TABLE OF CONTENTS – VOLUME II 

CHAPTER 4 ENVIRONMENTAL CONSEQUENCES (Continued from Volume I) ..... ........ 491 

Environmental Consequences of Five Site-Specific Travel Plans .......................................................................... 491 

Analysis Assumptions...............................................................................................................................................491 

Helena TPA.................................................................................................................................................................. 491 

Soils...........................................................................................................................................................................492 

Water Resources........................................................................................................................................................494 

Vegetative Communities – Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products..................................................496
 

Vegetative Communities – Noxious Weeds .............................................................................................................497 

Vegetative Communities – Riparian Vegetation ......................................................................................................500 

Wildlife......................................................................................................................................................................501 

Fish ............................................................................................................................................................................505 

Special Status Plants .................................................................................................................................................507 

Wildland Fire Management.......................................................................................................................................508 

Cultural and Paleontological Resources ...................................................................................................................510 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................510 

Livestock Grazing .....................................................................................................................................................511 

Minerals.....................................................................................................................................................................511 

Recreation..................................................................................................................................................................512 

Travel Management and Access ...............................................................................................................................513 

Transportation Facilities............................................................................................................................................517 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................517 

Special Designations .................................................................................................................................................518 

East Helena TPA ......................................................................................................................................................... 518 

Soils...........................................................................................................................................................................518 

Water Resources........................................................................................................................................................520 

Vegetative Communities – Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products..................................................524
 

Vegetative Communities – Noxious Weeds .............................................................................................................525 

Vegetative Communities – Riparian Vegetation ......................................................................................................527 

Wildlife......................................................................................................................................................................529 

Fish ............................................................................................................................................................................533 

Special Status Plants .................................................................................................................................................536 

Wildland Fire Management.......................................................................................................................................537 

Cultural and Paleontological Resources ...................................................................................................................539 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................539 

Livestock Grazing .....................................................................................................................................................539 

Minerals.....................................................................................................................................................................540 

Recreation..................................................................................................................................................................541 

Travel Management and Access ...............................................................................................................................542 

Transportation Facilities............................................................................................................................................545 

Lands and Realty.......................................................................................................................................................546 

Special Designations .................................................................................................................................................547 

Lewis and Clark County NW TPA............................................................................................................................ 547
 

Soils...........................................................................................................................................................................547 

Water Resources........................................................................................................................................................549 

Vegetative Communities – Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products..................................................552
 

Vegetative Communities – Noxious Weeds .............................................................................................................553 

Vegetative Communities – Riparian Vegetation ......................................................................................................556 

Wildlife......................................................................................................................................................................558 

Fish ............................................................................................................................................................................564 

Special Status Plants .................................................................................................................................................567 

Wildland Fire Management.......................................................................................................................................568 

Cultural and Paleontological .....................................................................................................................................570 

Visual Resources.......................................................................................................................................................570 

Livestock Grazing .....................................................................................................................................................571 

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Minerals.................................................................................................................................................................... 571 

Recreation................................................................................................................................................................. 572 

Travel Management and Access............................................................................................................................... 573 

Transportation Facilities........................................................................................................................................... 576 

Lands and Realty ...................................................................................................................................................... 577 

Special Designations ................................................................................................................................................ 578 

Boulder/Jefferson City TPA....................................................................................................................................... 578 

Soils .......................................................................................................................................................................... 578 

Water Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 580 

Vegetative Communities – Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products ................................................. 584 

Vegetative Communities – Noxious Weeds............................................................................................................. 585 

Vegetative Communities – Riparian Vegetation...................................................................................................... 587 

Wildlife..................................................................................................................................................................... 589 

Fish ........................................................................................................................................................................... 594 

Special Status Plants................................................................................................................................................. 597 

Wildland Fire Management...................................................................................................................................... 598 

Cultural and Paleontological Resources................................................................................................................... 600 

Visual Resources ...................................................................................................................................................... 600 

Livestock Grazing .................................................................................................................................................... 601 

Minerals.................................................................................................................................................................... 601 

Recreation................................................................................................................................................................. 602 

Travel Management and Access............................................................................................................................... 603 

Transportation Facilities........................................................................................................................................... 605 

Lands and Realty ...................................................................................................................................................... 606 

Special Designations ................................................................................................................................................ 606 

Upper Big Hole River TPA......................................................................................................................................... 606 

Soils .......................................................................................................................................................................... 607 

Water Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 609 

Vegetative Communities – Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products ................................................. 612 

Vegetative Communities – Noxious Weeds............................................................................................................. 614 

Vegetative Communities – Riparian Vegetation ..................................................................................................... 616 

Wildlife..................................................................................................................................................................... 618 

Fish ........................................................................................................................................................................... 623 

Special Status Plants................................................................................................................................................. 626 

Wildland Fire Management...................................................................................................................................... 627 

Cultural and Paleontological Resources................................................................................................................... 629 

Visual Resources ...................................................................................................................................................... 629 

Livestock Grazing .................................................................................................................................................... 630 

Minerals.................................................................................................................................................................... 630 

Recreation................................................................................................................................................................. 631 

Travel Management and Access............................................................................................................................... 632 

Transportation Facilities........................................................................................................................................... 635 

Lands and Realty ...................................................................................................................................................... 636 

Special Designations ................................................................................................................................................ 636 

Cumulative Effects of Travel Plans at the Planning Area Scale ............................................................................ 636 

Soils .......................................................................................................................................................................... 636 

Water Resources....................................................................................................................................................... 637 

Vegetative Communities – Forest Resources and Forest and Woodland Products ................................................. 638 

Vegetative Communities – Noxious Weeds............................................................................................................. 639 

Vegetative Communities – Riparian Vegetation...................................................................................................... 640 

Wildlife..................................................................................................................................................................... 641 

Fish ........................................................................................................................................................................... 647 

Special Status Plants................................................................................................................................................. 649 

Wildland Fire Management...................................................................................................................................... 650 

Cultural and Paleontological Resources................................................................................................................... 651 

Visual Resources ...................................................................................................................................................... 651 

Livestock Grazing .................................................................................................................................................... 652 

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Recreation..................................................................................................................................................................652 

Travel Management and Access ...............................................................................................................................653 

Transportation Facilities............................................................................................................................................656 

CHAPTER 5 CONSULTATION AND COORDINATION ................................................................... 659 

Introduction................................................................................................................................................................. 659
 

Scoping and Public Involvement Prior To the Draft RMP/EIS ............................................................................. 659 

Travel Management Planning ...................................................................................................................................659 

Collaborative Efforts .................................................................................................................................................. 659 

Travel Management Working Groups ......................................................................................................................659 

Formal Consultation ................................................................................................................................................... 660
 

Fish and Wildlife Service Consultation ....................................................................................................................660 

State Historic Preservation Office Consultation .......................................................................................................661 

Tribal Consultation....................................................................................................................................................661 

Informal Consultations............................................................................................................................................... 661 

Plan Distribution ......................................................................................................................................................... 661
 

List of Preparers.......................................................................................................................................................... 664 

REFERENCES CITED.................................................................................................................................................. 669 

GLOSSARY..................................................................................................................................................................... 679 

INDEX.............................................................................................................................................................................. 699
 

APPENDICES 

Appendix A – Travel Planning .......................................................................................................................................... 701 

Appendix B – Visual Resource Management (VRM)....................................................................................................... 709 

Appendix C – SIMPPLLE Model...................................................................................................................................... 711 

Appendix D – Best Management Practices ....................................................................................................................... 715 

Appendix E – Land Health Standards ............................................................................................................................... 719 

Appendix F – Wildlife ....................................................................................................................................................... 727 

Appendix G – Recreation Opportunity Spectrum (ROS).................................................................................................. 767 

Appendix H – Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs).................................................................................. 769 

Appendix I – Wild and Scenic Rivers (WSRs) ................................................................................................................. 795 

Appendix J – Cultural Resources ...................................................................................................................................... 847 

Appendix K – Lands and Realty........................................................................................................................................ 869 

Appendix L – Fluid Minerals............................................................................................................................................. 879 

LIST OF TABLES 

Table 4-48 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Helena TPA .......................................................... 492 

Table 4-49 BLM Acres in Road Density Categories for the Helena TPA ...................................................................... 495 

Table 4-50 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the Helena TPA ............................................... 495 

Table 4-51 Miles of Road/Trail by Alternative Near All Streams in the Helena TPA ................................................... 500 

Table 4-52 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Helena TPA ............................................. 501 

Table 4-53 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the Helena TPA ..................................................... 502 

Table 4-54 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Helena TPA ....................................................................................... 512 

Table 4-55 Helena TPA Route Management Summary.................................................................................................. 514 

Table 4-56 Helena TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs................................................................................................ 517 

Table 4-57 Helena TPA ROWs/Leases ........................................................................................................................... 518 

Table 4-58 BLM Road Miles in Soil Erosion Impact Categories for the East Helena TPA........................................... 519 

Table 4-59 Acres of BLM Land in Road Density Categories by Alternative for the East Helena TPA......................... 521 

Table 4-60 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the East Helena TPA ....................................... 521 

Table 4-61 Miles of BLM Road by Alternative Near All Streams in the East Helena TPA .......................................... 528 

Table 4-62 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the East Helena TPA ..................................... 528 

Table 4-63 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the East Helena TPA............................................. 530 

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Table 4-64 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in East Helena TPA ............................................................................... 540 

Table 4-65 East Helena TPA Route Management Summary .......................................................................................... 542 

Table 4-66 East Helena TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs ........................................................................................ 546 

Table 4-67 East Helena TPA ROWs/Leases ................................................................................................................... 546 

Table 4-68 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Lewis/Clark County NW TPA ............................. 547 

Table 4-69 BLM Acres in Road Density Categories for the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA................................... 550 

Table 4-70 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA............ 550 

Table 4-71 Miles of BLM Road by Alternative Near All Streams in the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA............... 556 

Table 4-72 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA........... 558 

Table 4-73 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the Lewis and Clark County NW TPA ................. 558 

Table 4-74 Road Density in the Northern Continental Divide Ecosystem Distribution Zone of Grizzly Bear .............. 559 

Table 4-75 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Lewis and Clark County NW TPA.................................................... 572 

Table-4-76 Lewis & Clark TPA Route Management Summary ..................................................................................... 574 

Table 4-77 Lewis & Clark County NW TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs ............................................................... 577 

Table 4-78 Lewis and Clark TPA ROWs/Leases ............................................................................................................ 578 

Table 4-79 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA ................................. 579
 

Table 4-80 BLM Acres in Road Density Categories for the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA ............................................. 581 

Table 4-81 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams for the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA...................... 582 

Table 4-82 Miles of BLM Road Near All Streams in the Boulder/Jefferson City TPA ................................................. 588 

Table 4-83 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Boulder-Jefferson City TPA..................... 589 

Table 4-84 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Boulder/Jefferson City TPA .............................................................. 602 

Table 4-85 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA Route Management Summary........................................................................ 603 

Table 4-86 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs....................................................................... 605 

Table 4-87 Boulder/Jefferson City TPA ROWs/Leases .................................................................................................. 606 

Table 4-88 BLM Road Miles in Erosion Impact Categories for the Upper Big Hole River TPA .................................. 607 

Table 4-89 Acres of BLM Land in Road Density Categories by Alternative for the Upper Big Hole River TPA. ....... 610 

Table 4-90 Miles of Road on BLM Lands Near Perennial Streams in the Upper Big Hole River TPA......................... 610 

Table 4-91 Miles of BLM Road Near All Streams in the Upper Big Hole River TPA .................................................. 616 

Table 4-92 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range in the Upper Big Hole River TPA ...................... 617 

Table 4-93 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat in the Upper Big Hole River TPA.............................. 618 

Table 4-94 Access to Mineral Potential Areas in Upper Big Hole River TPA ............................................................... 631 

Table-4-95 Upper Big Hole TPA Route Management Summary................................................................................... 632 

Table-4-96 Upper Big Hole Route/Trail/Maintenance Costs.......................................................................................... 635 

Table 4-97 Upper Big Hole TPA ROWs/Leases ............................................................................................................. 636 

Table 4-98 Acres of BLM Land in Road Density Categories for All Decision Area Lands........................................... 637 

Table 4-99 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area – Alt. A ................. 641 

Table 4-100 Decision Area Acres of Big Game Security Habitat Field Office-wide by Alternative .............................. 642
 

Table 4-101 Core and Subcore Areas – Approximate Acres by Road Density Category............................................... 642 

Table 4-102 High and Moderate Quality Corridors - Approximate Acres by Road Density Category.......................... 643 

Table 4-103 Low Quality Corridors - Approximate Acres by Road Density Category................................................. 643 

Table 4-104 Decision Area Road Densities Within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area – Alt. B................ 644 

Table 4-105 Decision Area Road Densities within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area – Alt. C ............... 645 

Table 4-106 Decision Area Road Densities Within Elk Winter Range by Big Game Analysis Area – Alt. D .............. 646 

Table 4-107 Decision Area Acres in Road Density Categories by Alternative by Watershed ....................................... 647 

Table 4-108 Miles of Open Roads within 300 Feet of Streams – Decision Area ............................................................ 648 

Table 4-109 Miles of Closed Roads within 300 Feet of Streams – Decision Area .......................................................... 648 

Table 4-110 Comparison of Past/Present Travel Management For Butte Field Office TPAs with Recent Travel 

Plans ............................................................................................................................................................. 654 

Table 4-111 Comparison of Past/Present Travel Management for the North Belts TPA on Helena National Forest ..... 654 

Table 4-112 Summary of Summer Opportunities by Road/Trail Miles, Gallatin National Forest ................................. 654
 

Table 4-113 Summary of Winter Opportunities by Miles, Gallatin National Forest ....................................................... 654 

Table 4-114 Status of Transportation System at the Field Office Scale by Alternative................................................... 655 

Table 4-115 Field Office Wide Route/Trail Annual Maintenance Costs ........................................................................ 656 

Table 5-1 List of Contributors ...................................................................................................................................... 664 

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