United States Department of Agriculture

Forest Rocky Mountain General Technical Report

Service Research Station RMRS-GTR-369 November 2017

Fens and Their Rare Plants in the 

Beartooth Mountains, Shoshone 

National Forest, Wyoming

Bonnie Heidel, Walter Fertig, Sabine Mellmann-Brown, 

Kent E. Houston, and Kathleen A. Dwire
Heidel, Bonnie; Fertig, Walter; Mellmann-Brown, Sabine; Houston, Kent E.; Dwire, Kathleen A. 

2017. Fens and their rare plants in the Beartooth Mountains, Shoshone National Forest, 

Wyoming. Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-369. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 

Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 110 p.

Abstract

Fens are common wetlands in the Beartooth Mountains on the Shoshone National Forest, Clarks 

Fork Ranger District, in Park County, Wyoming. Fens harbor plant species found in no other 

habitats, and some rare plants occurring in Beartooth fens are found nowhere else in Wyoming. 

This report summarizes the studies on Beartooth fens from 1962 to 2009, which have contributed 

to current knowledge of rare plant distributions and biodiversity conservation. The study area is 

the Wyoming portion of the Beartooth Mountains in the Middle Rocky Mountains. Here, we profile 

18 fens that occur over the range of elevations, settings, geomorphic landforms, and vegetation. 

The wetland flora from these 18 fens is composed of 58 families, 156 genera, and 336 vascular 

plant species—more than 10 percent of the known Wyoming flora. We discuss 32 rare vascular 

plant species and 1 bryophyte species associated with Beartooth fens and their State and regional 

significance.

Protection and management of Beartooth fens are addressed in guidance documents prepared by 

the U.S. Forest Service Groundwater Program, regional peatland and sensitive species policies, 

and the Shoshone National Forest Management Plan. Information compiled in this report increases 

understanding of Beartooth fens, provides a basis for future research and comparisons with 

mountain fens elsewhere in Wyoming and the Rocky Mountains, and contributes to conservation of 

fen resources and services.

Keywords: fen, wetland, rare plant, vascular flora, Beartooth Mountains, Shoshone National Forest

All Rocky Mountain Research Station publications are published by U.S. Forest Service employees and are in the 

public domain and available at no cost. Even though U.S. Forest Service publications are not copyrighted, they 

are formatted according to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards and research findings and formatting cannot 

be altered in reprints. Altering content or formatting, including the cover and title page, is strictly prohibited.

Cover photo: Swamp Lake Fen in the Clarks Fork Valley, Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming 

(photo: Mack Frost, used with permission).
Authors

Bonnie Heidel is Lead Botanist of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database at the University of 

Wyoming. She holds a B.A. degree in biology from Carleton College and an M.S. degree in botany 

from Washington State University. She conducts Statewide research on Threatened, Endangered, 

and Sensitive plant species and maintains the Wyoming Plant Species of Concern list. Her research 

interests include biodiversity, biogeography, and conservation botany.

Walter Fertig is owner of Moenave Botanical Consulting and prior assistant curator at Arizona State 

University. He holds a B.S. degree in botany from Oregon State University, and an M.S. degree and 

Ph.D. in botany from the University of Wyoming. He was formerly the Botanist with the Wyoming 

Natural Diversity Database where he surveyed rare plants and vegetation types throughout the 

State. His research interests include floristics, gap analysis, plant geography, weed science, and 

conservation botany.

Sabine Mellmann-Brown is a Vegetation Ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service Northern Region in 

Missoula, Montana. She holds an M.S. degree in geography and a Ph.D. in landscape ecology from 

the Univeristy of Münster, Germany, and worked as a postdoctoral research scientist at Montana 

State University before joining the U.S. Forest Service. She is currently working on a landscape 

scale restoration effort but continues to be interested in riparian and wetland ecology and high 

mountain ecosystems.

Kent E. Houston (retired) was Ecologist/Soil Scientist/Botanist with Shoshone National Forest and 

was responsible for the sensitive plant species program, soils, invasive species, and natural areas 

programs on the Forest. He holds a B.A. degree in forestry from Southern Illinois University and an 

M.S. degree in soil science from the University of Idaho, Moscow.

Kathleen A. Dwire is a Riparian Research Ecologist with the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain 

Research Station in Fort Collins, Colorado. She holds a B.A. degree in environmental biology from 

the University of California, Santa Barbara, an MS degree from the University of California, Davis, 

and a Ph.D. from Oregon State University. She studies riparian and wetland ecology in mountains 

of the western United States. Her research interests include impacts of disturbance (insects, fire, 

management activities) on riparian vegetation and function, and characterization of groundwaterdependent ecosystems (springs and fens) and other wetlands in headwater basins.

The use of trade or firm names in this publication is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by 

the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service.
Acknowledgments

This publication reflects research by a legion of botanists and other scientists named in the report, 

whose Beartooth studies advance current knowledge of mountain fens and fostered additional 

studies. Information and insights provided by Erwin Evert are acknowledged with gratitude. Scott 

Laursen (Wyoming Natural Diversity Database; WYNDD) contributed during the pilot work on 

fens in 2002. Later fen inventory trips were accompanied by Yelena Kosovich-Anderson and 

Ron Anderson, Emily Elliott and Brian Elliott, Leslie Marty, and John Osgood. The geographic 

information system (GIS) modeling of Eli Rodemaker (Wyoming Geographic Information Science 

Center) and initial GIS design work of Rob Thurston (WYNDD) are acknowledged with special 

appreciation. The expertise of Roger Hopper (Wyoming Department of Agriculture, Analytical 

Services Lab) in providing water chemistry analyses is gratefully acknowledged, as are soils 

analyses by Ramona Belden (University of Wyoming Soils Testing Lab). This work would not have 

been possible without the resources of the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (University of Wyoming), 

along with the expertise and encouragement of Ron Hartman and B.E. Nelson. The contributions 

of Joy Handley and all other botanists who entered study area plant records into the database 

of WYNDD are much appreciated. Thanks to J. Stephen Shelly (U.S. Forest Service Region 1, 

Missoula, Montana), Paige Wolken (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Cheyenne, Wyoming), and 

Dave Weixelman (U.S. Forest Service Region 5, Nevada City, California) for insightful reviews. 

Incorporation of their comments and suggested revisions strengthened this report. The botany 

studies that took place in Beartooth fens were conducted through WYNDD in collaboration with the 

Shoshone National Forest and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

We appreciate the careful editing provided by Cynthia Moser, and thank Connie Lemos and Patricia 

Cohn for guidance through the revision process, and for the creative layout and production of the 

final report.

ii
Contents

Introduction.....................................................................................................................1

Beartooth Mountains Study Area..................................................................................3

Peatland Studies in the Beartooth Mountains.............................................................6

Fen Flora .........................................................................................................................8

Fen Vegetation................................................................................................................9

Forested Vegetation................................................................................................................9

Shrub Vegetation ..................................................................................................................10

Graminoid Vegetation ...........................................................................................................10

Aquatic Floating and Submerged Vegetation........................................................................11

Environmental Characteristics....................................................................................14

Geology and Soils.................................................................................................................14

Hydrology..............................................................................................................................16

Water Chemistry ...................................................................................................................16

Disturbance...........................................................................................................................18

Description of 18 Beartooth Fens...............................................................................18

Swamp Lake Fen..................................................................................................................18

Clay Butte Fen ......................................................................................................................25

Fantan Fen............................................................................................................................27

Ghost Creek Fen...................................................................................................................30

Lake WGN Fen .....................................................................................................................32

Lily Lake East Fen ................................................................................................................34

Lily Lake Fen.........................................................................................................................37

Little Bear Lake Fen..............................................................................................................38

Little Moose Lake Fen...........................................................................................................41

Littlerock Creek Fen..............................................................................................................42

Meadow Lake Fen ................................................................................................................45

Meadow Lake North Fen.......................................................................................................47

Mud Lake Fen.......................................................................................................................49

Poke Lake Fen......................................................................................................................50

Rock Creek Fen....................................................................................................................52

Sawtooth Palsa Fen..............................................................................................................52

Trail Fen................................................................................................................................58

Wyoming Creek ....................................................................................................................58

Rare Plants of Beartooth Fens....................................................................................63

Disturbances.................................................................................................................78

Anthropogenic Disturbances.................................................................................................78

Natural Disturbances ............................................................................................................79

iii
Future Directions..........................................................................................................79

Inventory ...............................................................................................................................79

Classification.........................................................................................................................80

Research and Monitoring......................................................................................................80

Conservation and Management............................................................................................82

References ....................................................................................................................82

Appendix: Vascular Flora of Beartooth Mountains Fens, Wyoming .......................93

iv
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 1

Introduction

Peatlands are wetlands with water-saturated soils where dead organic matter in various 

stages of decomposition accumulates as peat. They occur extensively in northern latitudes of 

North America across Alaska and Canada (Rydin and Jeglum 2013). In the western United 

States, mountain peatlands are generally small and are dependent on localized climate and 

hydrological conditions that allow peat to accumulate faster than it decomposes under relatively stable inflows of groundwater over millennia (Bedford and Godwin 2003; Windell et 

al. 1986). Such groundwater-dependent peatlands are referred to as “fens.” As defined in this 

report, fens have peat thickness of at least 40 cm (16 in) to meet the organic soil criterion 

established by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Natural Resources Conservation 

Service (NRCS) (USDA NRCS 2014).

We describe 18 fens in the Beartooth Mountains on the Shoshone National Forest (NF) in 

Park County, Wyoming (table 1), and the distribution of 32 rare vascular plant species and 1 

rare bryophyte species associated with them. The 18 fens occur over a range of elevation, topography, and water chemistry in the Beartooth Mountains. They include most of the largest 

intact fens in the study area and many of those harboring more than one rare plant populations. For each fen, botanical attributes, significance, and documentation are presented as a 

Table 1—Characteristics of the 18 fens described in this report. These fens are located in the southern portion of the Beartooth 

Mountains on the Shoshone National Forest, Wyoming.

Fen

Elevation

(m)

Area

(ha) Setting Vegetation structure Underlying geology 

Clay Butte Fen 2,740 4.7 Basin Graminoid, shrub Quaternary glacial deposit

Fantan Fen 2,910 4.8 Sloping Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Ghost Creek Fen 2,410 2 Basin Graminoid Precambrian bedrock

Lake WGN Fen 2,890 1.9 Basin Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Lily Lake East Fen 2,520 5.1 Basin Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Lily Lake Fen 2,340 14.2 Sloping Graminoid, shrub Precambrian bedrock

Little Bear Lake Fen 2,910 4.1 Sloping Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Little Moose Lake Fen 2,440 3.1 Basin Graminoid, shrub Precambrian bedrock

Littlerock Creek Fen 3,220–

3,270

8.4 Sloping Graminoid Oldest gneiss complex

Meadow Lake Fen 2,990 4.7 Sloping Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Meadow Lake North Fen 3,000 2.9 Basin Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Mud Lake Fen 2,350 8.1 Sloping Graminoid, shrub Quaternary glacial deposit

Poke Lake Fen 2,630 4.7 Basin Graminoid Precambrian bedrock

Rock Creek Fen 2,340 1 Basin Graminoid Quaternary glacial deposit

Sawtooth Palsa Fen 2,950 8 Basin Graminoid Oldest gneiss complex

Swamp Lake Fen 2,010 98.9 Basin Graminoid, shrub, 

forest 

Quaternary alluvium and colluvium

Trail Fen 2,940 3.1 Sloping Graminoid Oldest gneiss complex

Wyoming Creek 3,020–

3,250

mosaic Sloping Graminoid, shrub Oldest gneiss complex
2 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

baseline for future research in the Beartooth Mountains and for comparison with other mountain ranges in the western United States. This report is primarily a reference for botanists 

and wetland ecologists, and secondarily for hydrologists, soil scientists, and other resource 

specialists.

Like all wetlands on public lands, fens are protected under the Clean Water Act of 

1972, and managed to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 and 

the Endangered Species Act of 1973 (Suzuki and Olson 2008). On National Forest lands, 

protection of fens and other wetlands is also governed by U.S. Forest Service Manual 2881.2 

(USDA Forest Service 2010), and rules stated as Standards and Guidelines in the forest plan 

for each national forest, as updated by the 2012 Planning Rule (USDA Forest Service 2012a). 

Guidance for inventory and management of fens as groundwater-dependent ecosystems is 

provided by the Forest Service Groundwater Program (USDA Forest Service 2007), the 

peatland policy of the Forest Service’s Region 2 (Rocky Mountain Region), hereafter called 

Region 2, (USDA Forest Service 2002), and the Shoshone NF Management Plan (USDA 

Forest Service 2015a).

Fens are also protected where they harbor Forest Service sensitive species (USDA Forest 

Service 2015b). Some fens can support a disproportionately high number of sensitive and 

other rare plant species and uncommon vegetation types due to their environmental conditions and stability. Mountain peatland floras include vascular plant species and bryophytes 

that are more typical of boreal regions of Alaska and Canada, some of which are restricted 

to fen habitats where present in the Rocky Mountains. The Beartooth fens described in this 

report support 32 vascular species recognized as Wyoming Plant Species of Concern by the 

Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (Heidel 2007). Four of the 32 Species of Concern occur 

nowhere else in Wyoming: Amerorchis rotundifolia, Arctostaphylos rubra, Salix barrattiana, 

and Salix myrtillifolia. Twelve of the 32 species are listed as sensitive by Region 2 (USDA 

Forest Service 2011). One bryophyte species, Sphagnum angustifolium, is designated as 

sensitive. Studies in the Beartooth Mountains study area that address fen floristic composition 

include Fertig and Jones (1992), Heidel and Laursen (2003b), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), 

Jones and Fertig (1999b), Jones et al. (2011a,b,c) and Mellmann-Brown (2004). Studies elsewhere in Wyoming have been conducted in fens of the Medicine Bow Mountains (Heidel and 

Jones 2006; Heidel and Laursen 2003a; Heidel and Thurston 2004), the Big Horn Mountains 

(Heidel 2011), the Laramie Range (Heidel et al. 2013), Yellowstone National Park (Chadde et 

al. 1988; Lemly 2007; Lemly and Cooper 2011), and other locations (Heidel 2013a,b; Heidel 

et al. 2013). Studies elsewhere in the Rocky Mountains that address fen floristic composition include Austin (2008), Austin and Cooper (2015), Bursik (1990), Chimner et al. (2010), 

Cooper and Andrus (1994), Lesica (1986), and Lyon et al. (2007). In addition, Chadde et al. 

(1998) focused on Idaho and Montana fens, while citing information from two fens in the 

Beartooth Mountains study area (this report).

Over the years, fen studies in the Beartooth Mountains and elsewhere in the State have 

provided the basis for reevaluating what species are present and rare in the Shoshone NF 

and in the State, and have been used in addressing the Region 2 sensitive species list under 

the Forest Service sensitive species policy. The studies also provide information for maintaining the Wyoming Species of Concern list and State ranks. In the following section, the 

pioneering work at Swamp Lake Fen and other fen studies in the Beartooth Mountains are 

presented. Collectively, findings are reflected in updates to the Wyoming Species of Concern 

list and State species accounts, and posted online in the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 3

(WYNDD 2016). Some of the rare plants in Beartooth Mountain fens have been included in 

earlier State and Forest Service field guides (Fertig et al. 1994; Houston et al. 2001; Mills and 

Fertig 1996a). Scientific names for plants used throughout this report follow the PLANTS database (USDA NRCS 2015), with synonyms and common names provided in the Appendix.

Beartooth Mountains Study Area

The Beartooth Mountains are a northwest-southeast trending landform that straddles the 

Montana-Wyoming State line in Park County, Wyoming and Park and Stillwater Counties, 

Montana. The study area is confined to the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming (fig. 1), part 

of the Middle Rocky Mountains (Bailey 1997). The Beartooth Mountains occur within the 

Yellowstone River watershed, and portions of the range are located on three national forests, 

the Shoshone NF in Wyoming and the Custer and Gallatin NFs in Montana. The AbsarokaBeartooth Wilderness Area occurs in the central Beartooth Mountains, at the highest 

elevations in the range, and extends to the Absaroka Range.

The Beartooth Mountains formed from an anticlinal thrust wedge uplifted during the 

Laramide Orogeny in the late Cretaceous or early Tertiary (Foose et al. 1961). Erosion has exposed the Precambrian crystalline core of the mountains, though small areas of Mid- to Upper 

Cambrian and Devonian sedimentary formations remain. The extensive Precambrian formations are mapped as the “oldest gneiss complex” in Wyoming; are composed of gneiss, schist, 

and related metamorphic rocks that have been modified by strong faulting; and are base-poor 

parent material (Foose et al. 1961). Sedimentary formations are found along the southern 

study area boundary (locally known as the “reef”), on the eastern flanks of the Beartooth 

uplift, and on the prominent geologic remnant called Beartooth Butte. For purposes of this 

report, we include the Clarks Fork Valley, located between the Beartooth Mountains and the 

Absaroka Range, as part of the Beartooth study area. Sedimentary formations and Quaternary 

deposits derived from them provide base-rich parent material. Groundwater conditions that 

support fens are found on all formations, and are influenced by faults, bedding planes, and 

topography. The associated water chemistry differs among the geologic formations.

Wyoming fens are often in glaciated mountain landscapes (Knight et al. 2014). Three major periods of glaciation in the Beartooth Mountains resulted in extensive Quaternary deposits 

in valley bottoms (Love and Christiansen 1985; Pierce 1965, 1980; Pierce and Nelson 1971). 

Within the large crystalline fault block, U-shaped valleys and other glacial features contribute 

to the distinctive plateau-type benches characteristic of the Beartooth Mountains. Quaternary 

morainal deposits are dominated by granitic materials that originated at higher elevations in 

the Beartooth Mountains. There is little information about the climate over geological time 

apart from the characterization of the Beartooth Mountains as part of the northern Greater 

Yellowstone landscape, where the climate was wetter in the early Holocene (9,000–14,000 

years before present [YBP]) (Whitlock and Bartlein 1993) than current conditions. The 

Beartooth Plateau is an alpine peneplain that hosts a number of arctic-alpine plant species that 

are disjunct between British Columbia and Colorado (Marr et al. 2012), including the widespread arctic-alpine plant, alpine mountainsorrel (Oxyria digyna) (Marr et al. 2008).

The Beartooth Plateau was first hypothesized to have areas of unglaciated refugia by Pierce 

(1979). The present landscape and soils have been modified by colluvial, fluvial, and frostchurning geomorphic processes (Johnson and Billings 1962; Love and Christiansen 1985). 
4 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Figure 1—Beartooth Mountains study area and representative fens, Park County, Wyoming. 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 5

Wetlands are common in much of this landscape. In Wyoming, the Beartooth Mountains were 

identified as having high wetland density and high total wetland area (Copeland et al. 2010). 

Wetland soil types in the study area include Cryaquents, Cryofluvents, Cryaquepts, Cryaquolls, 

and Cryofibrists (USDA NRCS Soil Survey Staff 2008). The soil units mapped in the fens 

described in this report are Cryofibrists (USDA NRCS Soil Survey Staff 2008), with organic 

matter composed of undecayed or partially decayed sedge and bryophyte material, gen- erally 

more than 40 cm thick. Permafrost in the study area was first reported by Pierce (1961) at the 

Sawtooth Peatbeds. Frozen soils were also reported underlying alpine fens at the headwaters 

of Wyoming Creek by Johnson and Billings (1962), who noted peat depths of 46 cm (18 in). 

Similar depths were found at the Sawtooth Peatbeds. Permafrost is defined by substrate temperatures that remain below 0 °C (32 °F) for more than 2 years. Such soils belong to the Gelisol 

order and are classified as Hemic Glacistels (USDA NRCS Soil Survey Staff 2014).

The upland soils and bedrock parent material can influence the groundwater supporting 

fens. Upland soils in the study area consist of Inceptisols, Mollisols, and Alfisols (USDA 

NRCS Soil Survey Staff 2008). On Precambrian formations, soils are generally poorly developed and classified as Inceptisols, Entisols, or Mollisols. Typically they have coarse textures 

and low base saturations. More developed soils are classified as Haplocryolls, but with 

increasing elevation Eutrocryepts, Dystrocryepts, and Cryorthents become more common. At 

the highest elevations, alpine soils on Beartooth Plateau Precambrian formations are weakly 

developed and tend to have a loamy surface “A” horizon with sandy textured subsoils. Base 

saturations are low and soils are classified as Eutrocryepts, Dystrocryepts, and Cryorthents. 

Alluvial deposits derived from sedimentary formations are also found along the southern 

study area boundary. These soils have fine textures and high base saturations; they are classified as Typic Cryalfs, Calcic Cryalfs, or Haplocryolls (USDA NRCS Soil Survey Staff 2008).

The Beartooth Mountains have a continental climate with dry, warm summers and cold, 

moist winters. Annual precipitation in the Beartooth Mountains ranges from 25 to 157 cm (10 

to 62 in), with a strong elevation gradient and increasingly dry conditions toward the eastern 

side of the mountains. Most annual precipitation falls as snow. A snow telemetry (SNOTEL) 

station is centrally located in the study area at an elevation of 2,853 m (9,360 ft) in subalpine 

spruce-fir (Picea engelmanii-Abies lasiocarpa) forest near Beartooth Lake (http://wcc.

sc.egov.usda.gov/nwcc/site?sitenum=326). Average annual precipitation at the SNOTEL 

station is 81 cm (32 in) based on 1980–2015 data (Curtis and Grimes 2004) (fig. 2). The average daily minimum temperature of the coldest month (December) was −27.3 °C (−7.1 °F) 

between 1980 and 2015; the coldest temperature on record is −39 °C (−38.2 °F) (USDA

NRCS 2016). There is extensive alpine habitat with low temperatures during the short growing season, with similarities and dissimilarities relative to arctic latitudes (Billings 1973). The 

alpine conditions reduce water loss and decay rates and are conducive to the accumulation of 

organic material despite the short growing season.

The montane and subalpine vegetation in the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming is 

dominated by spruce-fir forest, lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) woodland, and Douglas-fir 

(Pseudotsuga menziesii) woodland interspersed with mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia 

tridentata ssp. vaseyana), subalpine forb and herbaceous meadows, and wetlands (Driese et 

al. 1997; Knight et al. 2014). Stunted, tundra-like alpine vegetation covers large portions of 

the plateau landscape (Johnson and Billings 1962). The vegetation has been classified and described in previous studies (Fertig and Bynum 1994; Fertig and Jones 1992; Jones and Fertig 

1999a,b; Tweit and Houston 1980; Walford et al. 2001).
6 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Peatland Studies in the Beartooth Mountains

Most of the Beartooth Mountains are in Montana, but fen studies have been concentrated 

in the southern portion of the Beartooth Mountains in Wyoming due to environmental differences and easier access. The information presented in this report is from the Wyoming 

portion of the Beartooth Mountains, an area of about 828 km2 (320 mi2). This area is managed as part of the Clarks Fork Ranger District, Shoshone NF. The fens described in the 

report (fig. 1) occur from 2,010 to 3,270 m (6,590 to 10,730 ft) in elevation, spanning most 

of the range of the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming. The highest elevation fens are on the 

Beartooth Plateau, and the lowest elevation fens are in the Clarks Fork Valley on the border 

between the Beartooth Mountains and the Absaroka Range.

Numerous studies have been conducted on peatlands in the southern Beartooth Mountains, 

though few were designed as peatland research. The first published research on a Beartooth 

fen described the Sawtooth Peatbeds (fig. 1; Sawtooth Palsa Fen) as raised, peat-covered 

mounds over a permafrost core (Pierce 1961). Palsas are large mounds that contain frozen 

ice lenses and frequently develop in peatland areas of boreal regions. Although isolated 

patches of permafrost have been reported in the Rocky Mountains as far south as Arizona, 

this is the only palsa-fen feature described to date in the conterminous United States (Collins 

Figure 2—Climate diagram for the Beartooth 

Lake SNOTEL station (2,853 m), located 

in subalpine spruce–fir forest, for the 

period of record (1980 to 2015). Top line of 

graph shows mean monthly precipitation. 

Bottom line of graph shows mean monthly 

temperatures from January to December. 

Black bar indicates months with mean 

minimum temperatures <0 °C; diagonally 

hatched bar indicates that, for most years, 

minimum temperatures for July are >0 °C 

(USDA NRCS 2016).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 7

et al. 1984). Next, Johnson and Billings (1962) examined both terrestrial and wetland alpine 

vegetation of the Beartooth Mountains in relation to soil- forming processes. They described 

the “alpine bog” habitat of Wyoming Creek.

The third Beartooth fen described in a research publication was Swamp Lake Fen, where 

botany work started in 1979 (fig. 1, Swamp Lake Special Botanical Area; see also cover 

photo). Evert et al. (1986) documented nine new State vascular plant records. Swamp Lake 

Fen was proposed and evaluated for natural area designation based on the occurrence of a 

high number of rare species (Evert 1984; Johnston 1987; USDA Forest Service 1986). A 

floristic inventory documenting species composition and a rare plant survey noting the local 

distribution of rare plant species were conducted in tandem with vegetation mapping by 

researchers from WYNDD (Fertig and Jones 1992). None of the above-mentioned publications referred to either peatlands or fens, but Swamp Lake Fen and Sawtooth Peatbeds were 

included in a publication on peatlands of the Northern Rocky Mountains (Chadde et al. 1998) 

based primarily on these earlier works.

Pilot fen studies were conducted at six known fens including Swamp Lake Fen and 

Sawtooth Palsa Fen, as treated by Heidel and Laursen (2003b) and Mellmann-Brown (2004). 

This work provided a springboard for extensive fen studies using photointerpreta- tion and 

remote sensing across the montane and subalpine elevations of the Wyoming side (Heidel 

and Rodemaker 2008), an area of 548 km2 (212 mi2). The six sites were used for reference to 

identify and trace outlines of other wetlands that appeared to have saturated conditions late 

in the growing season and fen features such as floating mats or distinctive vegetative or geomorphic patterning. Photointerpretation was conducted in 2005 using color infrared digital 

orthophotography taken late in the 2001 growing season.

A total of 413 prospective fens were digitized. Field visits of 194 wetlands from 2005- 

2007 verified that 105 qualified as fens (i.e., they contained peat and met the 40-cm peat 

thickness criterion). GPS points were recorded at opposite ends of each peatland to project 

them onto digital aerial imagery and cross-check them with digitized boundaries that were 

based on photointerpretation. The fen settings, geology (Love and Christiansen 1985), and 

vegetation were recorded and the occurrence of rare plants was documented at each of the 

105 fens. In addition, photographs and pH readings were taken and rare plant specimen 

vouchers were collected. The 105 fens ranged from 0.06 ha (0.15 ac) to 949 ha (234 ac) in 

area; collectively, the area sampled represented more than 75 percent of the total area digitized as potential peatland habitat in the Beartooth Mountains (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008) 

(fig. 3). The majority of sites that were not visited were less than 0.4 ha (1 ac) and located in 

the Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness Area. It is estimated that fens account for up to 1.0 percent of the Beartooth landscape area included in this project (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008).

These fen studies did not originally investigate the alpine zone because fewer man- agement activities occur at alpine elevations than lower elevations. In 2009, two alpine wetlands 

with peat, Littlerock Creek Fen and Wyoming Creek, were identified based on fen indicator 

species. Although they did not meet the 40-cm criterion for peat thickness, they were characterized in the same way as other fen sites included in this report.

The results of the pilot and extensive fen studies were integrated with prior site studies and 

combined to profile the fen flora, vegetation, and environmental characteristics of fens and an 

array of intact, representative sites.
8 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Fen Flora

Documentation of the Beartooth Mountain fen flora began with peatland-related studies 

from the Beartooth Plateau (Evert 1982; Johnson 1962) and in 1979 at Swamp Lake Fen. 

Forest-wide rare plant species surveys were conducted in the Shoshone NF, including the 

Beartooth Mountains, from 1995 through 1997 (Fertig 1997, 1998; Mills and Fertig 1996b), 

though they did not focus on the Beartooth Mountains or on wetland species. Baseline rare 

plant surveys, floristic inventory, and vegetation description of Lake Creek (a proposed 

Research Natural Area) led to the discovery of a fen east of Lily Lake in 1996 (Lily Lake East 

Fen; fig. 1) (Jones and Fertig 1999b). In response to the proposed widening of the Beartooth 

Highway (U.S. Highway 212), intensive botanical surveys were conducted along the road 

corridor and documented rare plant occurrences in Clay Butte Fen and Little Bear Lake Fen 

(fig. 1) (ERO Resources Corporation 1999a,b, 2000). In 2007–2008, vascular floristic inventories of the Absaroka Range in Montana and the Beartooth Mountains in both Wyoming and 

Montana were conducted (Elliott 2014) and included fens. 

In 2001, Heidel determined that about 10 percent of the Wyoming Plant Species of 

Concern at that time occurred in peatlands, based on comparison of the Wyoming Species of 

Concern list with species in Chadde et al. (1998). Since 2001, some fen species have been 

Figure 3—Potential fen 

sites were identified 

and mapped on digital 

orthophotograph 

imagery, and stored 

by quarter-quad. This 

is the Muddy Creek 

topographic quad, 

in the northwest 

quarter. Potential 

fen boundaries were 

digitized and are 

shown in red. Quarterquad boundaries 

are in white. This 

image also shows 

Precambrian outcrop 

(upper right) and 

Quaternary deposits 

(lower left) (Heidel and 

Rodemaker 2008).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 9

removed from the list because they have been found to be more common than previously 

known. Collectively compiled from the studies described above, the wetland flora from the 18 

Beartooth fens comprises 58 families, 156 genera, and 336 vascular plant species (Appendix), 

more than 10 percent of the known Wyoming flora (Dorn 2001 and subsequent additions). 

More recently, a catalog and atlas of vascular plants in the Greater Yellowstone Area was 

published, the first floristic publication to refer to fen habitat in Wyoming (Evert 2010).

Bryophytes are an integral component of fen vegetation (Vitt 2006, 2014). The first 

concerted collecting of fen bryophytes in the study area was conducted at Swamp Lake 

Fen (Elliott 1995), and reflected in Wyoming checklists compiled by Eckel (1996, 2007). 

Since then, systematic floristic bryophyte inventories have been conducted in the Beartooth 

Mountains (Kosovich-Anderson 2009, 2010, 2011).

Fen Vegetation

In the 1990s, peatland vegetation sampling was conducted by WYNDD researchers for 

the Shoshone NF as part of forest-wide vegetation studies to characterize major riparian 

and wetland vegetation types (Walford et al. 2001). Soils were classified in the field (USDA 

Soil Conservation Service 1994), and samples were collected for verification. At each fen, 

vegetation was sampled in a circular plot (radius of 11.36 m or 37.25 ft) in which cover and 

height of all vascular plant species were recorded (Houston 1993). Field work was conducted 

in 1993, 1995, 1996, and 1997 (Walford et al. 2001). The resulting classification identified 

12 plant community types reported to have organic soils, a requisite of peatlands (Walford et 

al. 2001). Most of the plant community types sampled on organic soils were in the Beartooth 

Mountains portion of the Shoshone NF. Six of the 18 fens described in this report were 

sampled by Walford et al. (2001). Moss cover from Shoshone NF vegetation on Histosols was 

reported as ranging from 10 to 50 percent (Walford et al. 2001). Wetland vegetation information from these sampling efforts is limited but provided preliminary characterizations, and 

served as the basis for the following descriptions of forested, shrub-dominated, graminoiddominated, and aquatic community types in Beartooth fens.

Many of the characteristic vascular plants of Wyoming fen vegetation are summarized in 

Knight et al. (2014). Studies of fen vegetation conducted in Wyoming and adjoining States 

are cited in this report (Austin and Cooper 2015; Carsey et al. 2003; Chadde et al. 1998; 

Cooper and Andrus 1994; Lemly 2007; Lemly and Cooper 2011).

Forested Vegetation

Forested fen vegetation in the Beartooth Mountains is found at the low elevations in the 

Clarks Fork Valley, mainly below 2,200 m (7,200 ft) (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). Clarks 

Fork Valley has a tree canopy of Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii), white spruce (P. 

glauca), or hybrids of P. engelmannii × P. glauca (Haselhorst and Buerkle 2013), mainly 

at lower study area elevations. Understory species include Equisetum arvense, sometimes 

with high cover of Carex disperma, C. interior, or C. leptalea on mossy hummocks. In the 

Beartooth Mountains, forested fens or forested portions of fens were located at points of 

groundwater discharge along stream segments and valley toe slopes (Heidel and Rodemaker 

1998) (fig. 4). A plant association of Engelmann spruce and Equisetum arvense is described 
10 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

from the Beartooth Mountains by Walford et al. (2001), and is noted as occurring in fens of 

central and western Montana (Chadde et al. 1998).

Shrub Vegetation

Shrub fen vegetation is found at elevations from 2,010 to 3,270 m in the Beartooth 

Mountains. Walford et al. (2001) described two shrub height categories: tall (over 0.6 m; 2 ft) 

and low (under 0.6 m). Tall shrub communities have Salix boothii, S. planifolia, or S. wolfii, 

often associated with Carex utriculata. Low shrub communities have Salix planifolia, often 

associated with Carex scopulorum at high elevations, and with C. aquatilis and other sedges 

at low elevations. Uncommon willows, such as Salix candida (fig. 5), may be locally prevalent. Salix species present in the study area are described in Fertig and Markow (2001).

Graminoid Vegetation

Graminoid fen vegetation, composed of grasses and grass-like plants, is found at elevations 

from 2,010 to 3,270 m in the Beartooth Mountains (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). The most 

abundant species are sedges (family Cyperaceae). Carex scopulorum is the most important 

sedge in “alpine bog” vegetation (Johnson and Billings 1962). Dominants at lower elevations 

include C. aquatilis, C. limosa, C. simulata, C. utriculata, and Eleocharis pauciflora (Heidel 

and Laursen 2003b; Mellmann-Brown 2004; Johnson and Billings 1962, Walford et al. 

2001). In addition, Triglochin maritima (family Juncaginaceae) is also reported as a dominant graminoid species at Swamp Lake Fen (Fertig and Jones 1992). Graminoid-dominated 

fens may be mistaken for non-fen wetlands, but they retain saturated conditions at or near the 

surface and have sufficient thickness of accumulated peat to be classified as peatlands.

Figure 4—Forested 

fens are dominated 

by Picea species. 

This forested stand 

borders the graminoiddominated portions 

of Swamp Lake Fen, 

where individuals 

of relatively pure P. 

glauca and hybrids 

with P. engelmannii

are present (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 11

Figure 5—Shrub 

dominated fens range 

from low shrub height 

and density to tall 

shrub height and high 

density. This low shrub 

stand at Mud Lake 

Fen is dominated 

by Salix candida

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Peat characteristics vary in graminoid-dominated fens, and sometimes contribute to microhabitats for rare plants that are often discernible on aerial imagery (Heidel and Rodemaker 

2008). For example, floating mats are composed of peat derived from graminoid vegetation 

and may be dominated by Carex limosa, C. simulata, C. lasiocarpa, and Menyanthes trifoliata with or without solid mats of Sphagnum mosses (figs. 6 and 7). The mats form around 

open water and are suspended over the water column. Most floating mats occur in shallow basins, but a few border deep lake basins. Patterned fens are composed of parallel mound-swale 

series in sloping settings, oriented perpendicular to the slope, and can be discerned on aerial 

imagery. The patterning results from geomorphic peat formation processes, forming “stripes” 

with narrow, raised, elongate hummocks of moss and graminoid vegetation, separated by 

shallow, narrow depressional swales (Rydin and Jeglum 2013) (figs. 8 and 9). The peat thickness and underlying conditions may differ between the mounds and the swales (figs. 10 and 

11), and the swales may or may not be inundated for part or all of the growing season. The 

mounds have a prevalence of C. scopulorum and the moss Aulacomnium palustre. Common 

associated species include Packera subnuda, Sedum rhodanthum, Symphyotrichum foliaceum 

var. apricum, and Polygonum bistortoides. The swales may have standing water with aquatic 

vegetation, emergent cover, or merely shorter, sparser cover of C. scopulorum and Caltha leptosepala on exposed peat with little moss cover.

Aquatic Floating and Submerged Vegetation

Small pools and ponds of shallow water support floating and submerged vegetation 

within fens or bordering fen habitat. Many such open-water features are locally dominated 

by Nuphar polysepala floating on the surface. Small, shallow pools are often dominated 

by Sparganium angustifolium, Callitriche species, and brown mosses (e.g., Drepanocladus 
12 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Figure 6—In graminoiddominated fens, 

floating mats that 

extend out over water 

sometimes form. This 

floating mat has Carex 

limosa and Sphagnum

mosses (photo: 

Sabine MellmannBrown).

Figure 7—Floating mats high in Sphagnum mosses 

support an abundance of Drosera anglica at Poke 

Lake Fen (photo: Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 13

Figure 8—Graminoiddominated fens 

sometimes have 

microtopography 

of parallel linear 

mounds and 

intervening swales. 

The swales may 

have standing water 

or peat exposed at 

the surface (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Figure 9—Mounds and 

exposed swales are 

both dominated by 

Carex scopulorum at 

Little Bear Lake Fen. 

The mounds have 

higher vascular plant 

cover, higher moss 

cover, and higher 

species diversity 

compared to swales 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
14 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Figure 10—A soil core collected from a mound showed 

evidence of oxidized iron in the mineral portion at the 

base (left side of photo), indicating fluctuating water 

table and seasonal aerobic conditions (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).

Figure 11—A soil core collected from a swale directly 

adjoining the mound in figure 10 showed no evidence 

of oxidized iron in the mineral portion at the base, 

suggesting underlying differences over short distances 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).

aduncus). Chara species are macroscopic green algae and have been observed in alkaline 

Beartooth fens. They grow profusely in alkaline shallow pools and in littoral waters with 

precipitated carbonates, or marl (Hutchinson 1975).

Environmental Characteristics

Geology and Soils

Beartooth fens occur in basins or on slopes, usually separate but sometimes present 

within a single wetland complex. Basin (topogenous) fens occupy peat-filled depressions 

or depressions that are partially filled by peat around open water. Sloping (soligenous) fens 

occur at gently sloping valley margins, the base of alluvial fans, and other headwater settings 

where groundwater discharges near the surface. Both basin and slope fens are also found in 

Yellowstone National Park (Lemly and Cooper 2011). Basin fens appear to be more numerous than sloping fens in the Beartooth Mountains based on field surveys to date (71 of 105 

fens, or 68 percent; Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). Underlying geology was determined for 

each site by using Love and Christiansen (1985), as represented in digital form. Field notes 

were taken on any rock outcrops that directly adjoined fens.

Fens must have a peat thickness of at least 40 cm within the upper 80 cm (31 in) of the soil 

to meet one of the criteria for designation as an organic soil established by the USDA NRCS. 

(Study area fens had a contiguous peat thickness of at least 40 cm thickness from the surface 

downward, but please see USDA NRCS 2014 for an explanation of additional potential 

criteria for soil properties such as clay content and depth to lithic contact). Peat thickness 

was measured by coring surface peat with an Oakfield or McAuley auger. The augers could 

sample only to 90 cm, so total peat thickness was not measured in most fens (table 2). A central location was selected for coring to obtain the deepest cores possible. In fens with more 

than one dominant vegetation type, multiple cores were taken (i.e., in forest-, shrub-, and 

graminoid-dominated portions of fens). A 40-cm minimum peat thickness was used to define 

fens in early Beartooth fen studies (Heidel and Laursen 2003b; Mellmann-Brown 2004) and 

extensive inventories from 2004 through 2006 (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). In later work, 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 15 Table 2—Characteristics of peat in Beartooth Mountain fens.a Fen Peat thicknessb (cm) Depth to water table (cm) Peat pHc Peat conductivity (μS/cm) Ca2+ (mg/L) Mg2+ (mg/L) Na+ (mg/L) Standing water pH Standing water conductivity (μS/cm) Clay Butte Fen >90 0 6.2–7.1 180–320 27–53 3.6–6.3 0.9–1.1 6.9–7.6 140–260 Fantan Fen >90 –d – – – – – – – Ghost Creek Fen >90 2–11 5.6–5.7 67–78 4.9–5.3 2.0–2.3 3.3–4.0 6.6 48 Lake WGN Fen >90 – – – – – – – – Lily Lake East Fen >90 0–1 4.3–5.0de, 5.3-6.0 50–400e 54–60 3.9–7.2 1.5–2.6 2.1–2.9 6.4 27 Lily Lake Fen >90 0–5 6.3 91–180 11–28 2.6–5.2 3.0–3.6 96–250 Little Bear Lake Fen >90 0–10 5.5–5.7 14–73 1.2–3.6 0.3–1.0 1.0–5.0 6.1 18 Little Moose Lake Fen >90 – 4.9–5.5e 110–360e – – – – – Littlerock Creek Fen 19–35 1 5.9 19 1 0.3 1.4 6.6 11 Meadow Lake Fen >90 0–15 5.1–5.6 13–71 1.4–5.5 0.2–0.7 0.8–3.8 6.7 18 Meadow Lake North Fen >90 4 5.6 34 2.4 0.3 1.6 6.1 17 Mud Lake Fen >90 0 6.9 270 43 8.7 3.6 7.9 280 Poke Lake Fen >90 – – – – – – – – Rock Creek Fen >90 – – – – – – – – Sawtooth Palsa Fen Est. 310–460f – – – – – – – – Swamp Lake Fen 6,10g 0–10 7.5–7.6 530–770 58–85 30–49 6–11 7.3–8.4 400–520 Trail Fen >90 – – – – – – – – Wyoming Creek 46h 0 5.2 43 2.5 0.6 2 5.7 14 a Peat thickness was measured using augers. Depth to water table, pH of soil water, and concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+ of soil water were measured from peat core holes in Beartooth Mountain fens; pH and conductivity were also measured in adjacent standing water (pool, pond, or stream). b Heidel and Rodemaker (2008). c pH and all other water chemistry data are from Heidel (2009) unless otherwise stated. d “–” indicates that data are not available. e Heidel and Laursen (2003a). f Pierce (1961). g Stephen Jackson, botany professor/palynologist, Botany Department, University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, 2007, personal communication. h Johnson and Billings (1962).
16 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

however, two alpine sites with peat thickness ranging from 20 to 40 cm (8 to 16 in) were 

also included. All cores documented continuous peat from the surface downward. Some peat 

cores were suspended above the water column (floating) and others were continuous down to 

mineral soil (anchored).

Hydrology

Fens are supported by groundwater, which can originate from multiple sources. Hydrology 

information for Beartooth fens is limited to records of the locations of source water inlets, 

where present, and outlet streams. There are both basin and sloping fens at headwater positions that have no inlets.

Water Chemistry

Peatland water chemistry can have a major influence on the distribution of plant species 

and has been used as a basis for fen classification (Rydin and Jeglum 2013). Early European 

fen classifications were based on pH values (Sjörs 1948), then expanded to include electrical 

conductivity, base richness, and concentrations of major cations, particularly calcium (Ca2+), 

magnesium (Mg2+), and sodium (Na+) (Rydin and Jeglum 2013). Using this approach, fens 

are classified along a continuum from poor (low pH, electrical conductivity, and ionic concentrations) to extremely rich (highest pH, electrical conductivity, and ionic concentrations) 

(fig. 12). Although developed for more extensive peatlands in boreal regions, the poor-torich classification has been applied to mountain fens in the western United States (Bursik 

1990; Chadde et al. 1998; Cooper and Andrus 1994; Lesica 1986; Weddell 2005). Water 

chemistry was sampled in Beartooth fens to better characterize environmental conditions and 

examine the influence of water chemistry on the distribution of rare plant species.

At 13 Beartooth fens, water chemistry was sampled in 2009 over a range of elevation, 

parent material, and settings. These fens were selected from the 105 fens identified previously (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008), and 11 are described in this report (table 2). At each of 

the 13 fens, pH was measured and water samples were collected in a central location within 

areas dominated by forest, shrub, or graminoid vegetation, resulting in multiple measurements for some fens. For the pH readings, first a 15-cm (6-in) peat core at or below the water 

table was removed with an auger, and water was allowed to refill the hole. Next the pH probe 

was immersed in the hole to take pH readings. Water samples were then collected from the 

hole. At sites with patterned microtopography, the peat pH of both mounds and swales were 

measured, usually within 1 meter of one another. A water sample was also collected from the 

nearest source of surface water. Surface water samples were collected in shallow, open-water 

pools surrounded by peat. If there was no open water surrounded by peat, then surface water 

samples were collected from adjoining lakes or streams. Measurements of pH were taken 

using an Oakton® Instruments pH meter, calibrated each morning prior to measurements by 

using pH 4, 7, and 10 standards. Measurements and water samples were collected from July 

21 through July 23, 2009.

Water samples were packed with dry ice and shipped overnight to the Wyoming 

Department of Agriculture, Analytical Services Laboratory in Laramie, Wyoming. Upon 

receipt, water samples were promptly filtered through 0.45-μ hydrophilic polytetrafluoroethylene syringe filters to remove suspended material, acidified to 1 percent v/v with both 

trace metal-grade nitric and hydrochloric acid, and analyzed by using collision-reaction cell 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 17

Figure 12—The range of pH and 

electrical conductivity observed in fens 

corresponds with poor-to-rich gradients. 

Poor fens occur in environments where 

waters have acidic pH and low electrical 

conductivity, whereas extreme rich fens 

occur in environments with neutral-tobasic pH and high electrical conductivity. 

Rare plants of the Beartooth Mountains 

are often at the extreme ends of the 

gradient (based on adaptation in Lemly 

[2007] from Malmer [1986]). 

inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Agilent 7500ce) for 3 prevalent cations 

(Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+), electrical conductivity, and 29 secondary or trace minerals (aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, boron, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, 

lead, lithium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, platinum, potassium, selenium, 

silicon, silver, strontium, thallium, thorium, titanium, uranium, vanadium, and zinc) using 

U.S. EPA method 200.8 (Creed et al. 1994). Aliquots of un- filtered water samples were also 

used to determine pH (Standard Methods 4500-H and 4500-B) and electrical conductivity 

(Standard Methods 2510B; American Public Health Association et al. 2005). Both analyses 

were carried out by using a Radiometer TIM870 Titration Manager with a pH2001-8 Red 

Rod combination pH electrode, calibrated at pH 4 and pH 10 and checked at pH 7 with a 

CDC566T four-pole conductivity cell calibrated with 0.01M KCL (1,406 μS/cm) corrected 

to 25 °C (77 °F).

The resulting pH values from the 11 Beartooth fens ranged from 5.1 to 7.6 and the pH 

values of surface water ranged from 5.7 to 8.4 (table 2) (Heidel 2009). Most pH values 

measured in the field and in the laboratory were the same, and all were within 0.2. The Ca2+ 

concentrations ranged from 0.8 to 85.0 mg/L in peat (table 2) (Heidel 2009). Of the secondary and trace minerals tested, 8 of 29 were not detectable (antimony, beryllium, cadmium, 

platinum, selenium, silver, thallium, and thorium).

The pH and Ca2+ results spanned values typically associated with poor to extremely rich 

fens (fig. 12, after Malmer 1986). The pH readings at the highest elevation sites were consistently acidic. Our pH measurements showed differences within fens as great as 0.9 pH units 

at a given time (e.g., Clay Butte Fen). They also showed difference over time. Results documented in 2009 differed significantly from 2002 pH values at Lily Lake East Fen (5.3–6.0 in 

2009 vs. 4.3–5.0 collected by the same methods at nearly the same locations in 2002) (Heidel 

2009; Heidel and Laursen 2003b). At Lily Lake East Fen, Booth and Zygmunt (2005) measured pH in the water expelled from Sphagnum moss growing over a range of microhabitat 

conditions and reported values ranging from 3.7 to 5.6. Although they used methods that 

were fairly specific to the study of Sphagnum microhabitats, the range in pH values observed 

indicates considerable local variation in pH values.
18 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

The range of pH values in Beartooth fens may be explained by their association with both 

base-rich and base-poor bedrock formations, as well as Quaternary deposits from different 

mixtures of the formations in alluvium, colluvium, and glacial till. Lemly and Cooper (2011) 

analyzed multiscale factors controlling vegetation and plant species distribution in peatlandsthroughout Yellowstone National Park and determined that the primary gradient driving 

plant species distribution is site-level water chemistry. They described fens of Yellowstone 

National Park within the context of the poor-to-rich gradient except for the geothermally 

influenced peatlands. However, variations in pH values within individual fens, over time, and 

with elevation were not addressed.

Disturbance

Signs of disturbance were noted when the extensive fen inventory was conducted from 

2005 through 2007 (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). Anthropogenic disturbances include grazing by cattle (Bos spp.), horses (Equus caballus), or sheep (Ovis aries); roads and ditches; 

and presence of noxious weeds. Natural disturbances included fire, and concentrated wildlife 

use by native ungulates and beavers (Castor canadensis).

Description of 18 Beartooth Fens

This report describes 18 fens that occur across a range of elevation, lithology, geomorphic 

settings, vegetation types, and water chemistry conditions in the Beartooth Mountains (table 1), 

including many of the largest fens with rare plant populations. We describe the 3 earlieststudied 

fens (Swamp Lake Fen, Sawtooth Palsa Fen, Wyoming Creek), and 15 additional fens.

Swamp Lake Fen is the largest of all fens documented in the Beartooth Mountains to date. 

It is profiled first because it is often a basis for comparing other Beartooth fens. Descriptions 

of the other 17 fens are presented alphabetically by assigned place names that reflect the nearest local named landmark on U.S. Geological Survey 7.5-minute topographic maps. Each fen 

is delineated on an aerial photograph.

Swamp Lake Fen

Location: Swamp Lake Fen is located at the base of the Cathedral Cliffs along the Clarks 

Fork Valley, on the south side of Chief Joseph Highway (State Highway 296) about 

3.2 km (2 mi) east of the Crandall Ranger Station and about 54.7 km (34 mi) northwest of 

Cody. It has public access from County Road 128, which leads to a public boat launch at 

the K-Bar Z Ranch at the west end (figs. 13 and 14), closed off above the fen between east 

and west ends.

Area: 98.9 ha (244.4 ac)

Elevation: 2,010 m (6,600 ft)

Environment: Swamp Lake Fen is in a large basin with slightly sloping forested fen on the 

southern perimeter. It is in the Clarks Fork Valley, underlain by Quaternary alluvium and 

colluvium, and surrounded by collapsed glacial moraine topography derived from the 

dolomitic Cathedral Cliffs, and Precambrian outcrops (figs. 15 and 16). The central open 

water is surrounded by marsh and fen vegetation. There are two tributaries, Oliver Gulch 

and Corral Creek, and one outlet. The single peat thickness measurement was reported at 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 19

Figure 13—Topographic map of Swamp Lake Fen, outlined in red.

Figure 14—Swamp Lake 

Fen in a basin setting 

on a color infrared aerial 

image.
20 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

6.1 m (20 ft; Stephen Jackson, botany professor/palynologist at University of Wyoming, 

Botany Department, personal communication, 2007). Peat pH measured in graminoidand forest-dominated portions of the fen ranged from 7.5 to 7.6 (table 2) (Heidel 2009). 

Swamp Lake Fen had the highest levels of major cations (Ca2+, Mg2+, and Na+) in peat 

samples (table 2) (Heidel 2009), consistent with an extreme rich fen.

Vegetation: Eight different plant communities were described at Swamp Lake Fen by 

Fertig and Jones (1992). The southern fen margin is lined by Picea species, including 

relatively pure P. glauca and hybrids with P. engelmannii (Haselhorst and Buerkle 2013). 

Toward the interior of the fen, the trees are stunted (Fertig and Jones 1992). Graminoiddominated portions of the fen have floating mats of Carex simulata, margins with C. 

utriculata, and an area with Triglochin maritima and Eleocharis quinqueflora (figs. 

17 and 18), which are associated with precipitated carbonates, or marl. The marl has 

mound and swale patterns that are present on the east end. The basin is filled by a mosaic 

of emergent vegetation in standing water including Schoenoplectus acutus and Typha 

latifolia. A band of Alnus incana was also noted at the west end.

Figure 16—Overview of 

Swamp Lake Fen in 2007 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Figure 15—Overview of 

Swamp Lake Fen in 1987 

(photo: Hollis Marriott, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 21

Figure 17—East end of 

Swamp Lake Fen in 1992 

(photo: George Jones, 

WYNDD).

Figure 18—East end of 

Swamp Lake Fen in 2007 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Rare Species: The number of Wyoming Plant Species of Concern found at Swamp Lake 

Fen was originally reported at 28 species (Fertig and Jones 1992). All but one of these 

species, Botrychium virginianum, are directly associated with fen habitat. Since 1992, 

two more Species of Concern have been found, Packera indecora and Utricularia minor. 

Ten of the species were later found to be more common than previously known and were 

removed from the Species of Concern list (Heidel 2007). The 19 Wyoming Species of 

Concern found at Swamp Lake Fen are Amerorchis rotundifolia, Arctostaphylos rubra, 

Botrychium virginianum, Carex concinna, C. diandra, C. leptalea, C. limosa, C. livida, 

C. microglochin, Eriophorum viridicarinatum, Kobresia simpliciuscula, Muhlenbergia 

glomerata, Packera indecora, Primula egaliksensis, Salix candida, S. myrtillifolia, 
22 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Sparganium natans, Trichophorum pumilum, and Utricularia minor. Earliest botanical 

collections were made by Evert, Dorn, Hartman, and Lichvar (Evert 1984; Evert et al. 

1986) and systematic plant surveys were conducted by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992).

Significance: Swamp Lake Fen is the largest fen in the study area (fig. 19), is one of the more 

alkaline fens in the study area, and supports the highest concentration of Plant Species 

of Concern among fens in Wyoming. It occurs at the lowest elevation of profiled sites 

and is one of the few in the study area that includes forested fen vegetation. Two of the 

rare plant species, Arctostaphylos rubra and Salix myrtillifolia, occur nowhere else in 

Wyoming. Arctostaphylos rubra is disjunct from boreal latitudes and the population at 

Swamp Lake Fen is the only known location in the conterminous United States. Salix 

myrtillifolia is disjunct from boreal latitudes in the Rocky Mountains, is not known from 

Montana, and also occurs in Colorado. Swamp Lake Fen was the first place of discovery 

for many of the rare plant species of Beartooth fens (table 3) and has a well-documented, 

diverse flora (Appendix). In 1987, the area was designated as Swamp Lake Special 

Botanical Area (Evert 1984; Johnston 1987; USDA Forest Service 2015a; Wolf 1986).

Disturbances: State Highway 296 (Chief Joseph Highway) was rebuilt across the Swamp 

Lake Fen outlet in the 1970s. The 1988 Clover Mist crown fire burned the slopes above 

Swamp Lake Fen and salvage logging was implemented after the fire. Runoff gullies 

formed (fig. 20) and erosion debris fans were noted in 1989 and 1992 (Fertig and Jones 

Figure 19—Swamp Lake Fen 

is the largest fen in the 

study area with a length of 

more than 3 km, (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 23

1992). Private lands upstream from Swamp Lake Fen have been drained. Water level 

fluctuations are indicated by high-water marks in hydrologically connected ponds. 

Current range management does not allow horses to use the wetland. Swamp Lake 

Fen was also the site of a fox (Vulpes vulpes) farm, mink (Mustella vison) ranch, and

gravel pit in the past (John Mumma, Shoshone National Forest Supervisor, personal 

communication, ca. 1986). Wildlife, most notably elk (Cervus elaphus) and moose 

(Alces americanus), use Swamp Lake Fen and the surrounding area. Cirsium arvense is 

a localized invasive species mainly at the wetland margin (Heidel and Laursen 2003b). 

Astragalus cicer, a nonnative species formerly used in postfire rehabilitation, was widely 

seeded for stabilization after the 1988 fire and has been observed in fen habitat (Rocky 

Mountain Herbarium 2016).

Documentation: Evert (1984), Evert et al. (1986), Wolf (1986), Johnston (1987), Fertig and 

Jones (1992) with updates in, Fertig (1997, 1998), Chadde et al. (1998), Heidel and 

Laursen (2003b), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009), Jones et al. (2011c).

Figure 20—A gully formed directly above Swamp 

Lake Fen in 1989 after the 1988 fire burned 

slopes above (photo: George Jones, WYNDD).
24 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Figure 21—Topographic map of Clay Butte Fen, outlined in red.

Figure 22—Clay Butte 

Fen, outlined in red, 

in a basin setting on 

a color infrared aerial 

image.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 25

Clay Butte Fen

Location: Clay Butte Fen is located at the base of Clay Butte, on the south side of the 

Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212), almost across from the sign for the turnoff to 

the Clay Butte fire tower (figs. 21–23).

Area: 4.7 ha (11.6 ac)

Elevation: 2,740 m (8,980 ft)

Environment: Clay Butte Fen is a basin fen underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits (Love 

and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length of the auger used to 

core the peat. The peat pH values ranged from 6.2 in a floating mat to 7.1 in a tall shrubdominated portion of the fen (table 2) (Heidel 2009). Clay Butte Fen has an outlet in the 

southwestern corner that drains into an unnamed tributary of Beartooth Creek.

Vegetation: Graminoid vegetation is prevalent and is interrupted by swales and pools that 

have floating mats in some places (fig. 24). The graminoid-dominated portion of the fen 

has Carex aquatilis and Carex livida (Mellmann-Brown 2004). The fen perimeter has low 

to tall shrub vegetation on three sides. The low shrub communities have Salix planifolia 

with Carex aquatilis (Heidel and Laursen 2003b; Mellmann-Brown 2004; Walford et 

al. 2001); the tall shrub community has Salix eastwoodiae and S. farrie with Carex 

utriculata (Mellmann-Brown 2004; Walford et al. 2001). The floating mats have Carex 

Figure 23—Clay Butte Fen is one of three fens 

addressed in this report that lie within the 

Beartooth Highway corridor (U.S. Highway 212, 

in foreground) (photo: Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
26 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

limosa, with Eleocharis quinqueflora. The pools have submerged and floating vegetation. 

Pools in the southeast corner have Sparganium angustifolium, those at the northwest 

corner have Nuphar polysepala, and pools at the south end are filled with bicarbonateaccumulating Chara species (Hutchinson 1975). The fen is surrounded by subalpine 

forest except on the north margin, where it borders the highway.

Rare Species: Six Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex diandra, C. leptalea, 

C. limosa, C. livida, Eriophorum gracile, and Utricularia minor, most of which were first 

reported by Mellmann-Brown (ERO Resources Corporation 1999b, 2000; MellmannBrown 2004).

Significance: Clay Butte Fen is the most alkaline of the fens at higher elevations in the study 

area, likely due to calcium carbonate-rich parent material. It has many rare species—

some near their upper elevation limits—and an array of pools. Some of its rare species 

were mentioned in an evaluation of Beartooth Butte as a potential Research Natural Area 

(Jones and Fertig 1999a), but it lies outside of currently proposed boundaries (USDA

Forest Service 2015a).

Disturbances: The fen adjoins the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212). Current plans 

are to widen the highway by expanding the roadbed away from the fen. The Beartooth 

Highway is designated a National Scenic Highway and all of the fen falls within the 

travel corridor management zone (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: ERO Resources Corporation (1999b), Walford et al. (2001), Heidel and 

Laursen (2003b), Mellmann-Brown (2004), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel 

(2009).

Figure 24—Overview 

of Clay Butte Fen 

and an array of pools 

and vegetation zones 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 27

Figure 25—Topographic map of Fantan Fen (at left) and Lake WGN Fen.

Fantan Fen

Location: Fantan Fen is located 1.1 km (0.7 mi) east-southeast of Fantan Lake. It is accessible 

from the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212) via Forest Service Road 149 and by 

four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicle or on foot (figs. 25 and 26).

Area: 4.8 ha (11.9 ac)

Elevation: 2,910 m (9,560 ft)

Environment: Fantan Fen is a sloping fen underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits (Love 

and Christiansen 1985). The fen appears to straddle a ridge that is a hydrological divide 

draining in opposite directions into Paradise Lake and Chain Lakes, both of which drain 

into Canyon Creek (figs. 25, 26, and 27). A cliff rises abruptly to the north. Peat thickness 

exceeded the 90-cm length of the auger.

Vegetation: Carex scopulorum is prevalent on linear peat mounds with high cover of the moss 

Aulacomnium palustre (figs. 27 and 28). Between the mounds on swale flats is sparse 

cover of Carex scopulorum growing with little or no moss cover. A few swales also have 

Eriophorum angustifolium (fig. 29). Pools are present on the steeper gradient, behind 

mounds covered by Carex vesicaria. The fen is surrounded by dry, open grassland to the 

east, forest to the west, and a rugged outcrop to the north.

Rare Species: None are known to date.
28 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Figure 27—Peat mound 

and intervening swale 

patterns at Fantan 

Fen are parallel to 

slopes (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).

Figure 26—Fantan Fen in a sloping setting on a 

color infrared aerial image.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 29

Figure 28—Fantan Fen 

peat mound and 

swale patterns are 

subtle at eye level 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Figure 29—Tall cottongrass 

(Eriophorum angustifolium) 

in Fantan Fen swales 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
30 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Significance: Fantan Fen occupies an unlikely setting for a fen, straddling a ridge.

Disturbances: None have been identified. A 4WD road is located downslope of the fen, but 

no offroad use has been noted. Hummocks at the southeastern borders may reflect past 

grazing. The fen lies in lands managed for backcountry nonmotorized recreation in the 

summer and motorized winter recreation (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008).

Ghost Creek Fen

Location: Ghost Creek Fen is located at the headwaters of Ghost Creek, about 1.1 km 

(0.7 mi) south of the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212). It is accessible by Forest 

Service Road 118 and on foot (figs. 30 and 31).

Area: 2.0 ha (4.9 ac)

Elevation: 2,410 m (7,900 ft)

Environment: Ghost Creek Fen is a basin fen underlain by Precambrian bedrock (Love and 

Christiansen 1985). It lies south of a steep outcrop and fault line (Love and Christiansen 

1985) (fig. 32). In this graminoid-dominated fen, pH in peat was measured at 5.6 in a 

Figure 30—Topographic map of Ghost Creek Fen, outlined in red.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 31

floating mat and 5.7 in adjoining peat (table 2) (Heidel 2009). Peat thickness exceeded 

the 90-cm length of the auger. The fen is located at the headwaters of Ghost Creek.

Vegetation: The graminoid vegetation of Ghost Creek Fen has Carex interior and C. 

buxbaumii, with C. lasiocarpa abundant in standing water. Floating mats adjoining 

the open-water pools have Carex limosa and Menyanthes trifoliata, with abundant 

Figure 31—Ghost Creek 

Fen, outlined in red, 

in a basin setting on 

a color infrared aerial 

image.

Figure 32—Overview of 

Ghost Creek Fen and 

central floating mat 

zones with small pools 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
32 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Drosera anglica in some places. Along the perimeter are broad bands of Calamagrostis 

canadensis. Vegetation around the outlet is tall shrub grading into forest. The fen is 

surrounded by dry forests and rugged outcrop knolls to the north and south.

Rare Species: Eight Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex diandra, C. 

leptalea, C. limosa, C. microglochin, Drosera anglica, Eriophorum chamissonis, E. 

gracile, and Utricularia minor, most of which were first collected by Mellmann-Brown 

in 2004 (table 3). In addition, the Columbia spotted frog (Rana luteiventris), a U.S. Forest 

Service sensitive species (USDA Forest Service 2015b) was photographed incidental to 

plant surveys at Ghost Creek Fen.

Significance: Ghost Creek Fen is significant in having a high concentration of Species of 

Concern for its size, including combinations of species not reported elsewhere, notably 

Drosera anglica with Eriophorum chamissonis and E. gracile.

Disturbances: There are no signs of direct disturbance. The floating mat appeared to be lower 

and less buoyant in drought years. The discrete ring of Calamagrostis canadensis around 

much of the outer perimeter may reflect fluctuations in water level and susceptibility of 

the margins to shifts from anaerobic to aerobic conditions. Fire scars have been observed 

on tree stumps bordering Ghost Creek Fen. It lies in lands managed for motorized 

backcountry recreation and forest restoration (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009), Elliott (2014).

Lake WGN Fen

Location: Lake WGN Fen is located 1.1 km (0.7 mi) northwest of Sawtooth Lake, at the 

head of a small tributary draining into Sawtooth Lake. It is identified as Lake WGN on 

topographic maps. It is accessible from the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212) via 

Forest Service Road 149 and by 4WD or on foot (figs. 25 and 33).

Figure 33—Lake WGN Fen, 

outlined in red, in a basin 

setting on a color infrared 

aerial image.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 33

Area: 1.9 ha (4.7 ac)

Elevation: 2,890 m (9,480 ft)

Environment: Lake WGN Fen is a basin fen underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits (Love 

and Christiansen 1985). It is located at the head of a small, open valley that drains into 

Sawtooth Lake. Spring-fed rivulets enter on three sides (fig. 34). The incised outlet has 

downcut to underlying mineral layers (fig. 35). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length 

of the auger.

Vegetation: Lake WGN Fen is dominated by graminoids, and has a central floating mat of 

Carex limosa. Both mounds and swales are dominated by Carex scopulorum, with the 

moss Aulacomnium palustre also occurring on the mounds. Subalpine forests of Pinus 

albicaulis and Picea engelmannii are on the adjacent hillslopes. A corridor of wet and dry 

meadows extends down the valley between the fen and Sawtooth Lake.

Rare Species: Two Wyoming Plant Species of Concern, Carex limosa and Eriophorum 

chamissonis, occur at Lake WGN Fen (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008).

Significance: Lake WGN Fen has a surface that resembles a saucer, flat in the center and 

sloping at the margins. Conspicuous springs are present at the perimeters (fig. 34), 

whereas most of the Beartooth fens visited do not have pronounced springs discharging at 

the surface.

Disturbances: No signs of disturbance were noted. However, this fen has an incised 

stream channel outlet, where the floating mat vegetation is 0.5 m (20 in) higher than 

Figure 34—Lake WGN Fen has pronounced 

springs at the perimeter. This view is from 

the upper end looking inward (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
34 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

the adjoining stream channel (fig. 35). It lies in lands managed for back-country 

nonmotorized recreation in the summer and motorized winter recreation (USDA Forest 

Service 2015a).

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009).

Lily Lake East Fen

Location: Lily Lake East Fen is about 1.1 km (0.7 mi) east-northeast of Lily Lake. It was 

referred to as “Lily Lake Fen” by Heidel and Laursen (2003b) before the recognition of 

a separate fen that directly adjoins Lily Lake, and was called “East Lilypad Peatland” by 

Booth and Zygmunt (2005). It is accessible from the Lily Lake Campground on foot (figs. 

36 and 37).

Area: 5.1 ha (12.6 ac)

Elevation: 2,524 m (8,280 ft)

Environment: Lily Lake East Fen is a basin fen that lies along a fault line and is underlain 

by Precambrian bedrock (Love and Christiansen 1985). Outcrop hills rise to the north. 

The peat pH readings documented in 2008 were 5.3 (Sphagnum mat) to 6.0 (graminoiddominated portion of the fen; table 2) (Heidel 2009). Measurements taken at the same 

locations in 2002 were 4.3 (Sphagnum mat) and 5.0 (graminoid vegetation) (Heidel and 

Laursen 2003b). In addition, pH measurements of the water retained by Sphagnum peat in 

Figure 35—The outlet of Lake WGN Fen is eroded to the mineral layer, though there are saturated 

floating mats directly above the incised channel. This view is from the outlet at the lower end 

looking inward (photo: Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 35

Figure 36—Topographic map of Lily Lake Fen (north end of Lily Lake), Lily Lake East Fen, and Mud 

Lake Fen, outlined in red.

the full range of local microhabitats were collected in 2002 (Booth and Zygmunt 2005), 

reported at 3.7 to 5.6.

Vegetation: Graminoid vegetation surrounds two open-water pools that are bordered by welldeveloped floating Sphagnum mats (fig. 38). Carex lasiocarpa encircles pools of standing 

water, Carex limosa and Menyanthes trifoliata are mixed into the floating Sphagnum 

mats, and Carex vesicaria is on adjoining peat. There is also an aquatic community 

of floating and submerged vegetation. The wet forest border is narrow and has Ledum 

glandulosum. The surrounding uplands are forested, but the rugged topography supports 

mainly dry, open woodland, with rock outcrops to the north.

Rare Species: Seven Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex diandra, C. 

leptalea, C. limosa, Drosera anglica, Eriophorum gracile, Sphagnum angustifolium, 

and Utricularia minor. Two other species previously reported, Carex buxbaumii and 

Epilobium palustre var. palustre, are no longer regarded as rare in the State. The rare 

species were first documented in 1996 by Fertig and Mellmann-Brown (Fertig 1997, 

1998; Jones and Fertig 1999b; Jones et al. 2011a). The fen was also visited by two other 

research teams (Booth and Zygmunt 2005; Heidel and Laursen 2003b), both of whom 

collected Sphagnum angustifolium. Utricularia minor was recently added (Heidel 3341 
36 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

RM). The collector and the collection number in the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (RM) 

are provided; see table 3 for more information.

Significance: Lily Lake East Fen has a fairly acidic pH (table 2) and more pH readings 

over time than other study area fens. It has well-developed floating mats with 

Sphagnum angustifolium present. It is one of only two fens in the study area where 

testate amoebae microfossils were used as hydrological proxies for environmental and 

paleoenvironmental conditions (Booth and Zygmunt 2005).

Disturbances: The fen is located within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area, and no 

signs of disturbance were observed in the vicinity. It is also within the proposed Lake 

Creek Research Natural Area.

Figure 38—Overview 

of Lily Lake East 

Fen with two large 

pools and floating 

mats (photo: Scott 

Laursen, WYNDD).

Figure 37—Lily Lake East 

Fen in a basin setting on a 

color infrared aerial image.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 37

Documentation: Fertig (1997, 1998), Jones and Fertig (1999b) with updates in Jones et al. 

(2011a), Heidel and Laursen (2003b), Booth and Zygmunt (2005), Heidel and Rodemaker 

(2008), Heidel (2009).

Lily Lake Fen

Location: Lily Lake Fen is located on the northwest end of Lily Lake. It is accessible from 

the Lily Lake Campground by foot (figs. 36 and 39).

Area: 14.2 ha (35.1 ac)

Elevation: 2,340 m (7,680 ft)

Environment: Lily Lake Fen is in a basin, but it has a slight slope down to Lily Lake. It is 

underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits, and bordered on one side by Precambrian 

bedrock along a fault line (Love and Christiansen 1985). Lily Lake Fen is a very subtly 

sloping fen with a series of large pools in the middle (fig. 40). Peat thickness exceeded 

the 90-cm length of the auger. The pH in peat was measured at 6.3 in both shrubdominated and graminoid-dominated portions of the fen in July 2008 (table 2) (Heidel 

2009).

Vegetation: Three vegetation zones are present from the lower to upper ends of the fen: tall 

shrubs immediately above the lake, a graminoid-dominated zone mixed with pools, and 

a low shrub-dominated zone at the upper end. Common species include Salix wolfii, S. 

boothii, Carex scopulorum, C. limosa, Menyanthes trifoliata, and C. utriculata.

Figure 39—Lily Lake Fen, 

outlined in red, in a 

sloping setting with a 

series of large pools on 

a color infrared aerial 

image. 
38 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Rare Species: Six Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex diandra, C. leptalea, 

C. limosa, Eriophorum gracile, Packera indecora, and Salix candida (Heidel and 

Rodemaker 2008). In addition, Potamogeton amplifolius and Potamogeton praelongus 

are submerged in Lily Lake at the shoreline adjoining fen boundaries (Fertig 1998).

Significance: Lily Lake Fen has areas of well-developed shrub habitat. It has among the 

largest known populations of Carex diandra and Packera indecora. There is one report 

in the literature of a pollen profile at Lily Lake in the Beartooth Mountains (Whitlock 

and Bartlein 1993) though the exact location is not given. This fen is much more 

accessible and apparent from the lake than Lily Lake East Fen, so it seems to be the more 

likely of sampling sites in the area. But the profile has not been published apart from 

generalizations made about palynology in the Yellowstone region.

Disturbances: Lily Lake Fen is located close to the Lily Lake Campground, but does not 

receive recreational use apart from people fishing at the lakeshore. It is within an active 

grazing allotment, but no cattle trails or other signs were evident. The fen could be 

affected if lake levels were manipulated. It lies in lands managed for vegetation and 

landscape patterns influenced not only by natural disturbances but also by prescribed fire, 

timber harvest, and other silviculture treatments (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009).

Little Bear Lake Fen

Location: Little Bear Lake Fen is located at the southeastern end of Little Bear Lake. It is 

crossed by the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212); more than 90 percent of the fen 

is located on the south side of the highway (figs. 41 and 42).

Area: 4.1 ha (10.3 ac)

Elevation: 2,910 m (9,560 ft)

Environment: Little Bear Lake Fen is a sloping fen underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits 

(Love and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length of the auger. 

Peat pH values were measured at 5.5 in a mound and 5.7 in a directly adjoining swale 

(table 2) (Heidel 2009).

Figure 40—Overview 

of Lily Lake Fen 

directly above Lily 

Lake (left of view) 

showing portions of 

the fen dominated 

by shrubs. (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 39

Figure 41—Topographic map of Little Bear Lake Fen, Meadow Lake Fen and Meadow Lake North 

Fen (at left), outlined in red.

Figure 42—Little Bear 

Lake Fen in a sloping 

setting on a color 

infrared aerial image.
40 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Vegetation: Little Bear Lake Fen has a series of elongate mounds and swales over much 

of the area (fig. 43). Carex scopulorum is on peat mounds with high cover of the moss 

Aulacomnium palustre. Between the mounds are swales with much sparser cover of 

Carex scopulorum and sometimes with Carex saxatilis but with little or no moss cover. 

Central areas have Carex limosa mixed with C. scopulorum and C. saxatilis. There is a 

large swale filled with Carex utriculata at the western edge of the fen. A low shrubland of 

Salix glauca associated with Caltha leptosepala is located at the southern end on mineral 

soils. Little Bear Fen is surrounded by dry grassland, with open woodland and outcrops 

scattered on more rugged terrain to the east.

Rare Species: Plant surveys were first conducted by Mellmann-Brown for ERO Resources 

Corporation (1999b, 2000). Two Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex 

limosa and Sparganium natans (ERO Resources Corporation 1999b, 2000; MellmannBrown 2004).

Significance: Little Bear Lake Fen is among the larger fens at this elevation and has very 

elongate peat mounds and swales.

Disturbances: This is the only major fen in the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming that is 

traversed by a highway (U.S. Highway 212). Current plans for widening of the highway 

call for replacing a portion of the roadbed with a bridge to restore the natural drainage 

pattern. Water levels were monitored with 6 surface water gauges and 13 wells in Federal 

Highway Administration-sponsored baseline studies. Eventually, the raised portion of 

the road through the wetland will be replaced by a bridge, a change that may restore the 

natural drainage pattern but may also lower current water levels in the southern section 

of the fen (Mellmann-Brown 2004). The Beartooth Highway is designated as a National 

Scenic Highway, and all of the fen is located within the travel corridor management zone 

(USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: ERO Resources Corporation (1999b, 2000), Mellmann-Brown (2004), 

Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009).

Figure 43—Peat 

mounds and 

intervening swales 

add a distinct 

microtopography to 

Little Bear Lake Fen 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 41

Little Moose Lake Fen

Location: Little Moose Lake Fen is on the south end of Little Moose Lake. It is accessible via 

Forest Service Road 130 and by 4WD or on foot (figs. 44 and 45).

Area: 3.1 ha (7.7 ac)

Elevation: 2,440 m (8,000 ft)

Environment: This basin fen is in a lacustrine setting underlain by Precambrian bedrock (Love 

and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length of the auger. The pH 

measurements in peat were made in 2002, reporting 4.9 in a Sphagnum mat and 5.5 in 

the graminoid-dominated portion of the fen (Heidel and Laursen 2003b). In addition, 

pH measurements of the water retained by Sphagnum peat in the full range of local 

microhabitats were collected in 2002 (Booth and Zygmunt 2005), reported at 4.3 to 6.1.

Vegetation: The fen vegetation of Little Moose Lake is predominantly graminoid, with welldeveloped floating mats at the lakeshore and shrubs bordering the uplands. The fen has 

Carex aquatilis and Carex utriculata (Heidel and Laursen 2003b; Walford et al. 2001). The 

floating mat has Carex limosa and Menyanthes trifoliata, and perimeter areas have Salix 

planifolia and Carex aquatilis. The fen is surrounded by conifer forest; dry parkland to the 

east; rugged, sparsely wooded knolls to the west, and Little Moose Lake to the north.

Figure 44—Topographic map of Little Moose Lake Fen, outlined in red.
42 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Rare Species: Six Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex diandra, C. 

leptalea, C. limosa, Drosera anglica, Eriophorum gracile, and Potamogeton praelongus. 

They were first documented by Fertig and Mellmann-Brown in 1996 (Fertig 1997, 

1998). These species are concentrated on the floating mat along the lakeshore. This 

fen was surveyed again for rare plants (Heidel and Laursen 2003b), when Sphagnum 

angustifolium was first documented. In 2009 water chemistry was sampled and 

Utricularia minor, an additional rare plant, was found.

Significance: Little Moose Fen is significant in having a well-developed floating mat in one of 

the few lakeshore settings. It is one of two fens in the study area where testate amoebae 

microfossils were used as proxies for environmental and paleoenvironmental conditions 

(Booth and Zygmunt 2005). The fen also harbors a high concentration of Species of 

Concern.

Disturbances: The fen was part of a cattle allotment when it was first surveyed (Mills and 

Fertig 1996b), and livestock trampling was noted in the original surveys. It lies in lands 

managed for motorized backcountry recreation and forest restoration (USDA Forest 

Service 2015a).

Documentation: Fertig (1997, 1998), Heidel and Laursen (2003b), Booth and Zygmunt 

(2005), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008).

Littlerock Creek Fen

Location: Littlerock Creek Fen is located about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) east of Christmas Lake at 

the head of an unnamed tributary to Littlerock Creek. It is located about 1 km (0.6 mi) 

southeast of the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212) and lies directly southwest of 

Forest Service Trail 623 (figs. 46 and 47).

Figure 45—Little Moose 

Lake Fen in a basin 

setting on a color 

infrared aerial image.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 43

Area: 8.4 ha (20.8 ac)

Elevation: 3,220–3,270 m (10,560–10,740 ft)

Environment: Littlerock Creek Fen is a south-facing sloping fen, underlain by Precambrian 

bedrock mapped as “oldest gneiss complex” (Love and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness 

ranged from 19 to 35 cm (7 to 14 in); this fen is one of two alpine fens where the 40-cmthickness threshold was waived. The fen is dissected by a stream and has diffuse borders 

grading into seeps and wet and dry meadow. The pH of the peat was measured at 5.9 

(table 2) (Heidel 2009). In the middle of the fen are several large isolated mounds of 

turf more than 50 cm (20 in) in height. Polygons formed by frost action as described by 

Johnson and Billings (1962) occur along the upper margin. The fen boundary is subtle 

on the south and east sides (fig. 48). The fen is bordered by rocky ridges on the north and 

west sides with a semipermanent snowbank to the west (fig. 49).

Vegetation: The vegetation has Carex scopulorum and Salix planifolia (Walford et al. 2001). 

Sparsely vegetated late snowmelt slopes and flats border the west side. The fen is 

surrounded by dry, alpine meadow and gravelly ridges.

Rare Species: Two Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present, Carex nelsonii and 

Eriophorum callitrix (Fertig 1998). Two other Species of Concern, Carex misandra and 

Pedicularis oederi, occur mainly along fen margins (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). In 

addition, Phippsia algida and Koenigia islandica are present in snowmelt-fed seeps 

Figure 46—Topographic map of Littlerock Creek Fen (two red outlines to the south) 

and Wyoming Creek Complex, outlined in red.
44 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

bordering the west side of the fen. The latter is an annual throughout its range and the 

former is regarded as an annual in Colorado (Weber and Wittmann 2012), but a perennial 

in Wyoming (Dorn 2001). Poa alpina ssp. vivipara was also documented in Littlerock 

Creek Fen (Heidel 3023, 3055). Although this species is common in Wyoming, the 

viviparous subspecies was not previously known from the conterminous United States 

(Soreng 2007).

Significance: Littlerock Creek Fen is large for an alpine fen and harbors four Wyoming Plant 

Species of Concern in or adjoining the fen, and two more rare species along the fen 

margins.

Disturbances: Forest Service Trail 623 passes around the northeastern part of the fen, and 

was historically used by motorized vehicles, as evidenced by the automobile that remains 

Figure 48—Alpine fen 

boundaries are subtle, 

and peat depth is 

shallow, deceiving 

an early motorist at 

Littlerock Creek Fen 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Figure 47—Littlerock 

Creek Fen in a sloping 

setting on a color 

infrared aerial image.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 45

(fig. 48). This trail is no longer maintained or signed along the highway. The area was 

part of a sheep allotment up until about 2000. It lies in lands managed for backcountry 

nonmotorized recreation in the summer and motorized winter recreation (USDA Forest 

Service 2015a).

Documentation: Fertig (1997, 1998), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009).

Meadow Lake Fen

Location: Meadow Lake Fen almost encircles Meadow Lake. It is located 1.3 km (0.8 mi) 

northwest of Fantan Lake. It is accessible from the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 

212) via Forest Service Road 149 and by 4WD or on foot (figs. 41 and 50). Area: 4.7 ha 

(11.1 ac)

Elevation: 2,990 m (9,800 ft)

Environment: Meadow Lake Fen is a sloping fen in a basin setting underlain by Quaternary 

glacial deposits (Love and Christiansen 1985). It has mounds and shallow, narrowly spaced 

swales on the perimeter slopes of a small lake (fig. 51). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm 

length of the auger. The peat pH was measured at 5.1 in a mound and at 5.6 in an adjoining 

swale (table 2) (Heidel 2009). The peat sample also had the highest titanium levels (0.020 

mg/L) among any of the study fens (Heidel 2009). The fen has an inlet fed by Meadow 

Lake North Fen, and the outlet drains into an unnamed tributary of Table Creek.

Vegetation: Carex scopulorum is on peat mounds with high cover of the moss Aulacomnium 

palustre. Swales have sparse cover of Carex scopulorum and little or no moss cover (fig. 52). 

Rare Species: Carex limosa was found by Yelena Kosovich-Anderson and Heidel in 2008.

Figure 49—Rocky ridges, late-melting snow banks, and seeps encircle Littlerock Creek Fen (photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
46 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Significance: Meadow Lake Fen represents a fen formed at basin slopes. It is at the upper 

elevation limit of Carex limosa.

Disturbances: No potential threats have been identified. It lies in lands managed for backcountry nonmotorized recreation in the summer and motorized winter recreation (USDA 

Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009).

Figure 50—Meadow Lake Fen 

in a sloping setting above 

the basin on a color infrared 

aerial image.

Figure 51—Patterned slope 

fen habitat lies above the 

small lake of Meadow Lake 

Fen (photo: Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 47

Meadow Lake North Fen

Location: Meadow Lake North Fen is located less than 1 km (0.6 mi) northwest of Meadow 

Lake and about 2.2 km (1.5 mi) south of Island Lake. It is accessible from the Beartooth 

Highway (U.S. Highway 212) via Forest Service Road 149 and by 4WD or on foot (figs. 

41, 53 and 54).

Area: 2.9 ha (7.2 ac)

Elevation: 3,000 m (9,840 ft)

Environment: Meadow Lake North Fen is in a basin setting underlain by Quaternary glacial 

deposits (Love and Christiansen 1985). The fen has no stream inflow, and its outlet drains 

to the south and east into Meadow Lake. Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length of the 

auger. The peat pH was measured at 5.6 (table 2) (Heidel 2009) and had the highest iron 

levels (0.596 mg/L) among samples (Heidel 2009).

Vegetation: Meadow Lake North Fen has a broad, elongated portion of graminoid vegetation 

and contains open-water swale pools with Carex scopulorum on peat mounds in 

combination with high cover of the moss Aulacomnium palustre. Large, elongate pools 

are bordered by Carex aquatilis, which also fills the shallowest swales. These pools 

variously have submerged vegetation of Sparganium angustifolium, Callitriche species, 

or the moss Drepanocladus aduncus. The area is surrounded by dry, open ridges.

Figure 52—Peat mounds and intervening swales rise above Meadow Lake in linear patterns (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
48 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Rare Species: There are none known.

Significance: Meadow Lake North Fen fills a basin where the basin itself tilts. It has the 

largest pool-filled swales of the Beartooth fens. It lies immediately upstream from 

Meadow Lake Fen, where peat accumulation is restricted to the basin perimeter.

Disturbances: Distinct hummocks are along part of the southwestern margin and may be 

a remnant of past grazing. There are no current signs of use by pack animals or other 

recreational uses. The fen lies in lands managed for backcountry nonmotorized recreation 

in the summer and motorized winter recreation (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Walford et al. (2001), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Heidel (2009).

Figure 53—Meadow 

Lake North Fen 

in a basin setting, 

with elongate pools, 

on a color infrared 

aerial image.

Figure 54—Meadow 

Lake North Fen is 

encircled by glacial 

erratics (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 49

Mud Lake Fen

Location: Mud Lake Fen is about 1.0 km (0.6 mi) west of Lily Lake. It is identified as Mud 

Lake on the 1988 Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness map. It is accessible by Forest Service 

Road 130 with 4WD and lies directly to the south (figs. 36 and 55).

Area: 8.1 ha (20.0 ac)

Elevation: 2,350 m (7,700 ft)

Environment: Mud Lake Fen is a basin fen underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits (Love 

and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length of the auger. The pH 

in peat was measured at 6.9 (table 2) (Heidel 2009). Peat samples had the highest silicon 

concentrations (20 mg/L) among the 11 fens sampled (Heidel 2009).

Vegetation: This graminoid-dominated fen has Carex utriculata, and contains an inner 

floating mat and central open water. Vegetation plot data were collected in a broad band 

of Salix candida that includes part of the floating mat and was characterized as low 

shrubland (fig. 5) (Walford et al. 2001). In addition, the northeastern corner has Salix 

wolfii, Betula glandulosa, and Carex aquatilis. The open water has extensive areas of 

floating Chara species with Carex lasiocarpa and C. vesicaria around the margins. The 

surrounding gently sloping uplands are mainly open forest with some montane grassland.

Rare Species: Six Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex diandra, C. limosa, 

Eriophorum gracile, Packera indecora, Salix candida, and Sparganium natans, most of 

which were first documented by Mills (Fertig 1997, 1998; Mills and Fertig 1996b).

Significance: Mud Lake Fen has the only shrubland where Salix candida is common.

Figure 55—Mud Lake 

Fen in a basin setting 

on a color infrared 

aerial image.
50 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Disturbances: Mud Lake was grazed by livestock when first surveyed (Mills and Fertig 

1996b). Its north margin is very close to Forest Service Road 130A, which gets heavy 

use by 4WD and offroad vehicles. Shrubs and tree saplings were selectively cut from the 

northeastern lobe for wildlife habitat management purposes in the 1990s. An unauthorized 

camping site and pulloff were noted near its northwestern margin incidental to extensive 

surveys (Heidel, personal observation, 2006). It lies in lands managed for vegetation and 

landscape patterns influenced not only by natural disturbances, but also by prescribed fire, 

timber harvest, and other silviculture treatments (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Mills and Fertig (1996b), Fertig (1997, 1998), Heidel and Rodemaker 

(2008), Heidel (2009).

Poke Lake Fen

Location: Poke Lake Fen is located immediately west of Granite Lake, about 1.6 km (1 mi) 

south of the Wyoming-Montana State line. It is accessible from the Beartooth Highway 

(U.S. Highway 212) via the Clay Butte Road trailhead or the Muddy Creek trailhead and 

then on foot (figs. 56 and 57).

Area: 4.7 ha (11.6 ac)

Elevation: 2,630 m (8,640 ft)

Environment: Poke Lake Fen is a basin fen with a very irregular outline, underlain by 

Precambrian bedrock (Love and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm 

length of the auger. It has no stream inlet but has an outlet that drains into Granite Lake.

Figure 56—Topographic map of Poke Lake Fen, outlined in red.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 51

Vegetation: Graminoid fen vegetation at Poke Lake Fen encircles elongated ponds, with small 

areas dominated by short shrubs (fig. 58). There are two large ponds, including a humic 

blackwater pond at the north end. The dominant graminoid is Carex buxbaumii. Floating 

mats are dominated by Carex limosa with Menyanthes trifoliata, and C. vesicaria occurs 

in patches. Areas dominated by short shrubs have Salix planifolia and Carex scopulorum. 

The fen is bordered by subalpine forest.

Figure 57—Poke 

Lake Fen in a 

basin setting on a 

color infrared aerial 

image.

Figure 58—Poke Lake 

Fen has extensive 

floating mats of mud 

sedge (Carex limosa) 

(photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
52 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Rare Species: Four Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex limosa, Drosera 

anglica, Juncus filiformis, and Utricularia minor. Plant surveys were first conducted in 

2006 by Heidel (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008).

Significance: Poke Lake Fen has an extensive floating mat, contains one of only two known 

populations of Juncus filiformis in the Beartooth Mountains, and is a high elevation 

occurrence for Drosera anglica in Wyoming.

Disturbances: The fen lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area and no signs of 

disturbance were observed.

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008).

Rock Creek Fen

Location: Rock Creek Fen is located about 2.4 km (1.5 mi) north-northeast of Fox Creek 

Campground near the Montana State line. It is accessible via the Gallatin National Forest 

trailhead leading to Vernon Lake and on foot (figs. 59 and 60).

Area: 1.0 ha (2.5 ac)

Elevation: 2,340 m (7,680 ft)

Environment: Rock Creek Fen is a basin fen underlain by Quaternary glacial deposits (Love 

and Christiansen 1985). It lies south of a steep outcrop and a mapped fault line (Love and 

Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 90-cm length of the auger.

Vegetation: Rock Creek has a large, central floating mat dominated by Carex limosa and 

Menyanthes trifoliata and low moss cover. The floating mat is surrounded by a ring 

of Carex limosa and high moss cover. The outermost ring of graminoid-dominated 

vegetation has Carex utriculata, C. buxbaumii, and Calamagrostis canadensis. The area 

is bordered by a rocky knoll on the north and by dry, open forests.

Rare Species: Four Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are present: Carex limosa, Drosera 

anglica, Eriophorum chamissonis, and E. gracile. The first plant survey was conducted at 

Rock Creek Fen in 2007 by Heidel, E. Elliott, and B. Elliott (table 3).

Significance: Rock Creek Fen is unusual in its abundance of floating mat vegetation and its 

very symmetrical, concentric vegetation zonation.

Disturbances: The fen lies within the Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness Area, and no signs of 

disturbance were observed.

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008).

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Location: Sawtooth Palsa Fen is in the middle of a larger 35.6 ha (88.0 ac) area of wetland due 

south of Sawtooth Mountain. It is labeled as “Peat Beds” on topographic maps and on the 

Shoshone NF Map. It is accessible from the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212) and 

the Morrison Trail (Forest Service Road 120) by 4WD or on foot (figs. 61 and 62).

Area: About 8 ha (19.8 ac) of the wetland is palsa.

Elevation: 2,950 m (9,680 ft)
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 53

Figure 59—Topographic map of Rock Creek Fen, outlined in red.

Figure 60—Rock 

Creek Fen in a 

basin setting on 

a color infrared 

aerial image.
54 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Environment: Sawtooth Palsa Fen lies in a broad subalpine basin underlain by “oldest gneiss 

complex,” a deeply weathered Precambrian rock surrounded by Quaternary glacial 

deposits with a raised peat deposit and permafrost (Pierce 1961). It differs from all other 

known basin fens in that it has a dome shape, referred to as “palsa” (fig. 63). Collins 

(1984) reported it as about 1,000 km (620 mi) south of the southernmost palsa fens in 

Canada. A palsa is typically an ombrogenous bog, formed at below-freezing average 

annual temperatures under moist conditions (Vitt 2006). It is the only known palsa in the 

48 contiguous States, though isolated patches of permafrost occur throughout the Rocky 

Mountains as far south as Arizona (Pierce 1979; discussed in Collins 1984). It is in a 

basin but straddles a hydrological divide and drains south into Thief Creek and northwest 

into Canyon Creek. The depth to permafrost was reported as 38 to 46 cm (15 to 18 in) by 

Pierce (1961). Measurements made in 2007 found depth to permafrost at 46 to 56 cm (18 

to 22 in) (USDA NRCS 2008). The original locations of depth measurement are unknown 

so trend cannot be interpreted, but permafrost thaw rates have accelerated over the last 

decades in peatlands of higher latitudes (Rydin and Jeglum 2013). Questions remain as 

to whether the permafrost is melting. Polygonal frost-wedge patterns are present (figs. 

64 and 65). The palsa is raised 1 to 2 m (3 to 6 ft) above the surrounding wetland; it is 

almost devoid of vegetation and pocked by thaw depression pools (figs. 66 and 67). Th 

palsa does not have any saturated peat conditions at the surface, so all pH measurements 

Figure 61—Topographic map of Sawtooth Palsa Fen, outlined in red.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 55

Figure 62—Sawtooth 

Palsa Fen in a 

basin setting on a 

color infrared aerial 

image.

Figure 63—Sawtooth Palsa Fen has a central raised palsa dome in the middle of a graminoid-dominated fen (photo: 

Sabine Mellmann-Brown).

were taken from open water of pools and outlets. Peat thickness was estimated at 3.1 to 

4.6 m (10 to 15 ft) (Pierce 1961).

Vegetation: The peat substrate of the palsa is desiccated and oxidized, and the sparse 

vegetation is concentrated in polygon cracks. Festuca brachyphylla and Deschampsia 

cespitosa are the most common plants on top of the palsa. Encircling fen vegetation has 

dense cover of Carex scopulorum and C. canescens, and patchy cover of C. aquatilis and 
56 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

C. illota. Some of the slightly raised areas have Salix planifolia. The moss cover is high 

in most surrounding communities, and bryophytes are locally dominant on some mounds 

to the exclusion of vascular plants. More details are provided by Chadde et al. (1998), 

Collins et al. (1984), Mellmann-Brown (2004), and Pierce (1961). Sawtooth Palsa Fen 

is surrounded by dry meadow, with open subalpine woodland of Picea engelmannii and 

Pinus albicaulis on parts of the surrounding basin rim.

Rare Species: Agrostis mertensii is the only Wyoming Plant Species of Concern known from 

the palsa; Heidel collected this species in 2007.

Figure 64—Frostheave polygon 

patterns at 

Sawtooth Palsa 

Fen in 1987 (photo: 

Hollis Marriott, 

WYNDD).

Figure 65—Frostheave polygon 

patterns at 

Sawtooth Palsa 

Fen in 2003 (photo: 

Sabine MellmannBrown).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 57

Significance: Sawtooth Palsa Fen is the only known palsa, or remnant of true bog formed 

under past climates, in the lower 48 States (Collins et al. 1984). It is included in the 

current Shoshone NF Management Plan as the proposed Sawtooth Peatbeds Geological 

Area (USDA Forest Service 2015a). It may represent the southernmost example of 

the Gelisol soil order. It is the only fen in the study area where peat has been dated by 

radiocarbon techniques (Pierce 1961, 1980). The top of the peat layer was dated at 7,570 

+/- 400 YBP, and the bottom of the peat layer was dated at 8,600 +/- 300 YBP.

Figure 66—Thaw-depression pool 

at Sawtooth Palsa Fen in 1987 

(photo: Hollis Marriott, WYNDD).

Figure 67—Thaw-depression pool 

at Sawtooth Palsa Fen in 2003 

(photo: Sabine Mellmann-Brown).
58 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Disturbances: There was one accidental entry of cattle in the Sawtooth Palsa Fen in 2004. As 

a result, the polygonal pattern on the palsa was obscured by trampling as photographed 

by Mellmann-Brown, who revisited the site 1 year after sampling vegetation (MellmannBrown 2004).

Documentation: Pierce (1961, 1965), Pierce and Nelson (1971), Collins et al. (1984), 

Mellmann-Brown (2004), Heidel and Rodemaker (2008), Jones et al. (2011b).

Trail Fen

Location: Trail Fen is located about 0.8 km (0.5 mi) south of Hauser Lake, immediately to the 

east of the Beartooth Loop National Recreational Trail (Forest Service Trail 613 as shown 

on the topographic map). It is accessible from the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 

212) via the Morrison Trail (Forest Service Road 120) and Forest Service Trail 613 

(figs. 68 and 69).

Area: 3.1 ha (7.7 ac)

Elevation: 2,940 m (9,640 ft)

Environment: Trail Fen is a basin fen with a slight slope in the northwest, underlain by 

“oldest gneiss complex” (Love and Christiansen 1985). Peat thickness exceeded the 

90-cm length of the auger. The fen has well-developed pools (fig. 70) and a perennial 

inlet that feeds a stream running its entire length (fig. 71).

Vegetation: The graminoid vegetation includes mound and swale zones at the northwest end. 

Carex scopulorum is on the peat mounds with high cover of the moss Aulacomnium 

palustre. A much sparser cover of Carex scopulorum and C. limosa occurs in the 

swales. The rest of the basin has C. scopulorum and Deschampsia cespitosa. The fen is 

surrounded by rolling terrain with dry meadow, open woodland, and low outcrops.

Rare Species: One Wyoming Plant Species of Concern is present, Carex limosa (Heidel and 

Rodemaker 2008).

Significance: Trail Fen is the highest elevation where Carex limosa has been found in the 

study area. It is one of the few fens with a major inlet and stream channel along its length.

Disturbances: Distinct mounds along part of the margins may be a remnant of past grazing 

history. There are no signs of use by pack animals or other recreational uses even though 

a major trail runs along the fen.

Documentation: Heidel and Rodemaker (2008).

Wyoming Creek

Location: Wyoming Creek is located about 3.2 km (2 mi) south of the Montana State line, 

immediately east of the Beartooth Highway (U.S. Highway 212). At the head of Wyoming 

Creek are a highway pulloff and unsigned trailhead for Forest Service Trail 623. Wyoming 

Creek is less than 1.6 km (1 mi) north of Littlerock Creek Fen, separated by a high ridge. 

The Wyoming Creek site is a wetland complex rather than an area of discrete, continuous 

fen habitat. In this report, it is referred to as Wyoming Creek without “Fen” in the name 

because fen habitat is widely scattered rather than in a continuous block (figs. 46 and 72).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 59

Figure 68—Topographic map of Trail Fen, outlined in red.

Figure 69—Trail Fen in a 

basin setting on a color 

infrared aerial image.
60 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Area: Undetermined peatland area, forming mosaic Elevation: 3,020–3,250 m (9,920–10,680 ft)

Environment: The Wyoming Creek wetland complex is underlain by the “oldest gneiss 

complex” in the Beartooth Mountains (Love and Christiansen 1985). The headwaters of 

Wyoming Creek have a series of terraces, likely the product of mass movement downslope 

by saturated soil composed of a series of at least six stairsteps (after Johnson and Billings 

Figure 70—Trail 

Fen pools (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, 

WYNDD).

Figure 71—A discrete 

stream—uncommon 

within the fens 

studied—runs the 

length of Trail Fen 

(photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 61

1962). Peat thickness of 46 cm (18 in) was reported by Johnson and Billings (1962) with 

permafrost depths (i.e., freezing part of the peat profile) as shallow as 30 cm (12 in) early in 

the summer. The setting was described by Johnson and Billings (1962) as lying below snow 

accumulation areas in shallow basins which receive abundant meltwater during the summer. 

Measurements of pH 5.2 were documented for peat mounds at the head of a tributary of 

Wyoming Creek (table 2) (Heidel 2009). It was one of two fens with detectable mercury in 

peat (Heidel 2009).

Vegetation: Johnson and Billings (1962) described the presence of “alpine bog” vegetation at the 

head of Wyoming Creek and observed Carex scopulorum, often with Eriophorum callitrix 

and Salix planifolia. They referred to patterns of vegetation and topography in fen habitat 

that reflect intensive freezing and thawing of saturated soils, including small, unvegetated 

frost boils, and terracing (Johnson and Billings 1962). A latticework pattern was noted in 

recent visits (fig. 73). The mosaic also has early- and late-melting snowbanks with welldeveloped vegetation along seeps and wet meadows associated with churning or heaving 

of soil around wetland patches and snowbanks. The surrounding uplands include dry rocky 

meadows, dominated by Geum rossii.

Rare Species: Nine wetland Plant Species of Concern occur in the Wyoming Creek, though 

only six occur in fen portions of the wetland complex. Johnson (1962) and Johnson 

and Billings (1962) documented two species as restricted to peat-lined terraces: Carex 

misandra and Eriophorum callitrix. They also documented two species from the fen as 

new to the Beartooth Mountains, Carex nelsonii (from fens) and Juncus albescens (later 

re-determined as J. triglumis var. triglumis), in addition to Pedicularis oederi, which occurs 

in a variety of habitats. Three other species were collected from adjoining terraces with 

frost action (Kobresia sibirica, Koenigia islandica, Phippsia algida). In addition, Sphagnum 

angustifolium was collected in 2008 by Ron Hartman. Most of the aforementioned vascular 

species were also found in the highway corridor in tributaries of Wyoming Creek by 

Mellmann-Brown, and in the Twin Lakes area, part of the Line Creek Research Natural Area 

Figure 72—Wyoming 

Creek in a sloping 

setting on a color 

infrared aerial image.
62 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

to the west, by Fertig and Mike Bynum (ERO Resources Corporation 1999b, 2000; Fertig 

1997, 1998; Fertig and Bynum 1994).

Significance: Wyoming Creek exemplifies the polygonal patterns that result from intensive 

freezing and thawing of saturated ground at alpine elevations (Johnson and Billings 1962). 

Locations of the vegetation sampling and depth to permafrost measurements by Johnson 

and Billings (1962) were not permanently marked, but their early research findings provide 

valuable background information.

Disturbances: Current plans for widening U.S. Highway 212 require avoidance of wetlands. The 

Wyoming Creek wetland complex is potentially affected by road management practices and 

runoff. The pullout at the head of Wyoming Creek attracts motorists. Grazing was identified 

as a potential threat to some Wyoming Creek Species of Concern (Fertig 1998), but the 

sheep grazing lease was terminated about 2000 (Decision Notice of January 9, 2003). Use 

of pack animals now requires a permit and is thus limited. This wetland complex lies in 

lands managed for back-country nonmotorized recreation in the summer and motorized 

winter recreation (USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Documentation: Johnson (1962), Johnson and Billings (1962), Fertig (1997, 1998), ERO 

Resources Corporation (1999b), Heidel (2009).

Figure 73—Wyoming Creek 

fen habitat forms a mosaic 

of peat mounds and 

swales (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 63

Rare Plants of Beartooth Fens

There are 32 Wyoming vascular Plant Species of Concern that occur in fens of the 

Beartooth Mountains (table 4) as determined from the overlap between the species listed 

in Chadde et al. (1998) and those on the Wyoming Plant Species of Concern list (Heidel 

2007). Of the 32 species, 12 are designated as sensitive in U.S. Forest Service Region 2 

(Rocky Mountain Region), hereafter called Region 2 (USDA Forest Service 2013) (table 4). 

In addition, there is one Wyoming nonvascular plant Species of Concern that occurs in fens 

of the Beartooth Mountains, and it is likewise designated as sensitive in Region 2 (USDA

Forest Service 2015b) (table 4). Four of the vascular species were later removed from rare 

species status in Wyoming (Heidel 2012): Carex leptalea, C. limosa, Packera indecora, and 

Sparganium natans. Five of the vascular species were reassigned a rare species status from 

“track” to “watch” (table 4): Carex livida, Drosera anglica, Eriophorum chamissonis, E. 

gracile, and Utricularia minor. The 32 species exclude 12 species, previously tracked as 

Species of Concern by WYNDD, that were removed from consideration because they were 

found to be more widespread in the State than previously known (Keinath et al. 2003). These 

species are: Agoseris lackschewitzii, Botrychium virginianum, Carex buxbaumii, C. dioica 

(syn. C. gynocrates), Comarum palustre (syn. Potentilla palustris), Eleocharis rostellata, 

Listera cordata, Petasites sagittatus, Salix farriae, Symphyotrichum boreale (syn. Aster junciformis), Tephroseris lindstroemii (syn. Senecio fuscatus), and Thalictrum alpinum.

The rare vascular plant species of Beartooth fens separate into two groups by elevation; 6 

species occur primarily in the alpine range (2,900 to 3,340 m, or 9,510 to 10,960 ft) and 26 

occur at lower elevations (1,980 to 2,940 m, or 6,490 to 9,640 ft). Four of the rare plant species are characterized by Johnson (1962) and Johnson and Billings (1962) as alpine species 

(table 4), to which we add Agrostis mertensii based on Weber and Wittmann (2012) and Salix 

barrattiana based on Dorn (2001). Almost all of the rare vascular plant species of Beartooth 

fens (31) have their centers of distribution in arctic or boreal latitudes. The exception is Carex 

nelsonii, a regional endemic (Heidel 2012).

Eighteen of the vascular plant Species of Concern are obligate wetland plants in western 

mountains of the United States (Lichvar et al. 2014). This means that they almost always occur in wetlands (Lichvar et al. 2012) (table 4). Most are found only in fen habitat, and even 

though we now know this habitat is more common in the study area than previously thought, 

only a fraction of fens support rare species.

For each of the 32 rare plant species, the description of Beartooth populations, elevation 

range, and number of populations in the study area are reported in table 3, cross-referencing the 18 Beartooth fens described in this report. Species’ distribution and habitat in the 

Beartooth Mountains refer to the Wyoming portion of the mountains unless otherwise stated. 

The history of documentation is briefly described for each species in the following pages and 

presented in table 3. Ten of the rare Beartooth plant species were first discovered in Wyoming 

at either Swamp Lake or Wyoming Creek. Updated information on rare plant species distribution in Wyoming is maintained by WYNDD and Rocky Mountain Herbarium (RM), and is 

posted in WYNDD reports and in State plant species accounts (WYNDD 2016). Of the 32 

species, 14 have conservation assessments prepared for Region 2. The reader is also referred 

to the RM online database (RM 2016) for collection label information to accompany the distribution and habitat information in this report. 
64 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species Elevation range in Beartooth Mtns. (m) Setting in Beartooth Mtns. Vegetation structure of habitat in Beartooth Mtns. Total Beartooth Mtns. populations Total Wyoming populations Collections from the Beartooth Mtns. study area (Sequenced by earliest year, grouped by fen name as acronym among 18 profiled fens, then by collector. Collections from other locations in the Beartooth Mountains study area are prefaced by “elsewhere.”) Agrostis mertensii 2,900– 3,260 Basin Graminoid 3 13 Elsewhere – Mellmann-Brown (1109, 1115, 1199, 1206, 1211, 1212, 1213, 1214) 1998 RM; (2605b) 1996 RM. SPF – Heidel (2989) 2007 RM; E. Elliott (3559) 2007 RM. Amerorchis rotundifolia 2,010– 2,100 Basin Forest 3 3 SLF – Pearson (82) 1924 RM; Lichvar (2062) 1979 RM; Evert (7454) 1984 MOR, (7841) 1985 RM, MOR, (4092) 2004 RM; B.E. Nelson (16885) 1989 RM; Fertig (13370) 1992 RM. Elsewhere – Evert (7834) 1985 RM, (40900) 2004 RM, MOR, NY; B. Elliott (14082) 2008 RM. Arctous rubra 2,010 Basin Margin of forest 1 1 SLF – Evert (7494) 1984 RM, MOR; Dorn (4119) 1984 NY, RM; Hartman (18548) 1984 RM; B.E. Nelson (16876) 1989 RM. Carex concinna 2,010– 2,130 Basin Margin of forest 2 6 SLF – Evert (9824) 1986 RM; Fertig (13368) 1992 RM. Elsewhere – Evert (40914) 2004 RM; E. Elliott (562) 2007 RM. Carex diandra 2,010– 2,740 Basin Graminoid 8 24 SLF – Evert (7666) 1984 RM, (7874) 1985 RM; Fertig (13348) 1992 RM; Heidel (2618) 2004 RM. LMLF – Mills (126) 1995 RM; Heidel (2204) 2002 RM. LLF/MLF – Mills (145, 147, 153) 1995 RM; Mellmann-Brown (1621) 2004 RM; Fertig (17301) 1985 RM; Heidel (2833, 2867) 2006 RM. LLEF – Fertig (17310) 1996 RM. CBF – Mellmann-Brown (1159, 1169) 1999 RM, (1510) 1998 RM, Fertig (18873) 1999 RM; Heidel (3021) 2007 RM. GCF – Mellmann-Brown (1628) 2004 RM; Heidel (2960) 2007 RM. Elsewhere – Heidel (3004) 2007 RM. Carex leptalea 1,980– 2,740 Basin Forest 13 32 Elsewhere – Dorn (3606) 1980 RM; Heidel (2627) 2004 RM; Evert (40899, 40916) 2004 RM; Heidel (2604) 2004 RM, (2747, 2763) 2005 RM, (2838, 2840) 2006 RM, (3033) 2007 RM. SWL – Evert (4737) 1982 RM, (7658) 1984 RM, (40905) 2004 RM; Dorn (5011) 1989 RM; Nelson (16868) 1989 RM; Heidel (2616) 2004 RM. LMLF – Fertig (17250) 1996 RM. LLEF – Fertig (17306) 1996 RM. GCF – Heidel (2615) 2004 RM, (2961) 2007 RM. CBF – Heidel (3016) 2007 RM. Carex limosa 2,010– 2,940 Basin, sloping Graminoid 15 66 SLF – Evert (7505) 1984 RM; Dorn (4128) 1984 RM, (5014) 1989 RM, NY; Hartman (18559) 1984 RM, Lichvar (7026) 1984 RM; Nelson (16886) 1989 RM; Fertig (13356, 13387, 13398) 1992 RM; Jones (858) CWC. CBF – Fertig (14518) 1993 RM, (18871) 1999 RM. LLEF – Fertig (17313) 1996 RM. LBLF – Mellmann-Brown (1132) 1998 RM. LMLF – Mills (124) 1995 RM. MLF Table 3—Environmental characteristics associated with occurrences of the 32 rare plants species and 1 bryophyte species in fens of the Beartooth Mountains described in this report, numbers of known populations, and documentation of herbarium specimen collections.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 65 Species Elevation range in Beartooth Mtns. (m) Setting in Beartooth Mtns. Vegetation structure of habitat in Beartooth Mtns. Total Beartooth Mtns. populations Total Wyoming populations Collections from the Beartooth Mtns. study area (Sequenced by earliest year, grouped by fen name as acronym among 18 profiled fens, then by collector. Collections from other locations in the Beartooth Mountains study area are prefaced by “elsewhere.”) Table 3—Continued. Eriophorum viridicarinatum 2,010 Basin Graminoid 1 12 SLF – Dorn (4140) 1984 RM; Evert (7505) 1984 RM, (7854) 1985 RM; Nelson (16887) 1989 RM; Fertig (13354) 1992 RM. Juncus filiformis 2,630 Basin Graminoid 1 20 PLF – Heidel (2855) 2006 RM. Kobresia simpliciuscula 2,010 Basin Graminoid 1 6 SLF – Dorn (4141) 1984 RM; Evert (7503) 1984 RM, (7843) 1985 RM; Lichvar (7021) 1984 RM; Fertig (13351, 13402) 1992, (18860) 1999 RM. Muhlenbergia glomerata 2,010 Basin Graminoid 1 17 SLF – Hartman (18563) 1984 RM; Fertig (13344, 13388) 1992 RM. Packera indecora 2,010– 2,410 Basin Shrub, margin of forest 10 10 Elsewhere – Williams (s.n.) 1932 NY; Robertson 1365 (1977) RM, Mellmann-Brown (1153) 1999 RM; Dorn (3601) 1980 RM, Heidel (2607) 2004 RM; (2849) 2006 RM. SLF – Heidel (2617) 2004 RM, (2841) 2006 RM, (3032) 2007 RM, (3040) 2007 RM. LLF – Mellmann-Brown (1623) 2004 RM; Heidel (2832) 2006 RM. Pedicularis oederi 3,110– 3,340 Sloping Graminoid 1 1 WCC – Pennell (24000) 1938 RM; Hitchcock (13499) 1945 RM; Evert (42058) 2007 RM; B. Elliott (14621) 2008 RM; Heidel (3356) 2009 RM. LCF – Walford (2486) 1996 RM. Elsewhere – Phillips (44b) 1958 RM; Scott (4736) 1985 RM; Bynum (605, 639) 1994 RM; Fertig (15126) 1994 RM, (17288) 1996 RM; Mellmann-Brown (2345) 1996 RM; E. Elliott (5666, 6261, 6379, 6424) 2008 RM; B. Elliott (13921) 2008 RM; Hartman (87892, 87962) 2008 RM. Potamogeton amplifolius Basin Openwater 1 6 LLF – Fertig (17303) 1996 RM. Potamogeton illinoensis 2,370 Basin Openwater 1 5 Elsewhere – Heidel (2848) 2006 RM. Potamogeton praelongus 2,340 Basin Openwater 1 15 LLF – Fertig (17304) 1996 RM. Primula egaliksensis 2,010 Basin Graminoid 1 2 SLF – Hartman (18561) 1984 RM; Evert (7844) 1985 RM, (9823) 1986 RM, (40907) 2004 RM; Nelson (16888) 1989 RM; Fertig (13399) 1992 RM. Salix barrattiana 2,990– 3,200 Sloping Shrub 1 1 WCC – Pattie (790) 1964 RM; Dorn (1111) 1970 RM, (1742) 1972 RM, (5222) 1991 RM, (5332) 1992 RM; Heidel (3359) 2009 RM. Salix candida 2,010– 2,340 Basin Graminoid 3 25 SLF – Evert (7488) 1984 RM, (7853) 1985 RM; Dorn (4121, 4123) 1984 RM; Nelson (16883) 1989 RM; Fertig (13349) 1992 RM; MLF/LLF – Mills (148, 149, 165) 1995 RM; Mellmann-Brown (1619) 2004 RM; Walford 

(994) 1993; Heidel (2716) 2005 RM, (3250) 2008 RM. MLF – MellmannBrown (1619). 2004 RM. Elsewhere – Heidel (2765) 2005 RM.
66 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species Elevation range in Beartooth Mtns. (m) Setting in Beartooth Mtns. Vegetation structure of habitat in Beartooth Mtns. Total Beartooth Mtns. populations Total Wyoming populations Collections from the Beartooth Mtns. study area (Sequenced by earliest year, grouped by fen name as acronym among 18 profiled fens, then by collector. Collections from other locations in the Beartooth Mountains study area are prefaced by “elsewhere.”) Carex limosa 2,010– 2,940 Basin, sloping Graminoid 15 66 – Mills (161) 1995 RM; Mellmann-Brown (1620) 2004 RM; Heidel (2745) 2005 RM. GCF – Mellmann-Brown (1629) 2004 RM; Heidel (2954) 2007 RM. LLF – Heidel (2834) 2006 RM. PLF – Heidel (2853) 2006 RM. RCF – Heidel (3012) 2007 RM. LWGNF – (2973) 2007 RM. Elsewhere – Heidel (3030a) 2007 RM. MLF – Heidel (3243) 2008 RM. Carex livida 2,010– 2,740 Basin Graminoid 2 26 SLF – Dorn (5013) 1984 RM; Evert (7867) 1985 RM; B.E. Nelson (16875, 16888) 1989 RM; Fertig (13355) 1992 RM. CBF – Mellmann-Brown (1127) 1998 RM; Fertig (18865) 1999 RM. Carex microglochin 2,010– 2,410 Basin Graminoid 2 20 SLF – Dorn (4145) 1984 RM; Evert (7506) 1984 RM, (7848) 1985 RM; Lichvar (7028) 1984 RM; B.E. Nelson (16880) 1989 RM. GCF – Heidel (2952) 2007; E. Elliott (3251) 2007 RM. Carex misandra 3,030– 3,290 Sloping Graminoid 1 12 WCC/LCF – Bliss (788) 1955 RM; Johnson (204, 233) 1960 RM; Aldrich (153) 1979 RM; Evert (3408) 1981 RM, (6207, 6226) 1983 RM; Mellmann- Brown (1124) 1998 RM; Heidel (3022) 2007 RM. Carex nelsonii 3,170– 3,290 Sloping Graminoid 1 16 WCC/LCF – Johnson (232) 1960 RM; Mellmann-Brown (1114, 1119b, 1122, 1135, 1136 , 1137, 1138, 1187) 1998 RM; Fertig (17263) 1996 RM. Drosera anglica 2,270– 2,630 Basin Graminoid 6 27 LLEF – Doutt (152) 1930 YELLO; Fertig (17311) 1996 RM. LMLF - Mills (122) 1995 RM; Fertig (17246) 1996 RM. GCF – Mellmann-Brown (1632) 2004 RM; Heidel (2759) 2005 RM; E. Elliott (3226) 2007 RM. PLF – Heidel (2856) 2006 RM. RCF – Heidel (3009) 2007 RM; E. Elliott (3844) 2007. Equisetum fluviatile 2,480 Basin Graminoid 1 3 Elsewhere – Fertig (17291) 1996 RM. Eriophorum callitrix 3,050– 3,290 Sloping Graminoid 1 5 WCC/LCF and elsewhere – Johnson (58b) 1958 RM; Evert (2430) 1980 RM, (4740) 1982 RM, (420576) 2007 RM; Dorn (4103) 1984 RM; Scott (4942) 1985 CWC, RM; Mellmann-Brown (2590) 1996 RM; Heidel (3024) 2007; E. Elliott (3657) 2007 RM; Hartman (87897) 2008 RM; B. Elliott (13917, 14627, 14715, 14725) 2008 RM. Eriophorum chamissonis 2,270– 2,910 Basin Graminoid 4 41 GCF – Mellmann-Brown (1961) 2004 RM; Heidel (2956) 2007 RM; E. Elliott (3254) 2007 RM. RCF – Heidel (3010) 2007 RM; E. Elliott (3830) 2007 RM. LWF – Heidel (2974) 2007 RM. Eriophorum gracile 2,270– 2,780 Basin Graminoid 9 25 LMLF – Mills (129) 1995 RM. MLF – Mills (158, 162) 1995 RM. LLEF – Fertig (17312) 1996 RM. CBF – Mellmann-Brown (1203) 1999 RM. RCF – Heidel (3011) 2007 RM; E. Elliott (3831) 2007 RM. GCF – Heidel (2958) 2007 RM; Elliott (325) 2007 RM. Elsewhere – Heidel (3030b) 2007 RM. Table 3—Continued.
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 67 Table 3—Continued. Species Elevation range in Beartooth Mtns. (m) Setting in Beartooth Mtns. Vegetation structure of habitat in Beartooth Mtns. Total Beartooth Mtns. populations Total Wyoming populations Collections from the Beartooth Mtns. study area (Sequenced by earliest year, grouped by fen name as acronym among 18 profiled fens, then by collector. Collections from other locations in the Beartooth Mountains study area are prefaced by “elsewhere.”) Salix myrtillifolia 2,010 Basin Graminoid 1 1 SLF – Evert (7489) 1984 RM, MOR; (7873) 1985 RM; Dorn (4118) 1984 RM, (5221) 1991 RM; Lichvar (7039) 1984 RM; Fertig (13380) 1992. Sparganium natans 2,010– 2,910 Basin Openwater 6 16+ SLF – Porter (6791) 1955 RM; Evert (7147) 1984 RM; Fertig (13367) 1992 RM. LLF – Heidel (2835) 2006 RM. MLF Heidel (2977) 2007 RM; E. Elliott (3225) 2007 RM. Elsewhere – Mellmann-Brown (1610) 2004 RM; Heidel (2648) 2006 RM. Trichophorum pumilum 2,010 Basin Graminoid 1 8 SLF – Dorn (4133) 1984 RM; Evert (7498) 1984 RM, MOR, (7846) 1985 RM, (9822) 1986 RM; Nelson (16889) 1989 RM; Fertig (13350) 1992 RM. Utricularia minor 2,010– 2,780 Basin Openwater 6 39 SLF – Fertig (16797) 1996 RM. PLF – Heidel (2854) 2006 RM. GCF – Heidel (2955) 2007 RM. CBF – Heidel (3019) 2007 RM. LLEF – Heidel (3341) 2009 RM. GCF – E. Elliott (3225) 2007 RM. Sphagnum angustifolium 2,470– 2,900 Basin Graminoid 2 3 Elsewhere – Weber (B44268) 1973 COLO. LLEF – Booth (s.n.) 2002 BING; Heidel (s.n.) 2002 RM. WC – Hartman (87944) 2008 RM. 
68 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Table 4—Global conservation ranking, State and regional conservation status, and wetland indicator status for the 32 rare plant 

species and 1 bryophyte species that occur in fens of the Beartooth Mountains described in this report.

Species

FS sensitive status 

(Regions 1a and 2b)

Global 

rankc

Wyoming 

State 

rank

Wyoming 

statusd

Present in 

Beartooth Mtns. 

of Montanae

Montana 

State rankf

Wetland 

indicator 

statusg

Agrostis mertensii G5 S2 Track Yes S3? FACU

Amerorchis rotundifolia R1, R2 S G5 S1 Track No S3 OBL

Arctostaphylos rubra G5 S1 Track (Not in MT) – FAC

Carex concinna G5 S1 Track No S4 FAC

Carex diandra R2 S G5 S2 Track Yes S4 OBL

Carex leptalea Formerly R1, R2 S G5 S3 Delete Yes S4 OBL

Carex limosa G5 S3 Delete Yes S3S4 OBL

Carex livida R2 S, formerly R1 S G5 S3 Track No S4 OBL

Carex microglochin G5? S2 Track (Reported in MT) – FACW

Carex misandra G5 S2 Track Yes S3S4 FACU

Carex nelsonii G3 S3 Track Yes S2? FAC

Drosera anglica R1, R2 S G5 S3 Watch Yes S3 OBL

Equisetum fluviatile G5 S1 Track No S4 OBL

Eriophorum callitrix G5 S2 Track Yes S2S3 OBL

Eriophorum chamissonis R2 S G3 S3 Watch No S4 OBL

Eriophorum gracile R1, R2 S G5 S3 Watch No S3 OBL

Eriophorum viridicarinatum Formerly R1 S G5 S2 Track No S4 OBL

Juncus filiformis G5 S2 Delete No SNR FACW

Kobresia simpliciuscula R2 S G5 S1 Track No S3 FACW

Muhlenbergia glomerata Formerly R2 S G5 S2 Track No SU FACW

Packera indecora G5 S2 Delete Yes S4? FACW

Pedicularis oederi G5 S2 Track Yes S3 No status

Potamogeton amplifolius G5 S1 Track No – OBL

Potamogeton illinoensis G5 S1 Track No – OBL

Potamogeton praelongus G5 S1 Track No – OBL

Primula egaliksensis R2 S G4 S1 Track (Not in MT) – OBL

Salix barrattiana R2 S G5 S1 Track Yes S2 FACW

Salix candida R2 S G5 S2 Track No S3S4 OBL

Salix myrtillifolia R2 S G5 S1 Track (Not in MT) – FACW

Sparganium natans G5 S2 Delete No S4 OBL

Trichophorum pumilum G5 S1 Track No S3 FACW

Utricularia minor R2 S G5 S3 Watch No S3 OBL

Sphagnum angustifolium R2 S G5 S1 Track No S2 Not 

applicable

a Sensitive plants species of U.S. Forest Service Region 1 in Montana (http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r1/plants-animals/?cid=stelprdb5130525).

b Sensitive plant species of U.S. Forest Service Region 2 (http://www.fs.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsinternet/detail/r2/plantsanimals/?cid=stelprdb5350842). c NatureServe global and state ranking and definitions (NatureServe. 2016. NatureServe Explorer. (http://www.natureserve.org/explorer/index.html).

d Wyoming Natural Diversity Database (Heidel 2012) as posted on WYNDD homepage (http://www.uwyo.edu/wyndd/ ). e Based on Lesica (2012). 

f

 Montana Natural Heritage Program as posted on MTNHP homepage (http://mtnhp.org/plants/).

g Wetland indicator status codes and descriptions (Lichvar et al. 2012):

OBL (Obligate wetland plants) – Almost always occur in wetlands

FACW (Facultative wetland plants) – Usually occur in wetlands

FAC (Facultative wetland plants) – Occur in wetlands and nonwetlands

FACU (Facultative upland plants) – Usually occur in nonwetlands, but may occur in wetlands
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 69

Agrostis mertensii Trin. (northern bentgrass, Poaceae) is a boreal species that reaches its 

southern limits in Colorado, where it is described as “common on tundra” (Weber and 

Wittmann 2012), and in Utah. It is known from the Beartooth Mountains of Montana 

(Lesica 2012, Montana Natural Heritage Program 2015). In Wyoming it occurs in the 

Beartooth, Absaroka, Medicine Bow, Teton, and Wind River mountains, growing in 

meadows, open and forested stream, and lake margins. At Sawtooth Palsa Fen, it grows 

with Carex paysonii and Festuca brachyphylla on the central portion of the palsa on 

raised mounds covered by oxidized, desiccated peat, consistent with its categorization 

as a facultative upland species (Lichvar et al. 2014). Agrostis mertensii was collected 

from the Beartooth Mountains first in 1998 by Mellmann-Brown and then in 2007 at the 

Sawtooth Palsa Fen by Heidel and Elliott (table 3). 

Amerorchis rotundifolia (Banks ex Pursh) ex Hulten (roundleaf orchid, 

Orchidaceae) (fig. 74) is a boreal species at its southern limits in 

the Beartooth Mountains of Wyoming, the extent of its distribution 

within Region 2. It is not known from the Beartooth Mountains of 

Montana. It is otherwise known in the Rocky Mountains from both 

sides of the Continental Divide in northwestern Montana (Lesica 

2012; Montana Natural Heritage Program 2015) and in northern 

Idaho. Wyoming populations grow in spruce forest at Swamp 

Lake Fen and other forested fen locations in the Clarks Fork 

Valley. It occurs on peat accumulated at the base of trees within 

a microhabitat of moss and graminoid vegetation. Amerorchis 

rotundifolia was first collected near Swamp Lake in 1924 by E. 

Pearson and D. Pearson, and not again until 1979 by Lichvar (Evert 

1986) (table 3). It was surveyed at Swamp Lake Fen by Fertig 

(Fertig and Jones 1992) and more recently documented on the opposite side of the Clarks 

Fork Valley (Elliott and Elliott 2011). Conservation status for Amerorchis rotundifolia in 

Region 2 is summarized by Handley and Heidel (2005).

Arctostaphylos rubra (Rehder & Wilson) Fernald (syn. Arctous 

rubra; red fruit bearberry, Ericaceae) (fig. 75) is a disjunct 

boreal species, and its occurrence at Swamp Lake Fen is the 

only known location in Wyoming and the lower 48 States. 

It grows at the borders between forested and graminoiddominated portions of the fen. It is commonly associated with 

Juniperus horizontalis, Betula glandulosa, Salix planifolia, 

and S. candida. Arctostaphylos rubra was first collected in 

1984 by Evert, Dorn, Hartman, and Lichvar (Evert et al. 

1986) and was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 

1992).

Carex concinna R. Br. (beautiful sedge, Cyperaceae) is a boreal 

species at its southern limits in eastern Colorado (Crins 2002; 

Weber and Wittman 2012). Although present in Montana, it 

is not known from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, Carex concinna 

occurs in the Beartooth Mountains, Black Hills, Wind River Range, and Yellowstone 

Plateau. It grows in forests beside streams and wetlands on moist, mossy, or deep duff 

Figure 74—Roundleaf orchid 

(Amerorchis rotundifolia) at Swamp 

Lake Fen (photo: Walter Hartung, used 

with permission).

Figure 75—Red fruit bearberry (Arctous rubra) 

at Swamp Lake Fen, the only place it occurs 

in the lower 48 States (photo: Jennifer 

Whipple, used with permission).
70 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

surfaces. At Swamp Lake Fen, it grows on hummocks at the base of trees in forested 

portions of the fen and at the transition between the fen and uplands. Carex concinna was 

first collected from the Beartooth Mountains at Swamp Lake Fen in 1986 by Evert (table 3) 

and was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992).

Carex diandra Schrank (lesser panicled sedge, Cyperaceae) (fig. 76) 

is a circumboreal species that is occasional to rare throughout 

most of its United States range (Cochrane 2002a). It reaches 

its southern limits in New Mexico and is present in Montana, 

including the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, 

Carex diandra is also known from the Yellowstone Plateau, 

Medicine Bow Mountains, and Big Horn Mountains. It grows 

along pool and lake margins of graminoid-dominated fens at 

Clay Butte Fen, Lily Lake East Fen, Ghost Creek Fen, Lily Lake 

Fen, Mud Lake Fen, and Swamp Lake Fen. The first collection 

from the study area was made by Evert at Swamp Lake Fen 

in 1984 (table 3). Carex diandra was surveyed by Fertig 

(Fertig and Jones 1992). Its conservation status in Region 2 is 

summarized by Gage and Cooper (2006a).

Carex leptalea Wahlenb. (bristlystalked sedge, Cyperaceae) (fig. 

77) has the widest distribution in North America of any sedge 

species (Cochrane 2002b), extending as far south as Mexico 

and from coast to coast. It is known from all surrounding 

States, including the Beartooth Mountains in Montana (Lesica 

2012). In Wyoming, Carex leptalea also occurs in the Black 

Hills, Medicine Bow Range, Jackson Hole, and Yellowstone 

Plateau areas and is no longer recognized as a State Species of 

Concern. It grows in forested or shrub-dominated fens, or at 

wooded fen margins, typically in shade on peat with high moss 

cover. It occasionally grows with Equisetum arvense. It was 

first collected from Swamp Lake in 1982 by Evert (table 3) and 

surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). Its conservation 

status in Region 2 is summarized by Gage and Cooper (2006b).

Carex limosa L. (mud sedge, Cyperaceae) (fig. 78) is a 

circumboreal species that reaches its southern limits 

in the Uintah Mountains of Utah (Ball 2002). It is 

also known from fens in Nebraska and from the 

Beartooth Mountains in Montana (Lesica 2012). 

In Wyoming, Carex limosa is also known from the 

Big Horn Mountains, Medicine Bow Range, Sierra 

Madre Range, Wind River Range, Jackson Hole, and 

Yellowstone Plateau and is no longer recognized as a 

State Species of Concern. Carex limosa is prevalent 

in floating mats of basin fens at Lily Lake East Fen, 

Ghost Creek Fen, Lake WGN, Lily Lake Fen, Mud 

Lake Fen, Poke Lake Fen, Rock Creek Fen, and 

Figure 76—Lesser panicled sedge (Carex 

diandra) at Clay Butte Fen (photo: 

Sabine Mellmann-Brown).

Figure 77—Bristlystalked sedge (Carex 

leptalea) at Ghost Creek Fen (photo: 

Sabine Mellmann-Brown).

Figure 78—Mud 

sedge (Carex 

limosa) at 

Mud Lake Fen 

(photo: Sabine 

MellmannBrown).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 71

Swamp Lake Fen. It is also found at higher elevations in sloping fens, including Little 

Bear Lake Fen, Meadow Lake Fen, and Trail Fen. It was first collected from Swamp Lake 

Fen in 1984 by Evert (table 3) and was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992).

Its conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by Gage and Cooper 

(2006c).

Carex livida L. (livid sedge, Cyperaceae) (fig. 79) is a circumboreal species 

at its southern limits for the Rocky Mountains in Larimer and Park 

Counties, Colorado (Rochrock and Reznicek 2002). It is otherwise 

known from northwestern Montana (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, Carex 

livida occurs in the Beartooth Mountains, Wind River Range, Jackson 

Hole, and Yellowstone Plateau. It grows on floating mats in graminoiddominated vegetation of basin fens at Clay Butte Fen and Swamp Lake 

Fen. It was first collected in Wyoming at Swamp Lake Fen in 1985 by 

Evert (table 3) and was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). 

It was subsequently found at Clay Butte Fen by Mellmann-Brown 

(2004). Its conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by Gage and 

Cooper (2006d).

Carex microglochin Wahlenb. (fewseeded bog sedge, Cyperaceae) (fig. 

80) occurs in North America, Eurasia, and South America, where it is 

regarded as a separate subspecies (Cochrane 2002c). It extends south in 

the Rocky Mountains to Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming and is reported for 

Montana though there are no known voucher specimens (Lesica 2012). In 

Wyoming, it is known from the Beartooth Mountains, upper Green River 

Basin, Wind River Range, and Yellowstone Plateau. Carex microglochin 

grows in graminoid-dominated portions of basin fens, including Swamp 

Lake Fen and Ghost Creek Fen. It was first collected in Wyoming in 1984 

at Swamp Lake Fen by Evert, Dorn, and Lichvar (Evert et al. 1986) and 

was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). It was subsequently 

documented at Ghost Creek Fen by Mellmann-Brown in 2004 (table 3).

Carex misandra R. Br. (Carex fulginosa in Ball and Mastroguiseppe 2002; 

shortleaf sedge, Cyperaceae) is a circumboreal species, extending as far 

south as Colorado and Utah (Ball and Mastroguiseppe 2002). It extends as 

far south in Canada as central Alberta and northern British Columbia (Marr 

et al. 2012). In Montana it is known from the Beartooth and Bitterroot 

Mountains (Lesica 2012) and is more widespread in Colorado (Weber 

and Wittmann 2012). In Wyoming, it is also known from the Bighorn 

Mountains and Wind River Range. Carex misandra grows in wet meadows, 

in willow thickets, along streambanks, in alpine tundra and fen margins, 

and at the transition between peatland and wet meadow in Littlerock Creek 

Fen and Wyoming Creek. It was first collected in Wyoming in 1955 by L. Bliss and 

Johnson (1962) near Wyoming Creek and Littlerock Creek Fens (table 3). Its distribution 

on the Beartooth Plateau may represent one very large population.

Carex nelsonii Mack. (Nelson’s sedge, Cyperaceae) is a Rocky Mountain species that occurs 

as far north as the Beartooth Mountains of Montana, extending south to central Colorado 

Figure 79—Livid sedge (Carex 

livida) at Swamp Lake Fen 

(photo: Sabine MellmannBrown).

Figure 80—Fewseeded bog 

sedge (Carex microglochin) 

at Ghost Creek Fen (photo: 

Sabine Mellmann-Brown).
72 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

and northeastern Utah (Murray 2002). In Wyoming, it is also known from the Bighorn 

Mountains and Medicine Bow, Sierra Madre, and Wind River Ranges. Carex nelsonii 

grows in moist sedge meadows, sloping fens, and alpine tundra, on rocky slopes, and 

along lakeshores. It was first collected at Wyoming Creek by Johnson (1962) and has 

since been collected more widely across the Beartooth Plateau (table 3).

Drosera anglica Huds. (English sundew, Droseraceae; fig. 81) is a 

circumboreal species that reaches its southern extent in the San Juan 

Mountains, Colorado (Weber and Wittmann 2012b). It is known from 

the Beartooth Mountains and elsewhere in Montana (Lesica 2012). 

In Wyoming, it is also known from the Yellowstone Plateau, Jackson 

Hole, and the Big Horn Mountains. It usually grows on floating mats, 

particularly floating mats of Sphagnum, as found at Lily Lake East 

Fen, Poke Lake Fen, and Rock Creek Fen. This species was first 

collected in 1930 by M. Doutt, apparently at Lily Lake East Fen, and 

was found at Little Moose Lake in 1995 by Mills (Mills and Fertig 

1996b) (table 3). Additional mapping was conducted at Lily Lake 

East Fen in 1996 by Fertig and Mellmann-Brown (Fertig 1997). Its 

conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by Wolf et al. (2006).

Equisetum fluviatile L. (water horsetail, Equisetaceae) is a circumboreal species at the 

southern limits of its Rocky Mountain distribution in Wyoming, but it extends farther 

south along the east and west coasts of North America. It occurs in Montana but is not 

known from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, it also occurs on the 

Yellowstone Plateau and is known from a historical collection by Aven Nelson (6548 

RM) on Jackson Lake in 1899 before the water level was raised in 1906 (Marston et 

al. 2005). In Wyoming, habitat includes wetlands and the margins of pools, ponds, and 

streambanks. In the Beartooth Mountains, it has been collected only once—in 1996— 

from a dried pond on clay-rich soil among Carex utriculata within a broad meadow 

valley along Muddy Creek wetland by Fertig, Mellmann-Brown, and Houston (Fertig 

1997) (table 3).

Eriophorum callitrix Cham. ex C.A. Mey. (arctic cottongrass, 

Cyperaceae) (fig. 82) is a circumboreal species with an 

arctic-alpine distribution and southern limits in Wyoming 

(Ball and Wujek 2002). It also occurs in Montana, including 

the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012), and in the Wind 

River Range of Wyoming. It grows in sloping fens, in sedge 

meadows, and along streambanks at Littlerock Creek Fen 

and Wyoming Creek. At Wyoming Creek, it was described as 

occupying peat terraces in association with Carex scopulorum 

(Johnson and Billings 1962). It was first collected in Wyoming 

at Wyoming Creek by Johnson (1962) and its distribution on 

the Beartooth Plateau may represent one extensive population 

(table 3).

Figure 81—English sundew (Drosera 

anglica) at Ghost Creek Fen 

(photo: Sabine Mellmann-Brown).

Figure 82—Arctic cottongrass (Eriophorum 

callitrix) at Wyoming Creek (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 73

Eriophorum chamissonis C.A. Mey. (Chamisso’s cottongrass, Cyperaceae; 

fig. 83) is a circumboreal species at its southern limits in Colorado 

and Utah. It occurs in Montana, but is not known from the Beartooth 

Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, Eriophorum chamissonis is also 

known from the Big Horn Mountains, southern Absaroka Range, Wind 

River Range, and Yellowstone Plateau. It grows in graminoid-dominated 

fens, including Ghost Creek Fen, Lake WGN Fen, and Rock Creek Fen. 

It was first collected in the Beartooth Mountains at Ghost Creek Fen in 

2004 by Mellmann-Brown (table 3). Its conservation status in Region 2 

is summarized by Decker et al. (2006a).

Eriophorum gracile W.D.J. Koch (slender cottongrass, Cyperaceae) (fig. 84) 

is a circumboreal species at its southern limits in the Rocky Mountains 

in Colorado (Ball and Wujek 2002). It occurs in Montana, but is not 

known from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming 

it occurs in the Beartooth Mountains, Jackson Hole, Yellowstone 

Plateau, Medicine Bow Mountains, and Big Horn Mountains. It grows in 

graminoid-dominated fens, often on floating mats, at Lily Lake East Fen, 

Ghost Creek Fen, Little Moose Lake Fen, and Rock Creek Fen. It was 

first collected at Little Moose Lake Fen in 1995 by Mills (Mills and Fertig 

1996b), at East Lily Lake Fen in 1996 by Fertig and Mellmann-Brown 

(Fertig 1997, 1998), and at Ghost Creek Fen in 2004 by Mellmann-Brown 

(table 3). Its conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by Decker et 

al. (2006b).

Eriophorum viridicarinatum L. (thinleaf cottongrass, Cyperaceae) is a boreal 

species that reaches its southern Rocky Mountain limits in Colorado. 

It occurs in Montana but is not known from the Beartooth Mountains 

(Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, Eriophorum viridicarinatum is also known 

from Jackson Hole and the Yellowstone Plateau. It was first collected in 

the study area at Swamp Lake Fen in 1984 by Evert and Dorn (Evert et 

al. 1986) (table 3) and later surveyed by Fertig, who described its habitat as a type of 

graminoid-dominated fen (Fertig and Jones 1992).

Juncus filiformis L. (thread rush, Juncaceae) is a circumboreal species at its southern limits 

in New Mexico. It occurs in Montana but is not known from the Beartooth Mountains 

(Lesica 2012). In Wyoming it is known from the Beartooth Mountains, Yellowstone 

Plateau, Jackson Hole, and Sierra Madre Range and is no longer recognized as a State 

Species of Concern. It grows in a range of wet habitats such as riverbanks, lakeshores, 

and seepage areas, including thermally influenced peatlands. It was first collected at Poke 

Lake Fen in Wyoming in 2006 by Heidel (table 3). It was also found at a nearby gravelly, 

rocky shore of Granite Lake, Wyoming.

Kobresia simpliciuscula (Wahlenb.) Mack. (simple kobresia, Cyperaceae) is a circumboreal 

species that reaches its southern extent in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and Utah. It 

is not known from Montana (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, it is known from the Beartooth 

Mountains and Wind River Range and in the upper Green River Basin. At Swamp Lake 

Fen it grows on floating mats with Carex simulata, and on moist, calcium carbonate-rich 

Figure 83—Chamisso’s 

cottongrass (Eriophorum 

chamissonis) (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).

Figure 84—Slender cottongrass 

(Eriophorum gracile) (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
74 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

hummocks with Eleocharis quinqueflora and Triglochin maritima (Fertig and Jones 

1992). In Wyoming, it was first collected at Swamp Lake Fen in 1984 by Evert and Dorn 

(Evert et al. 1986) (table 3) and was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). Its 

conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by Decker et al. (2006c).

Muhlenbergia glomerata (Willd.) Trin. (marsh muhly, Poaceae) is a boreal species that 

is sparsely distributed at temperate latitudes. It occurs in Montana but is not known 

from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). It occurs in Wyoming in the Black Hills, 

Yellowstone Plateau, upper Green River Basin, and Jackson Hole. At Swamp Lake Fen, 

Muhlenbergia glomerata is associated with Carex simulata, Eleocharis quinqueflora, 

and Triglochin maritima in graminoid-dominated fens, at the edges of forested fens, and 

on ant mounds (Fertig and Jones 1992). It was first collected in the Beartooth Mountains 

at Swamp Lake Fen in 1984 by Evert and Hartman (table 3) and was surveyed by Fertig 

(Fertig and Jones 1992).

Packera indecora (Greene) Á. Löve & D. Löve (syn. Senecio indecorus; elegant groundsel, 

Asteraceae) occurs in eastern Canada and in the Rocky Mountains (Trock 2006). It is 

present in Montana, including the Beartooth Mountains. It reaches its southern extent in 

the Beartooth Mountains in Wyoming and does not occur elsewhere in the State. It grows 

in graminoid- and shrub-dominated fens, along streams and river bars, on mud flats, and 

in disturbed areas. It is no longer recognized as a Wyoming Plant Species of Concern. 

It is present at Mud Lake Fen and Lily Lake Fen and along the shoreline at Swamp 

Lake Fen. In the Beartooth Mountains, it appears to grow as a biennial, fluctuating in 

population numbers between consecutive years (Heidel, personal observations, 2004– 

2009). It was found in other wetlands that apparently burned in the Clover Mist Fire of 

1988. It was first collected near Crazy Creek in 1932 by L. Williams.

Pedicularis oederi Vahl. ex Hornem. (Oeder’s lousewort, Scrophulariaceae) 

(fig. 85) is an arctic-alpine species that is disjunct between central 

British Columbia and south-central Montana (Marr et al. 2012), where 

it is known from the Beartooth and Crazy Mountains (Lesica 2012). 

In Wyoming, it is widespread on the Beartooth Plateau, forming a 

single, very large population, the only one in the State. The study area 

represents the extent of its distribution in Region 2. It is the only species 

among the rare Beartooth fen species in Montana that is not on the 

National Wetland Plant list. It occupies habitat that ranges from turf 

communities of Geum rossii to wet meadows and graminoid-dominated 

fens and fen margins. It was first collected in the Beartooth Mountains 

in 1938 by F. Pennell (24000, 24010 RM) and is represented by many 

subsequent collections (table 3).

Potamogeton amplifolius Tuck. (largeleaf pondweed, Potamogetonaceae) 

is common throughout much of North America (Haynes and Hellquist 

2000), and scattered widely across locations in the interior western 

United States. It is present in northwestern Montana, but not in the 

Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, Potamogeton amplifolius is known 

from the Beartooth Mountains and the Sierra Madre Range, Big Horn Mountains, and 

Wind River Range. At Lily Lake, it was rooted in organic rich mud that may or may 

Figure 85—Oeder’s lousewort 

(Pedicularis oederi) at 

Wyoming Creek (photo: 

Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 75

notindicate peat substrate. It was also found in Lily Lake and adjoining Lily Lake Fen, as 

well as in slow-moving streams. It was first collected in the Beartooth Mountains in 1996 

at Lily Lake and Lily Lake East Fen by Fertig and Mellmann-Brown (Fertig 1997, 1998) 

(table 3).

Potamogeton illinoensis Morong (Illinois pondweed, Potamogetonaceae) is a widespread 

New World species (Haynes and Hellquist 2000). It is present in northeastern and 

northwestern Montana but not in the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, it 

is also known from historical collections in the Laramie Basin, Sweetwater River valley, 

Wind River Range, and Yellowstone Plateau. It occurs in deep ponds and lakes and 

slow-moving streams. It was first collected in the Beartooth Mountains by Heidel in 2006 

(Heidel and Rodemaker 2008), when it was collected from over 1 m depth in a small 

open-water area at Bugle Lake (table 3).

Potamogeton praelongus Wulfen (whitestem pondweed, Potamogetonaceae) is a widespread 

northern species, extending as far south in the Rocky Mountains as Colorado. It is known 

from western Montana but not from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 

2012). In Wyoming, this species is known from the Beartooth Mountains, 

Big Horn Mountains, Medicine Bow Range, and Yellowstone Plateau. It 

grows in conditions that range from slow-moving streams to deepwater 

lakes as found at Lily Lake below Lily Lake Fen and at Little Moose Lake 

Fen. In Wyoming, it was first collected in the Beartooth Mountains in 

1996 at Lily Lake and Little Moose Lake by Fertig and Mellmann-Brown 

(Fertig 1997, 1998) (table 3).Primula egaliksensis Wormsk. ex Hornem. 

(Greenland primrose, Primulaceae) (fig. 86) occurs across boreal and arctic 

latitudes of North America and the Russian Far East, extending as far south 

as Colorado. It is not known from Montana (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, 

the only known populations are in the Wind River Range and at Swamp 

Lake Fen. It grows at Swamp Lake Fen primarily on peat hummocks that 

are calcium carbonate-rich with Eleocharis quinqueflora and Triglochin 

maritima, and to a lesser extent on floating mats of Carex simulata (Fertig 

and Jones 1992). Primula egaliksensis was first collected in Wyoming at Swamp Lake 

Fen in 1984 by Evert and Hartman (Evert et al. 1986) (table 3) and was later surveyed 

by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). Its conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by 

Anderson et al. (2006).

Salix barrattiana Hook. (Barratt’s willow, Salicaceae) (fig. 87) is an 

arctic-alpine species at its southern range limits (Argus 2010; Dorn 

2010). The Beartooth Mountain population is the only one known in 

the conterminous United States, and it spans the State line, partially 

in Montana and the rest in Wyoming (Lesica 2012). It was first 

collected in the Beartooth Mountains and in Wyoming in 1964 by D. 

Pattie and collected later that year by G. Argus (table 3). Its habitat 

in the Beartooth Mountains has been described as boggy lakeshores, 

streambanks, and wet meadows (Ladyman 2005), but it has also 

been collected on broad willow flats on histic soils (Heidel 3359). Its 

conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by Ladyman (2005).

Figure 86—Greenland 

primrose (Primula 

egaliksensis) at Swamp 

Lake Fen (photo: Walter 

Fertig, WYNDD).

Figure 87—Barratt’s willow (Salix 

barrattiana) at Wyoming Creek 

(photo: Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
76 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Salix candida Flueggé ex Willd. (hoary willow, Salicaceae) (fig. 88) is a 

boreal species that extends south to Colorado in the Rawah Range and 

South Park (Argus 2010; Dorn 2010; Weber and Wittmann 2012). It is 

known from Montana but not from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 

2012). In Wyoming, it is also known from the Laramie, Medicine Bow, 

and Wind River Ranges, Yellowstone Plateau, and upper Green River 

Basin. In the Beartooth Mountains, it grows in graminoid- and shrubdominated fens including Mud Lake Fen and Swamp Lake Fen. It was 

first collected in the Beartooth Mountains at Swamp Lake Fen in 1984 

by Evert and Dorn (Evert et al. 1986) (table 3) and was later surveyed 

by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). Its conservation status in Region 2 is 

summarized by Decker (2006).

Salix myrtillifolia Andersson (blueberry willow, Salicaceae) (fig. 89) is a 

disjunct boreal species that reaches its southern extent in South Park, 

Colorado (Argus 2010; Dorn 2010; Weber and Wittmann 2012). It is 

not known from the Montana flora. Swamp Lake Fen is the only 

known location in Wyoming. It was first collected there in 1984 by 

Evert, Dorn, and Lichvar (Evert et al. 1986) (table 3) and was later 

surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and Jones 1992). Its conservation status 

in Region 2 is summarized by Neid et al. (2006).

Sparganium natans L. (syn. Sparganium minimum; small bur-reed, 

Sparganiaceae) is a circumboreal species that reaches its southern 

range limits in the Rocky Mountains in Colorado. In Wyoming, 

it is also known from the Yellowstone Plateau, Jackson Hole, and 

Wind River and Medicine Bow Ranges. It grows submerged in 

shallow pools at Little Bear Lake Fen, Mud Lake Fen, and Swamp 

Lake Fen with other submergents such as Callitriche species. It 

also occurs in ponds bordered by emergents such as Carex lasiocarpa. It does 

not appear to be restricted to fens, and Weber and Wittmann (2012) reported 

it from subalpine marshes and old beaver ponds. It is no longer recognized as 

a Wyoming Plant Species of Concern. The species was first collected in the 

Beartooth Mountains in 1955 by C.L. Porter, possibly from Swamp Lake Fen, 

and was found there in 1984 by Evert (table 3).

Trichophorum pumilum (Vahl) Schinz & Thell. (syn. Scirpus pumilus; Rolland’s 

bulrush, Cyperaceae) (fig. 90) is a circumboreal species that is at its southern 

extent for the Rocky Mountains in South Park, Colorado (Weber and Wittmann 

2012); it is also present in California (Crins 2002). It is known from Montana 

but not from the Beartooth Mountains (Lesica 2012). In Wyoming, it is also 

known from the Gros Ventre Range, Jackson Hole, Medicine Bow Range, and 

upper Green River Basin. At Swamp Lake Fen, it grows on sparsely vegetated 

mounds of peat with high calcium carbonate accumulation (Fertig and Jones 

1992). It was first collected in Wyoming at Swamp Lake Fen by Dorn and 

Evert (Evert et al. 1986) (table 3) and was later surveyed by Fertig (Fertig and 

Jones 1992). 

Figure 88—Hoary willow (Salix 

candida) (photo: Sabine 

Mellmann-Brown).

Figure 89—Blueberry willow (Salix 

myrtillifolia) at Swamp Lake Fen 

(photo: Jennifer Whipple, used with 

permission).

Figure 90—Rolland’s 

bulrush (Trichophorum 

pumilum) (photo: Bonnie 

Heidel, WYNDD).
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 77

Utricularia minor L. (lesser bladderwort, Lentibulariaceae) 

(fig. 91) is a circumboreal species that reaches its southern 

extent in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. In Wyoming, 

it is known from the Yellowstone Plateau, Jackson Hole, 

and Laramie Basin, and the Laramie, Medicine Bow, Big 

Horn, and Wind River mountains. It grows submerged 

in shallow water and pool margins of basin fens, often 

beside floating mats as found at Clay Butte Fen, Ghost 

Creek Fen, and Swamp Lake Fen. It was first collected in 

the Beartooth Mountains at Swamp Lake Fen in 1996 by 

Fertig, Walford, and Mellmann-Brown (Fertig 1997) (table 

3). Its conservation status in Region 2 is summarized by 

Neid (2006).

Sphagnum angustifolium (Russ.) C. Jens. (narrowleaf sphagnum, Sphagnaceae) is the only 

bryophyte species in Wyoming designated as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service, Rocky 

Mountain Region. However, Sphagnum angustifolium is perhaps the most common 

Sphagnum species across North American boreal peatlands (Vitt 2014). It has sporadic 

distribution in the Rocky Mountains extending as far south as Colorado. In Wyoming, 

it is known from the Beartooth Mountains, where it was first collected in 1973 by W. 

Weber, but since then it has not been observed in the area. It has also been collected from 

the Big Horn Mountains (Lenz 2011) and the Wind River Range (Kosovich-Anderson 

2014). Elsewhere in the Beartooth Mountains, it occurs at Lily Lake East Fen, collected 

from floating Sphagnum mat in 2002 by Heidel and Laursen (2003b) and by Booth and 

Zygmunt (2005); at Wyoming Creek, collected in 2008 by Hartman; and at Top Lake, 

collected in 2009 by Kosovich-Anderson (Kosovich- Anderson 2010).

One of the putative Wyoming Plant Species of Concern, Carex scirpodea Michx. var. 

scirpiformis (Mack.) O’Neill & Duman (Canadian single-spike sedge, Cyperaceae), is in 

the current State flora (Dorn 2001), but not accepted as distinct from C. scirpodea var. scorpoidea by Dunlop (2002). The only other known population of this variety in Wyoming is 

from the Flat Creek Fen in the National Elk Refuge near Jackson. In Swamp Lake Fen it is 

associated with Carex simulata, Eleocharis quinqueflora, and Triglochin maritima; it grows 

in graminoid-dominated portions of the fen on calcium carbonate-rich peat and on fen borders 

dominated by stunted spruce forest (Fertig and Jones 1992). It was first collected in Wyoming 

at Swamp Lake Fen in 1984 by Dorn (Evert et al. 1986) and was later surveyed by Fertig 

(Fertig and Jones 1992).

Two Wyoming Plant Species of Concern are known from moist habitats adjacent to fens 

in the Beartooth Mountains, but have not been documented growing on peat: Carex infirminervia (C. deweyana var. bolanderi misappl.) and Viburnum edule, collected in the Clarks 

Fork River Valley. Four additional Wyoming Species of Concern are known from moist habitats bordering alpine fens in the Beartooth Mountains, but have not been documented growing 

on peat: Juncus triglumis var. triglumis, Kobresia sibirica, Koenigia islandica, and Phippsia 

algida (see the information on Littlerock Creek Fen and Wyoming Creek).

Figure 91—Lesser bladderwort (Utricularia 

minor) (photo: Bonnie Heidel, WYNDD).
78 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Disturbances

Fens are vulnerable to anthropogenic and natural disturbances (Rocchio 2006a,b; 

Weixelman and Cooper 2009; Weixelman et al. 2007). Management or land use activities that 

disturb the groundwater-dependent hydrological regime of a fen, causing drying or warming, 

are potential threats (Sikes et al. 2010). Anthropogenic disturbances observed in Beartooth 

fens include roads, grazing, ditches, and noxious weeds. Natural disturbances include fire and 

concentrated use by wildlife (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008). Levels of anthropogenic disturbances are lower in Beartooth fens compared to levels reported for fens in the Sierra Nevada 

Mountains of California (Sikes et al. 2010; Weixelman and Cooper 2009), in the San Juan 

Mountains of Colorado (Chimner et al. 2010), and in mountains of west-central Colorado 

(Austin and Cooper 2015; Johnston et al. 2012).

Anthropogenic Disturbances

Most land use history in the Beartooth Mountains predates the National Environmental 

Protection Act (NEPA) of 1969, and is alluded to but not chronicled in the preparation of 

NEPA documents of the Shoshone NF and the revised Shoshone NF Management Plan 

(USDA Forest Service 2015a).

Three of the 18 fens described in this publication are located in or adjoining the Beartooth 

Highway (U.S. Highway 212) corridor that is proposed for widening. Little Bear Fen is 

crossed by the highway, Clay Butte Fen is bordered by the highway, and Wyoming Creek 

is directly below the highway. Surveys identified them as vulnerable (ERO Resources 

Corporation 1999a,b, 2000) and avoidance measures were proposed to move construction out 

of fen habitat or to design construction with features (bridges, culverts) to minimize hydrological alteration at the Little Bear Lake Fen. During construction of Chief Joseph Highway 

(State Highway 296) in the the 1970s, the highway was paved and the culvert at the outlet of 

Swamp Lake Fen was replaced. Water impoundments, drainage, and diversions were absent 

in fens in the study area, except for one ditch remnant that was observed at the south end of 

the study area in the Clarks Fork Valley (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008).

Cattle and horse grazing operations in the Clarks Fork Valley are based out of private 

ranches in the valley. Sheep grazing was historically widespread in alpine and subalpine 

elevations of the Beartooth Mountains, but the last of all sheep allotments were retired by 

about 2000 (Decision Notice of January 9, 2003). Several of the high elevation fens are hummocky above the wetland, possibly reflecting the legacy of sheep-grazing. One rare species, 

Amerorchis rotundifolia, is considered to be palatable to livestock (Fertig 1995) and others, 

including Muhlenbergia glomerata and Primula egaliksensis, are inferred to be palatable 

(Fertig 1995). The rare shrub species Arctostaphylos rubra was thought to be browsed more 

heavily by elk and moose than by livestock (Fertig 1995). Past grazing may have affected 

population numbers of rare species, and influenced microsite soil and hydrological conditions. The species described in the previous section occur at Swamp Lake Fen, where grazing 

by horses is excluded from the fen.

Commercial timber harvest in the Beartooth Mountains was limited to the Clarks Fork 

Valley, and limited by access. In 1989, salvage logging took place on hillslopes above Swamp 

Lake Fen following the Clover Mist Fire (1988). The Beartooth fens described here are 

mostly free of weeds and nonnative plant species in general. Cirsium arvense, a common 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 79

weedy species, was found at two Beartooth fens (Appendix). Encroachment by nonnative 

species seeded to stabilize the eroding soil above Swamp Lake Fen includes Astragalus cicer, 

growing directly above the fen (Heidel 3034 RM) and in low numbers in the fen.

Natural Disturbances

Signs of elk and moose were common in Beartooth fens and included browsing, trampling, 

and scat. There was no evidence that wildlife use affected shrub vigor or longevity. Old, 

unoccupied beaver lodges were present where Populus tremuloides grew above fens of the 

Clarks Fork Valley (Heidel and Rodemaker 2008).

The most recent major fire in the study area was the Clover Mist Fire (1988), a standreplacing fire that burned the wooded hillslopes above Swamp Lake Fen. After the fire, water 

runoff and erosion increased and deep gullies formed on adjoining slopes; debris flows were 

noted in 1989 and 1992 (Fertig and Jones 1992). The extensive Clover Mist Fire also burned 

near Rock Lake Fen. Disturbance by wildfire can alter runoff, snow interception, water percolation, groundwater flows, and surface flow volume and timing (Luce et al. 2012) but has not 

been evaluated in the study area.

The fen fieldwork conducted in the Beartooth Mountains from 2002 to 2007 coincided 

with a period in which more than 70 percent of Wyoming was in moderate to exceptional 

drought through most or all of the growing season (Wyoming State Climate Office 2015), 

consistent with field observations in the Beartooth Mountains study area. At Ghost Creek 

Fen and Rock Creek Fen, the floating mats that appeared on aerial imagery were not buoyant 

when visited in 2005. At Ghost Creek Fen, Rock Creek Fen, and Lily Lake Fen, the transition from wetland vegetation to adjacent upland vegetation was dominated by Calamagrostis 

canadensis. Although this grass species is native, it is tolerant of shifts from aerobic to anaerobic conditions, conferring competitive advantage under fluctuating water levels.

Future Directions

In this final section, recommendations for future work on fens of the Beartooth Mountains 

and elsewhere are presented, similar to the framework proposed for fens of California (Sikes 

et al. 2010). Related policy directives and steps toward improved management of fens on 

national forests are briefly described.

Inventory

Over the past decade, there has been increased interest in documenting fen resources on 

public lands in Wyoming (Heidel 2011; Heidel 2012; Heidel 2013 a,b; Heidel and Jones 

2006; Heidel and Laursen 2003 a,b; Heidel and Rodemaker 2008; Heidel and Thurston 2004; 

Lemly 2007; Lemly and Cooper 2011; Mellmann-Brown 2004) and in Colorado (Austin 

2008; Austin and Cooper 2015; Chimner et al. 2010; Johnston et al. 2012; Lyon et al. 2007). 

The following factors have contributed to the need for improved information on the distribution of fens: increased awareness of the rare plants and other biota that occur in fens; the 

unique ecosystem qualities of many fens, particularly carbon and water storage; recognition that fens are irreplaceable and very old ecosystems (Charman 2002)—most fens in the 

Rocky Mountains are more than 6,000 years old; the potential for fens to serve as indicators 

of climate change (Drexler et al. 2013); and revised policy directives with explicit language 
80 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

addressing groundwater-dependent ecosystems (GDEs). The development of standardized 

inventory protocols by the Forest Service Groundwater Program has resulted in more consistent data collection and data management for fens and springs on national forests (USDA 

2012b,c).

More information is needed on fens in the Beartooth Mountains. For Wyoming, most of 

the unsurveyed fens are small (<0.4 ha; 1 ac) and many are located in the Absaroka-Beartooth 

Wilderness Area. A systematic fen inventory is warranted for the Beartooth Mountains in 

Montana. More work on alpine fens is needed in both States, including documentation of peat 

thickness and continuity. A comprehensive inventory of GDEs, including springs, fens, and 

other groundwater-fed wetlands, throughout the Beartooth Mountains would be informative, 

particularly in areas of high wetland density. This effort would ideally include additional biotic inventories (fauna, vascular and nonvascular flora) to improve documentation of local and 

regional biodiversity, thus contributing to more informed management on the Shoshone NF. 

More complete floristic inventories are needed for quantitative comparisons and biodiversity 

assessments among Rocky Mountain fens. The National Wetlands Inventory mapping (USDI 

Fish and Wildlife Service 2014) and 1-m resolution color digital orthophoto imagery of the 

National Agricultural Imagery Program (NAIP) became available for the study area after the 

2005–2007 fieldwork, and offer additional resources for conducting inventories of Beartooth 

fens.

Classification

Statewide wetland vegetation has been classified in Montana (Hansen et al. 1995) and in 

Colorado (Carsey et al. 2003), with advances in Wyoming by Walford et al. (2001) and others. 

However, outstanding gaps exist in the study area and the rest of Wyoming. A classification for 

Wyoming wetland vegetation and an ecological classification of fens would ideally include 

bryophyte species, reflecting their contributions to biomass, vegetation cover, and diversity. 

Classification of Beartooth fens would cover a wide range of conditions and serve as a springboard for wetland classification work elsewhere in the State.

Groundwater chemistry is critical in regulating the distribution of fen vegetation in mountainous regions (Lemly and Cooper 2011; Weixelman and Cooper 2009). Expanded baseline 

research on peat and groundwater chemistry is warranted in the Beartooth Mountains, within 

and among fens and and over time (table 2). Resulting information would contribute to classification of Beartooth fens and provide valuable context for existing vegetation and water 

chemistry data over the elevation gradient within the Beartooth Mountains. Comparisons 

with existing fen classifications that incorporate water chemistry could then be conducted 

(Bridgham et al. 1996; Vitt 2006; Wheeler and Proctor 2000).

Research and Monitoring

Fens in the Beartooth Mountains occur across a wide range of elevations, geomorphic settings, and substrates that influence peat-forming processes, local hydrology, and biodiversity. 

This range of fen settings provides a natural laboratory for monitoring and research.

Fens require stable hydrological conditions and are important for their water storage 

and release capacities. Hydrological research and monitoring are needed at select sites to 

address site-specific questions. For example, at Sawtooth Palsa Fen, monitoring depth to 

permafrost and discharge at the two outlet streams could assist in determining the impact of 
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 81

climate change on the hydrology of this unique fen and surrounding wetland. At Swamp Lake 

Fen, hydrological data on surface flow could contribute to assessing impacts of the drained 

wetland upstream, an elevated outlet downstream, and postfire runoff in the absence of forest regeneration since the 1988 fire. If management activities on the Shoshone NF have the 

potential to impair fen functionality, hydrological monitoring would be warranted.

Mountainous areas are the only locations in Wyoming where precipitation exceeds evaporation (Curtis and Grimes 2004), and mountain snowpacks serve as Wyoming’s primary 

source of water. Many mountain fens occur in headwater positions with outlets but no inlets. 

Research on fen water storage and release, possibly in tandem with research on nutrient 

storage and release, could provide landscape-scale perspectives documenting the role of fens 

in watershed hydrology. Improved understanding of the hydrology of mountain fens would 

contribute to the evaluation of potential climate change impacts, including vulnerability assessments for mitigation and adaptative management on national forests (Littell et al. 2012).

Globally, peatlands store carbon and nitrogen, retaining about one-third of the world’s 

soil carbon and 16 to 28 percent of the world’s soil nitrogen while occupying only 3 to 4 

percent of the Earth’s surface (Dise 2009; Vitt 2014). Peat thickness in fens of the Beartooth 

Mountains (table 2) and elsewhere (Chimner et al. 2010) suggests that cumulative carbon 

storage could be considerable in mountain ranges with high fen densities. Basic research on 

carbon dynamics, quantification of carbon pools, determinants of local and regional peat accumulation, and potential impacts of climate change are needed for mountain fens thoughout 

the western United States. In addition, little is known about the nutrient status of mountain 

fens, including nitrogen and other macronutrients, as well as micronutrients.

Repeat visits to document trends in the rare species described in this report would inform 

future conservation efforts. Monitoring of rare plant populations would include periodically 

assessing population numbers and extent, as well as visiting and documenting additional sites 

with habitat potential to support certain species. Monitoring of rare plant populations is a high 

priority for species that occur in fens subject to management-related hydrological changes 

and current or potential encroachment of invasive species. Changes in plant phenology and 

visitation by pollinating insects have been documented for high elevation environments 

throughout the western United States (Boggs and Inouye 2012; Inouye et al. 2000, 2002). 

Although many rare fen species are wind-pollinated, tracking seasonal changes and annual 

patterns of plant phenology and pollinator visitation could contribute to assessment of climate 

change impacts.

Peatlands have long been recognized as archives of past environments (Charman 2002). 

Accumulated peat can contain charcoal, pollen, and microfossils and macrofossils of past 

vegetation, as well as records of the ecological and hydrological development of the peatland 

itself through charcoal, diatoms, invertebrate remains, and testate amoebae shells. Limited 

palynological information has been collected in the study area (Whitlock and Bartlein 1993). 

For Beartooth fens, additional radiocarbon dates at a specific site could provide insights into 

the initiation of peat accumulation and spatial development of the fen. Additional radiocarbon 

dates over a range of elevations and in different environments could elucidate patterns of 

peat accumulation over past millennia in response to changing climates. In concert with other 

paleoecology research, such as lake cores, examination of peat cores from the Beartooth 

Mountains could contribute to reconstruction of past vegetation and climatic conditions in 

this part of the Rocky Mountains.
82 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017.

Conservation and Management

Recognition of the ecological values of Beartooth fens has resulted in special designation, 

partially with the intention of protecting and fostering future research at these sites. Swamp 

Lake Special Botanical Area is designated (Johnston 1987), and a proposal to designate 

Sawtooth Palsa Fen as a Special Geological Area (Sawtooth Peatbed Geological Area) is 

included in the Shoshone NF Resource Management Plan revision (USDA Forest Service 

2015a). Final designation awaits an establishment report. Likewise, the Lake Creek proposed 

Research Natural Area, which includes Lily Lake East Fen and Poke Lake Fen, awaits an 

establishment report. Poke Lake Fen and Rock Creek Fen are located within the AbsarokaBeartooth Wilderness, which provides protection from many management activities and 

assures maintenance of natural conditions and processes (Public Law 98-550). Management 

guidance for fens without special designation is provided by regional peatland policies, and 

the Shoshone NF Management Plan.

Management of fens and other GDEs has been hampered on public lands due to limited 

information on their locations, characteristics, and condition. Improved inventory and assessment of fens is occurring across national forests nationwide, facilitated by the development 

of protocols, guidance, and assistance from the Forest Service Groundwater Program (USDA

Forest Service 2007). For improved management of fens, the first step for many Forest 

Service management units is the assessment of GDE resources and identification of management or land use activities that may be affecting the groundwater resources (USDA Forest 

Service 2007). The work of resource managers supports agency commitments to protect, conserve, and restore waters, watersheds, and listed wildlife and plant species and their habitats 

and to conserve biological diversity. For fens and other GDEs, this work begins with information about their distribution, condition, function, and value, as well as the influence of current 

management (USDA Forest Service 2010). This report summarizes work to date on fens that 

occur on a portion of the Shoshone NF, but additional inventory and assessment are needed, 

as noted earlier. For many national forests, next steps include integration of GDE protection 

with other management (roads, timber, grazing) and conservation priorities. Where fens have 

been compromised by management or land use, restoration efforts should be guided by the 

best available science and information regarding the specific site(s).

A review of statutes and policies that establish management requirements related to GDEs 

can be found in the Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem Inventory and Monitoring Business 

Requirements Analysis (USDA Forest Service 2012a,b). In addition, several sections of the 

2012 Planning Rule (USDA Forest Service 2012c) include further consideration of GDEs 

during the revision of forest plans.

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USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 93 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Abies lasiocarpa var. lasiocarpa

Abies bifolia subalpine fir Pinaceae

X

X

Acer glabrum Rocky Mountain 

maple

Aceraceae

X

Actaea rubra red baneberry Ranunculaceae

X

Agoseris glauca pale agoseris Asteraceae

X

X

Agoseris lackschewitzii

Milk Creek agoseris Asteraceae

X

Agrostis exarata spike bentgrass Poaceae

X

X

Agrostis mertensii northern bentgrass Poaceae

X

Agrostis scabra Agrostis 

hiemalis

rough bentgrass Poaceae

X

Agrostis stolonifera

creeping bentgrass Poaceae

X

X

Agrostis variabilis mountain bentgrass Poaceae

X

X

X

Allium brevistylum

shortstyle onion Alliaceae

X

Allium cernuum nodding onion Alliaceae

X

Alnus incana ssp. tenuifolia

thinleaf alder Betulaceae

X

X

X

X

Alopecurus pratensis

meadow foxtail Poaceae

X

X

Amerorchis rotundifolia

Orchis rotundifolia

roundleaf orchid Orchidaceae

X

Anemone multifida var. 

multifida

Anemone multifida var. hudsoniana, A. m. var. sansonii

Pacific anemone Ranunculaceae

X

Anemone parviflora

smallflowered anemone

Ranunculaceae

X

X

Angelica arguta Lyall’s angelica Apiaceae

X

X

Antennaria corymbosa

flat-top pussytoes Asteraceae

X

X

Antennaria lanata woolly pussytoes Asteraceae

X

X

X

X

Appendix—Vascular flora of Beartooth Mountains Fens, Wyoming.
94 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Antennaria luzuloides

rush pussytoes Asteraceae

X

Antennaria microphylla

littleleaf pussytoes Asteraceae

X

Antennaria pulcherrima

handsome pussy-toes Asteraceae

X

X

X

Arceuthobium americanum

American dwarf 

mistletoe

Viscaceae

X

Arctostaphylosrubra

Arctous rubra red fruit bearberry Ericaceae

X

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 

bearberry Ericaceae

X

Arnica mollis hairy arnica Asteraceae

X

X

Astragalus cicer chickpea milkvetch Fabaceae

X

Astragalus eucosmus

elegant milkvetch Fabaceae

X

X

X

Astragalus miser Fabaceae

X

Betula glandulosa timber milkvetch Betulaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Botrychium virginianum

rattlesnake fern Ophioglossaceae

X

Bromus ciliatus fringed brome Poaceae

X

Bromus inermis var. inermis

smooth brome Poaceae

X

Bromus marginatus

Bromus marginatus var. carinatus 

mountain brome Poaceae

X

Calamagrostis canadensis

bluejoint Poaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Calamagrostis purpurascens

purple reedgrass Poaceae

X

Calamagrostis rubescens

pinegrass Poaceae

X

Calamagrostis stricta ssp. inexpansa

Calamagrostis inexpansa

northern reedgrass Poaceae

X

X

X

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 95 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Calamagrostis stricta ssp. stricta

slimstem reedgrass Poaceae

X

X

Callitriche palustris

vernal water-starwort Plantaginaceae

X

Callitriche stenoptera

northern waterstarwort Plantaginaceae

X

X

Caltha leptosepala

white marsh marigold Ranunculaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Calypso bulbosa fairy slipper Orchidaceae

X

Cardamine breweri

Brewer’s bittercress Brassicaceae

X

Carex aquatilis water sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex aurea golden sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

Carex bebbii Bebb’s sedge CyperaceaeCarex buxbaumii Buxbaum’s sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex canescens silvery sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex capillaris hair-like sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

Carex concinna low northern sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex diandra lesser panicled sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex disperma softleaf sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex gynocrates Carex dioica northern bog sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex haydeniana cloud sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex heteroneura var. chalcioleps

C. atrata var. 

chalcioleps

Holm sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex illota sheep sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex interior inland sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

Carex lachenalii Carex bipartita twotipped sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex lasiocarpa woollyfruit sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Carex leptalea bristlystalked sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Carex limosa mud sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Carex livida

C. livida var. radicaulis

livid sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex macloviana thickhead sedge Cyperaceae

X

X
96 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Carex microglochin

fewseeded bog sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex microptera Carex festivella, 

var. C. macloviana var. 

microptera

smallwing sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

Carex misandra Carex fuliginosa shortleaved sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex nebrascensis

Nebraska sedge Cyperaceae

Carex nelsonii Nelson’s sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex neurophora alpine nerve sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex nigricans black alpine sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex norvegica var. stevenii

Carex stevenii Steven’s sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex paysonis Payson’s sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex pellita Carex 

lanuginosa

woolly sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex petasata Liddon sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex phaeocephala

dunhead sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex praeceptorum

early sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex praegracilis

clustered field sedge Cyperaceae

X

Carex pyrenaica Pyrenean sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

Carex saxatilis rock sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

Carex scirpoidea ssp. pseudoscirpoidea

western singlespike sedge

Cyperaceae

X

X

Carex scirpoideassp. scirpoidea

Carex scirpoidea ssp. scirpiformis

northern singlespike sedge

Cyperaceae

X

Carex scopulorum mountain sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X x X

X

X

Carex simulata analogue sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

Carex utriculata Carex rostrata 

var. utriculata

Northwest Territory sedge

Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 97 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Carex vesicaria blister sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Castilleja miniata giant red Indian 

paintbrush

Orobanchaceae

X

Castilleja rhexifolia

splitleaf Indian 

paintbrush

Orobanchaceae

X

X

X

Catabrosa aquatica

water whorlgrass Poaceae

Ceratophyllum demersum

Coon’s tail Ceratophyllaceae

X

Chamerion angustifolium var.

angustifolium

Epilobium angustifoliumvar. angustifolium

fireweed Onagragaceae

X

X

X

X

Chimaphila umbellata var. occidentalis

pipsissewa Ericaceae

X

Cicuta maculata spotted water hemlock Apiaceae

X

Cinna latifolia drooping woodreed PoaceaeCirsium arvense Canada thistle Asteraceae

X

X

Cirsium scariosum

meadow thistle Asteraceae

X

Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Asteraceae

X

Comarum palustre

Comarum palustre

purple marshlocks Rosaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Cornus sericea Cornus 

stolonifera var. 

stolonifera

redosier dogwood Cornaceae

X

Danthonia intermedia

timber oatgrass Poaceae

X

X

Danthonia unispicata

onespike danthonia Poaceae

X

X

Dasiphora fruticosa ssp. floribunda

Potentilla fruticosa;

Pentaphylloides floribunda

shrubby cinquefoil Rosaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X
98 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Deschampsia cespitosa

tufted hairgrass Poaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Deschampsia elongata

slender hairgrass Poaceae

Dodecatheon pulchellum

Dodecatheon pauciflorum

darkthroat shootingstar

Primul

X

Draba albertina slender draba Brassicaceae

X

X

X

Drosera anglica English sundew

Droseraceae

X

X

X

Eleocharis palustris

common spikerush Cyperaceae

X

X

Eleocharis quinqueflora

Eleocharis pauciflora

fewflower spikerush Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Eleocharis rostellata

beaked spikerush Cyperaceae

X

Elymus glaucus blue wildrye PoaceaeElymus spicatus Agropyron 

spicatum; & Pseuodroegneria spicata; includes ssp. inermis & ssp. spicata

bluebunch wheatgrass Poaceae

X

Elymus trachycaulus var. 

trachycaulus

Agropyron caninum

slender wheatgrass Poaceae

X

X

X

Epilobium anagallidifolium

pimpernel willowherb Onagraceae

X

X

X

X

Epilobium ciliatum var. ciliatum

fringed willowherb Onagraceae

X

X

Epilobium halleanum

glandular willowherb Onagraceae

X

Epilobium leptophyllulm

bog willowherb Onagraceae

X

X

X

X

Equisetum arvense

field horsetail Equisetaceae

X

X

X

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 99 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Equisetum fluviatile

water horsetail Equisetaceae

Equisetum hyemale var. affine

scouringrush horsetail Equisetaceae

X

X

Equisetum variegatum

variegated scouringrush

Equisetaceae

X

X

X

Erigeron acris bitter fleabane Asteraceae

X

Erigeron peregrinus var. callianthemus

Erigeron peregrinus var. scaposus; E. glacialis var. glacialis

subalpine fleabane Asteraceae

X

Eriophorum angustifolium

Eriophorum polystachion

tall cottongrass Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Eriophorum callitrix

arctic cottongrass Cyperaceae

X

Eriophorum chammisonis

Chamisso’s cottongrass

Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

Eriophorum gracile

slender cottongrass Cyperaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Eriophorum viridicarinatum

thinleaf cottonsedge Cyperaceae

X

Eurybia conspicua

Aster conspicuus western showy aster Asteraceae

X

Festuca brachyphylla

alpine fescue Poaceae

X

Festuca minutiflora

smallflower fescue Poaceae

X

Fragaria vesca woodland strawberry Rosaceae

X

X

Fragaria virginiana

Virginia strawberry Rosaceae

X

X

Frasera speciosa Swertia radiata elkweed Gentianaceae

X

Galium boreale northern bedstraw Rubiaceae

X

Galium trifidum threepetal bedstraw Rubiaceae

X

X

X

X

X
100 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Galium triflorum fragrant bedstraw Rubiaceae

X

Gentiana affinis Pneumonanthe 

affinis

pleated gentian Gentianaceae

X

Gentiana algida whitish gentian Gentianaceae

X

X

X

Gentianella amarella

Gentianella amarella ssp. acuta

autumn dwarf gentian Gentianaceae

X

X

Gentianella tenella

Dane’s dwarf gentian Gentianaceae

X

X

X

Gentianopsis thermalis

Gentiana detonsa

Rocky Mountain fringed gentian

Gentianaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Geranium richardsonii

Richardson's geranium Geraniaceae

X

Geranium viscosissimum 

Geranium viscosissimumvar. nervosum

sticky purple geranium

Geraniaceae

X

Geum macrophyllum var. perincisum

largeleaf avens Rosaceae

X

X

X

X

Glyceria borealis small floating 

mannagrass

Poaceae

X

X

Glyceria striata fowl mannagrass Poaceae

X

X

Goodyera oblongifolia

western rattlesnake plantain

Orchidaceae

X

Heracleum maximum

Heracleum lanatum; H. sphondylium ssp. lanatum

common cowparsnip Apiaceae

X

Heuchera cylindrica var. cylindrica

roundleaf alumroot Saxifragaceae

X

Hippuris vulgaris common mare’s-tail Hippuridaceae

X

X

X

X

Hordeum brachyantherum

meadow barley Poaceae

X

X

Hordeum jubatum foxtail barley Poaceae

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 101 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Juncus arcticusssp. littoralis

Juncus balticus; 

J. arcticus var. 

balticus

mountain rush Juncaceae

X

X

X

Juncus biglumis twoflowered rush Juncaceae

X

X

Juncus brevicaudatus

narrowpanicle rush Juncaceae

X

Juncus castaneus toad rush Juncaceae

X

Juncus drummondii

Drummond’s rush Juncaceae

X

X

X

X

Juncus ensifolius swordleaf rush Juncaceae

X

Juncus longistylus longstyle rush Juncaceae

X

X

X

Juncus mertensiana

Mertens’ rush Juncaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Juncus parryi Parry’s rush Juncaceae

X

Juncus triglumis Juncus triglumis 

var. triglumis

three-hulled rush Juncaceae

X

Juniperus communis var. depressa

common juniper Cupress

X

Juniperus horizontalis

creeping juniper Cupress

X

X

Kalmia microphylla

alpine laurel Ericaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Kobresia myosuroides

Kobresia bellardii

Bellardi bog sedge Cyperaceae

X

X

X

Kobresia simpliciuscula

simple bog sedge Cyperaceae

X

Koenigia islandica

island purslan Polygonaceae

X

X

Lactuca tatarica Lactuca 

pulchella

Tatarian honeysuckle Asteraceae

X

Ledum glandulosum

western Labrador tea Ericaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Lemna turionifera turion duckweed Lemnaceae

X
102 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Leucopoa kingii Hesperochloa 

kingii

spike fescue Poaceae

X

Linnaea borealis Linnaea borealis

ssp. americana

twinflower Linnaceae X

X

Listera cordata heartleaf twayblade Orchidaceae

X

Lonicera involucrata

twinberry honeysuckle Caprifoliaceae

X

X

X

X

Luzula multiflora var. frigida

common woodrush Juncaceae

X

Luzula parviflora smallflowered 

woodrush

Juncaceae

X

X

X

X

Luzula spicata spiked woodrush Juncaceae

X

X

Lycopodium annotinum

stiff clubmoss Lycopodiaceae

X

Maianthemum racemosum

Smilacina racemosa

feathery false lily of the valley

Convallariaceae

X

Maianthemum stellatum

Smilacina stellata

starry false lily of the valley

Convallariaceae

X

Medicago sativa alfalfa Fabaceae

X

Melilotus officinalis

yellow sweetclover Fabaceae

X

Menyanthes trifoliata

buckbean Menyanthaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Mimulus guttatus Erythranthe 

guttata

seep monkeyflower Phyrmaceae

Mitella pentandra fivestamen miterwort Saxifragaceae

X

Mitella stauropetala

smallflower miterwort Saxifragaceae

X

Moneses uniflora Pyrola uniflora single delight Ericaceae

X

Muhlenbergia andina

foxtail muhly Poaceae

X

Muhlenbergia filiformis

pullup muhly Poaceae

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 103 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Muhlenbergia glomerata

Included in Muhlenbergia racemosa by some authors

spiked muhly Poaceae

X

Muhlenbergia richardsonis

mat muhly Poaceae

X

Myriophyllum sibiricum

Myriophyllum exalbescens M. spicatum var. exalbescens

shortspike watermilfoil

Haloragaceae

X

X

Nemophila breviflora

Hydrophllaceae

X

Nuphar lutea ssp. polysepala

Rocky Mountain 

pond-lily

Nymphaceae X

X

X

X

X

Orthilia secunda Pyrola secunda sidebells wintergreen Ericaceae

X

X

Osmorhiza depauperata

bluntseed sweetroot Apiaceae

X

Oxytropis deflexa var. sericea

blue nodding locoweed

Fabaceae

X

Packera indecora elegant groundsel Asteraceae

X

X

X

Packera paupercula

Senecio pauperculus

balsam groundsel Asteraceae

X

Packera subnuda Senecio 

cymbalarioides;Packera buekii

Buek’s groundsel Asteraceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Parnassia fimbriata var. fimbriata

fringed grass of Parnassus

Parnassiaceae

X

X

X

Parnassia palustris var. montanensis

Includes var. tenuis

mountain grass of Parnassus

Parnassiaceae

X

X

X

Pedicularis groenlandica

elephanthead 

lousewort

Plantaginaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Pedicularis oederi Oeder’s lousewort Plantaginaceae

X
104 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Petasites frigidus var. sagittatus

Petasites sagittatus

arctic sweet coltsfoot Asteraceae

X

X

Phippsia algida icegrass Poaceae

X

X

Phleum alpinum alpine timothy Poaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Phleum pratense timothy Poaceae

X

X

Phyllodoce empetriformis

pink mountainheath Ericaceae

X

X

X

Picea engelmannii

Engelmann spruce Pinaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Picea glauca white spruce Pinaceae ? ? XPinus contorta var. latifolia

lodgepole pine Pinaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Pinus flexilis limber pine Pinaceae

X

Plantago major common plantain Plantaginaceae

X

Platanthera aquilonis

Included in Habenaria hyperborea

northern green orchid Orchidaceae

X

X

X

X

Platanthera obtusata

Habenaria obtusata

bluntleaved orchid Orchidaceae

X

X

X

Poa alpina alpine bluegrass Poaceae

X

X

Poa arida Poa glaucifolia plains bluegrass Poaceae

X

X

Poa arnowiae Wasatch bluegrass PoaceaePoa leptocoma marsh bluegrass Poaceae

X

X

Poa palustris fowl bluegrass Poaceae

X

Poa pratensis Kentucky bluegrass Poaceae

X

X

Poa reflexa nodding bluegrass Poaceae

X

Poa trivialis rough bluegrass Poaceae

X

Poa wheeleri Wheeler’s bluegrass Poaceae

X

Polygonum amphibium 

Polygonum coccineum; Persicaria coccinea

water knotweed Polygonaceae

X

Polygonum bistortoides

American bistort Polygonaceae

X

X

X

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 105 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Polygonum viviparum

Bistorta vivipara alpine bistort Polygonaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Populus tremuloides

quaking aspen Salicaceae

X

Potamogeton alpinus

alpine pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

Potamogeton amplifolius

largeleaf pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

Potamogeton epihydrous

ribbonleaf pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

Potamogeton foliosus

leafy pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

Potamogeton illinoiensis

Illinois pondweed Potamogetonaceae

Potamogeton praelongus

whitestem pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

Potamogeton pusillus var. pusillus

small pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

X

Potentilla diversifolia

varileaf cinquefoil Rosaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Potentilla effusa Potentilla 

hippiana var.effusa

branched cinquefoil Rosaceae

X

Potentilla gracilis slender cinquefoil Rosaceae

X

X

X

Primula egaliksensis

Greenland primrose Primulaceae

X

Prosartes trachycarpa

Disporum trachycarpum

roughfruit fairybells Calochortaceae

X

Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca

Douglas-fir Pinaceae

X

X

Pyrola asarifolia liverleaf wintergreen Ericaceae

X

Pyrola chlorantha Pyrola virens greenflowered 

wintergreen

Ericaceae

X
106 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Pyrola minor snowline wintergreen Ericaceae

X

Ranunculus cymbalaria 

alkali buttercup Ranunculaceae

X

Ranunculus eschscholtzii

Eschscholtz’s 

buttercup

Ranunculaceae

X

X

Ranunculus hyperboreus

high northern 

buttercup

Ranunculaceae

X

Ranunculus longirostris

Ranunculus aquatilis var.diffusa

longbeak buttercup Ranunculaceae

Ranunculus pygmeus

pygmy buttercup Ranunculaceae

X

Ranunculus sceleratus var. multifidus

Hecatonia scelerata

cursed buttercup Ranunculaceae

X

Ranunculus uncinatus

Idaho buttercup Ranunculaceae

X

Rhodiola integrifolia

Sedum integrifolium

varileaf cinquefoil Crassulaceae

X

Ribes cereum var. pedicellare

Includes Ribes cereum var. 

inebrians

whisky currant

Grossulariaceae

X

Rorippa palustris var. brevicaudata

bog yellowcress Brassicaceae

X

Rosa acicularisssp. sayi

prickly rose Rosaceae

X

Rosa woodsii Woods’ rose Rosaceae

X

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus

Rubus idaeusvar. aculeatissimus

varileaf cinquefoil Rosaceae

X

Rubus parviflorus thimbleberry Rosaceae

X

Rumex crispus varileaf cinquefoil Polygonaceae

X

Salix barclayi Barclay’s willow Salicaceae

X

Salix barrattiana varileaf cinquefoil Salicaceae

X

Salix bebbiana varileaf cinquefoil Salicaceae

X

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 107 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Salix boothii Booth’s willow Salicaceae

X

X

X

Salix brachycarpa shortfruit willow Salicaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Salix candida sageleaf willow Salicaceae

X

X

X

Salix drummondiana

Drummond’s willow Salicaceae

X

Salix eastwoodiae mountain willow Salicaceae

X

X

Salix farriae Farr’s willow Salicaceae

X

X

Salix geyeriana Geyer willow Salicaceae

X

X

Salix glauca grayleaf willow Salicaceae

X

X

X

Salix interior Salix exigua var 

interior; S. e. 

var. pedicellata

sandbar willow Salicaceae

X

Salix lutea yellow willow Salicaceae

X

Salix myrtillifolia blueberry willow Salicaceae

X

Salix nivalis Salix reticulata varileaf cinquefoil Salicaceae

X

X

Salix petrophila Salx arctica ssp. 

petraea

varileaf cinquefoil Salicaceae

X

Salix planifolia diamondleaf willow Salicaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Salix pseudomonticola

false mountain willow Salicaceae

X

Salix wolfii Wolf’s willow Salicaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Sambucus racemosa var. melanocarpa

Rocky Mountain elder Adoxaceae

X

Saxifraga cespitosa

tufted alpine saxifrage Saxifragaceae

X

Saxifraga odontoloma

brook saxifrage Saxifragaceae

X

X

Saxifraga subapetala

Yellowstone saxifrage Saxifragaceae

X

Schoenoplectus acutus var. occidentalis

Scirpus acutus tule Cyperaceae

X

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani

Scirpus validus softstem bulrush Cyperaceae

X
108 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Scutellaria galericulata

marsh skullcap Menyanthaceae

X

Sedum rhodanthum

redpod stonecrop Crassulaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Senecio amplectens

Senecio amplectens

showy alpine ragwort Asteraceae

X

Senecio integerrimus

lambstongue ragwort Asteraceae

X

X

X

X

Senecio lugens small blacktip ragwort Asteraceae

X

Senecio serra tall ragwort Asteraceae

X

Shepherdia canadensis

russet buffaloberry Elaegnaceae

X

X

Sibbaldia procumbens

creeping sibbaldia Rosaceae

X

Sisyrinchium idahoense var. occidentale

varileaf cinquefoil Iridaceae

X

Solidago missouriensis var. fasciculata

Missouri goldenrod Asteraceae

X

Sorbus scopulina var. scopulina

Greene’s mountain ash

Rosaceae

X

Sparganium angustifolium

narrowleaf bur-reed Sparganiaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Sparganium natans

Sparganium minimum

small bur-reed Sparganiaceae

X

X

X

Spiraea betulifolia var. lucida

shinyleaf spirea Rosaceae

X

Spiranthes romanzoffiana

hooded lady’s tresses Orchidaceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

X

Stellaria borealis boreal starwort Caryophyllaceae

X

Stellaria longifolia

longleaf starwort Caryophyllaceae

X

Stellaria longipes longstalk starwort Caryophyllaceae

X

X

X
USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. 109 Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Stuckenia filiformis 

Potamogeton filiformis

fineleaf pondweed Potamogetonaceae

X

Swertia perennis felwort Gentianaceae

X

X

Symphoricarpos albus 

common snowberry Caprifoliaceae

X

Symphyotrichum boreale

Aster junciformis; A. borealis

northern bog aster Asteraceae

X

Symphyotrichum foliaceum var. apricum

Aster foliaceusvar. apricus

Asteraceae

X

X

X

X

X

X

Symphyotrichum lanceolatum ssp.

hesperium var. 

hesperium

Aster lanceolatus

var. hesperius; A. hesperius

white panicle aster Asteraceae

X

X

X

Symphyotrichum spathulatum

Aster spathulatus

western mountain aster

Asteraceae

X

X

Taraxacum laevigatum

rock dandelion Asteraceae

X

Taraxacum officinale

common dandelion Asteraceae

X

X

Thalictrum alpinum

alpine meadow-rue Ranunculaceae

X

X

Thalictrum occidentale

western meadow-rue Ranunculaceae

X

X

X

Tragopogon dubius

yellow salsify Asteraceae

X

Trichophorum pumilum

Scirpus pumilus;

S. rollandii

Rolland’s bulrush Cyperaceae

X

Trifolium hybridum

alsike clover Fabaceae

X

Trifolium pratense

red clover Fabaceae

X

Trifolium repens white clover Fabaceae

X
110 USDA Forest Service RMRS-GTR-369. 2017. Species scientific name (PLANTS) Synonym Common name (PLANTS) Family

Clay Butte Fen 

Fantan Fen

Ghost Creek Fen

Lake WGN Fen

Lily Lake East Fen 

Lily Lake Fen

Little Bear Lake Fen

Little Moose Lake Fen

Littlerock Creek Fen

Meadow Lake Fen

North Meadow Lake 

Fen

Mud Lake Fen

Poke Lake Fen

Rock Creek Fen

Sawtooth Palsa Fen

Swamp Lake Fen

Trail Fen

Wyoming Creek 

Triglochin maritima

seaside arrowgrass Juncaginaceae

X

Triglochin palustris

marsh arrowgrass Juncaginaceae

X

Trisetum spicatum spike trisetum Poaceae

X

X

X

Trisetum wolfii Wolf’s trisetum Poaceae

X

X

Trollius laxus var. albiflorus

Trollius albiflorus

American globeflower Ranunculaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Typha latifolia broadleaf cattail Typhaceae

X

X

Utricularia macrorhiza

Utricularia vulgaris

common bladderwort Lentibulariaceae

X

X

X

X

Utricularia minor lesser bladderwort Lentibulariaceae

X

X

X

X

X

Vaccinium scoparium

grouse whortleberry Ericaceae

X

X

X

X

Vahlodea atropurpurea

Deschampsia atropurpurea

mountain hairgrass Poaceae

X

Valeriana occidentalis

western valerian Valerianaceae

X

X

Veronica americana

American speedwell Plantaginaceae

X

Veronica wormskoldii

American alpine 

speedwell

Plantaginaceae

X

X

X

Viola macloskeyi var. pallens

smooth white violet Violaceae

X

X

X

X

Viola palustris marsh violet Violaceae

X

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