Haxby 18
SW and Roy 24 NE Mobridge, Montana.) All of the
landscape is underlain by sedimentary formations. The
highest have sandstone caprock and the rest are various
shale and mudstone members that weather to fine-

textured soil. Thin, carbonate rich lenses occur
sporadically.

VEGETATION:

Hell Creek is an area notable for the fact that a
relatively recent wildfire has burned much of the
upland, rolling portion of the landscape and removed
the once-dominant Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) . The terrain surrounding
the uplands portion is highly dissected and erosive,
dropping off into badlands, and supports primarily
Pondorsa pine -dominated types, including ponderosa
pine / sun sedge (Pinus ponderosa I Carex inops) and
badlands slopes with sparse shrub cover.

Pascopryrum smithU - Nasella viridula

Herbaceous Vegetation

[PASSMI-NASVIR]

western wheatgrass - green needlegrass grassland

Much of the landscape bordering the Missouri Breaks is
believed to have been occupied by Wyoming big
sagebrush / western wheatgrass - green needlegrass
shrubland (Artemisia tridmtata ssp. ury<yminger\sis I
Pascopyrum smithii - Nasella viridula) that has been
burned. This had the result of killing all of the A.
tridentata, sometimes completely consuming the crown
and main stem to ground level, and leaving the
landscape dominated by grasses as a serai community.
The upland component of this landscape is
characterized as gently swelling benches to moderately
rolling lands with many different exposures, all of
which support this plant association, making it a
prevailing type. Soils are derived from fine-grained
sedimentary strata (shale?) and are primarily silty clay
loams.

The length of time since fire is difficult to determine
but most of the landscape that once supported
Artemisia tridentata ssp. \xiyomingensis as a dominant, as
inferred from density of sagebrush skeletons, is only
very slowly returning to that status. No Artemisia
tridentata seedings were found on the plot and orJy the
merest traces of fringed sage (Artemisia filifolia) and
broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) were noted.
The grass component strongly dominates this serai
phase; western wheatgrass {Pascopyrum smithii) is
relatively evenly distributed throughout the stand and
its cover (currently 40-50%) may still be increasing
following the bum (see Hansen and Hoffman 1988 for
a comparison of grass production with and without A.
trideruata) . The appreciable cover of green needlegrass
(Nasella viridula) indicates the relative mesic,
productive nature of this site. Threadleaf sedge (Carex

17

filifoUa) and bluebunch wheatgrss {Pseudoroegneria
spicata) are also important grasses in the plot and across
the stand. The forb component is diverse but no one
species is represented by more than a trace. Of the
native forbs, prairie smoke (Geum triflorum), shaggy
fleabane (Erigeron pumilis) , scarlet globemallow
{Sphaerakea cocdnea) and dotted blazing-star {Liatris
punctata) appeared to the most consistently distributed
across the landscape. [Plot NHMTECRIsI98SC0011]

Artemisia tridentata ssp. wycrmingensis I Pseudoroegneria

spicata Shrubland

[ARTTSW / PSESPI]

Wyoming big sagebrush / bluebunch wheatgrass

shrubland

The representation of this association is highly
dependent on the extent of coarser-textured substrates.
Within the Hell Creek area this association is found in
small patches confined to the uppermost portions,
usually having western or southern exposures, of gentle
slopes that are capped with a sandstone member of the
local mix of sedimentary strata. Soil texture ranges
from fine sandy loam to fine sands.

Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp.
wyomingensis) dominates the shrub layer but its cover is
generally not sufficient (20% or less) to place these
stands as shrublands in the national classification.
Fringed sage (Artemisa /rigicia) , yucca (Xucca glauca)
and fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica) are regularly
present with cover usually less than 1 or 2 percent.
Within the plot, threadleaf sedge (Carex fiUfoUa) rather
than bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) is
the dominant granunoid, but across the local
representation of this type dominance shifts among
three graminoids, also including needle-and-thread
(Stipa comata). This description of the type differs from
that of Hansen and Hofftnan (1988) for southeastern
Montana in which Pseudoroegneria spicata is uniquely
dominant and may be an artifact of the dissected
terrain or it reaching the margins of its distribution.
The forb component is shared with the adjacent
PASSMI - NASVIR community, with the exception of
silver-leaved scurf-pea (Psoralea argophylia) a species
well known to favor sandy substrates. [Plot
NHMTECRN98SC0012]

Other VegetationTypes: Little bluestem (Schizachyrium
scoparium) is a localized dominant on coarse-textured
knolls in the area.

The presence of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) in
surrounding lands is taken to represent the Pinus

ponderosa I Carex inops Woodland. In addition, limber
pine (Pinus flexiUs) is known from ridgelines with lerises
of calcareos substrates in Hell Creek State Park to the
east, and could possibly occur in the potential RNA

OVERALL BIODIVERSITT SIGNIFICANCE:
The Hell Creek uplands present a well-developed,
moderately extensive example of a productive,
widespread plant association of western wheatgrass -
green needlegrass grassland (Pascopyrum smithii -
Nasella viridula Herbaceous Vegetation) in excellent
condition. This area lies at the border between gentle
plains and Missouri Breaklands, and warrants
evaluation for its representation of both segments of
the Great Plains biome as well as the landscape
gradient. The habitat continuity with all of this
surrounding unglaciated terrain contributes to its
ecological value.

Small cage exclosures were noted, and it is possible that
this area is already being used in studies of fire response
or wildlife utilization. If not, it would be worthwhile to
compile wildfire history information for use of this
otherwise well-suited area as a laboratory for studying
natural succession. Wildlife resources were not
evaluated.

LAND USE:

The area has been part of a grazing allotment as
secondary range. It is not currently grazed. Though it is
isolated, it receives use by hunters, if not other visitors.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
The area is notably free of yellow sweetclover (Meliiotus
officinalis). No exotic species management problems
were identified, though Japanese brome (Bromus
japonicus) is present at low levels in all communities
across this landscape

Limber Pine Research Natural
Area

environment:

Limber Pine RNA encompasses 1,053 acres
representing a cross-section of Missouri River Breaks
habitat developed on residual soils weathered from
shales and non-calcareous sandstone mainly of the Fox
Hill Sandstone. It includes all of a large ravine system
incised to a maximum of about 300 feet, fed by small
springs, and emptying into the backwaters of Fort Peck
Reservoir. Extensive grasslands with scattered outcrops
span the upland benches and exposed ravine slopes.

18

shrub-dominated communities are parts of the ravine,
and small, scattered woodlands are characteristic of
north-facing ravine slopes and segments of the narrow
bottoms. The semi-arid continental climate has peak
precipitation in June followed by July and May, and a
mean annual precipitation of 11.6 inches (Climate data
from Fort Peck Power Plant, Western Regional Climate
Center, 1956-1997).

VEGETATION:

Represented on this site are at least three major
grassland plant associations and many other types of
small size or restricted ravine habitats. They readily
sort by topographic position, slope, and aspect; but the
highly dissected nature of the setting fosters a
complicated vegetation pattern.

Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex fiUfoUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[STICOM - BOUGRA - CARHL)

; needle-and-thread - blue grama - thread-leaved sedge

grassland

This grassland association occupies the rolling uplands
and upland benches with well-drained soils derived
from sandstone; it also occurs on moderate to steep
slopes, usually those with a southerly aspect.

This association is consistently dominated by needle-
and-thread (Stipa comata). Cover of the major co-
dominant species, threadleaved sedge (Carex filifoUa)
and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), is highly variable
and factors controlling this variation have not been
identified. Forbs constitute very little cover in this or
the following grassland types scarlet globemallow
(Sphaerakea cocdnea), rush skeletonweed (Lygodesrrua
juncea), and silver scurfpea (Psoralea argophylla) are the
forbs with greatest cover and corwtancy. Together with
the western wheatgrass - needle-and-thread grassland
(Pascopyrum snuthii - Stipa comata Herbaceous
Vegetation) , they comprise the great majority of the
upland landscape. There was some western wheatgrass
(Pascopyrum srruthii) present in nearly every upland site.
While there are characteristically steep gradients from
Pascopyrum smit/iij-dominated sites to those dominated
by Stipa comata in western Montana, these gradients are
diffuse in eastern Montana. The break-point coverage
between these two associations is placed by Hansen
and Hoffman (1988) at the point where dominance (in
terms of canopy cover) shifts from one to the other
principal species. [Plots NHMTECCR97SC000 1 ,
NHMTECCR97SC0002, NHMTECCR97BH0003]

Pascopyrum smithii - Stipa comata Herbaceous

Vegetation

[PASSMI- STICOM]

western wheatgrass - needle-and-thread grassland

This is the other major grassland association within the
RNA; it occurs on benches, concave topography to
swales and is associated with slightly finer-textured soils
(silt loams or finer, usually shale-derived) than is
STICOM- BOUGRA -CARFIL. It grades to the
STICOM - BOUGRA - CARFIL type of drier
exposures, coarser textured soils, and under intensive
grazing pressure. In more moist positions, such as
swales, it grades to the PASSMI - NASVIR
association.

Calamovilfa longifolia - Carex inops

Herbaceous Vegetation

[GALLON -CARINO]

prairie sandreed - sun sedge grassland

[Plot NHMTECCR97BH0002] This community type
constitutes the most extensive vegetation on exposed
sandy slopes, though its representation on the RNA has
very reduced vegetative cover and much more exposed
substrate compared to literature descriptions of the type
(Hansen and Hoffman 1988, DeVelice et al. 1995). It
borders on the RHUARO / PSESPI and STICOM -
BOUGRA - CARFIL associations; often the ecotone
between these types is abrupt due to the rhizomatous
nature of both Calamovilfa longifolia (prairie
sandreed) and Carex inops (sun sedge) , both typically
forming dense clones. RNA examples of these sites are
highly erosive and this may constitute the difference
between this type and the adjoining plant associations
as well as explain the differences between the Limber
Pine RNA expression of the type and those literature
descriptions of the type. There are questions as to
whether an association should accommodate this much
variation in site parameters. Calamovilfa longifolia is
typically the site dominant, though shrub cover of
golden currant (Ribes aureum) and yucca (Yucca
glauca) may rival that of the graminoids.

Rhus aromatica I Pseudoroegr\eria spicata Shrubland

[RHUARO /PSESPI]
fragrant sumac / bluebunch wheatgrass shrubland

This community is associated with sandy, somewhat
unstable soils of the steep-slope ravines, particularly
southeast- through southwest-facing exposures. It is

19

most often found as small stands extending from the
brow of the slope (where it grades to STICOM -
BOUGRA- CARFIL of benches) to mid-slope and is
occasionally weakly represented fiirther downslope.
Total vegetation cover is low, seldom exceeding 25-40
% and concomitantly the amount of base soil and rock
often exceeds 85 %. We speculate that these sites differ
from other associations strongly associated with sandy
sites (e.g. GALLON - GARFIL) by having more
exposed rock and gravel. Fragrant sumac (Rhus
aromatica) shares dominance of the shrub layer with
yucca (Yucca glauca) , and their relative proportions
shifting with no obvious environmental correlates. The
graminoid component is usually dominated by low
coverages (not exceeding 25 %) of bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and cotisiderably
lesser amounts of grasses associated with sandy soils like
indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) , little bluestem
(Schizachyrium scoparium) , and prairie sandreed
(Calamovilfa longifolia). Along with the widespread
rangeland forbs such as scarlet gaura (Gaura cocdrda)
and scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea cocdnea), occur
species that are restricted to sandy sites like green
milkweed (Asclepias viridiflora) , prairie spiderwort
(Tradescantia occidemalis) and nodding wild buckwheat
(Eriogonum cemuum). [Plot NHMTGR97SG00041

Juruperus scopubrum I ?seudiyroegneria spicata Woodland

UUNSGO/PSESPI]

Rocky Mountain juniper / bluebunch wheatgrass

woodland

This woodland occurs in small patches on moderate to
steep northwest- to northeast-facing slopes from the
bottom of ravine slopes to midslope, with soils derived
from sandstone or interbeddings of sandstone and
shale/mudstone. Some outcrops test positive for
calcium carbonate. Generally more than 70% of the
surface is exposed as soil and rock. These slopes are
moderately to highly erosive. Short-statured (less than
8-9 ft.) Rocky Mountain juniper (Junipems scopuhmm)
dominates the tree layer and generally its cover exceeds
50 %, making it difficult to traverse stands. Though
representing some of the more mesic habitat in the
RNA, these are still stressful sites with depauperate
undergrowth. Bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria
spicata) and field milkvetch (Astragalus agrestis) are the
only forbs occurring in greater than trace amounts.
This association is singular for the occurrence of certain
forbs, including false starry Solomon's seal (Smiladna
stellata), Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) ,
and harebell (Campanula rotundifolia) .

There is not a discrete pine woodland type present in
the RNA, though pine trees are scattered across the
juniper woodland. Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) is
widespread, but there are no areas where it is common
or dominant, as evaluated in studying aerial photos and
visiting areas of highest tree density on foot. All
probable locations were considered, such as north-
facing slopes that might have calcareous outcrops,
attempting to locate the limber pine (Pinus flexilis). We
found only P. ponderosa, though the search was not
exhaustive. Finding P. flexilis is plausible in light of its
presence in the Hell Greek State Park to the west on
Fort Peck Reservoir, and the Terry Badlands to the
southeast. Its presence here would signify an
intermediate location between other outlying stands;
however, failure to find it here does not diminish the
status of this RNA. [Plot NHMTEGGR97SG0003J

C/irysot/iamnus ruiuseosm I Eriogonum pauciflorum

Sparse Vegetation

[GHRNAU/ERIPAU]

common rabbitbnish / few-flowered wild buckwheat

barrens

This small and localized community occurs on steep,
south-facing outcrop slopes at the bottom of the ravine,
representing a stressful and unique envirormient. Soils
exhibit salt efflorescence. Slopes show signs of sheet
and gullying erosion, with over 90% of the surface
made up of exposed soil. A similar vegetation
association has been described by Branson et al. (1970)
in Valley County and by Vanderhorst et al. (1998) for
Garter Gounty; both of their studies indicated acid
shales as the determinant of the unusual and
depauperate vegetation. The examples from the
literature occurred on gently rolling terrain whereas
this type was only represented on steep slopes on the
RNA. Sites are species poor (<20 species) and total
vegetation canopy cover does not exceed 30% with
dominance shared by common rabbitbrush
(Chrysothamnus nauseosus), few-flowered wild
buckwheat (Eriogonum pauciflorum), and bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata).
[PlotNHMTEGGR97BH0001] [Plot
NHMTEGGR97BH0002]

]ur\^rus horizontalis I Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland

QUNHOR/PSESPI]

creeping juniper / bluebunch wheatgrass shrubland

This plant association has been reported in the Little
Missouri River badlands Gensen et al. 1992) and
previously noted in the county in the course of baseline
botanical work (Heidel 1994), but it has not previously

20

been documented in Montana. This type occurs in
small patches on the RNA in relatively broken
topography in north-facing coulee settings. Creeping
juniper Qurdperus horizcmtalis) is documented to occur
with bluebunch wheatgrass {Pseudoroegneria spicata)
and a number of other graminoids such as sun sedge
(Carex inops) and threadleaved sedge (Carex filifolia) .
Juniperus horizontalis is often associated with
intrinsically erosive sites and such may be the case
here. [Plot NHMTECCR97BH0004]

This site is a significant representation of dissected
plains and the semi -open ravine systems on the
Missouri Breaks, with all the landforms and vegetation
typical of the Fox Hills Sandstone. It offers a larger
array of xeric ravine habitat and associated vegetation
than the Spring Creek RNA, and complements the
combination of the Missouri River Bottomlands RNA
and the Two Calf- Douglas-fir RNA as a Missouri
River Breaks landscape on Bearpaw Shale over 60 miles

Pascopyrum smithii - Nasella viridula Herbaceous

Vegetation

[PASSMI-NASVIR]

western wheatgrass - green needlegrass grassland

This is a minor type, confined to swales and north-
facing slopes, usually on toe-slope positions. Both
dominants (also indicators of the type) are strongly
preferred forage by cattle and none of the sites had
green needlegrass (Nasella viridula) cover values even
approaching those registered on some sites (within the
region) where grazing has been less intensive. Needle-
and-thread {Stipa comata) , threadleaf sedge (Carex
filifolia) and blue grama {Bouteloua gracilis) are poorly
represented on these sites

Note: With the incised drainages, considerable
topographic relief and some variety of parent materials
there are numerous habitats, including some badlands
topography, that was not adequately surveyed for
community types.

SPECIES:

Montana plant species of special concern were not
found. There are conmion species that might be
mistaken for rare species, including green milkweed
{Asclepias viridiflora) and linear-leaf four o'-clock
{Mirabilis linearis.) There are a few rare species that
were sought unsuccessfully on sandy habitat as found
on the south-facing slopes, including little Indian
breadroot {Psoralea enneandra) a species that blooms
early in the growing season, and nine-anther dalea
(Dalea enneandra) which blooms late in the growing
season. Review of twinpod {Physaria spp.) specimens
collected on-site and in herbaria are pending. The
widespread species, common twinpod (Phjsaria
didymocarpa) , has been documented from Garfield
County (Booth and Wright 1966). The regional
endemic species, double twinpod (Physaria brassicoides) ,
has recently been documented from Carter County
(Vanderhorst et al 1998).

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:

Though none of the plant associations are rare or
unusual at this location in the state, there is a high
vegetation and plant species diversity as supported by
the broken topography, sheltered north-facing slopes,
array of substrates, and seasonal water. As such, it
represent a typical Missouri River Breaks gradient.

Wildlife values were not evaluated, though the RNA
with its diversity of habitats is presumed to complement
the overarching wildlife values of original game
preserve and national wildlife refuge establishment.
Overall values are enhanced by continuity with native
vegetation on all upland borders.

LAND USE:

This landscape has been grazed in the past and the
Rocky Mountain Juniper Qurdperus scopulonim) is likely
to have been cut for fencing. Grazing practices have
contributed to the infestation of armual brome grasses
like Bromus japonicus (Japanese brome) and B. tectomm
(cheatgrass) which is quite apparent in the western
portion of the RNA on the uplands. The area receives
at least light hunting use.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
There are almost no noxious weeds, except for Canada
thistle (Cirsium arvense) at a springhead. Yellow
sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) is currently restricted to
shale slumps in lower ravine slopes, but has the
potential to occupy most of the terrain as judging by
results from other landscapes. The shores do not have
Tamarix chinensis (tamarisk) . Perhaps the most
abundant non-native species are the annual bromes,
mentioned previously.

Fire and bison grazing were driving factors with which
this landscape evolved. Reintroducing fire as a
management tool is an option on the rolling uplands
provided that it was planned to favor the natives over
the annual brome populations. With continued fence
maintenance, this RNA provides a good rangeland
reference and ecological baseline.

21

Manning Corral Prairie Dog
Town Research Natural Area

environment:

Manning Corral Prairie Dog Town Research Natural
Area encompasses a flat ridge, essentially a strip of
tableland at the edge of breakland topography. It is
typical of the Montana Glaciated Plains (Subsection d)
of the Northwestern Glaciated Plains Section (33 ID).
Such areas have received Conrinental glaciation and
accompanying deposits of till and drift over what is
essentially a planar to gently undulating surface of soils
developed from predominantly clay shales and siltstone.
There are numerous on-site exposures of glacial drift to
indicate this area has been glaciated. It adjoins and is
actually mis-mapped within the Missouri River Breaks
(Subsection f) of 33 ID (Nesser et al. 1997); areas that
are strongly and deeply dissected terrain. West of the
RNA the elevation drops 600 feet to Rock Creek and
east of the RNA are the convoluted subdrainages of
Seven Mile Creek). There are bedrock outcrops to the
immediate west below the tableland to indicate that
the overlying glacial deposits are a thin veneer. The
climate (nearest station Haxby 18 SW) verges on
Continental with cold, dry winters and the peak in
precipitation comes in May and June (36% of the year's
total).

VEGETATION:

The diversity of communities present corresponds in
part with the use patterns of the black-tailed prairie dog
(Cynomys ludovicianus) colony that died in a 1993
sylvatic plague episode five years earlier. The present
landscape is in a state of secondary succession. Three
areas were sampled that appeared to have
approximately the same environmental parameters but
that may represent different successional stages.

The RNA may have supported shrub-dominated
communities of Wyoming big agebrush / western
wheatgrass - green needlegrass (Artemisia tridentam ssp.
wyomingemis I Pascopyrum smithii) with or without a
major component of green needlegrass (Nasella
\dridula) . However, no traces of sagebrush skeletons
were found in the area occupied by the dog town.
Normally in these dry environments the woody
skeletons can persist scores of years if they are not
burned, even if only in dished-out rootcrowns. We did
not see evidence that they had decomposed or burned.
In glaciated terrain of northcentral Montana, such
sagebrush-dominated communities general decline
away from broken topography and with well-drained

soils. Information from the surroundings was
inadequate to examine cause and effect.

Boutdoua gracilis Herbaceous Vegetation

[BOUGRA]

blue grama grassland

Across the formerly occupied prairie dog town is a
shortgrass prairie vegetation that covers most of the
gentle uplands of the designated area. This prevailing
vegetation is dominated by blue grama (Bouteloua
gracilis) but with discrete patchy islands where most of
the individual plants of midgrass-height species are
concentrated around individual prairie dog burrows.
This community type appears to be developed in the
identical setting as the two types described below. It is
distinguished from them by the severe reduction of
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smit/ui) cover, the
absence of Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia trideraata
ssp. wyomingensis) , and the major increase of
tumblegrass (Schedonnardus paniculatus) . It is further
distinguished by the presence of early succession species
like lemon scurf-pea (Psoralea lanceolata) and conyza
(or horseweed; Conyza canadensis).

This association has very low vegetative cover, low
levels of litter accumulation, and much of the ground
surface made up of exposed gravels. We hypothesized
that these conditions were created when prairie dogs
occupied the site and the resulting cover removal
promoted wind deflation of the soil surface. Thus this
site has three times more exposed gravels than the
adjacent shrub-dominated site outside of the prairie
dog colony, as well as much higher cover of moss and
lichens.
[Plot NHMTECRN98SC0017]

Pascopyron smithii - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex fiUfoUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[PASSMI - BOUGRA - CARRL)

western wheatgrass - blue grama - threadleaf sedge

At the fringes of the formerly occupied prairie dog town
there is an abrupt transition between a sagebrush-
dominated commuiuty outside the colony perimeter,
and a grass-dominated community within the colony. A
pair of adjoining plots were sampled for direct
comparison. Graminoids dominate the site; blue grama
(Bouteloua gracHis) and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum
smithii) are the most conspicuous. Trace amounts of
shrubs were noted, including Wyoming big sagebrush
(Aremisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), but there are no
shrub skeletons to indicate that this lifeform previously

22

dominated the site. There is major overlap with
BOUGRA in a grass composition that is often
associated with xeric or disturbed conditions, including
plains muhly (MiMenbergia cuspidaia) , Sandberg's
bluegrass (Poa secunda), and tumblegrass {Schedormadus
paniculatus) , and the absence of green needlegrass
(hlasella viridula).

This communitymay represent a transition state
between Bouteloua gracilis grassland making up the core
of the colony and the colony perimeter. The difference
between this outer zone and the inner core may reflect
shorter occupancy and duration of succession.
Alternately, it may represent the greater speed of
recovery in this zone. The plot has the same level of
gravels exposed at the surface as the preceding, but it
does not have the "pedastalling" of wind erosion
around the base of each piece of gravel. It is also in a
position for speedier recolonization with the growth of
rhizomes by Pascopyrum smithii from directly adjoining
areas. [Plot NHMTECRN98SC0016]

Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis I Pascop/yrum

smithii - Nasella viridula Shrubland

[ARTTSW / PASSMI - NASVIR]

Wyoming big sagebrush / western wheatgrass - greeen

needlegrass shrubland

This association or the very siinilar ARTTSW /
PASSMI, which lacks green needlegrass (hlasella
viridula) , commonly exist as matrix or large patch types
associated with gently rolling benchland. This
particular example of the type is a remaining fragment
outside of the discrete prairie dog colony, dominated by
Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp.
vryamirxgensis) and western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum
smithii). It also has blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)
present; the importance of the grass species in this
association are nearly the opposite of what was
recorded for the preceding association.

The site occurs at 2,980 ft elevation at the head of a
draw in a slight swale that may receive additional
moisture through snow deposition, ostensibly causing
Nasella viridula to be present. The herbaceous layer is
dominated by Pascopyron smithii and has Nasella viridula
as a subordinate, up to 10% cover. Canopy cover of the
grazing-sensitive Nasella viridula is highly variable in
these communiries depending on past grazing
intensities and it is used as an indicator species at even
reduced cover values. This is a producrive shrubland
that has less than 50% bare substrate (soil and gravel) ,
the ground cover consisting mostly of litter, basal area,
mosses and lichens. Total shrub cover (25%) places this

stand at the break point between shrubland and
herbaceous vegetation. The subshrubs fringed sage
(Artemisia frigida) and broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia
sarothrae) are coiwistently present in barely greater than
trace amounts. The usual complement of forbs
including scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) ,
prairie aster (Aster falcatus) , and fleabane (Erigeron
purrulis) are present in trace amounts; only field
milkvetch (Astragalus agrestis) exceeds trace amounts.
[Plot NHMTECRN98SC0015]

Other Vegetarion Types: Side slopes were not sampled,
and the highly dissected terrain overlain by recent fire
contributed to a grassland mosaic. Areas of localized
dominance by plains muhly (Muhler)bergia cuspidata)
were noted, along with Ponderosa pine / bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pinus ponderosa I Pseudoroegr^ria spicata)
where pine survived the recent bum.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
Like the Prairie Dog Island RNA, this site could be
used to track plant succession in the wake of prairie
dog use, and/or be considered for prairie dog
reintroduction. It is the orUy one of the two sites that
has retained a dominance of narive species, making it
better suited in studying natural succession.

Apart from such natural succession, this RNA does not
represent biome features but has the potential. It lies
between rolling glaciated plains and south-facing
breakland topography. It is the only RNA with intact
plant associarions on glacial deposits as opposed to
lacustrine or aeolian deposits, or unglaciated
landscapes.

Mountain plovers were previously documented in the
RNA, and the presence of burrowing owls was
mentioned in the original establishment record.
Wildlife values were not evaluated in this study.

LAND USE:

The history of livestock use is evidenced in the site
name, a gathering point for southward cattle drives or
to disperse cows going north (Haglan pers. commun.)
The site is currently part of a large allotment.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
A fire had burned at the south end within the recent
years. It appeared to have originated in the Rock Creek
valley, below, burning more of the surrounding slopes
than the uplands. There were no noxious weed
problems or exotic species invasions noted.

23

Missouri River Bottomlands
Research Natural Area

Note: Dillon Island and Grand Island were originally
recognized as separate research natural areas, but the
subsequent establishment of the Missouri River
Bottomlands RNA encompassed both islands and their
RNA boundaries.

ENVIRONMENT:

Missouri River Bottomlands Research Natural Area
encompasses about 9 miles of free-flowing Missouri
River and associated valleybottom spanning 5,085
acres, including three large islands. It also represents
the downstream end of the Missouri River designated
Wild and Scenic by the National Park Service (1976),
i.e., the 9 miles at the downstream end of a 149-mile
segment. The valleybottom is over '/z mile wide in the
area, with many vestiges of intact bottomland
vegetation on islands and meandered slivers scattered
among homesteads and abandoned cropland,
encompassed within the rugged Missouri River valley
rising sharply at the valley edges over 600 ft. above the
River. The RNA boundaries follow legal descriptions,
zigzagging along midslope or at least toeslope positions
almost continuously on both sides of the winding
valley.

VEGETATION:

The considerable relief, influence of water, and ongoing
successional processes accommodate a complexity of
vegetation. We have not tried in this case to place the
vegetation descriptions that follow by their relative
extent because they are nearly all between 5-10% of
the total landscape. Collectively, the plant associations
of black greasewood (Sarcobatus vevmiculatus) are
probably most extensive because they are prevalent in
lower valley slopes, as well as being a major bottomland
association. Stands of plains cottonwood (Populus
deltoides) of various successional stages are relatively
well-represented. Apart from the River itself, about
half of the RNA is made up of bottomlands, and in
each of the Bottomlands (named for the settlers: Hess,
Kendall, Knox, LeClair, McNulty), over half of the
bottomlands have been plowed. We have not tried to
characterize this major, albeit more altered, segment of
the landscape.

The studies of Roberts and Sibbemsen (1979), which
focused on woodland and forest types, and Mackie
(1965), which emphasized rangelands, were the first
major efforts at describing and classifying vegetation for

portions of the C. M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge,
and provide an important frame of reference.

Artemisa cana I Pascopyrum smithii Shrubland

[ARTCAN / PASSMI]

silver sagebrush / western wheatgrass shrubland

Shrub stands dominated by silver sagebrush (Artemisia
cana) are a recurrent bottomland landscape
component, occurring predominantly as small patches,
but ranging to large linear patches on river terraces as
well as the islands within the Missouri River. These
stands typically are developed on flat to very gently
rolling riverine and stream terraces, on medium-
textured (loam, silt loams, and silt) alluvial deposits.
Though this association can include stands with
wedand characteristics, as with temporarily flooded
hydrological regime and hydric soils, stands of the RNA
evidenced at most flooding and the vegetation was not
hydrophytic. Perched, or high water tables, may
irifluence the shrub rooting zone for a portion of the
year. Litter is the predominant ground cover, usually
in excess of 80 % cover, with small patches of bare soil
randomly distributed. This type grades to western
snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidenudis) on moister sites,
and Wood's rose (Rosa u/oodsii) or black greasewood
(Sarcobatus vermiculatus) dominated community,
sometimes directly to Wyoming big sagebrush
(Anemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) or Sarcobatus
vermjculatus-dominated uplands that lack dominance
by rhizomatous grasses and have salt aff'ected soils.
These stands probably received heavy use by livestock
prior to RNA establishment. Most are in relatively good
condition but there are portions of these stands with a
strong non-native graminoid component.

These Artemisia cana stands are like the big sagebrush
stands (Artemisia tridentata) elsewhere on the CMR
Refuge in that the percent shrub cover ranges from
mid-20s to lower-30s, the somewhat arbitrary cutoff
between shrubland and shrubby herbaceous vegetation.
Shrub dominance is almost exclusively contributed by
3-4 [5] feet tall Artemisia cana. Common rabbitbrush
(Chrysothamnus nauseosus), black greasewood
(Sarcobatus vermiculatus), and western snowberry
(Symphcxricarpos occideritahs) are nearly 100% constant,
but present in greater than trace amounts only at
ecotones to surrounding vegetation types. The
graminoid component is also consistent in composition
with western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), green
needlegrass (Nasella viridula), and PoajuncifoUa (alkali
bluegrass) . Despite sample stands being chosen for
appearing among the least disturbed, all stands have
some measure of non-native grasses including

24

Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), Japanese brome
(Bromus japorucus), and on occasion, intermediate
wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium). Areas with
abundant weed populations have very Uttle hlasella
viridula, indicating it may be susceptible to grazing and
competitive effects. The forb component is sparse and
species poor; only the non-native increasers yellow
sweetclover (Melibtus officinalis), white sweetclover
(Melilotus alba) , and goat's beard (Tragopogon dubius)
occur in greater than trace amounts. Yarrow (Achillea
millifolium) is the only native with greater than 50%
cor«tancy.

Atriplex gardneri Dwarf Shrubland

[ATRGAR]
Gardner's saltsage dwarf shrubland

This plant association is found along the valley slopes
as small patches in a complex mosaic of other sparse
vegetation that is more widespread. Surrounding
vegetation includes stands dominated by black
greasewood {Sarcobatus vermiculatus) and Wyoming big
sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) . Our
sample plot differed from these types only in having but
a trace of Sarcobatus vermiculatus but clearly there is a
continuum in substrate properties that is reflected to
some degree in the vegetation mosaic. It should also be
noted that in the course of reconnaissance Gardner's
saltsage (Atriplex gardneri) was found to occur with
coverages greater and less than 10% (the sparse cover
cutoff) which would give some of these stands a sparse
cover designation. Overall the cover is greater than
10% giving stands an aspect closer to the type as
described for southeastern Montana (Vanderhorst et al.
1998) . Within the RNA, ARTGAR occurs both on
slope aprons, where alkali-laden fine-textured
slopewash accumulates, as well as on slope shoulders
and narrow crests and even mid-slope positions of any
aspect; virtually anywhere bentonite lenses or unusual
shale substrates are exposed.

The vegetation is close to being a monospecific layer of
the dwarf-shrub Atriplex gardneri, its cover ranging from
5 to 30 (40)%. Depauperate specimens of black
greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) generally
constitute the only other shrub present. Bottlebrush
squirreltail (Sitaruon hystrix) , indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis
hymenoides) and thick-spike wheatgrass (Elymus
lanceolatus) are the graminoids most often found here,
but not greater than trace amounts. Tall seablite
(Suaeda moquinii) and plains bahia (Picradermpsis
oppositifoUa) are the only recurrent forbs in this
commuruty.

Populus deltoides I Symphoricarpos occidentaiis Roodplain

Woodland

[POPDEL/SYMOCC]

- plains Cottonwood / western snowberry floodplain

woodland

Floodplain woodlands are areally extensive
communities as broken bands along the Missouri River
on the older portion of alluvial bars and outer edges of
the river's floodplain; see Hansen et al. (1995) for a
discussion of riverine geomorphology explaining the
genesis of these stands. Some of the stands
representing this community type are flooded virtually
every year or at least heavily influenced by the
seasonally fluctuating watertable; other stands are more
removed, do not experience yearly flooding and their
roots are less watertable influenced. During
reconnaissance, all degrees of anthroprogenic
modification were noted including plowing, seeding to
alien species, cutting, domestic stock grazing and
browsing in this type. Some stands of plains
cottonwoood (Populus deltoides) had nothing more than
combinations of quackgrass (Agropyron repens), smooth
brome (Bromus inermis), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa
pratensis), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), and American
licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) in the understory. Stands
were sampled that appeared least disturbed, but that is
not to say they were undisturbed.

Hansen et al. (1995) interpret this community as both
a mid-seral stage of floodplain development and a
browsing-induced disclimax (by whitetail deer?) of the
plains Cottonwood/ redosier dogwood forest (Populus
deltoides I Comus sericeus Forest). If that were the case,
then animal scouring of these stands is phenomenally
thorough because our inventory was able to find no
more than one stem of Comus seriseus in the RNA. The
common chokecherry (Prunus virgiruarui) and western
serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia) were also scarce. In
younger or more mesic representations of this type,
canopy cover of the Populus deltoides may exceed the
60% crown cover limit for woodlands. The three
sampled stands of this type are relatively mature to "old
growth" with average diameters of 16-20 inches in two
stands and the third with 34-44 inch stems remaining
and number of downed and dying veterans. Rotten
heartwood precluded obtaining ages on these stems.
The mortality in the stand with trees of the largest
diameter has resulted in less than 30% tree canopy
cover and with no Populus deltoides reproduction
because of no fresh alluvium being deposited. This
stand will is likely to become a Symphoricarpos
occidentaiis 'dominated shrubland. Woods rose (Rosa
woodsii) is the second leading shrub species followed

25

distantly by species of gooseberry (Rihes spp.) and
willow {Salix spp) , which are seldom present with
greater than 5% cover. In the better condition stands,
western wheatgrass {Pacopyrum smithii) and green
needlegrass (Nasella viridula) are the dominant
graminoids and their cover approachs 30%. Commonly,
alien graminods such as smooth brome {Bromus
mermis), quackgrass {Aropyron repens), intermediate
wheatgrass (Agropyron intermedium) , and Kentucky
bluegrass (Poa pratensis) dominate this component. In
the sample stands, the forb compoent is minor; the only
time a significant forb presence was noted was in the
case of exotic species such as Canada thistle (Cirsium
arvense), yellow sweet clover (Melilotus officinalis), and
black medic QAedicago lupulina) . Canada goldenrod
{Solidago canadensis) was the only native forb occurring
in more than half the study plots.
[Plots NHMTECRN98SC0018,
NHMTECRN98SC0026, NHMTECRN98SC0030]

Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Atriplex gardneri Intermittently

Flooded Shrubland

[SARVER/ATRGAR]

greasewood / Gardner's saltsage intermittently flooded

shrubland

This association, or one affiliated to it in name, has
previously been identified only from the southeastern
and Bighorn Basin regions of Montana and adjoining
lands in Wyoming. It has been characterized as a small
to large feature occurring on alkali-affected alluvial
flats, thus the title of intermittently flooded shrubland.
More recently this same type has been noted in Carter
County to occur on badland formations (Vanderhorst
et al. 1998). The two plots representing this association
on the RNA occur on dissected. Bear Paw Shale
uplands, bentonite inclusions, and slope aprons with
rill, gully and sheet erosion and with plant pedicelling.
Ground cover is a monotonous expanse of grayish-tan
exposed clayey substrate lacking soil development and
with traces of gravel. The vegetative physiognomy of
these plots does not technically qualify as shrubland but
rather as dwarf shrublands verging on sparse vegetation
(< 10% total canopy cover). It may be advisable to
change the modifier name of the type because even the
intermittent flooding is inferred and may not if fact be a
significant ecological driver. This type is extensive and
recurrent along the Missouri River valley, with so much
exposed valley slope. Part of this landscape mosaic
supports patches of Gardner's saltsage (Atriplex
gardneri) or rillscale (A. suckleyi) alone, without
Sarcobatus vermiculatus. These species may define two
different associations in the provisional statewide

classification, but do not necessarily represent two
distinctly-different environments.

Dominance in the shrub canopy shifts between Atriplex
gardrieri and Sarcobatus vermiculatus but their cover,
singly or combined, does not exceed 15-20%.
Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp.
wyomingensis) is present in trace amounts. The
graminoid layer is depauperate to nonexistent and the
forb component usually follows suit, except for the
sporadic, unexplainedly high coverages of rillscale
(Atriplex suckleyi). Tall seablite (Suaeda moquinii) is
consistently present in trace amounts. [Plots
NHMTECRN98SC0023, NHMTECRN98SC0029]

Sarcobatus vermiculatus / Pascopyrum smithii Shrubland

[SARVER/PASSMI]

greasewood / western wheatgrass shrubland

This community is predominantly a large patch type
that develops on the heavy silt to clay loam soils of
alluvial fans, toeslope or slope apron positions and old
river terraces on nearly level terrain with at most 2-3%
slope. Many of these stands receive considerable
slopewash including entrained fines from the adjacent
erosive uplands. It differs markedly from the previously
described black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus)-
type immediately above in that it is sufficiently
productive that litter forms and accumulates leaving
little exposed soil. Most often this type is noted to
grade to the Artenusia caruL I Pascopyrum smithii (silver
sagebrush / western wheatgrass) association, that occurs
on less salt-affected positions. Together with the
Artemisia carm shrubland, it is an integral component of
the riparian mosaic in this landscape, though none of
the representations inventoried on the RNA met the
requirements for a jurisdictional wetland.

The shrub canopy is dominated by Sarcobatus
vermiculatus, usually in excess of 25% canopy cover.
Both silver sagebrush (Artemisia carta) and rubber
rabbbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus) are
consistendy present, their cover seldom exceeding
10%. The three plots represented sites inferred to be in
good condition by their high cover values (>60%) for
the dominant grass, western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum
smithii) . Other high constancy graminoids are alkali
bluegrass (Poa juncifoUa) , green needlegrass (Nasella
viridula) and the annual weed Japanese brome (Bromus
japonicus); the combined cover of native graminoids
apart from Pascopyrum smithii usually does not exceed
10-15%. The forb composition reflects past
disturbance with a variable assemblage of weedy,
increaser species present, but their coverages usually

26

don't exceed trace amounts. Stands and stand segments

were noted where Poa secunda (Sandberg's bluegrass)

was dominant in place of, or in addition to, Pascopyrum

smithii, a feature that is likely to be a disturbance

response.

[Plots NHMTECRN98SC002 1,

NHMTECRN98SC0028, NHMTECRN98SC0032]

Pimts pcmderosa I Carex inops var. heliopMa Woodland

[PINPON/CARINO]

Ponderosa pine / sun sedge woodland

This woodland type of limited extent is found as small
patches within breakland or highly dissected and
slumpy topography on moderate to steep slopes having
cooler exposures. The highly erodible and immature
soils are derived from shales. Sheet, rills and gully
erosion, as well as plant pedicelling, are evident. This
type exists in a mosaic with two other woodland
communities; Ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)-
dominated patches having such erosive substrates that
the undergrowth is virtually absent (< 5% canopy
cover) and on cooler aspects small patches of the
Douglas-fir / small-seeded indian ricegrass {Pseudotsuga
menxksii I Oryzopsis micrantha) association are found.

Prior to this report, the type has only been identified
and described by Hansen and Hoffman (1988) for
southeastern Montana and adjacent portions of the
Dakotas and by Hoftman and Alexander (1987) for
Wyoming. It is notable that this type, as described by
the above-cited authors, is outside the distribution
liipits of Douglas fir {Pseudotsuga menxiesii). Though
the stands on the RNA are dominated by an open
canopy of Pinus ponderosa in the uppermost layer, as
well as the reproductive layers, these sites are not so
severe as to be beyond the limits of Pseudotsuga
memjesii establishment and growth. Coring of the
largest pine trees {Pinus ponderosa, 14- 16 inches dbh, 38
ft. tall) reveals ages of at least 130 years; none of these
trees have fire scars. The canopy cover of Rocky
Mountain juniper Qurdperus scopulorum) ranges widely
but, usually is in the 10-20% range.

The undergrowth of this association is dominated by
graminoids. Shrubs and forbs are poorly represented.
Fragrant sumac (Pkus aromatica) and Wood's rose
(Rosa woodsii) are consistently present, occurring in
trace amounts. Sun sedge (Carex inops) dominates the
undergrowth with coverages generally not exceeding
30%. This contrasts with its representation in
southeastern Montana stands where it is nearly sward-
like, coverages mostly exceeding 80%. Bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) and western

wheatgrass (Pasco|ryrMm smit/iii) are consistendy present
in low coverages. Yarrow (Achillea millifolium) and
American vetch {Vicia americana) appear to be the
forbs most consistently present.
[Plot MHMTECRN98SC0031]

Populus deltoides I Comus sericeus Temporarily Flooded

Forest

[POPDEL/CORSER]

plains Cottonwood / red-osier dogwood temporarily

flooded forest

Note: This stand was sampled direcdy outside of the
Refuge within James Kipp Campground area. It had
previously been sampled by the Montana Riparian
Association (Hansen et al. 1995) ; this data has been
weighted heavily in characterizing dogwood as the
undergrowth dominant in "natural", undisturbed
Cottonwood stands. This stand was sampled to satisfy
our curiosity as to the composition and landscape
position of a Populus deltoides -dominated stand that
differed from all other such stands noted in the RNA.
In terms of landscape position, relationship to the
watertable and flooding regimes this stand appeared no
different than those of the P. deltoides I Symphoicarpos
occidentalis association seen upriver from this point. In
extensive reconnaissance of the upriver bottomland
stands only once did we find a shoot of red-osier
dogwood (Comus sericeus). Hansen et al. (1995)
interpret POPDEL / SYMOCC as a browsing-induced
serai expression of the POPDEL / CORSER
community. This may be a plausible explanation for
what was observed for Populus deltoides stands on the
Missouri River Bottomlands. But it begs the question as
to why the James Kipp Campground stand could escape
browsing altogether for a period sufficient for Comus
sericeus to attain a height putting its foliage beyond the
reach of browsers. This stand is also somewhat
anomalous in either lacking other shrub species like
western serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifoUa, common
chokecherry (Prunus virginiana), gooseberry species
(Ribes spp.) or having their coverages much below
ranges cited as typical for this community type as in the
case of Wood's rose (Rosa uioodsii) and western
snowberry (Symp/ioricarpos occidentalis). For both the
plot and the small examined portion of the total stand,
the herbaceous cover was extremely depauperate.
Clasping-leaved dogbane (Apocynum sibiricum) was the
only forb noted.

Other Vegetation Types: The shoreline vegetation
zones were not briefly described. They often included
off-shore emergent bands of Three-square (Scirpus
pungens) , water sedge (Carex aquatilis) along the

27

shorelines, thickets or interrupted strips of coyote
willow (Salix exigua) on the banks and flats, and open
flats colonized by wild licorice {Glycyrrhiza lepidota) and
Pascopyrum smithii. There were occasional grassy banks
with scattered patches of prairie cordgrass {Spartina
pectinata) and Canada wild-rye (Elymus canadensis) , but
they were heavily invaded by quackgrass (Agropyron
repens) and smooth brome {Bromus inermis), so it was
not clear whether this is a discrete local vegetation
feature.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
The Missouri River Bottomlands RNA has significance
as representing a major Great Plains river valley and its
accompanying natural succession and geological
processes. It is a fitting example with three major
islands, an array of cottonwood stands at different
successional stages, bottomlands with the full suite of
shrubland communities, and boundaries along app.
nine miles that take in many of the valley slope
communities.

It is contiguous with and is accessible overland via the
Two Calf-Douglas-fir RNA, discussed below. The
Douglas fir forest is not otherwise represented in
Missouri River Bottomlands RNA, and the two
together represent an outstanding example of the
Missouri Breaks gradient and complement one another.
Together they contrast with and complement the
drastically different vegetation of the Limber Pine
RNA, also in a Missouri Breaks setting over 60 miles
east, but with a predominantly sandstone, rather than
shale bedrock.

This RNA is known to harbor the following arumals
species of special concern: bald eagle (HaUaeetus
leucocephalus) , Ferrugineous hawk (Buteo regaUs),
Sturgeon chub {Hybopsis geUda) , Sicklefin chub
{Hybopsis meeki), and a major Missouri River
population of pallid sturgeon (Scaphirhynchus alhus)
above Fort Peck. Most of these have territories that
extend beyond the limits of RNA boundaries. Wildlife
values were not evaluated.

LAND USE:

Extensive segments of the Missouri River bottomlands
were plowed, representing over half of the bottomlands
rurming through the center of the study area, and
including all accessible, large flats. These were
subsequently seeded to non-native species.
Homesteaders also based their ranching operations in
the valley, and prior to settlement, woodhawkers cut
timber to supply passing ferries.

Most of the area has not been grazed since the late
1960s or the early 1970s (Haglan pers. commun.)

Boating, motorized travel on existing roads, and
hunting are regular recreational activities. The site
adjoins James Kipp Campground and Boat Ramp, and
is the lower 9 mile end of the 149 mile -long Wild and
Scenic segment of the Missouri River.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
The flooding regime is modified by upstream
impoundments, diminishing the magnitude of floods,
increasing the rates of water erosion, and perhaps
altering the character of ice jams. The highwater
conditions of 1997 were reflected in overtopping
cutbanks and new- or newly-expanded silt and gravel
deposits.

Habitats that are flooded have the continuous threat of
invasion by water-borne exotics like Russian knapweed
(Centaurea repens), one of the most invasive exotic
species at present in the bottomlands of the RNA.
Water is not its only dissemination vector, and the
bottomland plantings of non-native species are
vulnerable to its expanded invasion in general. One of
the most serious knapweed invasions is on Hess
Bottoms, located above the best-condition cottonwood
stands. Invasion by Tamarisk chinensis (tamarisk) is
another serious potential threat to riverside habitat
though it was not observed in the limited study area
visit.

In the uplands, yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis)
is widespread and appears to be particularly abundant
on shale uplands and some breakland areas that have
burned.

Prairie Dog Island Research
Natural Area

ENVIRONMENT:

Prairie Dog Island is a 15 acre island in the upper end
of the Dry Arm, a major south-trending arm at the
eastern end of Fort Peck Reservoir. Its highest point
rises less than 60 feet above water level. This site is
somewhat atypical of Missouri River Breaks Subsection
(f) of the Northwestern Glaciated Plains Section
(33 ID, Nesser et al. 1997) in that it is not dissected but
gently rolling terrain and the predominant soil texture
is a fine sandy loam, indicating a weathering from
mainly sandstone. The climatic regime is essentially
Continental with hot summers and frigid winters; 35%

28

of average annual precipitation (11.5 in.) occurs in May
and June (data averaged over years 1956 to 1998, from
Fort Peck Power Plant, Western Region Climate
Center).

VEGETATION:

The great majority of the island was at one time a
black-tailed prairie dog {Cynomys ludovicianus) colony,
that has been extirpated as the result of sylvatic plague.
During the colony's existence or following its demise,
Bromus tectorum established in dense swards over the
area occupied, or once occupied, by the colony. OiJy
two plots were established to document the island's
vegetation composition, one representing this
community within historic prairie dog colony, and the
other representing the probable undisturbed native
vegetation.

Bromtts tectorum Disturbance Vegetation

[BROTEC]

cheatgrass disturbance vegetation

only four forbs present, scarlet globemallow
(Sphaeralcea coccinea) is the dominant. The presence of
silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) probably reflects the
high water table. This site has also received some past
disturbance, as evidenced by several alien species being
present. [Plot NHMTECRN98SC0005].

The unvegetated sandy shore ends abruptly in cutbank
with no intervening vegetation gradient between it and
the grassland.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
This site has limited merit as an RNA due to the
explosion of weed populations, particularly Bromus
tectorum (cheatgrass). This condition may reflect the
combined history of prairie dog use and surrounding
land use. Even if this site were in pristine condition, it
would have limited vegetation significance because it
represents a single major community type; one that is
best represented as part of a large, contiguous
landscape.

Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) is the dominant species
in the area formerly occupied by prairie dog colony.
Cheatgrass cover is variable, but generally is in excess
of 60% and ranges as high as 90%. A number of species
that were once prominent on the site, inferred ft-om
composition of adjacent landscape, are still present,
including silver sagebrush (Artemisia cana) , fringed sage
(Artemisia frigida) , blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) ,
needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) , Indian ricegrass
(Oryzopsis hymenoides) and scarlet globemallow
(Sphaeralcea coccinea). However, the site is dominated
by weedy, increaser species that also include common
dandelion (Taraxacum officinale), tumblemustard
(Sisymbrium altissimum) , goat's beard (Tragopogon
dubius), Russian thistle (Salsola kali), and rough
pennyroyal (Hedeoma hispidum). [Plot
NHMTECRN98SC0004]

Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex filifolia

Herbaceous Vegetation

[STICOM - BOUGRA - CARFIL]

needle-and-thread — blue grama - threadleaf sedge

grassland

This is the prevailing grassland where sandy deposits
are extensive, as at Prairie Dog Island. The
composition of the sampled site, representing the
fraction of vegetation not impacted by the "dog town",
matches the modal conditions described for this plant
association with Stipa comata dominant and Bouteloua
gracilis and Carex filifolia being subsidiary graminoids
(Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Jensen et al. 1992). Of

The presence of colonial nesting birds was evident and
warrants enumeration. Cutbanks on the leeward
(southeastern) shore were favored as perches and
shoreline nest sites. The original establishment record
said that this site also provides habitat for burrowing
owl; it is unclear whether this meant that breeding of
this species had been documented or suspected.
Existing and potential wildlife significance may warrant
further consideration.

OTHER VALUES:

Like the Manning Corral RNA, this site could be used
to track plant succession in the wake of prairie dog use,
or be considered for prairie dog reintroduction.

LAND USE:

Grazing by large ungulates, if it occurs at all, would be
confined to winter when the frozen-over reservoir
provides the only access, but it was once part of primary
range for livestock grazing. Until recently, it was also
subject to foraging from prairie dogs in the main colony.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
Weeds and increaser species are prevalent on this site.
Native graminoids and forbs are present, but there is no
indication that they can outcompete the weed
population to reestablish their dominance. Though
there are various theories on cheatgrass invasion
(Young and Allen) , the projections are similar. On
comparable sites of the Columbia Basin and Great
Basin, despite a 40 year hiatus in disturbance,
cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) has continued - and even

29

increased - its site dominance (Mack 1981). There is
low potential for the return of natural vegetation on
Prairie Dog Island. A large sward of Canada thistle
(Cirsium arvense) adjoins the southeast end where bird
use seemed heaviest. The plains cottonwood (Populus
dekoides) and tamarisk (Tamarisk chmensis) that had
established along the shoreline were innundated and
killed in the high water conditions of 1997-98.

Spring Creek Research Natural
Area

ENVIRONMENT:

Spring Creek RNA is a 160 acre tract that encompasses
an incised ravine system, adjoining tableland, and
valley slopes along the Dry Arm of Fort Peck Reservoir.
It is part of the Missouri River Breaks (Subsection 0 of
331D (Nesser et al. 1997). The 190 ft. of vertical relief
dissects both sandstone and underlying siltstone
bedrock. It is situated north of Spring Creek and Spring
Creek Bay, with an ephemeral streamcourse that
empties westward into the Reservoir. Upland soils,
upper ravine slopes, and ravine bottom soils are fine
sandy loams developed from the underlying bedrock.
Lower ravine slopes, benches and valley slopes are silt
loams (shale derived) . The climate is essentially
Continental (refer to the characterization of Fort Peck
monitoring data, presented for Prairie Dog Island
RNA.)

VEGETATION:

Well-developed expressions of tableland and ravine
slope plant communities are found, as well as a stringer
of woody draw vegetation that has a prevalent green
ash (Fraxinus pensylvardca) component in the canopy
mixture. The original designation of this RNA to
preserve an unusual stand of aspen (Populus
iremuloides) may have been based on the interpretation
that this species, being the tallest in the ravine, is the
stand dominant. The complement of plant associatioiis
does not have one that is clearly more extensive than
any other. Perhaps the most extensive, though
variable, cover type is comprised of the Wyoming big
sagebrush shrubland (Artemisia trideruata ssp.
wyomingensis Shrubland) on benches at the mouth of
the ravine and valley slopes above the reservoir.

Artemisia tridentata ssp. wycmingensis I Pascopyrum

smithii Shrubland

[ARTTSW / PASSMI]

Wyoming big sagebrush / western wheatgrass shrubland

This association is a major vegetation type both in the
study area and across the Northern Great Plains from
Colorado north to Saskatchewan, on both glaciated
and non-glaciated surfaces. The majority of the type
occurs in Wyoming and Montana. It generally occurs,
as on this RNA, over large areas, except at the
periphery of its range, where it may occur in small
patch fragments. There are several recognized names
and variations for the Wyoming big sagebrush/ western
wheatgrass shrubland (including Artemisia trideruata I
Pascopyrum smithii, Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata I
Pascopyrum smithii, Artemisia tridentata I Elymus
larv:eolatus, A. tridentata I Pascopyrum smitHii - (Elymus
larKeolatus) [Schneider et al. 1997, Vanderhorst et al.
1998].) Some of these differ only in that the subspecies
of big sagebrush was not stipulated or known at the
time the investigations were conducted. Only the
Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata association
(ARTTST) represents a distinct habitat, one more
associated with swales and drainages and found to the
west of the ARTTSW / PASSMI type. The ARTTSW
/ PASSI type is generally associated with low relief
uplands, benches, plateaus, or rolling terrain but within
most of the RNA these flatter surfaces are sandstone
capped and favor needle-and-thread (Stipa comata}-
dominated grasslands, whereas the Artemisia tridentata
communities are found downslope on gentle inclines
with heavier-textured soils (silty clay loams). This
association, including the RNA representation, has
considerable exposed surfaces (soils mainly) , generally
in excess of 50%.

The shrub canopy of Artemisia tridentata ssp.
wyomingensis is variable in cover, but generally in the
vicinity of 20-30%, straddling the shrubland to herb-
dominated structural break according to NVCS.
Winter fat (Krascheninrukovia lanata) and Fringed sage
(Artemisia frigida) are present in trace amounts, though
areas of disturbance support more Artemisia frigida.
Western wheatgrass (Pacopyrum smithii) and
threadleaved sedge (Carex filifolia) are the dominant
graminoids, their combined cover usually not exceeding
50%. Green needlegrass (Naselia viridula) is present,
mosdy under the protective canopy of A. tridentata,
raising some speculation, at least for the footslope
positions, that ARTTSW / PASSMI - Naselia viridula
may be the potential community type. CertaiiJy in the
past, livestock grazing pressure might have been
extreme and led to sigruficantly reduced coverage for
the highly palatable Naselia iiiridula. The forb
component is both sparse and species poor. In the plot,
two of the four species, including plains prickly-pear
(Opuntia polyacarxtha) and brittle prickly-pear (Opuntia
fragilis) are associated with overgrazing, though their

30

low cover here would not necessarily indicate
overgrazing at present or in the recent past. Scarlet
globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea) is a forb found here
and across all maimer of range sites. [Plot
NHMTECRN98SC0008]

Sdpa comata - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex filifoUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[STICOM - BOUGRA - CARFIL]

needle-and-thread - blue grama - threadleaved sedge

This is one of the most extensive of Great Plains
grassland community types, occurring from the
Midwest to the Rocky Mountain Front of Montana and
north well into Saskatchewan and Alberta. In eastern
Montana and North Dakota it occurs, as at this site, on
soils with a higher percentage of sand than is
represented in soils of adjacent communities; it occurs
on both glaciated and unglaciated landscapes. In
eastern Montana landscapes these sites are frequently
on ridge systems where sandstone strata are exposed.
In the shale- and siltstone-dominated plaiiw of eastern
Montana it is often maiufested as a small patch type on
projecting ridge crowns and hillocks.

It has also been the subject of some vegetation
classification uncertainty because there have also been
two other plant associations named with needle-and-
thread in separate combination with the two other
species. There is no existing unequivocal key to
vegetation types that can distinguish among these
types, so the most inclusive name was chosen, one that
appears to fit published descriptions of the type (Allen
et al. 1999). This type is potentially extensive on the
sandstone-underlain benchlands that cap the local
landscape. It is in particularly good condition as it
occurss within the RNA whereas this type has
undergone a grazing-induced conversion to a fringed
sage (Artemisia frigida) and blue grama {Bouteloua
gracilis) -dominated disclimax on directly adjoining
tracts separated by fence. Litter and lichens dominate
the ground cover within the RNA type and are a
decidedly reduced outside the fenceline, where exposed
soil is the dominant surface category.

Within the RNA's expression of this type, Artemisia
frigida is the only shrub-like plant, present in trace
amounts. Needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) strongly
dominates the herbaceous component. Throughout this
grassland, threadleaved sedge (Carex filifolia) has cover
values ranging from 50 to 70 %, though blue grama
(Bouteloua gracilis) , is still an important component.
Western wheatgrass (Pascofryrum smithii) is consistently

present m trace amounts m contrast to its greater cover
on adjacent heavier-textured soils. There are no forbs
with greater than trace amounts of cover; those noted
to have with high constancy in this type and present
throughout the stand are rush skeletonweed
(Lygodesrrm juncea) and scarlet globemallow
(Sphaeralcea coccitKa) . (Plot NHMTECRN98SC0006 )

Fraxinus penr^sylvaruca I Prunus vir^rwma Temporarily

Flooded Forest

[FRAPEN/PRUVIR]

green ash / chokecherry temporarily flooded forest

Typically this type occurs along riparian corridors,
springs and ponds and other floodplain positions, but in
this landscape it is associated with v-shaped ravines
known colloquially as "woody draws". It is very similar
to the green ash-American elm/ western snowberry
forest (Froxtnus penrxsrjlvaruca - Vlmus americana I
Symphoricarpos occiderualis Forest) identified for North
and South Dakota, though in Montana only slightly
more than 10% of the stands of this type have Ulmus
americana present. Most of this stand is confined to the
ravine bottom and toeslope positions. The forest floor
is nearly completely covered with litter, the limited
ungulate trails being the only areas where soil that is
sandstone-derived, fine sandy loam is exposed. This
example of the type is of good to moderate quality due
to the dominance of the alien Poa prater^sis (Kentucky
bluegrass) and the somewhat low diversity of the forb
component, though noxious weeds are not present

The upper canopy is rather open, appropriately
classified as woodland cover (40-60%) and height (25
ft.), with Fraxinus pennsylvaruca generally the dominant
tree species, as well as being represented in all layers of
the multi-storied canopy. Conks (bracket fungi) were
present on almost all larger Fraxim« stems, though
elevated mortality rates were not evident. In some
portions of the stand quaking aspen (Populus
tremuloides) is codominant with the Fraxinus. Both
Populus tremuloi^ and Rocky Mountain juniper
Quniperus scopulorum) also occur in multiple size classes
throughout the stand. The shrub component is
relatively diverse with at least seven species
consistently represented. Common juniper (Juniperus
commujus) and western snowberry (Symphoricarpos
occiderualis) are the dominants, but if the browsing
pressure on chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) and
western serviceberry (Amelanchier alrdfolia) were
relaxed, it is possible that these species might increase
in cover. Past disturbance is probably the reason that
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) is the dominant
grass. Other important grasses are Canada wildrye

31

(Elymns canadensis) and bearded wheatgrass (Elymus
trachycaulis) . Starry Solomon-plume (Smilacina stellata)
and horsemint (Monarda fistulosa) are uniformly well-
distributed, the only forbs among the eight total
occurring in greater than trace amounts. Absent are
forbs such as purple meadowrue (Thalktrum
dasycarpum) , northern bedstraw (Galium aparine) and
Sprengel's sedge (Carex sprengeUi) that quite often
inhabit these sites; their absence could be attributed to
poorly-developed soils or to habitat conditions. [Plot
NHMTECRN98SC0007]

Juniperus horizontalis I Schizachyrium scoparium Dwarf

Shrubland

UUNHOR/SCHSCO]

creeping juniper / little bluestem dwarf shrubland

This association, both at large and within the RNA, is
characterized as a topoedaphic climax, found on
moderate to steep, potentially highly erosive slopes of
fine sands to sandy loams, with north- to east-facing
exposure. In some instances it does occur on flatter
slopes, but still the substrate is prone to erosion. For
the most part, patch size is dependent upon local
vertical relief of appropriate substrate, which is limited
in the RNA and thus the type is exemplified by small
patches occurring on cooler exposures of steeply incised
ravines. There are several other associations having
creeping juniper Quniperus horizontalis) dominant but
they differ somewhat with regard to the graminoid
component. All occur on coarse-textured, erosive soils,
but some, such as Juniperus horizontalis I Carex irwps, are
confined to steep cool exposures (Hansen and Hoffman
1988).

Juniperus horizontalis generally has greater than 60 %
cover at these sites and is the primary substrate binding
agent; other shrubs occur in trace amounts. Within
the plot, the dominant graminoid is threadleaf sedge
(Carex filifolia) but the indicator graminoid is actually
bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) . Across
the local landscape there was a fluctuation as to which
of these two species is dominant. The grass for which
the type is named, little bluestem (Schizachyrium
scoparium) , is at best, sporadically distributed in this
RNA, though overall its distribution is largely
coextensive with that of Pseudoroegneria spicata in
considering sites of this nature and in this region (thus
its attribution as an indicator species as well). Other
grasses present and typical of sandy sites include plains
reedgrass (Calamagrostis montanensis) and prairie
sandreed (CalamovUfa longifolia) . The forb component
is diverse, ranging up to 20 species on a plot, but only
one or two species, usually standing milkvetch

(Astragalus adsurgens) or purple prairie clover
(Petalostemon purpureum) , are present in greater than
trace amounts.
[Plot NHMTECRN98SC0009]

Rhus aromatica I Pseudoroegneria spicata Shrubland

[RHUARO/PSESPI]
fragrant sumac / bluebunch wheatgrass shrubland

The sample plot is representative of steep, erosive and
high solar intensity slopes, mostly of upper slope and
slope shoulder positions. This association occurs
predominantly as small patches. This severe and
heterogeneous environment has a concomitantly sparse
and variable vegetation composition with dominance in
the shrub component alternating, in no readily
explained manner, between soapweed yucca (Yucca
glauca) and fragrant sumac (Ehus aromatica). The soils
are fine sands to sandy loams in texture and rills,
guUeys and faceted slopes are testimony to their erosive
nature. There are at least six closely related plant
associations that occur as small patch types on sites
with abiotic parameters comparable to those of
RHU ARO / threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia) ,
RHUARO / little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium),
RHU ARO / plains muhly (Mid^knbergia cuspidata) ,
Yucca glauca I Calamovilfa longifolia, and Yucca glauca I
Pseudoroegneria spicata (Hansen and Hofftnan 1988,
Jensen et al. 1992, Schneider et al. 1997, DeVelice et
al. 1995). There are no vegetation keys that permit
one to unequivocally identify/differentiate these
commuiuties, but the site descriptions and vegetation
parameters most closely match the RHUARO / PSESPI
association described by DeVelice et al. (1995) for
northcentral Montana and RHOARO/ PSESPI
(Shallow Depth Ecological Type) by Jensen et al.
(1992) for western North Dakota.

Rhus aromatica, Yucca glauca, Juniperus horizcmtalis and
Artemisia frigida are ubiquitous shrubs in this type, but
only the first three listed exhibit even 5% canopy cover
within this landscape; all other shrubs are present in
trace amounts. These low shrub coverage values are
not in accord with the modal description of the type on
a regional basis. For the sample plot, and most of
association as developed on the RNA, there is not a
dominant graminoid; rather there exists an assemblage
of graminoids typical of coarse-textured, well-drained
sites. In approximate order of importance, in decreasing
cover, these include: plains muhly (Muhlenbergia
cuspidata), little bluestem (Schizachryium scoparium),
bluebunch wheatgrass

(Pseu^oegneria spicata) , prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa
longifolia) , indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides) ,

32

needle-and-thread {Stipa comata) , sand dropseed
(Sporobolus cryptandrus) and red threeawn (Aristida
longiseta) . Other short graminoids, not necessarily
associated with coarse-textured soils, can also dominate
these sites.The forb component is low in cover and
extremely heterogeneous, with high diversity (30 plus
species / plot-sized area) in some areas and scarcely one
third that in others. Almost ubiquitous within the type
are hairy golden-aster (Heterotheca villosa) , American
vetch (Vicia americana) , scarlet globemallow
(Sphaeralcea cocinea), scarlet gaura (Gaura coccinea),
silver-leaf scurf-pea (Psoralea argophylla) and woolly
groundsel (Senecio canus) .

Other Vegetation Types: Where the woody draw opens
up and widens some distance above the reservoir, the
Artemisia cana I Fascopyrum smithii (silversage / western
wheatgrass) association is found contained within what
becomes a broad, shallow drainage. This community is
in relatively good range condition as indicated by the
high cover of Vascopryrum smithii and low cover of
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis) . Comparatively large
specimens of Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis
contribute to the high shrub cover.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
The boundaries were set to encompass the ravine, a
particularly well-developed landform with its full
complement of associated vegetation. The ravine itself
is an unusually mesic woodland in its composition for
the Northern Great Plains biome, though limited in
development and extent as is the case for most
Missouri Breaks ravines due to their narrowly-incised
settings of limited length. This gives it all the more
contrast and development in north-south ravine slope
vegetation as a corisequence. A segment of the
surrounding upland grassland features are
serendipitously included that are representative of a
prevailing Northwestern Unglaciated Plains landscapes
in excellent condition. Such grassland habitat extends
onto adjoining lands to provide landscape continuity,
though adjoining lands are not in as good a condition.
As such. Spring Creek RNA potentially affords a
rangeland reference area for land managers and ecology
researchers, and a striking fenceline contrast in range
condition between adjoining pastures. Wildlife values
were not evaluated.

LAND USE:

The site has been protected from livestock grazing to
keep the area in a natural state, presumably since
establishment in 1991. The current excellent condition
and paucity of exotic species suggests that it had been

managed in good-excellent range condition prior to
establishment.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
No immediate management issues or concerns were
identified; there is a nearly complete absence of
noxious weeds and exotic species invasions with otdy
limited yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) along
the western bottoms. Vehicle access is limited, and
weeds were found along the corridor.

Historically, fire and bison grazing were two major
driving forces in this landscape, responsible for
renewing the vigor of the grasses, stimulating forb
numbers, and keeping shrub density low.
Reintroduction of appropriately timed fire is a
management option to consider in stimulating grass
upland grass vigor and forb flowering, within the
wildlife management framework.

The grassland had relatively low forb numbers and
litter accumulation. A policy excluding wildfire
suppression under discrete terms, if not a rotating
prescribed bum treatment, may warrant further
consideration. The corisideration of any treatment
must factor in yellow sweetclover life history and

Two CalF'DouglaS'Fir Research
Natural Area

environment:

Two Calf- Douglas-fir Research Natural Area is a 160
acre block of Missouri Breaks that encompasses an
almost 500 feet vertical gradient of moderately to
highly dissected terrain developed in highly erodible
shales. It encompasses the upper slopes of Knox Ridge
and extends northward down to the Missouri River;
thus the mostly steep slopes have contrasting north-
and south-facing exposures. Barely reaching the
southern boundary, in the vicinity of an ephemeral
stream feeding Two Calf Creek, a wildfire has burned
the predominantly pine forest, leaving scattered
blackened snags. At the northern base of the ridge, the
ridge slope tapers into highly convoluted slump block
terrain with small-scale relief that is not revealed by 40
feet contour intervals. The climate is essentially
Continental (refer to the characteriiation of Mobridge
monitoring data, presented for Missouri River
Bottomlands RNA.)

33

VEGETATION:

Bisected as it is by a east-west oriented ridge, the

RNA's predominant vegetation cover includes

moderately to densely forested north-facing slopes and

open woodlands and sparsely vegetated south-facing

slopes.

Pseudotsuga menziesii I Oryzopsis micrantha Forest

[PSEMEN/ORYMIC]

Etouglas fir / little-seed ricegrass forest

This forest type is of very limited rangewide
distribution, found only in the Missouri River Breaks of
Montana. It was originally characterized by Roberts and
Sibbemsen (1979) as Douglas fir / plains muhly forest
(Pseudotsuga menzieTsii I Muhlenberguj cuspidata Forest)
as a result of misidentifying the dominant grass in
vegetative condition. It occupies moderate to steep
slopes with northwest to northeast aspects. This is a
major type within the RNA, where it is best-developed
on steep north-facing slopes that are very undulating in
both the horizontal and vertical. It appears to be
developed on the same erodible shale substrate that
supports other forested types as well as long-leaved
sagewort/indian ricegrass barrens on south exposures.
The ground surface has a patchy cover of mosses and
lichens, the combined cover of which generally exceed
50%; about 40% is contributed by litter and the
remaining 10% is bare soil which shows sheet and rill
erosion in places. There were no fire scarred trees or
buried charcoal which tends to support the contention
of Roberts et al. (1979) that these sites experience low
fire frequencies. This type usually grades to ponderosa
pine woodland on drier/warmer slopes or on flats and
toeslopes below.

The overstory approaches canopy closure with
?seudotsuga mervoesu (Douglas fir) strongly dominant
and ?mus ponderosa (Ponderosa pine) scattered. The
understory has numerous stems of Pseudotsuga menxiesii,
and Rocky Mountain juniper Quruperus icopulorum) in
a distinctly shrubby form. The canopy is too dense for
Pinus ponderosa reproduction, clearly making
?seudotsuga menziesu the climax dominant and
apparently serai dominant as well.

Further evaluation of old-growth characters may be
warranted. Tree ring studies were conducted among
Douglas fir at a study site referred to by the nearby
"James Kipp Recreation Area" out of the National
Laboratory of Tree Ring Research; they documented
the oldest age among sampled Douglas fir trees to be
491 years (L. Smith pers. commun. to J. McCoUum,
1982).

The rhizomatous western snowberry {Symphoricarpos
occiderualis) is present in patches as the dominant
shrub; squaw currant (Ribes cereum) is consistently
present, as is the intensively browsed common
chokecherry (Prunus virgirwma) . The dominant herb,
little-seed ricegrass (Oryzopsis micrantha) is highly
variable in cover; the sample plot represents the high
end (40%) of this species' cover values. Sun sedge
{Carex irwps) and bluebunch wheatgrass
(Pseudoreogneria spicata) are consistently present with
coverages generally not exceeding 5%. Oregon woodsia
(Woodsia oregana) is a fern occurring in more than trace
amounts; forb cover is lower than this. Yellow
sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) is also present in trace
amounts despite the shaded environment, confirming
its aggressive nature and broad ecological amplitude.
(Plot NHMTECRN98SC0013]

Pinus ponderosa / Carex inops Woodland

[PINPON/CARINO]

Ponderosa pine / sun sedge woodland

On the steep, south slopes a complex of open pine
woodland vegetation encircled the sparse vegetation
associations of the long-leaved sagewort / indian
ricegrass barrens. The open pine stands represent a
wooded shale barrens complex in which there were
frequent clumps of sun sedge (Carex irwps) , but
undergrowth vegetation was sporadic, sparse over most
of the area, and variable in composition. Plains
reedgrass (Calamagrostis montanensis) and bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) were also locally
abundant. Multiple plots would be needed to make
generalizations and characterize the highly variable
structure. This plant association has been documented
as a distinct woodland community on isolated shale
outcrops such as the War Horse Area of Critical
Environmental Concern (Lesica 1987), and on
secondary tributaries of the Missouri River such as
Woodhawk Creek (Heidel 1996) where it is generally
better-developed under less harsh conditions. [No Plot]

The virtually ubiquitous ponderosa pine of the plains
has been employed for reconstructing climate history as
indicated by tree ring patterns. Ponderosa pine
elsewhere on the Refuge have been cored to document
Great Plains drought history (Meko 1982, 1992).

Artemisia longifolia I Oryzopsis hymenoides Sparse

Vegetation

[ARTLON/ORYHYM]

long-leaved sagewort / indian ricegrass barrens

34

This community was found on steep, south-facing
slopes eroded from acid shales that heat up under direct
exposure to the sun. Both of the community co-
dominants, long-leaved sagewort (Artemisia longifolia)
and few-flowered wild buckwheat (Eriogonum
paucifloum) are highly associated with soils derived from
acid shales (in Montana the Bearpaw, Colorado and
Clagget Shales) and bentonite. These shales are
intrinsically highly erosive, with sheet, rill and gully
erosion evident on site. Plant establishment is further
hindered by low pH values (< 5) and low values for
moisture available to vegetation. Thus, these sites are
very stressful for vegetation and support a suite of
uniquely adapted species, which individually, or in the
aggregate, seldom exceed 10% canopy cover (the value
defining the break between sparse/not sparse in the
NVCS) . We have placed the inventoried stand into
this association using the key of DeVelice et al. (1995);
the congruence between our plot and their description
of this type, regarding both envirorunent and
vegetation, is close. Several species present are
generally associated with sandy soils such as soapweed
yucca (Yucca glauca) , indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis
hymenoides) , and prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa
longifolia). They are found on these clay shales because
the weathering process produces a substrate of
predominantly sand-sized platy shards rather than the
clay-sized particles that are the ultimate product of
shale decomposition. Forbs typical of disturbed sites
occur in trace amounts.

Other vegetation: In the northern portion of the RNA,
where the ridge slope tapers into highly convoluted
slump block terrain, there is a fragmented and
repeating pattern in plant communities within a short
distance, with most of the communities occupying only
a few square meters. Some of the communities noted
but not formally sampled were Pinus ponderosa / Carex
mops and a Pinus ponderosa -dominated type that had
virtually no undergrowth due to the highly erosive
nature of the substrate. These types were not sampled
because the surface was so rolling and convoluted that
there was no portion extensive enough to
accommodate a plot sample.

Other Vegetation Types: Small patches of the following
types were noted; Chrysothamnus nauseosus - Eriogonum
pauciflorum (a variation of ARTLON - ERIPAU),
PASSMl; SARVER - ATRGAR and ARTTSW /
PASSMl.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
This is significant as the only RNA that contains the
uncommon to rare PSEMEN / ORYMIC Forest. It

encompasses an interesting contrast of vegetation for a
small area; juxtaposed with the north slope PSEMEN /
ORYMIC c.t. is ARTLON / ORYHYM occurring on
the steep south slopes. As such, this RNA captures an
unusual slice of the Great Plains biome.

Two Calf-Douglas-fir RNA is contiguous with and
provides access to the Missouri River Bottoms RNA
below. >X^le the latter does not provide additional
PSEMEN/ORYMIC habitat, the two together represent
an outstanding example of the Missouri Breaks gradient
and complement one another.

The relatively dense canopy of the PSEMEN /
ORYMIC and other forested types of northerly slopes
constitute important thermal and hiding cover for large
native ungulates. The palatable shrubs of these slopes,
including serviceberry (Ameianc/iier drdfolia) and
chokecherry (Prunws virginiana) have been reduced to
stubs only inches high presumably due to intensive
wildlife browsing.

The skewed orientations of otherwise straight tree
trunks ("drunk forest") raised questions about the
history of slumping. The massive slope wasting
phenomena currently under intact vegetation signifies
an interesting subject for research into "natural"
stability/ir\stability of this landscape.

LAND USE:

The general area has been grazed in the past but local
conditions are unfavorable for such use. It may have
been subject to selective removal of suitable trunks of
Junipenis scopulorum cut for fencing, and trunks of
Pseudotsuga menziesii cut for fuel and building material
from the perimeter of the stand where access and
removal were practical.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
This 160 acre patch is too small to encompass the
disturbance regimes (wildfire, wildlife browsing and
grazing) affecting the Missouri Breaks landscape. If a
wildfire were to bum the northern slope, it would
probably crown-out and be stand replacing for most of
the forested landscape, setting back the forested
landscape to an early serai stage. Tree seedling
establishment in such an environment is very sporadic,
and it takes many years for an established forest to
produce a mature stand in this dry enviroment. Given
the rarity of the type and relative lack of its protection
in Montana, it would be prudent to either add more
area of this association to the current RNA or find
additional examples of high quality PSEMEN /
ORYMIC that could be placed in RNA status. Note:

35

Fire suppression was identified in the original
establishment record as needed to maintain the
vegetation.

There is currently not a weed threat to the area, but
the introduced yellow sweetclover {Melilotus officinalis)
is aggressive and can be seen invading environments as
disparate as PSEMEN / ORYMIC and ARTLON /
ORYHYM. While it has the greatest potential for
expansion on the shrub and grassland sites within the
area, it could also proliferate with fire or other major
changes to forested commuruty structure.

The Knox Ridge road is a maintained BLM road
ruiming through the area that is a potential corridor for
new invasions of exotic species. Any road-grading work
on such a steep-sided, narrow ridge also presents the
possibility of destabilizing the slopes that drop off on
either side.

York Island Research Natural
Area

ENVIRONMENT:

York Island is a 120 acre island in the eastern end of
Fort Peck Reservoir in a highly exposed setting at the
juncture of the main reservoir and the Dry Arm. Its
highest point rises less than 80 feet above water level.
The undulating to sharply incised surface is typical of
Missouri River Breaks Subsection (f ) of the
Northwestern Glaciated Plains Section (33 ID, Nesser
et al. 1997) where dissected river breaks have formed in
shale, sandstone and siltstone. Most of the island's
communities are developed on soils weathered from
fine-textured sedimentary parent materials, including
montmorillinitic clay, i.e. bentonite, a water deposited
volcanic ash. The climatic regime is Continental with
hot summers and frigid winters; 35% of average annual
precipitation (total 11.5 in.) occurs in May and June
(data averaged over years 1956 to 1998, from Fort Peck
Power Plant, Western Region Climate Center).

VEGETATION:

This site has two major community types, both
dominated by Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) . While the cover of this
species is quite variable, it averages in the mid-20%
range, i.e., close to the 25% threshold for distinguishing
between shrubland and herbaceous vegetation (Federal
Geographic Data Committee — Vegetation
Subcommittee 1997.) We have described only the

Artemisia tridentata shrub associations (shrub canopy
cover > 25%) because they appeared to be more
prevalent and their intergradation with the herbaceous
associations is structurally and compositionally
overlapping without a discretely different herbaceous
type at another extreme.

Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis I Fascopyrum

smithii Shrubland

[ARTTSW / PASSMI]

Wyoming big sagebrush / western wheatgrass shrubland

This is the most extensive of the island's vegetation
types, occurring on ftne-textured silt and clay loams
derived from shale and siltstone, and found on upland
benches and gently to moderately inclined slopes of all
aspects. Its varies between the more densely vegetated
undulating uplands and more sparsely vegetated south-
facing slopes, inversely related to the amounts of
exposed soil and gravels (less than 20% - over 80%,
respectively). Traces of scattered rounded rock are
testimony to past glaciation but veneers of till were not
found as part of the soil profile.

Upland sites have a notably well-developed microbiotic
crust, including crustose lichens and algae, that
constitute as much as 80% cover. This is circumstantial
evidence that the site is a refiige from grazing
ungulates, and previously had light use when it was
contiguous with the mainland.

As noted above, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata ssp. wyomingensis) dominates the shrub
component, coverages varying from approximately 15
to 30% but giving a distinct impression of a shrubland.
Other shrubs/subshrubs present, generally in less than
trace amounts, are fringed sage (Artemisia frigida) ,
broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) , and fragrant
sumac (Rhus trilobata) . The graminoid component is
dominated by western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii)
with higher coverages (to 60-70%) occurring on rolling
uplands. Other graminoids commonly present but in
amounts not exceeding 5%, include: narrowleaved
sedge (Carex sterwphylla) , sun sedge (Carex inops),
needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) , blue grama
(Bouteloua gracilis) , and prairie junegrass (Koeleria
macrantha). Green needlegrass (Nasella viridula) is
sporadically present; higher coverages of hlasella
viridula, generally on lower north-facing slopes or
toeslope postions, indicate a transition to more mesic
and relatively scarce habitats (and the ARTTSW /
PASSMl-NASVIR association) . The forb component
constitutes little cover, the most constant species being ^
scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea cocdnea), northern

36

fairy-candelabra (Androsace septentrionalis) , and
Nuttall's pussy-toes (Antennaria parviflora).

Yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) is uncommon
in the sampled stand but widespread; other expressions
of this association are densely carpeted with this
introduced species and it has high potential for
expansion. Other introduced species such as goat's
beard (Tragopogan dubius) and Japanese brome (Bromus
japonicus) generally have insignificant populations.
[Plot NHMTECRN98SC0001]

Artemisia tridermta ssp. wyomingensis I Pseudoroegneria

spicata Shrubland

[ARTTSW/PSESPI]

Wyoming big sagebrush / bluebunch wheatgrass

shrubland

This association is typical of the mid- to upper-slope
positions of steeper slopes of all aspects, associated with
glacial drift soils, both coarser-textured (mosdy sandy
loams) and having greater amounts of gravel than the
ARTTSW / PASSMl p.a. It grades to ARTTSW /
PASSMl both at downslope positions and at slope
shoulders. Generally both the amount of bare soil and
the exposed gravel/rock comprise upwards of 70% of
the substrate; the erodible surface probably accounts
for the lack of a microbiotic soil crust. Wyoming big
sagebrush {Artemisia tridentata ssp. Wyomingensis)
ranges in cover from 10% to upwards of 35 % but
generally exceeds 20%. Fringed sage (Artemisia frigida) ,
broom snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae) , soapweed
yucca (Yucca glauca) and aromatic sumac (Rhus
trilobata) are the shrubs consistently present in trace
amounts. Bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria
spicata) is the dominant graminoid, though its cover
does not much exceed 30%. Graminoids consistently
present with low covers and associated with coarser-
textured substrates, or well-drained xeric sites include,
plains muhly (Muhknbergia cuspidata), prairie sandreed
(Calamovilfa langifoUa), and sand dropseed (Sporobolus
cryptandrus) . Little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
is often present. The forb component is very weakly
represented; no one species can be said to be abundant
but scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), brittle
prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis) , Hood's phlox (Phlox
hoodii) and American vetch (Vicia americarui) are
consistently present. [Plot NHMTECRN98SC00021

Chrysothamnus ruiuseosus I Eriogormm pauciflorum

Sparse Vegetation

[CHRNAU/ERIPAUl

common rabbitbrush / few-flowered wild buckwheat

barrens

This localized and small patch association is found on
the island's uppermost outcrops and has been
previously described in the Limber Pine RNA, in Valley
County (Branson et al. 1970) and in Carter County
(Vanderhorst et al. 1998). Soils of this site possess no
horizons and are weathered from a very dark grey,
possibly acidic, shale and bentonite. Though the
ultimate result of weathering is clay-sized particles,
much of the substrate has just been broken down to
sand-size particles and thus has better drainage than
would be expected of a soil high in clay; it is also highly
erosive, rills and gullies abound. This association
mostly occupies upper hill slopes or crests and has
depauperate vegetation (< 10% canopy cover). There is
a suite of species adapted to these sites including long-
leaved sage wort (Artemisia longifolia), common
rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus ruiuseosus), few-flowered
wild buckwheat (Eriogonum pauciflorum; E. brevicauk
var. brevicauk in southeast Montana), Indian ricegrass
(Oryzopsis hymenoides) and western wheatgrass
(Pascopyrum smithii) that regularly appear in various
mixes and quantities. On York Island, Eriogonum
pauciflorum has greater cover than associated species,
and Chrysothamnus ruiuseosus cover is less than 3%.
The 19 species of the sample plot is an unusually high
number; normally species richness does not exceed 5-
10 for this type. [Plot NHMTECRN98SC0003]

Other Vegetation: Other patchy or restricted plant
associations were noted on York Island. The
southemeastem point had the best development of the
Rocky Mountain juniper / indian ricegrass woodland
(Juniperus scopulorum /Oryzopsis micrantha
Woodland; JUNSCO/ORYMIC) on the steep, north-
facing slope of a small hill. Small patches of western
snowberry shrubland (Symphoricarpos occidentalis
Shrubland) are confined to swales and drainage
courses. Sandy ridgetops at the north end have prairie
sandreed - sun sedge (Calamagrostis longifolia - Carex
inops), and the drainage courses graded in places into
the western wheatgrass - green needlegrass grassland
(Pascopyrum smithii - Nasella viridula Herbaceous
Vegetation).

Most of the perimeter was ringed by sparsely-vegetated
shoreline flats of shale fragments colonized by yellow
sweetclover (Melilotus officiruilis) , pummeled by the
waves and pounded into rack lines that set off
backwater wetlands in what were previously bays.
These backwater wetlands are colonized and variably
dominated by advenrive and exotic species like
common sunflower (Helianthus annuus), tumbleweed
(Amaranthus albus), (Powell's amaranth (Amaranthus
powellii), redorache (Atriplex rosea) , slimleaf goosefoot

37

{Chenopodium leptophyllum) , and Russian thistle (Salsola
kali). The shoreline is interrupted by scattered, high
cutbanks.

OVERALL BIODIVERSnT SIGNIFICANCE:
York Island is a small but representative example of the
Missouri River Breaks segment of the Great Plains
biome. As such, it affords a rangeland reference area for
land managers and ecology researchers. The island is
small and vertical relief is limited, and though there are
two or three major substrate types, overall biological
diversity of the uplands is limited.

bird use, and forms dense populations in limited upland
areas. It is currently the most abundant non-native
species and may have the potential to occupy virtually
all habitats on the island, with or without disturbance,
as evidenced by its mainland patterns of distribution.

The survival of Hotsprings Phacelia {Phacelia thermalis)
on York Island is confiimed, restricted to relatively
sparse, successional vegetation zones created by the
Fort Peck Reservior; including scoured beaches and the
drawdown zone in wetland backwaters. Places where
Montana rare plant species of special concern are
confined to zones of man-made disturbance raise
questions whether the disturbance mimics natural
habitat conditions or the species is adventive by nature.
One other collection of this species has been made on
the Refuge, in Douglas-fir habitat near the former
Slippery Anne Guard Station (E0#001), suggesting
that the species occupies natural habitat elsewhere and
the York Island disturbance may mimic natural habitat
conditions. The Refuge is the only place where this
species occurs on public land in Montana, and even
though York Island does not have biodiversity
significance as a representative site for this species'
conservation, it points to the possibility of finding such
sites elsewhere on the Refuge.

OTHER VALUES:

York Island is also a Fort Peck Reservior landmark and
shelter for boaters. Archeological artifacts may be
present. Wildlife values were not evaluated.

LAND USE:

This landscape has been grazed in the past and the
Juniperus scopulorum woodland was probably cut for
fencing/firewood. }urdperus scopulorum stem density
probably approaches pre-disturbance conditions. No
signs of grazing were evident. It is otherwise idle except
for occasional visits by passing boaters.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
Exotic species present included Canada thistle {Cirsium
arvense) at scattered shoreline and backwater locations,
and minor upland populations of cheatgrass {Brotnus
tectorum) and Japanese brome {Bromus japorucus) .
Yellow sweetclover {Melilotus officinalis) dominates
beach vegetation where it may interfere with shoreline

38

Lake Mason National Wildlife Refuge

Lake Mason Research Natural
Area

environment:

Lake Mason RNA is in a broad, open natural basin,
comprised of two parcels totaling 1,420 acres, lying on
either side of Lake Mason at the lake perimeter. The
lake outlet is South Willow Creek, and it has a spillgate
to artificially maintain lake levels. Lacustrine deposits
and alluvium derived from shale and sandstone are the
primary parent materials in the basin, though residuum
derived soils occur in the western half of Section 22.
All soils appeared to have a heavy texture, with silty
clays and silty clay loams predominant. The semi-arid
continental climate has peak precipitation in June
followed by May, and a mean annual precipitation of
12.4 inches (Climate data from Roundup, Western
Regional Climate Center, 1914-1997). This RNA
occurs within the Montana Sedimentary Plains
Subsection of the Powder River Basin Section where
annual precipitation ranges from 11 to 14 inches
annually, about a third of which is snow.

VEGETATION:

The three main vegetation types are distributed
primarily according to soil moisture regimes, which vary
with distance from Lake Mason and South Willow
Creek with the exception of the uplands in Section 22.
All but the standing water (herbaceous emergent) plant
communities were sampled.

Pascopyrum smtkii Herbaceous Vegetation

IPASSMI]

western wheatgrass wet meadow

The exterwive alluvial flats are dominated by western
wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii). There are at least six
plant associations named across the Northern Great
Plains that have Pascopyrum smithii as the first-named
indicator species; only the type named here is defined
by the virtual monospecific dominance of P. smithii and
is rated G3G5 by TNC. This type is typically strongly
associated with subirrigated alluvial flats and most of
this plant association in the RNA meets definitions of
jurisdictional wedand (Hansen et al. 1995). Consistent
with this characterization, both sample plots displayed
gleyed and mottled soils. It is dominated by a sward of

P. smithii ranging in cover from 50 to in excess of 80
percent, making up a relatively homogeneous expanse
on the flats (and beyond) around the perimeter of the
lake. At least in the sampled locations, weedy or
increaser with disturbance species, e.g. Japanese brome
(Bromusjaponicus), povertyweed (Iva axillaris), wild
lettuce (Lactuca canadensis), flixweed tansymustard
(Descurairua sophia) , and common dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale) dominate the herbaceous layer to
the near exclusion of native species except grasses. This
may reflect a history of heavy grazing by livestock.
[Plots NHMTECLM97SC0001, NHMTECLM970006]

Pascopynmi smithii - Nasella viridula

Herbaceous Vegetation

[PASSMI-NASVIR]

western wheatgrass - green needlegrass grassland

This association is the prevailing type on non-wetland
alluvial flats and on gentle upland slopes; it constituted
a major plant association prior to agricultural
development. It is ranked as G4 and occurs in North
Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, and Saskatchewan.
Stands on the flats grade to the western wheatgrass wet
meadow (Pascopyrum smithii association) and those of
the uplands grade to western wheatgras- needle-and-
thread grassland (Pascopyrum smithii / Stipa comata) of
drier sites. In the vicinity of South Willow Creek this
type appeared to be in good to excellent condition with
Nassella viridula (green needlegrass) canopy cover
ranging from 10 to 40 percent, exceeded only by that of
Pascopyrum smithii. The uplands in northwest comer of
Section 22 also support fair to good quality occurrences
of this type. Other graminoids represented with more
than 5 percent cover include needle-and-thread (Stipa
comata) and prairie junegrass (Koeleria macramha).
Exotic graminoids, including Japanese brome (Bromus
japonicus), crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum),
and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), are much less
prevalent than on the association described above. In
the curtailment of grazing, populations of Brumus
japonicus and Agropyron cristatum often decline, but Poa
prater\sis has shown a propensity on similar mesic sites
to increase without disturbance. Povertyweed (Iva
axillaris) and scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea)
are the only forbs occurring with more than trace
coverages; other high constancy herbs include prickly
pear (Opunda polyacantha) , American vetch (Vicia

39

americana) and Holboell's rockcress (Arabis holboellu).
Fringed sage (Anemisia frigida) is the only shrub-like
plant consistently present; however, it does not exceed
3 percent in canopy cover. (Plots
NHMTECLM97SC0003, NHMTECLM97SC0004]

Sarcobatiis vermiculatus I Pascopiyrum smithtj Shrubland

[SARVER/PASSMI]

black greasewood / western wheatgrass shrubland

This is a common type on the RNA, especially
extensive on the eastern side of the lake where it
occurs upslope by a matter of a few tenths of a foot or
more from the PASSMl alluvial flat type. These sites
are more salt-affected than those with Vascop^rum.
smithii alone. This type as found in a lacustrine setting
typically develops under conditions in which salts from
alkaline lakes are deposited by wind and water on the
leeward shores. The deposition process and probably
other habitat conditions are altered by the artificially
maintained water levels on Lake Mason. Black
greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) occupies slightly
raised mounds, perhaps as a result of an ensuing erosion
processes. Its canopy cover is low, varying between 5
and 20%, but the visual aspect is that of shrubland due
to the stature of the Sarcobatus vermiculatus relative to
that of the associated undergrowth. This association in
the RNA has been as affected by grazing as those of the
PASSMl type judging by the dominance of increaser
species, foremost among which are Japanese brome
(Bromus japordcus) and povertyweed {Iva axiUaris). We
noted a micro-patterning within this type as the dense
patches of Bromus japonicus seemed to have little
Pascopyrum smithii and conversely where tillering of P.
STTuthii was especially dense there was litde B. japonicus.
This is not a high-quality occurrence of this type due to
the altered environment and abundance of weeds.
[Plot NHMTECLM97SC00021

Atripkx gardneri I Pascopyrum smithii Dwarf Shrubland

[ATRGAR/ PASSMl]

Gardner's saltsage / western wheatgrass dwarf

shrubland

are quite variable, including western wheatgrass
(Pascopyrum smithii) as usueJ dominant, meadow barley
(Hordeum brachyarU-herum) , foxtail barley (Hordeum
jubatum), bottlebrush squirreltail (Sitarxion hystrix), and
Nuttall's alkaligrass (Puccinellia nuttalliana) . Graminoid
cover is higher for the Lake Mason examples than has
been seen elsewhere for this association and probably
reflects the relatively favorable soil moisture of these
sites. The herbaceous component is dominated by
weedy species or ones that increase with disturbance,
including povertyweed (Iva axillaris) , clasping
pepperweed (Lepidium perforatum) , wild lettuce
(Lactuca canadensis) , and common dandelion
(Taraxacum officinale). The suite of weeds/increaser
species indicates past disturbance and decreases the
baseline value of these sites. [Plot
NHMTECLM97SC0005J

Emergent Wetlands: We did not sample the semi-
permanent emergent wetlands that are part of the
RNA. They are dominated by hardstem bulrush
(Scirpus acutus) with abundant sago pondweed
(Potamogeton pectinatus), chara (Chara spp.), and water
buttercup (Ranunculiu spp.) .

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
The Lake Mason RNA represents a fair example of the
western wheatgrass wet meadow (Pascopyrum smithii),
and a once common plant association, Pascopyrum
smithii'Nasella viridula with isolated areas in good
condition. There are also weed infested occurrences of
a less common type (PASSMl alluvial bottom) as well
as several associations (SARVER / PASSMl, ARTGAR
/ AGRSMI) of more restricted occurrence also plagued
by weeds. We are not prepared to address the affects of
elevated water table levels to this low-lying RNA. In
comparison with MuUan Trail RNA and its
glaciolacustrine setting, it protects more plant
associations and more of the hydrological gradient,
though the overall ecological condition is not as high.
The RNA is contiguous in places with surrounding
grasslands connecting to the larger landscape of the
surrounding basin slopes.

This association occurs as small stands that are
fractioiw of an acre, across salt-affected
alluvial/lacustrine flats on the west side of Lake Mason.
These sites undoubtedly have standing water during
spring runoff and are slow to dry given the clay soils.
At least one site had motded and incipiendy gleyed
soil, indicating an oxygen depleted condition
developing during extensive inundation. Canopy
cover of Gardner's saltsage (Atriplex gardneri) is
typically not greater than 20 % and usually exceeded by
that of a suite of graminoids whose cover contributions

LAND USE:

Lake Mason was intensively grazed in the past.

Livestock grazing ceased in 1980.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
This RNA may be suited to study of community
succession and habitat values with and without
restoration practices. The elevated water levels may
affect restoration potential and efforts to simulate the
historical ecological drivers of grazing and fire.

40

Medicine Lake National Wildlife Refuge

Big Island Research Natural
Area

ENVIRONMENT: Big Island RNA is the second
largest of two major islands in Medicine Lake at 25 1
acres. It has a knoll on the south end that rises 35 ft.
above the lake, and two distinct wetland swales north
of the knoll, but most of the island is less than 10 feet
above lake level and gently rolling. A large bay at the
south end is set off by two long isthmuses that are at or
below the lake water level and covered mairJy by
robust grasses. The island is mapped as Blanchard fine
sand, 4-20% slope (Richardson and Hanson 1977)
though most of the island soils appear to be loamy
sands; possibly with glacial till on the knoll at the south
end. The controlled lake level affects the island shore,
regulated at the Lake Creek outlet, with a dam and
spillgate to artificially maintain lake levels. The semi-
arid continental climate has peak precipitation in June
followed by July and May, and a mean annual
precipitation of 13.25 inches (Climate data from
Medicine Lake, Western Regional Climate Center,
1911-1997).

Note: This area and two others in Medicine Lake are
part of the 11,366 acres designated as Medicine Lake
Wilderness Area.

VEGETATION:

The array of plant communities forms a grassland-
shrubland mosaic. It can be explained by both small-
scale relief as evidenced in height above the lake level,
which need vary only a fraction of a foot in order to
influence vegetation, and by soil texture. See Figure 2
for an occurrence map of Big Island vegetation types.

Symphoricarpos occidentaUs Shrubland

[SYMOCC]

western snowberry shrubland

Western snowberry shrubland constitutes the most
extensive vegetation type on the island and is among
the most common shrub communities in the Northern
Great Plains. Across the island it occurs on gently
undulating topography and swales, some of which may
be seasonally inundated, intermittently flooded, or
subirrigated via subsurface coimection to Medicine
Lake. It has been characterized in regional
classifications as a "temporarily flooded" system, but

this is the case on Big Island only when ground thaw is
delayed. As noted by Hansen et al. (1995) and
exemplified on Big Island, it spans an environmental
range from mesic upland slopes to wetlands (hydric
soils and wetland hydrology). Almost none of the sites
in the RNA would qualify as jurisdictional wetlands
because the dominant, western snowberry
(Symphoricarpos occidentaUs) , and all associated species
including western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii),
smooth brome (Bromus inermis), and Kentucky
bluegrass (Poa pratensis) are rated FACU (Facultative
Upland, i.e. only occurring in wedands less than 33% of
the time and conferring no wetland status) by the U. S.
Fish and Wildlife Service.

This type has nearly continuous cover of
Symphoricarpos occiderualis, a shrub that produces
sucker shoots emanating from stout, spreading
rhizomes. Given the density of Symphoricarpos
occidentaUs, it is perhaps not surprising that the only
other native species found with regularity are also
rhizomatous (mentioned above) . Weedy species such as
flixweed tansymustard (Descurainia sophia) , pinnate
tansymustard (Descurairua pinnata) , and leafy spurge
(Euphorbia esula) occur in patches, perhaps areas
formerly disturbed. The Euphorbia esula is widespread
on the island in these relatively moist commuruties and
appears to be expanding, forming dense clones. Several
species of spurge fleabeetles have been introduced on
the island to provide leafy spurge control.

Ordinarily Symphoricarpos occideruaUs shrubland occurs
in small stands rather than as a prevalent vegetation
feature. It is recommended that recent aerial
photographs of the island be compared with historic
photos if it is possible to determine from them whether
shrubland has been present since early years of Refuge
establishment. A literature review and dialogue with
other refuges of species' management responses and
wildlife benefits or deterrents might also be helpful in
applying current vegetation information to wildlife
management and noxious weed management matters.

Stipa comma - Bouteloua graciiis - Carex f^oUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[STICOM - BOUGRA - CARFIL)

needle-and-thread - blue grama - threadleaved sedge

41

This grassland associarion is found on soils ranging
from sandy loam to fine sand. It occurs on Big Island
across higher ground and warmer exposures. It is
dominated by needle-and-thread (Stipa comata),
usually having greater than 40% canopy cover. Blue
grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and threadleaved sedge
(Carex filifoUa) are consistently present, often as co-
dominants. Their cover can exceed that of Stipa comata
and varies greatly across the landscape with no obvious
correlation to site factors, whether due to disturbance
patterns, imperceptible environmental disturbances, or
chance. This type usually grades to grasslands
dominated by western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii)
including PASSMI - CARFIL or PASSMI -
BOUGRA. While western wheatgrass is consistently
present in this prevailing association, it has low cover
values. Forbs are a minor component; only pricklypear
(Opuntia polyacantha) consistently occurrs in more than
trace amounts, favored by the sandy substrates or else
the land use history. Fringed sage (Artemisia frigida) is
consistently present, but seldom exceeds trace
amounts. This community type generally has only
minor populations of weedy or exotic species; for
example, crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum)
occurs in scattered blocks. STICOM - BOUGRA -
CARFIL is a prevailing grassland association of the
Northern Glaciated Plains where medium- to coarse-
textured soils are found, as previously described for
Spring Creek RNA. [Plot MTNHECRA97SC0007]

Hai\sen and Hofftnan (1988) recognize this type by the
dominance of Pascopyrum smithii over Stipa comata and
generally this occurs only on lower positions in this
landscape or those having planar surfaces and/or
having finer-textured soils. Where Pascopyrum smithii
and Stipa comata are co-dominant, or nearly so, we
have assigned these sites to PASSMI - BOUGRA -
CARFIL due to the appreciable cover of Pascopyrum
smithii indicating the higher moisture status of these
sites (technically, several examples of this community
with Carex spp. dominant do not "key out" to any
type). Note that Schneider et al. (1997) in the
provisional Great Plains vegetation classification of The
Nature Conservancy, recognize a Pascopyrum smithii -
Stipa comata community type but cite no parameters for
its recognition. The whole complex of community
types involving Pascopyrum smithii, Stipa comata, Carex
fiUfolia, Carex stenophylla, Bouteloua gracilis, andNasella
viridula needs extensive work to separate intrinsically
different environments from disturbance induced states
and a workable key for discriminating types one from
another. This, too, is a broadly distributed Northern
Great Plains plant association (CO, MT, ND, SD, SK,
WY).

Pascopyrum smithii - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex fihfoUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[PASSMI - BOUGRA - CARHL]

western wheatgrass - blue grama - threadleaved sedge

grassland

This is an uncommon grassland asociation on the
island because fine-textured soils are limited. Western
wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii) is typically the
dominant graminoid in this grassland association, but
narrowleaved sedge (Carex sterwphyUa; synonym: C.
eleocharis) was the dominant graminoid (50% c.c.) in
the one island plot. Only two shrub-like plants, fringed
sage (Artemisia frigida) and broom snakeweed
(Gutierre^ia sarrothrae) , regularly occur but with low
cover values. Rush skeletonweed (Lygodesmia juncea) ,
American vetch (Vicia americana), pricklypear (Opuntia
polyacantha) and scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea
coccinea) are the forbs with high coiistancy but seldom
do their coverages exceed 1 or 2% under natural
conditions. The occasional bunch of crested wheatgrass
(Agropyron cristatum) and patch of flixweed
tansymustard (Descurainia sophia) indicate past
disturbance. [Plot NHMTECRA97SC0008]

42

Figure 2.

0.05 0 0.05 0.1 O.IS 0.2 0^:5
Scale in Miles

Medicine Lake

Vegetation of Big Island RNA

Medicine Lake NWR

Shrub Communities

1 Symphoricarpos occidentalis

la Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Bromus inermis)
lb Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Euphorbia esula)

2 Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Agropyron smithii)
2a Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Prunus virginiana)

3 Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Distichlis stricta,
Euphorbia esula)

4 Symphoricarpos occidentalis (Spartina pectinata)

5 Prunus virginiana

5a Prunus virginiana (Symphoricarpus occidentalis)

6 Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Prunus virginiana,
Agropyron cristatum)

7 Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Agropyron cristatum,
Hordeum jubatum, various exotics)

Grassland Communities

8 Agropyron smithii-Stipa Comata

8a Agropyron smithii-Stipa comata

(Calamovilfa longifolia-Agropyron smithii)

9 Agropyron smithii-Stipa comata-Bouteloua gracilis

10 Distichlis stricta

11 Juncus balticus-Carex praegracilis

lla Juncus balticus-Carex praegracilis (Poa pratensis)

12 Spartina pectinata (Phragmites communis)
Disturbed Communities

13 Bromus inermis

14 Bromus inermis-Agropyron cristatum

15 Descurainia sophia (Pelican damage)
m Unkown Plant Communities

Beach
Water
Ephemeral water

At the given map scale not all community or dominance types can be
effectively mapped which necessitates multiple labels and designations
of inclusions. Brackets enclose community types or species that consittite
in canopy cover up to 20% of a polygon; of polygons labeled as having two
community types the first hsted is the more extensive and separated from
the lesser by a colon. Forward slashes (/) or dashes (-) separate the
constituent species by which a plant community or association is named.
Vegetation map units from 8": 1 mile (1 :7920) aerial photography.
Field verified June, 1 997. Albers Equal Area Projection Datum NAD27.

June 15, 1998

Montana Natural Heritage Program, 1515 East Sixth Ave, Helena, MT 59620

Other Vegetation Types: In the lost portions of the
landscape where the water table is shallow, subirrigated
conditions are found. In such settings with soils that are
salt-affected, inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicata) forms
extensive and nearly pure communities or occurs in
various mixes with Nuttall's alkaligrass (Puccinellia
nuttalliana), prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) or
scattered black greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) .
Another wetland association of Baltic rush - clustered
field sedge (Juncus balticus - Carex praegradlis) occurs
in alkaline habitats as stringers or small patches that
are a few tenths of an acre. Kentucky bluegrass (Poa
pratensis) often establishes and outcompetes the natives
in this habitat. Wet areas that are not so salt-affected
have Spartina pectiriata dominant, with or without an
abundance of common reed (Phragmites communis) .

On the island's west shore there is a mix of woody
species and communities that may be more a result of
past, or ongoing, disturbance than any intrinsic site
differences. Associated with near-shoreline locations
and ostensibly subirrigation are several stands of
common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) , some
serving as nesting sites and perches for black-crowned
night herons. They have a margin and sometimes a
low-shrub layer of western snowberry (Symphoricarpos
occidentalis) and herbs that are mainly non-native
grasses. Also present is a band of black greasewood
(Sarcobatus vermiculatus), largely dominated by
exotics such as Agropyron cristatum or opportunists
such as Hordeum jubatum and H. brachyantherum.
This vrgetation type is usually present only on the
shores of alkali lakes, perhaps reflecting the original
nature of Medicine Lake.

On the sandiest substrates associated with needle-and-
thread (Stipa comata) -dominated communities were
fragments of associations codominated by prairie
sandreed including Calamovilfa longifolia - Carex
stenophylla and Calamovilfa longifolia - Pascopyrum
smithii plant associations. These were too small to map
other than noting as inclusions. The abruptness of the
transition between the Stipa- and these small
Calamovilfa-dominated communities was noted with
no discernible soil or other enviromental differences to
account for the pattern.

Some of the most heavily-used wildlife habitat has no
associated native vegetation. The places of
concentrated nesting by the American white pelican
colony shifts over time, and the history of use has
created areas with extensive bare ground and patches
of annuals/biennials, often dominated by flixweeds
{Descurainia sophia and D. pinnata.)

Two Montana plant species of special concern were
documented on Big Island. Site information is
presented on the Element Occurrence Records in
Appendix E, and annotated illustrations are in
Appendix F.

Hairy four o'clock (Mirabilis hirsuta) is represented by
widely scattered plants in very low numbers at different
ends of the island, among plant associations dominated
by both prairie sandreed {Calamovilfa longifolia) and
needle-and-thread (Stipa comata). It has the lack of
habitat specificity on Big Island and in the Sandhills
that is characteristic of adventive species. While it is
only known from 3 different counties in Montana,
there have been reports that it is adventive and more
common than records indicate. This study lent support
to the case for moving it off to the watch list.

Plains phlox (Phlox andicola) occurs on the north-facing
slopes of the knoll on Big Island. It is likely to be
scattered across most of this slope, but the species was
at the very end of flowering at the time of visit, so it
could not reliably be located to determine population
numbers and extent. It, too, is present on the
Medicine Lake Sandhills. In general, it is restricted to
sandy soils and was previously known in Montana only
from southeastern counties. The numbers of records in
recent years provides the basis for changing its state
rank from SI to S2 (potentially imperiled) ; this rank is
subject to review with additional fieldwork in early
summer.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
Big Island RN A supports a spectrum of community
types, from slivers of typical prairie wetlands with
Spartina pectinata and Distichlis stricta to dry prairie and
to tall shrub copses. This community diversity affords a
wildlife habitat diversity, even if the plant associations
are not rare or in noteworthy condition. The complex
mosaic of communities may not representative of the
distribution of these communities in the local landscape
due to the regulated
lake water level.

Wildlife values were not evaluated, though it has
previously been noted that Big Island harbors nesting
subpopulations of piping plovers, federally listed as
threatened, a population of black-crowned night herons
and a large colony of American white pelicans, both of
which are state species of special concern. It is
productive for waterfowl and sharp-tailed grouse
nesting. Big Island directly contributes to the core
waterfowl production mandate, as well as providing
habitat for colonial nesting birds. It is one of two major

44

islands in the lake, and among the few large islands in
the Prairie Pothole landscape of northeastern Montana,
particularly important in reducing mammalian
predation.

LAND USE HISTORY:

The island was not previously contiguous with the
mainland, but livestock were brought out prior to
Refuge establishment. The vegetarion-altering affects of
grazing history compared to raised water levels and
colonial bird use were not evaluated. Whatever the
cause (s), there are areas that are covered by nothing
but the exotic grasses Bromus memus (smooth brome)
and quackgrass {Elymus repens) to the extent that
native communities are not identifiable. Usually where
these grasses have invaded native commuruties, there
are vestiges of the native communities.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
Threats are posed to this whole landscape by exotics
and noxious weeds. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is by
far the most aggressive and tenacious of noxious weeds,
and is well established. It has a strong presence in the
southern end of the island. Several species of spurge
fleabeetles are established on the island (Rabenberg
pers. commun.) Their potential for curbing seed
production is particularly important because the seeds
of leafy spurge are readily disseminated by water and
wildlife vectors as whitetail deer and mourning dove.

The far north and south ends have much Canada
thistle (Cirsium arvense) . Smooth brome (Bromus
inermis), quackgrass (Elymus repens), and crested
wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) are also present
throughout the island. Bromis ir\ermis appears to be
aggressively displacing Pascopyrum smithii from
Symphorkarpos occiderualis- and Pascopyrum smitbii-
dominated communities. Other common exotic grasses
include cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) , Japanese brome
(Bromus japonicus) , fowl bluegrass (Poa palustris) and
Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratemis).

Exceptionally high litter accumulation levels were
noted over most of the Island in both grassland and
shrubland habitat. As mentioned previously, it is
possible that the extensive shrub cover of
Symphorkarpos occidermilis is an artifact of the land
being left idle. This same shrubland type is present in
trace amounts in Tepee Hills RNA, and though the
two sites have different settings and substrates, they
have some comparative value. The management
options for addressing these situations depends on
desired vegetation structure for wildlife and the
framework for integrating noxious weed management.

Bruce's Island Research Natural
Area

environment:

Unlike Big Island, which is mostly low-lying terrain,
Bruce's Island is a ridgeline that had once been
cormected to the mainland, made up of a hump and
toeslopes together totaling 367 acres. It has little of the
microtopography patterns as found on Big Island. The
high shores on the north are eroding in places as
cutbanks, and the gentle toe slopes on the south are
temporarily inundated. Soils are mapped as Dooley fine
sandy loams on the high north end, Dimmick silty clay
in a low-lying middle band, and Williams loam,
undulating at the south end (Richardson and Hanson
1977). The controlled lake level affects the island
shore, regulated at the Lake Creek oudet, with a dam
and spillgate to artificially maintain lake levels. The
semi-arid continental climate has peak precipitation in
June followed by July and May, and a mean annual
precipitation of 13.25 inches (Climate data from
Medicine Lake, Western Regional Climate Center,
1911-1997).

Note: This area and two others in Medicine Lake are
part of the 11,366 acres designated as Medicine Lake
Wilderness Area.

VEGETATION:

Approximately one half of Bruce's Island on the higher
elevations of the north has been plowed. In this area, as
well as unplowed uplands, Agropyron cristatum (crested
wheatgrass) is the prevailing cover type. As a whole,
the uplands have been sufficiently altered so that they
no longer support intact native vegetation, instead
reduced to small, irregular patches of native species
among the exotics. The potential prevailing matrix
community type of the uplands is probably western
wheatgrass - blue grama - threadleaved sedge grassland
(Pascopyrum smithii - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex filifoUa
Herbaceous Vegetation) or western wheatgrass -
needle-and-thread grassland (Pascopyrum smithii - Stipa
comata Herbaceous Vegetation). Sample plots were not
established in the course of field reconnaissance of this
RNA because of the lack of intact vegetation.

The lower lying terrain on the island's southern
portion, particularly along the shorelines, has well-
developed palustrine emergent vegetation. Inland
saltgrass (Distkhlis spkaia) is among the most extensive
wetland vegetation types, occurring predominantly as a
broad ecotone between wetter sites dominated by
bulrush (Scirpus spp.) or alkali cordgrass (Spartina

45

gracilis) and uplands. In some locations salt
efflorescence was noted in the Distichlis spicata flats,
indicating it exists along the capillary fringe of wetland
sites. Alkali bulrush (Scirpus maritimus) , hardstem
bulrush (Scirpus acutus) , and sharp bulrush (S. pungens)
dominate the communities at the shoreline fringes in
positions that are nearly continuously flooded. Prairie
cordgrass {Spartina gracilis) was noted in shoreline
patches. The Baltic rush -clustered field sedge meadow
Qurxcus balticm-Carex praegraciUs Emergent Vegetation)
is found on wetland sites that appear to be only
temporarily or intermittently flooded. Where
disturbance occurs in this vegetation, American licorice
(Glycyrrhiza lepidota) can be an important component.
Canada thistle {Cirsium arvense) is scattered in with the
Glycyrrhiza lepidota and has patches of abundance in
the Symphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubland where it
forms a discontinuous and narrow fringe between true
wetland sites and upland grasslands. There are also
gentle mudflats and a small bay on the eastern shore.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITT SIGNIFICANCE:
There are no intact upland plant associations
represented on Bruce's Island. In the southern portion
of the island there are typical Northern Glaciated
Plains Section wetlands types represented. These
wetland types may be more appropriately sought as
RNA targets among natural wetland basins, and it is
expected that they are represented elsewhere on the
refuge system in Montana.

Wildlife values were not evaluated. It has previously
been documented that Bruce's Island harbors nesting
subpopulations of piping plovers, federally listed as
threatened. It is said to be productive for waterfowl and
upland game bird nesting, as well as harboring
significant numbers of Baird's sparrows and grasshopper
sparrows. Site biodiversity significance may hinge on
the contribution of Big Island avifauna to the Medicine
Lake landscape as a whole. The artificially maintained
lake levels erisure the isolation of Bruce's Island as an
island, directly contributing to the core waterfowl
protection mandate. It is one of two major islands in
the lake, and among the few large islands in the Prairie
Pothole landscape of northeastern Montana.

LAND USE:

Bruce's Island is covered by a tamegrass planting or
"goback" of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum)
over the higher northern half of the island, and has
been grazed in the past. It has been an island since lake
levels were raised.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:

The site has limited potential to serve as a natural area

ecology/botany baseline despite its wildlife values

Homestead Research Natural
Area

ENVIRONMENT:

The Homestead RNA is a 39 acre tract on a gently-
rolling glacial till deposit above the mouth of Lake
Creek on Big Muddy Creek. Soils are a mixture of
Bowdoin and Lohler clay loams in the northwest
comer, with Manning coarse sandy loam along the
eastern margin (Richardson and Hanson 1977). The
semi-arid continental climate has peak precipitation in
June followed by July and May, and a mean annual
precipitation of 13.25 inches (Climate data from
Medicine Lake, Western Regional Climate Center,
1911-1997).

VEGETATION:

The grassland is unbroken but heavily invaded or
seeded into smooth brome {Bromiis inertrus) and
quackgrass (Elymus repens). The closest semblance to a
natural plant association is composed of small, weedy
patches of western wheatgrass - blue grama grassland
(Pascopryrum srruthii - Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous
Vegetation). Sample plots were not established in the
course of field reconnaissance of this RNA because of
the lack of intact vegetation.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITT SIGNIFICANCE:
The RNA was originally designated in recognition of its
value as a lek for breeding sharptail grouse, as well its
reported vegetation features. Wildlife values were not
evaluated.

LAND USE:

There are abandoned quarry sites present. The name
for the area comes from the nearest town called
"Homestead." The site is bordered by roads on two
sides, with deep ditches to drain water from the
roadbed, lowering the water table. Cottonwood trees
have become established in the ditch on the western
margin.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:

The site has limited potential to serve as a natural area

ecology/botany baseline despite its wildlife values.

46

Medicine Lake Sandhills

(Part of Medicine Lake Wilderness Area)

ENVIRONMENT:

The Medicine Lake Sandhills are of recent Holocene
geological development, formed when prevailing winds
from the northwest scoured sediments from dried
Pleistocene lake beds. The lacustrine beds contained
all particle size classes. Silt and clay fractions were
carried far downwind but the sand-sized particles were
deposited immediately to the southeast, and partially
reworked by the winds to form sand dunes. Much of the
landscape is rolling but portions have typical choppy
dune features, with blowouts and associated stages of
dune stabilization. Not all of the springs and seeps were
developed for livestock use, and they contribute
significantly to species and habitat diversity. The semi-
arid continental climate has peak precipitation in June
followed by July and May, and a mean annual
precipitation of 13.25 inches (Climate data from
Medicine Lake, Western Regional Climate Center,
1911-1997).

Note: This area and two others in Medicine Lake are
part of the 11,366 acres designated as Medicine Lake
Wilderness Area. This report is a very preliminary
description of the refuge portion (about 2,300 acres of
the Wilderness Area) of the entire sandhills area that
in the aggregate covers about 2 1 square miles, the
largest dune complex in Montana.

VEGETATION:

The sandplains and sand dunes harbor community
types that are possibly unique in Montana,
underdocumented, and pending classification review in
the northern Great Plains states and provinces. The
landscape is primarily composed of graminoid-
dominated vegetation, especailly in blow-out areas,
though in swales and bottomlands shrub-dominated
vegetation types are common.

Calamovilfa longifoUa - Stipa comma Herbaceous

Vegetation

[GALLON -STICOM]

Prairie sandreed (-) needle-and-thread grassland

Stabilized sites constitute the vast majority of the
landscape, particularly the more planar areas while the
blow-out patches are very scattered. Tlie more
stabilized states have high canopy coverages of needle-
and-thread (Stipa comata) usually in excess of 50%.
There are far lesser amounts of the next most prevalent
grass, prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia) , with

lemon scurf-pea {Psoralea lanceolata) as the most
common species among a weakly represented forb
component (total cover not exceeding 10%). It was
tentatively place in the Calamovilfa longifoUa - Stipa
comata Herbaceous Vegetation type (prairie sandreed —
needle-and-thread grassland) . This plant association
may in turn be an early and long-persisting serai stage
of to Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex filifoUa
Herbaceous Vegetation, but no examples of the latter
were found in either the choppy or the gently rolling
terrain. Additional field sampling may be required to
adequately describe the plant associations, their
relation to successional processes, and the site
variables. [Plots NHMTECRA97SC0004.
NHMTECRA97SC0005, NHMTECRA97SC0006]

Symphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubland

[SYMOCC]

western snowberry shrubland

Shrubland dominated by western snowberry
(Symphoricarpos occidentalis) is a recurrent community
type within the Sandhills, usually occurring in swales
but extending upslope in the area, though with reduced
stem density. In the physiognomic portion of the
classification it is referred to as a temporarily flooded
type which could hardly be the case for the Sandhills
sites; there have to be some unappreciated
circumstances that favor the establishment of
Symphoricarpos occidentalis and other shrubs on such
seemingly droughty sites. The undergrowth is
dominated by western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii)
and very few herbaceous species (usually fewer than
five).

Elaeagnxis commutata / Stipa comata Shrubland

[ELECOM/ STICOM]

silverberry / needle-and-thread shrubland

This is community type has not been previously named
or described. A rare silverberry/westem wheatgrass
shrubland {Elaeagntis commutata I Pascopryrum smithu
Shrubland; G2) has been named and cited as occurring
in MT, SK, ND, and MB. The combination of
ElaeagTMS commiaata and Stipa comata is unique in that
Elaeagnus commutata is usually associated with moist
sites in the landscape and Stipa comata with drier, sandy
soils. Quite possibly the deeper-rooting E. commutata is
tapping a watertable unavailable to the herbaceous
component. This is supported by the fact that common
chokecherry (Prunus vir^ruana) and western snowberry
(Symphorricarpos occidentalis) occur as community
dominants adjacent to the Elaeagnus commutata-
dominated community, ostensibly on the same site.

47

Both of these other species require moisture ii^ levels
above that supplied through precipitation alone or by
compensating environments where evaporative losses
are mitigated.

The Prunus wVginiana-dominated community has an
undergrowth with Stipa comata dominant but with
Pascopyrum smithii prominent whereas the
Symphoricarpos ocddentafa -dominated communities
have an undergrowth with the abundances of these
undergrowth species switched (Stipa comata relegated
to merely present in most cases) . It would be difficult
to envision a scenario wherein the Pascopyrum. smithii
was grazed out of the ELECOM / STICOM p.a. and
not the adjacent P. virginiarui- and S. occidentalis-
dominated communiities. In keeping with the sandy
substrate, by far the dominant forb in ELYCOM /
STICOM was slimleaf scurfpea {Psoralea lanceolata) ;
other forbs were present in only trace amounts.
Wildlife browsing has been intensive on the Elaeagnus
with shrubs attaining only 3-3.5 ft. height in 11 to 12
years. [Plot NHMTECRA97SC00031

lanceolata Sparse Vegetation) . The unconsolidated
sand substrate constitutes over 90 % of the cover at the
surface, and the vegetation canopy cover is less than 5
%. This is a fundamentally different vegetation than
the Centennial sandhills, but these two sites have one
rare plant species in common (Cryptantha fendleri) as
well as analogous successional processes (Lesica and
Cooper 1999).

SPECIES:

Four Montana pant secies of special concern have been
documented in the Medicine Lake Wilderness Area;
two in the course of this study. Species site information
is presented on the Element Occurrence Records in
Appendix E, and annotated illustrations are in
Appendix F. Detailed information is lacking to
compare their numbers in the Refuge to elsewhere on
the Sandhills for providing concise statements of
botanical significance. Nonetheless, for its habitat
uniqueness and accrued botanical information, it
represents the highest known concentration of rare
plants in the Sandhills and in the county.

In general, Elaeagnus commutata is rarely regarded as a
shrubland dominant in the south of the 49* Parallel
except possibly as a localized feature on limestone,
including montane settings, or on well-drained
Northern Great Plains grasslands in idle conditions and
with ample moisture.

Prunus virginiana Shrubland

[PRUVIR]

common chokecherry shrubland

Common chokecherry (Prunus virginiana) dominates
very small stands within the Sandhills; the stems had
been exceedingly hedged by wildlife browsing and the
leaves fed on by insects. The undergrowth has both
needle-and-thread (Stipa comata) and western
wheatgrass (Pascop^irum smithii) as dominants, their
roles apparently shifting by site. This type is found
primarily on the undulating flats but also occurs on
slopes of arrested dunes, sites seemingly too dry for a
species normally associated with mesic sites. [No Plot)

Oryzopsis hymenoides / Psoralea lanceolata Sparse

Vegetation

[ORYHYM/PSOLAN]

indian ricegrass / lemon scurf-pea barrens

A recent blowout early in the process of stabilization
was sampled that represents an indian ricegrass / lemon
scurf-pea barrens (Oryzopsis hymenoides I Psoralea

Fendler's cat's-eye (Cryptant/ua fendleri) occurs in the
Sandhills on discrete zones of unstable sand, often the
leeward rim of active dune blowouts. It was found in
two of the most active blowouts on the Refuge, perhaps
a small segment of a much larger population complex
alluded to by Lesica in estimating total plant numbers
in excess of 10,000 across the entire Medicine Lake
Sandhills.

Schweinitz' flatsedge (Cyperus schweinitzii) also occurs
on unstable sand, often in the hollow at the head of an
active blowout. It was found at a single site on the
Refuge, presumable part of a much larger population
complex alluded to by Lesica in estimating total plant
numbers as "many thousands" across the entire
Medicine Lake Sandhills.

Hairy four o'clock (MirabiUs hirsuta) is widely scattered
in low numbers across a range of sandy habitats. It
shows no discernible habitat specificity in relation to
composition or structure. It is present in both the
Medicine Lake Sandhills and Big Island. It has since
been documented outside of the Refuge in disturbed
settings including roadsides and CRP. It exhibits the
distribution pattern of an adventive species, thus
providing the basis for removing it from the list of
Montana plant species of special concern to the watch
list. Yet it is only known from three counties and seven
collection records so that field data will continue to be
compiled on it for further evaluation.

48

Plains phlox (Phlox andicola) is locally common on
gently rolling sandhill slopes under a sparse canopy of
Elaeagnus commutata (silverberry) [Plot
NHMTECRA97SC0003] where only the vestiges of
flowers remained at the time of visit. It was occasional
in the best condition grassland habitat of Big Island, as
found on a steep, north-facing slope. It may be under-
documented in the sandhills area because it is
inconspicuous except during its early flowering, but
there is not enough information to confirm or refute
this idea at present.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITT SIGNIFICANCE:
The Medicine Lake Sandhills are part of the largest
sandhills in Montana, followed by the Centennial
Sandhills in southwestern Montana which overlaps
with Red Rock Lakes NWR. These landscapes, and
their dune system in particular, constitute highly
significant landscapes, harboring uruque plant
conununties and rare species.

This characterization is at best a preliminary highlight
of the sandhills vegetation and rare plant species.
Wildlife values were not evaluated.

OTHER VALUES:

Archeological and cultural values are often associated

with sandhills.

problems could be exacerbated without close control of
management and weed population responses.

Portions of the sandhills native communities are
overwhelmed by dense populations of increaser species,
for example, sage wort (Artemisia campestris) , brittle
prickly-pear (Opuntia fragilis) , flixweed tansymustard
(DescuTainia sophia), and pinnate tansymustard (D.
pinnata) that may have resulted from past grazing
practices. Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula) is present in
widely-scattered patches and spurge flea-beetles have
been released in an effort to control it (Rabenberg pers.
commun.). Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense) and other
exotic species like smooth brome (Bromus inermis),
Japanese brome (B. japonicus), and crested wheatgrass
(Agropyon cristatum) are present in low numbers.

Reintroducrion of appropriately timed fire may possibly
be a management option to consider in contaiiung
nearby weeds, reducing litter accumulation, setting
back woody species, and stimulating forbs.

The undeveloped areas of natural spring and seep
features and associated riparian habitat that were noted
are in relatively good ecological condition and are
among the segments of the landscape warranting closer
investigation. Water developments below them
reduced grazing pressure in the hills above.

LAND USE:

The area has a long history of grazing by livestock.
Grazing leases were recently cancelled on the area.
Upland segments near roads have been planted into
crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum).

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
Widely-scattered patches of leafy spurge (Euphorbia
esula) have been identified by Refuge personnel
(Rabenberg pers. conmiun.) There are several spurge
flea-beetle release sites in the Sandhills.

Prior to the settlement, this landscape was maintained
in various successional states by periodic disturbance,
mostly via buffalo, pocket gophers, fire and wind. The
processes operative here are probably analogous to
those within the Centennial Sandhills. Studies have
demoristrated for the Centermial ecosystem, that
without periodic disturbance and with the healing of
existing blow-out and deposition surfaces, the result is
reduced community and species diversity, particularly
of rare species associated with early serai states (Lesica
and Cooper 1999). Cattle have served as surrogate
disturbance agents in the Centennial system and in the
Medicine Lake Sandhills in some measure. Weed

Tepee Hills Research Natural

Area

environment:

Tepee Hills is developed on a till/outwash plain that
has been down-cut by an abandoned meander charmel
of the Missouri River. It straddles the crest of the
slopes above Medicine Lake, with maiiJy south-facing
slopes mapped as Zahill clay loam, steep (Richardson
and Hanson 1977) that have overlying gravelly, cobbly
water-worked deposits of Raxville gravel (Witkind
1959) . The center of the RNA is dissected by a coulee.
The RNA comprises only 50 acres but with the
variation in relief, aspect and soil depth, a range of
environments are represented. The semi-arid
continental climate has peak precipitation in June
followed by July and May, and a mean aruiual
precipitation of 13.25 inches (Climate data from
Medicine Lake, Western Regional Climate Center,
1911-1997).

49

VEGETATION:

The variation in aspect, soil depth as it affects water

holding capacity, and slope runoff produce a number of

distinct environments in a relatively confined area (see

Figure 3, Tepee Hills RNA plant communities and

associations).

forbs, reflecting the mesic environment, totaling 36
species in a single plot. They include outlying Rocky
Mountain plant species such as small-flowered
penstemon (Penstemon procerus) that are of
biogeographic interest. [Plot
NHMTECRA97SC0002]

Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis - Carex filifoUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[STICOM - BOUGRA - CARHL]

needle-and-thread - blue grama - threadleaved sedge

This is one of the most extensive and broadly
distributed of upland plant associations within the
Northern Great Plains, occurring in Manitoba,
Saskatchewan, Nebraska, Wyoming, North and South
Dakota and in Montana is a major matrix type from the
base of the Rocky Mountain Front eastward. In the
Medicine Lake landscape it is restricted to the most
xeric exposures, moderate to steep, south- to
southwest-facing, mostly convex slopes having shallow
soils. ??CompositionaIly the RNA examples of this type
are not close to the modal description wherein Stipa
comata is the dominant graminoid and Boutebua gracilis
has 100% constancy (but cover values not exceeding
30 %). Quite possibly past grazing, favoring short-
statured rhizomatous species, has influenced the
composition of this site. [Plot NHMTECRA97SC0001]

Stipa curtiseta - Elymus \arvcto\a\m Herbaceous

Vegetation

[STICUR-ELYLAN]

porcupine needle-grass (-) thick-spike wheatgrass

grassland

This association is found only on moderate to steep,
north-facing slopes with well-developed soils, as
restricted to the coulee. It has been described from
similar settings in northern Valley and Phillips
Counties (DeVelice et al. 1995) and in northwestern
North Dakota. However, within the Canadian prairies
or prairie parklands it occurs on planar and rolling
surfaces as an extensive, prevailing type in mesic
settings. In the Tepee Hills representation of this type,
porcupine needle-grass (Stipa curtiseta) is mono-
dominant (in excess of 50 % canopy cover) and other
graminoids, including thickspike wheatgrass (Eijmus
\arv:eo\atus) which are said to be dominant or co-
dominant in Canadian settings, comprise little more
than trace amounts. This suggests the need to further
evaluate if not reclassify this plant association. There is
a noteworthy and relatively luxuriant diversity of native

Poscop^TMrn smxAva, - Bouteloua gracilis — Carex fiUfoUa

Herbaceous Vegetation

[PASSMl - BOUGRA - CARRL]

western wheatgrass - blue grama - threadleaved sedge

grassland
This is a broadly distributed type Northern Great Plains
plant association, which we have distinguished from
ELYLAN - STICOM because it appeared to be present
lower in the landscape, on the flats and toeslope
positions, than was the ELYLAN - STICOM
community type. This distinction may be somewhat
artificial but their respective distributions appeared
distinct at the time of sampling. This type generally
occupies heavier soils and more poorly drained sites
than does ELYLAN - STICOM. Western wheatgrass
(Pasco/ryrum smithii) is the dominant graminoid with
cover usually in excess of 40 %; the cover of blue
grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and threadleaved sedge
(Carex filifolia) is usually less than that of Pascopyrum
smithii. Which species has greater cover seems to vary
randomly across the landscape. Within this RNA,
crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) has
established significant coverages in this community
type, mostly by volunteer seeding from adjacent
agricultural lands. [No Plot]

Pascopyrum smithii Herbaceous Vegetation
[PASSMl]
western wheatgrass grassland ;„8,

This association represents, along with westerm
smpwberry shrubland, the most mesic sites within the
uplands of the refuge. It is a widely distributed across
the Northern Great Plains from Montana to Nebraska
and south to Colorado. It occupies, as a narrow band,
the heaviest alluvium soils of toeslopes and ephemeral
drainages; often this type is assumed to be subirrigated
and occasionally it can qualify as a jurisdictional
wedand (no examples of this on RNA). In its native
state, this type is characterized by virtually

50

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monospecific dominant Pascopyrum smithii (coverages
generally in excess of 60 %) and low forh diversity.
Within the RNA, almost all of these habitats have
been either seeded to, or invaded by, Agropyron
cristatum (crested wheatgrass) and Bromus inermis
(smooth brome) though Pascopyrum smithii has often
maintained dominance or co-dominance. [No Plot]

Symphoricarpos occidentalis Shrubland

[SYMOCC]

western snowberry shrubland

This is a common Northern Great Plains type of
subirrigated settings or those receiving overland flow,
draws and swales, positions that on the RNA are
merely mesic uplands and not wetlands or riparian
habitat. The RNA examples of this type are small
inclusions in more extensive types and are in relatively
good condition with the density of western snowberry
(Symphoricarpos occidentalis) sufficient to exclude most
other species except for the rhizomatous grasses like
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), smooth brome
(Bromus inermis, and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa
pratensis). [No Plot]

OVERALL BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE:
Tepee Hills has the most intact vegetation overall
among the Medicine Lake Refuge's established RNAs,
a slice of Great Plains landscape. Perhaps the most
significant ecological feature captured by this RNA is
the Stipa curtiseta - Elymus lariceolatus plant association,
a relatively high quality example of what is considered
as an important vegetation type of the Canadian
glaciated plains. There are no other protected examples
of this community documented within the state.

OTHER VALUES:

Tepee Hills has archeological values, featuring a
historic Native American encampment, recognized on
the National Registry of Historic Places.

LAND USE:

Tlie area was grazed prior to RNA establishment. It has
light non-motorized recreational use. It is bordered by a
crested wheatgrass planting on the west that may
extend within RNA boundaries.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:

Tepee Hills is a relatively small area, surrounded mainly
by agricultural lands and man-made features that can
he expected to provide a continuous threat through
weed introductions and simple fragmentation of
populations and habitat. It is situated between a CRP

planting of crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum) to
the north and a weedy roadside right-of-way to the
south. A large area of smooth brome (Bromis ir^ermis)
has become established on the western end of the
ridgetop. Planted windbreak species within the RNA
include Siberian pea-shrub (Caragana arborescens) and
green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) . It was burned in the
spring of 1994 (Rabenberg pers. commun.)

52

Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife
Refuge

Sheep Mountain Research Natural
Area

environment:

Sheep Mountain RNA represents an 85 acre segment
of a unique environment both within the USFWS
refuge system in Montana and the state at large. The
Centennial Range is Montana's only large mountain
range whose main axis is oriented east-west. As such,
it is in position to intercept cells of moist air that
originate in the Gulf of Mexico and drift northward in
mid to late summer. These cells are the source of
afternoon thundershowers that can be quite intense
and can cause mountain meadows to remain green long
into the growing season. Annual precipitation at
Lakeview (6,700 ft.), in the Centermial Valley at the
very base of the mountains, is 20. 1 inches, which is
quite high for a valley location (compare to Wisdom,
MT [6,100 ft elevation] which receives 11.8 in.
annually). Near the crest of the range armual
precipitation probably exceeds 50 inches. About 27%
of annual precipitation falls in May and June, which is
typical for western Montana's mountainous areas. Soil,
snow, winds, and snow slides also shape its uniqueness,
as recognized in the original establishment record. The
Sheep Mountain RNA, ranging in elevation from 7,600
to 8,400 ft., is but a partial representation of a 3,000
vertical feet long mountain gradient developed wholly
on the calcareous (predominantly Madison limestone)
north flank; quartzite is also reported to be present here
according to the original establishment record. The
limestone-derived soils are generally thin and have a
low water holding capacity. An avalanche chute is
located along the RNAs north edge.

VEGETATION:

The vegetation features of Sheep Mountain RNA are
consistent with Society of American Foresters (SAP)
cover type (c.t.) targets originally identified for the site,
including the Engelmarm spruce-subalpine fir c.t..
Interior Douglas Fir c.t., and limber pine c.t. They are
in noteworthy old-growth form. In addition, grassland

communities and the avalanche chute successional
features are present.

Four tree species are the climax dominants in the forest
series on Sheep Mountain RNA: Engelmarm spruce
(Picea engelmarmii), subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa),
Douglas fir (Pseidotsuga menziesii) and limber pine
(Pinus flexilis). In addition, a grassland ridgeline
opening is near the lower end toward the east, and an
avalanche chute is near the upper end toward the west.
The predominantly north-facing slopes of the RNA
support plant associations of forest series even at the
lowest elevations because of the high precipitation.
This is in contrast to other portions of southwestern
Montana, where at the elevations represented on this
RNA, grasslands are prevalent and any forest series
present would be only the Pseiddotsuga menziesii or Pinus
flexilis series. High elevation sites that have thin soils,
are on wind-exposed or ridgeline positions, or have
warmer exposures, regularly support the Pseudotsuga
menziesii and Finns flexilis series. Pseudotsuga menziesii,
Pinus flexilis and even P. engelmannii tend to be favored
over Abies lasiocarpa and lodgepole pine {Pinus contorta)
by calcareous substrates. In fact, Pinus contorta was
rarely seen in the course of our RNA trarisect, which
appeared to traverse only limestone. Thus, these three
species, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Picea engelmannii, and
Pinus flexilis, tend to have greater cover on these mesic
slopes than would be predicted from precipitation and
temperature alone. Where thin soils combine with
exposed positions and warmer exposures, non-forested
environments are produced and "usually dominated by
bunchgrasses like bluebunch wheatgrass
(Pseiuioroegneria spicata) and/or Idaho fescue {Festuca
idahoensis).

Abies lasiocarpa / Thalictrum occider^tak Forest

[ABILAS/THAOCC]

subalpine fir / western meadowrue forest

The vast majority of this RNA is considered to be in
various serai stages of this potential or climax plant
association. The subalpine fir is used to name the
association even though Douglas-fir is strongly
dominant in stands representing this type. This naming
convention is used because the national vegetation
classification, at least in the western United States, has
been based, up to now, on plant associations named in
the context of potential natural vegetation or habitat
types (Pfister and Amo 1980). The existing vegetation
or serai associations that occur within habitat types

53

(potential natural vegetion based associations) are yet
to be documented. The area capable of supporting the
subalpine fir / western meadowrue forest (Abies
lasiocarpa I Thalictrum occidentak Forest;
ABILAS/THAOCC) ranges from the steep, north-
facing slopes at the lowest elevations of the RNA to the
upper slopes (7,900 ft. plus) where it extends to warmer
slopes as increasing elevation with colder temperatures
and increased precipitation compensate for aspect with
increased solar insolation load. The ground surface is
continuously carpeted with litter, having virtually no
stone or gravel exposed. This plant community could
be "typed" in two ways, using Pfister et al. 1977 (which
is specific to Montana) and Steele et al. 1983 (which is
specific to eastern Idaho and western Wyoming) ; the
undergrowth and associated mesic environment better
correspond to the ABILAS / THAOCC climax
association described in Steele et al. (1983) as a minor
type in northwestern Wyoming.

Most of the stands are rather open (verging on
woodland at less than 70% canopy cover) , not
exceeding 65 to 75 ft. in height, single-aged to two-
aged and dominated by Pseudotsuga in the upper
canopy. At least two old-growth stands were
encountered, where Pseudotsuga exceeding 20 inches
and 200 years were common. Though there are
occasional mature Abies specimens in the upper
canopy, P. engelmanrdi is the more common
representative of mature to late serai tree species. At
the start of reconnaissance from the slope bottom, it
was especially notable that virtually all smaller Abies
projecting above the snowline had been browsed,
ostensibly by moose. Given that most of these Abies
stems were decidedly shorter than they should have
been given the thickness of their stems, it is inferred
that this snowline browsing has continued for years and
is the primary reason these stands will never become
Abies dominated. Serai Pinus flexilis is perhaps the most
abundant canopy tree after Pseudotsuga and Picea.

Undergrowth cover, which varies inversely with the
degree of canopy shading, ranges from just barely more
than trace amounts to 50% plus and is dominated by
forbs; those with the greatest cover and constancy
include showy aster (Aster conspicuus), western
meadowrue (Thaliarum occidentale) , mountain sweet-
cicely (Osmorhiza chileTisis), heart -leaved arnica (Arnica
cordifoUa), northern valerian (Valeriana dioica) and
slender cinquefoil (Poteruilla gracilis). Shrub cover
barely exceeds trace amounts; various Ribes species
(currant or gooseberry) and mountain snowberry
(Symphoricarpos oreophilus) are regularly present. The
grass component is also depauperate with nodding

bluegrass (Poa reflexa) and pinegrass (Calamagrostis
rubescens) usually the only species present and always
with low cover, usually not exceeding 5%. [Plots
NHMTECRN98SC0033, NHMTECRN98SC00351

Abies lasiocarpa /Juniperus communis Woodland

[ABILAS /JUNCOM)

subalpine fir / common jumper woodland

This is a very common plant association, identified
from the drier mountain ranges of eastern Oregon and
Washington, eastward into Montana and Wyoming
and south as far as New Mexico and Arizona (see
explanation under ABILAS / THAOCC association as
to why these stands dominated by Douglas-fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesU) are named for subalpine fir
(Abies lasiocarpa) . Common juniper Quniperus
communis) is a relatively stress-tolerant shrub. Within
the context of this relatively mesic, generally north-
facing flank of the Centennial Range it represents
habitats experiencing greater moisture stress than are
reflected by the presence of other forested associations
commonly encountered that instead have subalpine fir
(Abies lasiocarpa) in association with either western
meadowrue (Thalictrum occidentale), pinegrass
(Calamagrostis rubescens) or with shiny-leaf spireaea
(Spiraea betulifoUa). On the RNA, ABILAS /
JUNCOM was encountered on warmer exposures,
those with a westerly component, and above 7,800 ft.,
though it is capable of occurring at much lower
elevations. It generally grades to ABILAS / mountain
gooseberry (Ribes montigenum) , which is present on the
RNA as narrow patches where snowpacks are deeper
than on surrounding terrain.

Being a woodland, tree canopy cover is generally below
60% and tree form approaches "stunted" with heights
barely exceeding 40 feet at more than 350 years of age.
Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii) and Abies
lasiocarpa are present mostly in the sapling/seedling
layer, though scattered mature and old-growth Picea
engelrruinnii are typically present as well. This
association is at the dry extreme of Abies lasiocarpa
distribution and this species probably will never achieve
canopy dominance. The canopy dominant over most of
the stand is Pseudotsuga, though limber pine (Pinus
flexilis) is a major component in patches. Common
juniper (juniperus communis) dominates the
undergrowth, its cover generally exceeding 10%. The
graminoid element is especially depauperate with only
traces of nodding bluegrass (Poa reflexa) and Ross sedge
(Carex rossiil) . Showy aster (Aster conspicuus) is the forb
with highest cover in the plot and it and lanceleaved

54

stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum) were noted as the
prevalent forbs throughout the drier woodland
environments. [Plot NHMTECRN98SC0037]

Pmus fladlis I Pseudoroegneria spiccaa

Woodland [PINFLE / PSESPI)

limber pine / bluebunch wheatgrass woodland

This plant association was found on a very rocky, thin-
soil, limestone ridge with a northwest- and west-facing
aspect and stretched up and dowtwlope approximately
120 vertical feet from the 8, 160 ft. contour. The
ground surface is more than 85% exposed gravel and
rock with bare soil constituting another 5-10%. There
is no soil profile development and of the upper 10-20
cm. more than 50% is rock (gravel size or larger) ; this
site verges on being a scree slope.

In this old growth stand of stunted limber pine (Pinus
flexilis) and Douglas fir (Pseiulotsuga merajesii; maximum
height of 300 plus yr. old trees 22-24 ft.) all the veteran
trees have very battered crowns and boles emblazoned
with numerous lightning scars, often having more bare
bole and scar tissue than functioning bark. Tree
canopy cover ranges between 30 and 50%, composed of
only the above named species; there are scattered
seedling and samplings but the mid-sized age classes are
missing. Shrubs like mountain snowberry
(Symphoricarpos oreophilus) and common juniper
Quniperus communis) occur in only trace amounts. The
herbaceous layer is very sparse (total cover < 10 - 12%)
and dominance shifts across the stand, some portions
(or patches) being dominated by bluebunch wheatgrass
(Pseudoroegneria spicata) others by grayish cymopteris
(Cymopterus glaucus) , lanceleaved stonecrop (Sedum
lanceolatus), weedy milkvetch (Astragalus miser) and
even many-flowered phlox (Phlox multiflora) . Overall
Pseureogneria spicata appears to consistently have the
highest coverage, though this is generally less than 5%.

This is among the oldest PINFLE / PSESPI stands that
have been inventoried in southwestern Montana; it is
so old and lightning struck that none of the trees cored
yielded a core that was countable beyond several
hundred years, extrapolation yields ages in excess of
500 years. Stand structure is rather typical of xeric-site,
old-growth with very scattered reproduction and few
intermediate-aged trees. This stand represents the
moisture stressed extreme of a type that is known as
one of the driest of the woodland vegetation types in
Montana with exception ofjuniperus spp.-dominated
woodlands. [Plot NHMTECRN98SC0036]

Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa securuia Herbaceous

Vegetation

[PSESPI -POASEC]

bluebunch wheatgrass - Sandberg's bluegrass grassland

This association is found as small patches on the very
driest of spur-ridges that project to the north from the
main east-west trending ridgeline of the Centennials.
The combination of thin, rocky, limestone -derived
soils, the western exposures of the spur-ridges (having
the highest solar insolation values in a landscape with
primarily northern exposures) and the prevailing
southwesterly winds which scour snow from the
windward slopes (west) and crests causes these ridges to
be the most moisture-limited of any features in this
landscape. Wind deflation causes more than 80%
exposed limestone gravels; the depressed interstices are
occupied by soil. Litter and basal area together
comprise less than 5% of the surface area.

These ridges are so dry as to be incapbale of supporting
much biomass, the total cover approaches the 10 %
cutoff of sparsely vegetated communities. Though we
have classed the plot as belonging to the bluebunch
wheatgrass - Sandberg's bluegrass association
(Pseudoroegneria spicata - Poa secunda Herbaceous
Vegetation), its position and composition, both in
alpha diversity and in the number of cushion plant
species prominent, place it closer to the P. spicata I
"Cushion Plant" community described by Cooper et al.
(1995) for southwestern Montana (not yet recognized
in TNC's Western Region Classification) . The shrub
component is almost nonexistent; Woods rose (Rosa
woodsii) and green rabbitbrush (Chr-jsothamnums
viscidiflorus) are so thinly scattered and depauperate as
to be obscured by the herbaceous layer. Only two
graminoids were present in the plot; the dominant P.
spicata and a trace of Idaho fescue (Fetuca idahoerisis)
which is virtually ubiquitous in moutain grasslands of
southwestern Montana. Low-growing, cushion-like
plants or those more typically found in exposed
subalpine to alpine environments (e.g. grayish
cymopterus [Cymopterus glaucus], lance-leaved
stonecrop (Sedum lanceolatum), Rocky Mountain
douglasia (Douglasia mantarm) , Cut-leaved daisy
(Erigeron compositus), Parry's townsendia (Townsendia
panyi) and sheep cinquefoil (Potentdla ovina) are
conspicuously reperesented, though individually not
exceeding 5% cover.

OVERALL BIODIVERSITT SIGNIFICANCE:
The Sheep Mountain RNA as currently defined is a
small, intact sample of predominantly old-growth forest ,
in the Rocky Mountains biome. It is in the middle of a

55

much larger and more diverse ecosystem, the whole
north face of the Centennial Range, where the
escarpment begins in shrubland/grassland at
approximately 6,700 ft. and sweeping upward
uninterrupted to the highest alpine sites at 9,600 feet.
The RNA is encompassed by the Red Rocks Lakes
Wilderness, affording additional protection to it and a
much larger area. However, neither the RNA nor the
surrounding wilderness area that is centered in the
valleybottom capture the scale of the processes that
operate in this landscape or more than a fraction of the
habitat diversity existing in it.

ostensibly spans several jurisdictions (Red Rock Lakes
National Wildlife Refuge, BLM Centennial Mountains
Wilderness Study Area, USPS Targhee National
Forest, Agricultural Research Service's Sheep
Experiment Station).

Avalanches constitute one of the more salient of these
processes; very steep terrain at the highest elevations
causes avalanche chutes that fringe parts or all of two
RNA borders. These chutes represent a feature of
geological process as well as natural succession, and
only two plots were taken in the array of wet-to-dry
habitats in these avalanche features.

The RNA directly adjoins the only known extant
occurrence of Whipple's Beardtongue (Penstemon
whippleanus) in Montana, a species that was
documented incidental to the baseline sensitive species
work in the Centermial Valley for the Bureau of Land
Management (Culver 1993). The avalanche chutes
and talus slopes are also potential habitat for dwarf
goldenweed {Haplopappiis nanus), known only in
Montana from a historical collection on the slopes
south of Red Rock Lakes. There was not adequate
time for completing a systematic survey of these two
species across the RNA.

It was suggested in the original establishment record
that the unique, exposed climatic conditions found
within this RNA affords an excellent opportunity for
studies in forest ecology and plant physiology. The
same records ascribed wildlife values to this RNA, but
they were not evaluated in this study.

LAND USE:

The site is essentially pristine; no timber cutting or
evidence of domestic stock use was found. It receives
limited recreational use from hunters and hikers.

MANAGEMENT COMMENTS:
This site would ideally be core of a much larger RNA
spanning the full range of enviroiunents and processes
of the Centennial Mountains. It lies within Red Rock
Lakes Wilderness Area, which spans the lower segment
of the 3,000 ft Sheep Mountain slope. The RNA could
be expanded lengthwise within wilderness area
boundaries, but any expansion of the vertical gradient

56

DISCUSSION

The 15 RNAs and two additional study sites
encompass a highly significant array of natural
landscapes for Montana and the upper Missouri
River watershed. Over 50 different plant
associations are present, representing about 10% of
all the recognized terrestrial plant association types
in Montana. About a third of these examples are
truly noteworthy in their quality and condition to
be considered good or outstanding representatives
of the biodiversity embodied in Montana's natural
vegetation (represented by shaded cells in Table 3,
Pgll)

These noteworthy plant associations arc
interpreted as representing significant biome
features, the first of the RNA criteria in the Refuge

Manual. RNAs may also represent stability in
ecological communities, succession in ecological
communities, habitat for threatened, endangered
or sensitive species, and geological processes.
Twelve RNA sites met one or more of these RNA
establishment criteria in our partial assessment, as
highlighted in Table 4 (below). We refer to this
as a partial assessment because it did not address
wildlife features.

Most of the five RNAs that do not contain
exemplary ecological or botanical features were
originally nominated based on wildlife values, and
this study simply provides background habitat
description.

Table 4. Partial matrix of National Wildlife Reftige RNA

criteria and sites in Montana

SITE

BIOME

CLIMAX

SUCCESSION

TES

PLANT

SPECIES

GEO.
PROCESS

Mullan Trail RNA

Yes

Fourth Ridge RNA

Yes

Hell Creek area

Yes

Yes

Limber Pine RNA

Yes

Mannmg Corral Prairie Dog
Town RNA

Yes

Missouri River Bottomlands
RNA

Yes

Yes

Yes

Spring Creek RNA

Yes

Two Calf- Douglas-fir RNA

Yes

Yes

York Island

Yes

Sheep Mountain RNA

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Medicine Lake sandhills area

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Tepee Hills RNA

Yes

57

Among the significant examples of plant
associations, as determined by their outstanding
quality and condition, several are considered
potentially rare or vulnerable across their entire
distribution. The Douglas fir / littleseed ricegrass
forest (Pseudotsuga menziesii/Oryzopsis
micrantha p.a.) is a well-developed plant
association found only in central Montana that is
rare on account of its geographical restriction,
even if it is not under widespread threat. Three
other plant associations may possibly be globally
rare and are in varying stages of status evaluation
in cooperation with adjoining states and provinces.
They include: Rocky Mountain juniper/
Wyoming big sagebrush woodland (Juniperus
scoulorum / Artemisia tridentata ssp.
wyomingensis Woodland), Indian ricegrass /
lemon scurf-pea sparse vegetation (Oryzopsis
hymenoides / Psoralea lanceolata p.a) as found in
sand dunes, and the porcupine needlegrass -
thickspike wheatgrass grassland (Stipa curtiseta /
Elymus lanceolatus Herbaceous Vegetation). We
believe that most or all of the other high global
ranks (G1-G3) for plant associations on Table 2
are artifacts of gaps in research or literature review.

There was relatively little overlap between plant
association features at different sites. This may
reflect the system of selecting sites or the inherent
diversity within the NWR system. Even in cases of
overlap, the "redundant" plant association features
differed in their ecological context. For example,
two significant stands of Artemisia tridentata ssp.
wyomingensis / Pascopyrum smithii were
identified: on York Island, and on Fourth Ridge
just to the west. Yet they differed in that the York
Island shrubland is pervasive across the uplands
and represents a typical landscape, while the
Fourth Ridge shrubland is part of a juniper
woodland mosaic in an extreme example in an
unusually harsh setting. Two sites of Pascopyrum
smithii -Nasella viridula p.a were documented at
Mullan Trail RNA and in the Hell Creek area, the
former in a glaciolacustrine setting and the latter
in an unglaciated setting where the community is
a post-fire serai stage. Many sites had vestiges or

patches of Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis -
Carex filifolia, but only Spring Creek had more
than 10 acres in good condition and surrounded
by more-or-less intact upland landscape
approaching good representation of the grassland
system and processes. Even the two RNAs
established to represent prairie dogs towns were
studies in contrast: an exotic species had taken
over in Prairie Dog Island RNA whereas native
species associated with early serai conditions
prevail across the prairie dog town site of Manning
Corral Prairie Dog Town RNA.

Other recurrent patterns appear in collectively
considering these 12 sites. They include some of
the few protected public lands in eastern Montana
with intact mesic, productive plant associations.
Such inventory features include the once-
widespread Pascopyrum smithii-Nasella viridula
p.a. of Mullan Trail RNA as mentioned above.
The other associations of high biomass are highly
localized features like the Stipa curtiseta - Elymus
lanceolatus p.a. of Tepee Hills RNA, restricted to
north-facing slopes.

The largest RNA, the Missouri River Bottomlands
RNA, is in a class by itself, encompassing riverine
processes and succession, and containing relatively
large Missouri River islands, relatively large stands
of plains cottonwood, and erodible valley slopes.
The presence of intact landscape processes, as well
as the plant association compohents, are enhanced
by representation of active geological processes,
which enhance system sustainability. Geological
processes are also captured in the sandhills
segment of the Medicine Lake Wilderness Area,
the largest sandhills in Montana with its aeolian
processes and succession. The Medicine Lake
sandhills also have the highest numbers of
Montana plant species of special concern among
study sites because of the uncommon sand dune
habitat. The third notable RNA example of
geological process are the avalanche chutes of the
Sheep Mountain RNA, although the RNA
includes only small portions of two chutes.

58

CONCLUSIONS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS

In addition to background and habitat
information for each site, this report provides a
baseline for assessing the diversity of ecological
features and processes represented in Montana's
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service RNAs. Together
with information on U.S. Forest Service RNAs
and BLM "Areas of Critical Environmental
Concern" (ACECs), this assessment can be used
to help systematically identify protected or
unprotected habitats and landscapes in Montana
and the region.

While boundary review per se was not the focus of
this project, information we collected suggests
some possible changes that would better fulfill
establishment or representation objectives for two
of the RNAs studied. These comments focus on a
landscape perspective, including gradients and
processes, which are important to the long-term
viability of communities and species within the
sites. Some of the RNAs already encompass broad
gradients. The Spring Creek RNA encompasses a
well-developed ravine system with its full
complement of habitats. The Limber Pine RNA
encompasses a typical Missouri Breaks cross-
section with a complementary suite of plant
associations. The Missouri River Bottomland in
combination with the Two Calf-Douglas-fir RNA
similarly encompasses a cross-section of Missouri
Breaks landscape, though the difference between
the vegetation on the former with its sandstone
and siltstone bedrock is a striking contrast with
the vegetation of the latter on Bearpaw Shale and
bentonite.

The value of the Missouri River Bottomlands
RNA (representing the valley slope gradient) is
enhanced by the adjacent Two Calf-Douglas-fir
RNA. However, the boundary may be inadequate
to effectively represent the latter forest type and
accompanying upland processes, and boundary
review for the latter is recommended.

The Sheep Mountain RNA area is not large
enough to represent viable stands and landscape
processes, but is surrounded by designated
wilderness on the Refuge. The Refuge extends to

midslope positions in the Centennial Range so any
recognition of intact landscape gradients would
involve collaboration with other agencies. Sheep
Mountain is also in a geographic class by itself
among Fish & Wildlife Service RNAs as a Rocky
Mountain site rather than a Great Plains site, with
intact old-growth plant associations that are
otherwise incompletely represented in the Forest
Service RNA system in Montana. We recommend
that the Service consider expanding the RNA
lengthwise on Refuge lands and explore
elevational expansion of the RNA to encompass
the unbroken ecological gradient that extends into
higher elevations onto BLM and USPS lands.

Though a "gap analysis" and exploration of
alternative or additional sites was beyond the
scope of this project, some observations emerged
from our studies. Most important is that despite
the array of plant associations within this USFWS
RNA system, it does not include large areas of
once-extensive plant associations that covered the
Great Plains. However, some RNAs we studied
occur within larger areas where these important
systems are represented in good condition. The
Charles M. Russell NWR offers outstanding and
unique opportunities to identify and sustain large,
intact plains landscape features not found
elsewhere on public lands in Montana. Further
field assessment is recommended beyond the RNA
boundaries to document the locations and
condition of key communities and landscape
complexes to provide information that can assist
with management and conservation of key
ecological features and areas on the Refuge.

On as smaller scale, the Manning Corral Prairie
Dog Town site could include representative
south-facing breaklands habitat in addition to
prairie dog town succession. We also noted that
few, well-developed plant associations or wetland
settings with intact hydrological gradients were
found, and these represent a gap in types
represented within existing RNAs.

In conclusion, we recommend a "next phase" of
effon focussed on identifying areas that would fill

59

gaps and achieve representation at scales more
consistent witli ecological processes and the
historic nature of once-widespread types. Much of
this effort should be focussed on the Charles M.
Russell NWR and surrounding public lands, where
there may be outstanding representation of large
scale landscape systems and conservation
opportunities potentially unique in Montana and
the region. Future work should also include
assessment of wildlife representation and values,
emphasizing rare, declining and keystone species.

60

LITERATURE CITED

Allen, L., S. Cooper, D. Faber-Langendoen and
G. Jones. 1999. P. Comer (ed.) Selected
shrubland and grassland communities of the
northern Great Plains. A report to the
Nebraska National Forest by The Nature
Conservancy, Boulder, CO. 124 pp.

Booth, W. E. 1950. Flora of Montana, part 1,
Conifers and Monocots. Research Foundation
at Montana State College, Bozeman. 232 pp.

Bourgeron, P. S. and L. D. Engelking (eds.).
1994. A preliminary vegetation classification
of the Western Unitied States. Unpublished
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Branson, F. A., R. F. Miller and I. S. McQueen.
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Cooper, S. V., P. Lesica, R. L. DeVelice and J. T.
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emphasis on those of Dillon Resource Area,
Bureau of Land Management. Montana
Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 1 52
pp.

Culver, D. 1993. Sensitive plant inventory in the
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Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land
Management. Montana Natural Heritage
Progrm, Helena. 42 pp. + app.

DeVelice, R. L., S. V. Cooper, J. T. McGarvey, J.
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approximation. Montana Natural Heritage
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Dittberner, P. L. and M. R. Olson. 1983. The
Plant Information Netword Data Base:
Colorado, Motana, North Dakota and
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FWS/OBS-83/36. 786 pp.

Dorn, R. D. 1984. Vascular Plants of Montana.
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Center, D. 1986. The Montana Natural Heritage
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Great Plains Flora Association. 1977. Adas of the
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Great Plains Flora Association. 1986. Flora of the
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Lawrence, KS. 1402 pp.

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Hansen, P. L., R. D. Pfister, K. Boggs, B. J.
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Classification and management of Montana's
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Publication No. 54, Montana Forest and

61

Conservation Experiment Station, School of
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MT. 646 pp.

Hanson, J. R. 1984. Bison ecology in the

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bison patterns for the North Dakota region.
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app.

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62

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app.

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RM-251. , Rocky Mountain Forest and Range
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Great Plains Vegetation Classification.
Supplemental Document 1, /«; W. R. Osdie,

63

Appendix A
Community Survey Form

COMMUNITY SURVEY FORM (MTNHP) GENERAL PLOT DATA:

A. roENTIFICATION AND LOCATION:

MANUAL:

PLOT NO. :MON. DAY: YEAR:

EXAMINER(S):

POTENTL^lL. NAT. COMM.: C.T.:

BAILEY CLASS.: SECTION SUBSECTION

POLYGON NO.: POLYGON NAME:

SITE NAME: STATE: COUNTY:

USGS QUAD NAME: QUAD CODE:

EXTENT C.T./P.A W/IN LANDSCAPE: Matrix, Lg. Patch, Sm. Patch (circle) COMMUNITY. SIZE (acres):

GPS REF. NO.: Field UTM X mE Field UTM Y

Corrected UTM X mE Corrected Field UTM Y mN UTM Zone

Public Land Survey:T, NorS ; R, £or w ; Sec. ; 1/4S ; 4/4 ; 4/4/4 ; 4/4/4/4 :

LATITUDE: (deg.); _ _ (min.); _ _ . _ _ (sec): LONGITUDE: (deg.); _ _ (min.); _ _ . _ Jsec);

OWNERSHIP (circle): Private (Name: ), U. S. Forest Service, BLM, Tribal, Bur. of Rec. , State MT,

PLOT TYPES: PLOT SIZE: RADIUS/LN; WIDTH SURVEY:

PHOTOGRAPHY: (type, azimuth, etc.)

DIRECTIONS (to plot):_

ENVIRONMENTAL FEATURES:

DL: SOILRPT:

SOIL UNIT: SOIL TAXON:

SOIL TEXTURE (circle one) clay; sandy clay; silty clay; clay loam; silty clay loam; sandy clay loam; loam; silt loam; silt; sandy loam; loamy sand; sand;

PARENT MATERL\L(S): LANDFORM:

PLOT POSITION: SLOPE SHAPE: (vert.) ; (hor.) ASPECT(c): SLOPE (%): _

ELEVATION: (ft. or M) EROSION POT.: EROS. TYPE(S):

HORIZON ANGLE: N ; E ; S ; W IFSLP: IFVAL:

SPECIAL FEATURE(S):

GROUND COVER (by cover cImscsj: soil+ gravel+ rock + litter + w(X)d + moss + basal veg. + other =ioo%

(bare soil = <2mm fraction: gravel = 2mm to <10cm; rock [inc. cobbles, boulders] = > 10cm. wood = > 1cm; litter = organic < 1 cm; other = water, lichen, specify
DISTURBANCE HISTORY (include estimation of weed populations here; type, intensity, frequency, season):

RIPARIAN/WETLAND FEATURES:

COWARDIN CLASS.: SYST. P.lu«rine,Lacu5trine,R.verii.e (circle) SUBSYST.

SUBCLASS. DOMINANCE TYPE

HGM CLASS.:

VALLEY FLOOR GRADIENT: FLOODPLAIN WIDTH: (m, ft.) BED MATERIAL:

CHANNEL WIDTH: CHANNEL DEPTH: CHANNEL ENTRENCH.:

SURFACE (STANDING) WATER DEPTH: (cm or in, observed): MEAN MAXIMUM

DIST. FROM WATER: AVE. ANN. HIGH WATER: (observed or estimate, circle)

PONDING EVIDENCE: (a aenal pbolo. B banded veg C rocki w/ w/o CMbonile com. D sediment deposition, L iDcIo w/ ind w/o lichen. R herb wrick lines, S w>ter/sill st»im)

DURATION of INUNDATION: (days, this year)

INUNDATION PERIOD/HYDRO. REGIME: i™,i.«-iPenn>nenUy Flooded, Ssturmted, SemipennuicnUy Flooded. Seajonilly Flooded, Teinporarily Fid , IntermittenUy Fid

SEDIMENT DEPOSITION: COVER (%), DEPTH (cm or in.)

BANK STABILITY: Rills, Gully Cutting, Headcuts, Slumps, Undercut Bank:

CAPILLARY FRINGE: DEPTH TO CAP. FRINGE; THICKNESS CAP. FRINGE; DEPTH to SATURATION (freew.ter>

ORGANIC HORIZON THICKNESS (cm or in.): MEAN MIN. MAX.; Oa Oe 01

PLOT NUMBER:

MINIMUM COVER VALUE:

OCULAR PLANT SPECIES DA TA:

NO. SPECIES: PNC:

TREES: TOTAL CV.
TALL CV.

MEAN HT.
MED. CV.
GRND.CV.

Tree Height I Canopy Cover by Dia. Class
SPECIES IDENT.* >18" <18" <9" <5" 1"

/

[

/

/

/

: TOTAL CV.
TALL CV.
LOW CV.

MEAN HT.
MED CV.
GRND.CV.

S

S

S

S

S

S

S

S 8

S 9

SIO

Sll

S12

/ [

/ [

/ [
/ [

/ [

/ [

/ [

/ [

/ [

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

GRANaNOIDS :

TOT. CV.
MED. CV.
GRND. CV."

G

G

G

G

G

G

G

G 8

G 9

GIO

Gil

G12

G13

G14

G15

G16

MEAN HT.
LOW CV.

FORBS: TOTAL CV.
MED. CV.
GRND. CV.

MEAN HT.
LOW CV.

SPECIES IDENTIFICATION

F 1

F 2

F 3

F 4

F 5

F 6

F 7

F 8

F 9

FIO

Fll

F12

F13

F14

F15

F16

F17

FIB

F19

F20

F21

F22

F23

F24

F25

F26

F27

F28

F2 9

F30

F31

F32

F33

F34

F35

F36

FERNS AND ALLIED FORMS (E.G EQUISETUM, LYCOPODIUM) :

TOTAL CV. MEAN HT . MED. CV.

LOW CV. GRND CV.

HT. CCC
/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

/ [ ]

;[ ]

[ ]

BRYOIDS S, LICHENS: TOTAL CV. Broids :
B 1 /

TOTAL CV. Lichens:
L 1

2

3

[ ]

mature (> 5 in. dbh) and seedlings/sap
(Percent Values): 0; T = >0, <1; P = il
<85; 9 - ^85, <95; F ■= i95

genus and species; write complete spec

2 = il5,
sion possible within lifefc

indicate collected taxon

Appendix B
Plant Species of Special Concern Survey Form

SCIENTinC NAME:
OBSERVER(S):

rHant opecies of Opecial Ooncem Survey Form

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
RO. Box 201800, 1515 E. Sixth Avenue, Helena, MT 59620-1800

DATE OF SURVEY:

WORK LOCATION / ADDRESS:

^.^

COUNTY:

TOWNSHIP:

RANGE:

USGS QUAD:

SEC.(s): _

ADDITIONAL T/R/S, SECTIONS OR V* SEC:

NATL. FOREST DISTRICT/BLM DISTRICT RA/OTHER:

DIRECTIONS TO SITE (Refer to towns, roads, trails, other geographic features):

'/« SEC:

TOTAL NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS (estimated or exact population count; sum clumps or stems if vegetative):

NUMBER OF SUBPOPULATIONS AND SUBTOTALS (if appUcable)

SIZE OF AREA COVERED BY POPULATION (acres):

PHENOLOGY (% flowering, fruiting, vegetative):

EVIDENCE OF DISEASE, PREDATION, INJURY:

EVIDENCE OF SEED DISPERSAL, ESTABLISHMENT:
POPULATION TREND/OTHER COMMENTS:

Habitat: ^esaSbeihe distinguishing' features of the enviro
spedes|^habitatin.theL8ettiiig}2^ "■-^"' • -^ - ■:-<*i--_-i^: "

ELEVATION (mean or range): .

% SLOPE: SLOPE SHAPE Q Concave Q Convex Q Straight Q Other

TOPOGRAPHY: n Crest Q Upper Q Mid Q Lower Q Bottom QOther

ASPECT: DN DNE QE DSE QS DSW QW QNW

MOISTURE: Q Dry □ Moist Q Saturated Qlnundated Q Seasonal seepage D Other.

UGHT EXPOSURE: D Open Q Shaded Q Partial shade Q Other

PARENT MATERIAL:

SURFACE COVER (TOTAL %): MOSS/UCHEN .
SOIL TEXTURE/SERIES:

BASAL VEG,

BARE GROUND .

CANOPY COVER: TREE (%)

SHRUB (%) .

FORB (%) .

. GRAMINOID(%)_

PLANT COMMUNITY: (dominant species at present, age and structure notes):

CLIMAX VEGETATION (if not above):

ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATED PLANTS (include most common, conspicuous, and characteristic spp.):_

EVIDENCE OF DISTURBANCE:

PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN? (if so, indicate photographer and depository):
SPECIMEN TAKEN? (if so, list collector, collection #, and repository): _

IDENTIFICATION (name of person making determination, and/or flora used):.

ECODATA PLOT NUMBER (attach photocopied data sheets):

OTHER DOCUMENTATION OR REFERENCES:

.Commentary V ;.!.'.,,. ;., ^:.r... __.'., "^.";;..: : _[ .;

Appendix C
Photographs of State-significant Vegetation Features

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Appendix E

Element Occurrence Records for
Montana Plant Species of Special Concern

USFWS RNA RECORDS - MONTANA PLANT SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN

Scientific Name: CRYPTANTHA FENDLERI
Common Name: FENDLER CAT'S-EYE

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDBOROAOXO . 005
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: MEDICINE LAKE SANDHILLS

EO rank:
EO rank comments:

County: SHERIDAN

uses quadrangle: CAPENEYS LAKE

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
031N 057E 20 SW4SW4

Precision: S

Survey date: Elevation: 2065

First observation: 1997-07-02 Slope/aspect: 20%

Last observation: 1997-07-02 Size (acres) : 0

Location:

MEDICINE LAKE SANDHILLS. CA. 2 AIR MILES NORTHWEST OF BEVERLY SCHOOL.

Element occurrence data:

COMMON IN SMALL AREAS OF TWO OF THE MOST ACTIVE BLOWOUTS, A HIGHLY
LOCALIZED HABITAT.

General site description:

UNSTABLE RIM OF OPEN SAND BLOWOUT HABITAT, WITH PSORALEA LANCEOLATA
AND ORYZOPSIS HYMENOIDES.

Land owner/manager:

MEDICINE LAKE WILDERNESS

MEDICINE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments :

THERE IS POTENTIAL HABITAT BETWEEN ELEMENT OCCURENCES 005 AND 003, AND
THEY ARE LIKELY TO BE PART OF A COMPLEX POPULATION.

Information source: COOPER, S. V. AND B. L. HEIDEL. 1999. BIODIVERSITY
INVENTORY AND REPRESENTATIVENESS ASSESSMENT OF
RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGES IN MONTANA. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO U.S.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, HELENA.

Specimens:

USFWS RNA RECORDS - MONTANA PLANT SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN

Scientific Name: CYPERUS SCHWEINITZII
Common Name: SCHWEINITZ' FLATSEDGE

Global rank: G5
State rank: SI

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PMCYP06360 . 001
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name:

EO rank:

EO rank comments:

MEDICINE LAKE SANDHILLS

County: SHERIDAN

USGS quadrangle: SUNNYHILL SCHOOL
CAPENEYS LAKE

Township: Range:
031N 057E
031N 058E

Section: TRS comments:

24 13, 14, 20, 23, 26

7 18; 19

Precision: S
Survey date:

First observation: 1943

Last observation: 1997-07-02

Elevation: 2100
Slope/aspect :
Size (acres) : 0

Location:

MEDICINE LAKE SANDHILLS, SOUTHEAST OF MEDICINE LAKE, CA. 25 AIR MILES
NORTH OF CULBERTSON.

Element occurrence data:

RHIZOMATOUS, MANY THOUSANDS OF STEMS IN SANDHILLS AREA.

General site description:

OPEN SAND HILLS; MOST CONSISTENTLY FOUND IN BLOWOUTS; WITH ORYZOPSIS
HYMENOIDES, PSORALEA LANCEOLATA, STIPA COMATA, SPOROBOLUS CRYPTANDRUS,
CRYPTANTHA FENDLERI .

Land owner /manager :

MEDICINE LAKE WILDERNESS

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

Comments :

Information source: LESICA, PETER. REPORT TO THE NATURE CONSERVANCY. UNDATED.
Specimens: HOTCHKISS, N. (6869). 1943. MONT.

USFWS RNA RECORDS - MONTANA PLANT SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN

Scientific Name: PHACELIA THERMALIS
Common Name: HOT SPRING PHACELIA

Global rank: G3G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDHYD0C4L0 . 002
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: YORK ISLAND

EO rank: BC
EO rank comments: PROTECTED EO OF LIMITED SIZE AND UNNATURAL

HABITAT.
County: GARFIELD
USGS quadrangle: YORK ISLAND
Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
025N 04 IE 08 SW4 ; SW4NW4
Precision: S
Survey date: 1998-07-17 Elevation: 2250 -
First observation: 1978 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1998-07-17 Size (acres) : 1
Location: YORK ISLAND, CHARLES M. RUSSELL NWR.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 50 PLANTS IN 3 SUBPOPULATIONS; THEY ARE OUTLIERS OF 1-2
INDIVIDUALS EXCEPT FOR THE SUBPOPULATION IN THE EASTERNMOST BACKWATER.
IN FRUIT AND LATE FLOWER 17 JULY 1998.

General site description:

BEACHES OF REWORKED SHALE, AND EPHEMERALLY PONDED BACKWATERS SET OFF
FROM FORT PECK RESERVOIR BY WRACK LINE OF SHALE FORMED BY WAVE ACTION.
HIGHEST SPECIES NUMBERS ARE AT THE EDGE OF AN OPEN, EVAPORATED
BACKWATER POOL SURROUNDED BY A ROBUST WEEDY COMMUNITY OF CHENOPODIUM,
HELIANTHUS ANNUUS, AND LEPIDIUM SATIVUM.

Land owner/manager: CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
YORK ISLAND RESEARCH NATURAL AREA

Comments :

ALMOST ALL SUITABLE HABITAT WAS SURVEYED IN 1998. THE RESERVOIR
REACHED MAXIMUM POOL CAPACITY IN 1997. IN THE SPRING OF 1998 WATER
LEVELS WERE LOW BUT HAVE RISEN 5 FEET WITH JUNE RAINS. THESE CHANGES
AFFECT SPECIES BIOLOGY (DISPERSAL, ESTABLISHMENT) AS WELL AS HABITAT
AVAILABILITY. OBSERVED BY B. HEIDEL, S. COOPER, AND G. GUENTHER IN
1998.

Information source: COOPER, S. V. AND B. L. HEIDEL. 1999. BIODIVERSITY
INVENTORY AND REPRESENTATIVENESS ASSESSMENT OF
RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGES IN MONTANA. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO U.S.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM

Specimens: LACKSCHEWITZ, K. H. (8248). 1978. SPECIMEN #81943. MONTU.

USFWS RNA RECORDS - MONTANA PLANT SPECIES OF SPECIAL CONCERN

Scientific Name: PHLOX ANDICOLA
Common Name: PLAINS PHLOX

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDPLM0D080 . 006
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: MEDICINE LAKE SANDHILLS

EO rank:
EO rank comments:

County: SHERIDAN

uses quadrangle: CAPENEYS LAKE

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
031N 057E 19 SW4SW4

Precision: S

Survey date: Elevation: 2000 -

First observation: 1997-07-02 Slope/aspect: 2-20%/NORTH

Last observation: 1997-07-03 Size (acres) :

Location:

CA. 15 MILES SOUTH AND EAST OF MEDICINE LAKE (TOWN) .

Element occurrence data:

LOCALLY COMMON IN ROLLING SANDPLAIN PLOT; OCCASIONAL IN ISLAND KNOLL
PLOT. IN FRUIT IN JULY.

General site description:

VARIOUS WELL-DRAINED, EXPOSED SETTINGS.

Land owner /manager :

MEDICINE LAKE WILDERNESS

MEDICINE LAKE NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Comments :

PRESUMED TO CORRESPOND WITH THE MATERIAL COLLECTED AND IDENTIFIED AS
PHLOX ACULEATA SOUTH OF THE REFUGE IN SANDHILLS. DOCUMENTED IN ECODATA
PLOTS.

Information source: COOPER, S. V. AND B. L. HEIDEL. 1999. BIODIVERSITY
INVENTORY AND REPRESENTATIVENESS ASSESSMENT OF
RESEARCH NATURAL AREAS ON NATIONAL WILDLIFE
REFUGES IN MONTANA. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO U.S.
FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, HELENA.

Specimens :

Appendix F

Illustrations of

Montana Plant Species

OF Special Concern

Illustration by Jeanne R Janish, From
'Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest'

CRYPTANTHA FENDLERI
FENDLER CATS-EYE

Fendler Cat's-eye is an annual with simple or branched stems that are 5-20 cm high. The alternate, narrow, strap shaped
leaves may be up to 3 cm long: those at the base are usually brown by the time the plant is fruiting. Foliage is sparsely
covered with spreading hairs. Tiny, white flowers are borne on coiled stalks that unwind and elongate as flowering
progresses from the base upward. The corolla is ca. 1 mm high and has a small, united portion below and 5 spreading
petals above. The calyx is covered with stiff, straight hairs and becomes 4-6 mm long in fruit. Within each fruiting calyx are
4 smooth, shiny, narrowly lance-shaped nutlets that are ca. 1.5 mm long and 1/3 as wide: 1 or more of these may be
missing. Flowering in May-early July.

Annual species of CRYPTANTHA are distinguished by characters of the seeds. C. FENDLERI is distinguished by having
4 smooth, shinv nutlets that are lance-shaped and 1/3 as wide as the>' are long. A hand lens or microscope are needed for
positive identification.

Reprinted with permission from the
New Bntton and Brown Illustrated
Flora of the Northeastern United
States and Adjacent Canada,
Vol 1. page 253. Copyright 1952,
The New York Botamcal Garden.

CYPERUS SCHWEINITZII
SCHWEINITZ' FLATSEDGE

Schvveinitz' Flatsedge is a grass-like perennial with stems that are 10-40 cm high, arising from short, irregularly swollen
rhizomes. The leaves are 1 -4 mm wide and located mostly near the base of the stem. The inflorescence is subtended by 3-6
long, leaf-like bracts, some of which are wider than the leaves. The infloresence is made up of ascending clusters of flattened
spikelets that are 5-25 mm long and borne on stalks that are very short to long. The flowers are crowded opposite each other
and consist onlj of a small, pointed scale, that is ca. 3-4 mm long and subtends 3 stamens and an ovary. The seed is triangular
in cross-section. Fruit mature in late Jime-July.

This is our only perennial CYPERUS and is the only one occurring in upland habitat.

Illustration by Jeanne R. Janish,

From 'Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest'

PHACELIA THERM ALIS
HOT SPRING PHACELIA

Hot Spring Phacelia is an annual that is branched from the base, with prostrate or ascending stems. The alternate leaves
have broadly lance-shaped blades that are 1-9 cm long with toothed and deeply lobed margins and well-developed
petioles. Foliage is glandular-hairy. The short-stalked flowers are borne in crowded, narrow, 1 -sided, curved spikes that
are up to 10 cm long. The spikes unwind as they mature and originate in the leaf axils. The lavendar to whitish flowers
each have a 5 lobed tubular corolla that is 3-4 mm long and 5 narrowly lance-shaped, hairy sepals that are as long as the
corolla in flower but twice as long in fruit. The stamens are included in the corolla tube. The fruit is a capsule with 2-4
seeds covered by a honeycomb pattern. Flowering in June.

PHACELIA IVESIANA differs from P. THERMALIS in that it has strap shaped sepals and is not as densely glandular-
hairy. P. LUTEA has yellow flowers and only shallowly lobed leaves.

Illustration by Debbie McNiel

PHLOX ANDICOLA
PLAINS PHLOX

Plains Phlox is a perennial with loosely tufted stems that are 4- 1 0 cm high arising from creeping rhizomes. The 5-8 pairs
of opposite, linear leaves have prominent midveins and whitish bases and are 10-25 mm long, ca. 1 mm wide and come to
a sharp point. Foliage is glabrous to sparsely hairy. Stems are white. 1-5 white flowers are borne at the stem tips. Each
flower has 5 petals and a tubular corolla. The calyx is also tubular, with 5 lobes, tangled long hairs, and 6-1 1 mm length.
Flowering in May-early June.

Distinguished from PHLOX HOODII by leaf length over 10 mm long, and from P. ALYSSIFOLIA by leaf width less than 2
mm wide. Flowers are needed for positive identification, and hybridization between these species is reported elsewhere in
the range.

Appendix G

Vascular Plants Cited in This Report,
BY Common Names, Scientific Names, and Six-letter Acronyms

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