United States 

Department of 

Agriculture 

Lewis and Clark 

National Ferest 

P.O. Box 869 

Great Falls, MT. 

59403 

Fiscal Year 1992 

3- 8s 4 

LEWIS AND CLARK 

NATIONAL FOREST PLAN 

Monitoring and Evaluation Report 

Belt Creek Canyon below Monarch in the Little Belt Mountains. 
United States Forest Lewls P Clark NF P.O. Box 869 

Department of Service Great Falls, MT 59403 

Agrlcutture 406 791-7700 

FAX 406-761 -1 972 

Reply to: 1920 

Date: July 1993 

Dear Forest User: 

I thank you for your interest in the management of your National Forest lands. Enclosed for your review is 

the 'FY 1992 Monitoring and Evaluation Report' for the Lewis and Clark National Forest. This report marks 

our sixth year of Forest Plan implementation documentation. 

-, 

Since our last Monitoring and Evaluation report, the following personnel changes have occurred: 

Mark Nienow has joined our Forest Plan Implementation group, replacing Karen Hoffman as our 

Forest Hydrologist. Mark came to us from the Fisher River Ranger District in Libby, MT where he was 

a District Hydrologist. 

Don Sasse,' Zone Wildlife Biologist at the Belt Creek Information Center, transferred to the Custer 

National Forest this winter. We haven't filled the position he vacated. 

Terri Marceron, formerly Assistant District Ranger on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, transferred 

to the White Mountain National Forest in New Hampshire as the Assistant District Ranger. 

Victor Standa, District Ranger on the Kings Hill Ranger District, retired this past December. We have 

not filled the Ranger position. 

Clayton Nelson, Transportation Planner with our Forest Plan Implementation group, retired this 

Spring. We have not filled the position Clay vacated. 

Jim Armstrong, Recreation Resource Assistant for the Kings Hill Ranger District, retired this Spring. 

Craig Cowie, formerly Timber Resource Assistant on the Kings Hill, has filled the vacancy Jim's 

retirement created. Craig has also been Acting District Ranger for the Kings Hill District since Vic 

Standa's retirement. 

The status of our implementation efforts and evaluation of the results has been compiled in the SUMMARY 

in an abbreviated format. More detailed information is included in the complete Monitoring and Evaluation 

Report. 

In FY 1992 the Forest conducted a five year review of the Forest Plan. Included in this mailing, under separate 

cover, you will find the results and recommendations of that review. Resulting from the fwsyear review are 

seven amendments to the Forest Plan. Decision notices and the amendments have been included as an 

appendix to the five year review report. Thank you again for your interest in the Lewis and Clark National 

Forest and please contact me if you have any questions. 

Sincerely, . ., 

-- , - - UI >&/AJOHN D. GORMAN 

Forest Supervisor 

ri 
Lewis & Clark National Forest 

Forest Plan Monitoring Report 

Fiscal Year 1992 

SUMMARY 

1 

< 

This summary capsulizes the full report of the Forest 

Pian Monitoring and Evaluation for the Lewis and 

Clark National Forest during Fiscal Year 1992 (October 

1991 through September 1992). Our monitoring items 

are listed in Chapter 5 of the 1986 Lewls and Clark 

National Forest Land and Resource Management 

Plan (Forest Plan). Forest specialists monitor and 

report on 71 individual monitoring items. They evaluate 

their findings and make recommendations to the Forest 

Leadership Team. . 

Detailed information for each of the 71 items is disclosed 

in the full report. 

In the full report, you will find three main sections. 

The Introduction includes a general discussion of the 

purpose of monitoring and the amendments tha? have 

been made to the 1986 Forest Plan. The second section 

outlines, in general terms, the decisions made in the 

Forest Plan. And the third section details each 

monitoring item, including the methods used in our 

monitoring, the findings from our monitoring efforts, 

and any recommendations for improving implementation of the Forest Plan direction. 

FIVE-Y EAR REVIEW 

Fiscal Year 1991 marked the fiih year of implementation 

of the Forest Plan. Under the National Forest System 

Land Resource Management Planning A9 (NFMA), 

the Forest Service is directed to review the conditions 

on the lands covered by the Forest Plan at least every 

fwe years to determine whether conditions or demands 

of the public have changed significantly. This process 

has been termed the Five-Year Review of the Forest 

Plan. Because 1991 was the fih year of implementation, 

the Five-Year Review was conducted during the 

summer and fall of 1992. Accompanying this 1992 

Forest Monitoring and Evaluation Report are the 

findings and recommended actions from the Five-Year 

Review, completed in spring 1993. Several of the 

findings resulted in recommendations to modify the 

Forest Plan. Decisions on these Forest Plan changes 

(amendments) are also attached in the accompanying 

Five-Year Review Report. 

MONITORING RESULTS 

Recreatlon: Developed recreation use continues to 

exceed expectations in the Forest Plan. Dispersed 

recreation use seems to be leveling out with use less 

than predicted during the planning process. Improved 

funding in PI 1992 allowed the Forest to increase 

maintenance levels at developed recreation sites from 

the 'minimal' level last year to 'reduced' levels in 

1992. Limited recreation capital investment funds 

coupled with Challenge Cost Share projects accomplished significant maintenance along the Smith River 

and U.S. Highway 89. Maintenance backlogs were 

also reduced at Crystal Lake Campground and Summit 

Campground. Recreation Opportunity Guides for the 

Musselshell and Judith Ranger Districts have yet to 

be completed. Travel Plan violations have not significantly increased. Public information and improved 

signing have been noted as needs on the Forest. 

Installation of such new signing has been taking place 

across the Forest. 

Cultural Resources: The Forest continues to concentrate its efforts on inventorying and assessing potential 

impacts to cultural resources on site-specific project 

proposals. Archaeologists prepared input on 60% of 

the identified projects with potential cultural considerations. During FY 1992, informational signs were 

designed and purchased to interpret a pictograph 

site on the Forest. As part of the America's Great 

Outdoor Program, a Passport-ln-pme project was 

completed as well. 

Wilderness: Illegal outfitting continues to causa 

degradation to the resource. Lack of funding has 

limited ability to rehabilitate firelines and other notice 

able impacts by man, associated with fire fighting 

large natural fires. Wilderness education and signing 

programs continued during the year. r. 

Wlldllfe: Emphasis on improved mapping and use of 

landsat technology is improving our data base on the 

Forest. Grizzly bear populations appear stable; five of 

six BMUs are showing females with cubs. Sightings 

indicate that one wolf is utilizing the Sun River drainage 

~~ 

Summary - 1 
on the Rocky Mountain Division, and a pair of wolves 

may be using lands east of the Forest boundary in 

the Sun River area 

During N 1992, the MDFWP commission adopted the 

Statewide Elk Management Plan. The Elk Plan develops 

goals and objectives to aid the State in managing the 

elk resource. The Pian also addresses the issue of 

maintaining security areas on the Forest. During FY 

1992 the Lewis and Clark and MDFWP wildlife biologists 

developed a procedure to evaluate thq effects of 

timber and road management on elk secur'ity areas. 

Bighorn sheep and mountain goat populations appear 

to have dropped from last year, but it is possible that 

some animals were not counted. No sheep were 

transplanted on the forest in 1992. Sightings of lynx 

and wolverine are occurring on the Rocky Mountain 

Division. Wolverines have been detected at one general 

location on the Jefferson Division as well. 

in 1992, the Regional Office published 'Old Growth 

Forest Types of the Northern Region'. This document 

specifies the minimum criteria for a timber stand to be 

old growth. 

Pileated woodpeckers were sighted on the Jefferson 

Division of the Forest. The Forest began incorporating 

the Animal Inn brochure, Be An Innkeeper in their 

firewood permit packages. This is an effort being 

made to educate and inform the public on the value 

of dead and down materials within the forest. 

The overall condition of fish habitat and the condition 

of streamside shrub communities were evaluated on 

49 miles of streams in the Castle Mountains. Road 

construction, livestock grazing, and inherent natural 

erosiveness contribute to the levels of fine sediment 

present on these streams. 

Habitat improvements are meeting or exceeding Forest 

Plan projections. Programs for sensitive wildlife, fish 

and plants have been initiated on the Forest. Most 

surveys occur where known project proposals exist. 

Range: Grazing levels are within 2% of Forest Plan 

projections. Nonstructural range improvements are 

41% of projections. In recent years the program 

emphasis has shifted to monitoring the spread/control 

of noxious weeds. Condaion and trend data has not 

received adequate attention. Progress on the goal to 

analyze and update allotment management plans has 

improved with the continuation of the Range Task 

Force. FY 1992 analysis work concentrated in the 

Little Beft Mountains. The Forest accomplished one 

AMP for the Beaver Creek Allotment. 

Timber: In FY 1992, an interdisciplinary sale review 

was conducted on the Mill-Lion and Lkm Corral Timber 

Sales. Review of these sales and other ongoing sales, 

indicate that the Forest's objectives for sihricultural 

management prascriptions are appropriate. No timber 

activities exceeded the 40-acre clearcut standard. The 

review group did feel that arranging snags and reserve 

trees into a group or patch configuration would haver 

better met wildlife objectives. Restocking of previousty 

harvested areas are generally progressing well. The 

Forest continues to harvest less acres than projected 

in the Forest Plan. However, in FY 1992 the Forest 

exceeded its projected acres of harvest. Thinning 

accomplishments continue to exceed our projections. 

The trend in both commercial and personal firewood 

removal continues to decline slowly. 

Water and Soli: Monitoring results indicate that projects 

with a potential for impact on soil or water quality are 

being successfully reviewed assuring adequate 

protection of soil productivity and useability. Soil 

inventory collection and analysis was completed on 

46,000 acres primarily in the North Little Belt Mountains. 

Also in 1992, stream channel condition assessments 

were conducted on approximately 53 miles of streams 

in the Castle Mountains to determine their present 

condition and sensitivity to grazing. The results showed 

that the majority of the stream miles showed some 

sensitivity to grazing impacts. This information will be 

used to develop strategies for allotment management 

planning. 

Of the projects reviewed for revegetation, most can 

be described as successful and complete. In the 

spring of 1992 a water quality monitoring station was 

established in O'Brien Creek above the municipal 

water reservoir. Of the projects reviewed occurring in 

riparian areas, flood plains, and wetlands, results 

indicate that activities within these zones are being 

mitigated successfully to prevent impacts to soil and 

water resources. Of the 373 a'cres requiring restoration 

identified in the Forest Plan, 98% have been accom 

plished. This level of accomplishment indicates that 

the Forest Plan goal of 100% aecornplished by 1995 

should be met. 

Analysis indicated that some of the special use sites 

failed to meet the established public health testing 

requirements. This matter will be discussed kith Forest 

managers and special use permittees in an effort to 

redeem this management and public safety responsibilr: ity . 

Minerals: The FY 1992 target for minerals management 

was 38 cases. A total of 38 cases were processed. 

No Forest Service projects were determined to have 

an adverse effect on mineral operations. Eight new 

Plans of Operation (POOs) were reviewed for mineral 

Summary - 2 
activities in FY 1992. Two drilling programs were 

conducted in the Little Belt Mountains. All mineral 

proposals (some were modified to provide for better 

protection of Forest surface resources) complied with 

established Forest Plan standards and guidelines; 

therefore, none were denied. 

Lands: The condition of facilities authorized through 

special use permits is generally satisfactory. Ski area 

permits are regularty inspected before and during the 

ski season. The Lewis and Clark Forestissued several 

special use permits for a variety of activities. The FY 

1992 Right-of-way program contained four road 

easements, two trail easements, and one conservation 

easement. The Forest Plan target for landline location 

is 26 miles per year. In FY 1992, the Forest was funded 

for and accomplished 24 miles or about 92% of the 

Forest Plan target. 

budworm continues to build on the Forest. About 

127,350 acres of visible Western spruce budworm 

defoliation was reported on Forest lands. Post timber 

sale reviews showed that the Forest is meeting regional 

standards for siash disposal. There were no known 

complaints abed any prescribed burning project 

affecting air quality. The under accomplishment in 

treating activity fuels is related to the timber harvest 

schedule. Because the backlog of timber to be sold 

on the Forest has been largely eliminated, it is 

anticipated that during the next four years of the Plan, 

the acres of activity fuels treated will be near the Forest 

Plan level. In 1992, the Forest had 17 wildfires which 

burned 25 acres. The total cost of fire suppression 

and protection in 1992 was $484,000. This figure is 

below the 10-year average of $590,000. During the 

first six years of the Forest Plan, acreage lost to wildfires 

and fire suppression and protection costs were 

substantialk'above those projected by the Forest Faclllties: When considering the total miles constructed 

and reconstructed in both programs (Capital Investment Program and Purchaser Credit Program) during 

FY 1992, the output was 130% of that projected by 

the Forest Plan. This Is outside the variabilny tolerance. 

The Forest Plan, as amended, programs an average 

of 14.0 miles of trail construction and reconstruction 

annually. In FY 1992, 19.5 miles of reconstruction 

work occurred. The increase in construction mileage 

this year reflects the Forest's success in using 

contributed funding to accomplish needed traii work. 

It is estimated that there are approximately 2,029 

miles of roads open to use by some form of motoriied 

vehicle on either a seasonal or yearlong basis. The 

Forest Plan does not establish any target miles to be 

open to public motorized traffic. 

Protection: In FY 1992, 89% of the sawtimber sold on 

the Forest was lodgepole pine. The Forest is continuing 

to breakup large concentrations of natural fuels. Insect 

and disease surveys indicate that the Western spruce 

Wild and Scenlc Rivers: No project-level activities 

occurred along any of the nine eligible rivers or river 

segments which adversety impacted or degraded a 

river's qualifications and/or potentia! cl&sification. 

Only two activities (restoration of Judah Guard Station, 

and maintenance and improvements of Smith River 

boat camps) changed the existing condition along 

two eligible rivers this past year. The boat camp 

improvements had a positive effect on the river's 

'outstandingly remarkable' recreation resource value 

(Smith River). The restoration of the historic Judith 

Guard Station had a positive effect on the Middle 

Fork of the Judith River's 'outstandingly remarkable' 

cultural resource value. Fish population estimates 

collected by the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, 

and Parks tentatively indicate that two eligible rivers, 

the North and South Forks of the Sun River, meet the 

'outstandingly remarkable' fish criteria 

Summary - 3 
TABLE OF CONTENTS 

1 . INTRODUCTION .......................................................... 1 

I1 . FORESTPLANDECISIONS .................................................. 2 

111 . INDIVIDUAL MONITORING ITEMS 

A . RECREATION 

A-1 ROSSetting ................................................... 3 

A3 Recreationuse ................................................. 4 

A-2 Recreation Direction Meets Visitor Expectation ............................ 3 

A4 Condition of Developed Sites ....................................... 5 

A-5 Recreation Opportunity Guide ....................................... 6 

A4 ORV Damage and Travel Plan ....................................... 6 

A-7 Condition of Visual Resources ....................................... 8 

A8 Cuttural Resources Protection ....................................... 8 

B . WILDERNESS 

8-1 Quality of the Ecosystem ......................................... 10 

B-2 Bob Marshall-Great Bearscapegoat Management ........................ 10 

B3 Change in Roadless Inventory ............... : ...................... -10 

c . WILDLIFE 

C-1 T&E Species:.Grizzly Bear Habitat ................................... 11 

C-2 Gray Wow. Bald Eagle. Peregrine Falcon ............................... 13 

C-3 Elk Winter Range Capacity ........................................ 15 

C4 Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat .................................... 17 

C-5 Other Big Game Species ......................................... 18 

C-6 SmallGame .................................................. 19 

C-7 Furbearers ................................................... 19 

C-8 Old Growth Habitat for Goshawk ..................................... 20 

C-10 Cavity Nesting Habitat ........................................... 23 

C-12 Habitat Improvement Outputs ...................................... 27 

C-13 Oil & Gas Activii ............................................... 29 

C-14 Sensitive Wildlife and Fish ......................................... 30 

C-15 Sensitive Plant Program .......................................... 32 

C-9 Special Interest Species ........................................ . 22 

C-11 AquaticHabitat ................................................ 26 

D . RANGE 

D-1 Range Outputs ................................................. 35 

0-2 Range Condition & Trend ......................................... 36 

D3 Supply ...................................................... 37 

D-4 Allotment ManagemeA Pian Status .................................. 37 

. E . TIMBER 

E-1 Silvicultural Prescriptions Meet MA Goals .............................. 40 

E-2 Prescription Selections ............................................ 40 . 

:a+ 

E4 limber Offered/ASQ for a Decade ...................................42. 

E-6 AcresHarvested ...........................................+.. 44 

E-7 Thinning & Silvicultural Accomplishments .............................. 44 

E-9 Firewood Removal .............................................. 46 

E-10 SuitableNonsuitable Lands ........................................ 47 

E-11 Projected Yields ................................................ 48 

E3 .. x limber Openings ............................................... 

E-5 Restocking .................................................... 

E-8 Even-AgeHarvest .............................................. 4 
F . WATER & SOIL 

F-1 Adequacy & Cumulative Effects of BMPs ........................ i ..... 49 

F-2 

F3 

F4 

F-5 

F-6 

F-7 

F-8 

F-9 

Revegetation .................................................. 50 

Water Quality in Municipal Watersheds ................................ 52 

Ripar-hn Areas. Flood Plains and Wetlands ............................. 53 

OtherEffects ................................................... 54 

Water & Soil Backlog ............................................ 56 

Water & Stream Quality .......................................... 57 

Stream Cover & Pools ........................... : ............... 60 

PublicHealth .................................................. 61 

\ 

G . MiNERAbS \ 

G-1 Effect of Mining Activities ......................................... 62 

G-2 Geophysical Prospecting ......................................... 63 

G3 Drilling Effects ................................................. 64 

G-4 Rehabilitation .................................................. 64 

6-5 Mineral Availability .............................................. 65 

J . - LANDS 

J-1 Compliance With Use Permits ....................................... 67 

J-2 Right-of-way Easements ......................................... 69 

J3 tand Ownership Adjustment ....................................... 69 

J4 Landline Location ............................................... 70 

... 

L FACILITIES 

L-1 

t-2 

Road & Trail Construction/Reconstruction .............................. 71 

Miles of Road Open ............................................. 72 

P . PROTECTION 

P-1 

P-2 

P4 

P-5 

P-6 Wildfi~e ...................................................... 75 

P-7 Suppression & Protection Costs .................................... 76 

High Risk Stands ............................................... 73 

Acres/Volume of Insect & Disease ................................... 73 

P3 Management Practices ........................................... 74 

Prescribed Fire & Air Qua1.Q ....................................... 74 

Fuel Treatment Outputs .......................................... 74 

W . WILD & SCENIC RIVERS 

W-1 Effects on Eligible Rivers .......................................... 77 

1 . GENERAL 

1-1 Costs&Values ................................................ 79 

1-2 

13 Land Allocations ...................................... ......... 84 

1-4 Employmentjncome Projections .................................... 85 

Emerging Issues .. r. ............................................ 79 

IV . COMPARISON OF OUTPUTS. ACTIVITIES. AND BUDGETS 

TABLE I . Comparison of Projected Outputs/Activiiies by Time Period .................... 87 

TABLE I1 . Compariion of FY 1991 Expenditures/Accornplishments vs FP Proiections vs 

OutvearRequests ........................................................ 

V . USTOFPREPARERS ..................................................... 90 

1 

VI . APPROVAL .......................................................... 91 

APPENDIXA ........................................................... 93 
Introductlon/FP Declslolne 

I. INTRODUCTION 

The Lewls and Clark National forest Land and 

Resource Management Plan (Forest Plan) Was ap 

proved in June 1986. Each year we monitor management decisions that have been implemented on 

the ground and report our findings. This report summarizes the monitoring and evaluation findings for 

Fiscal Year 1992 (from October 1 Sgl-lhrough Sep 

tember 1992). 

The purpose of forest plan monitoring and evaluation is to determine how well we have met our Forest 

Plan objectives and how we have applied the management standards and guidelines in the Plan. Our 

monitoring and evaluation process is outlined in 

Chapter V of the 1986 Forest Plan. Using this process, resource specialists have reported on 73 individual monitoring items. 

Within the last six years, seventeen amendments 

have been made to the 1986 Forest Plan. These 

changes have resulted from findings from our previous rnonitoringlevaluation reports and from several 

environmental analyses on site-specific projects. 

These seventeen amendments include: 

0 Amendment 1: Incorporated recreation management for the Bob MarshalVGreat Bear/ 

Scapegoat Wilderness Management Complex. This 

amendment was implemented in 1987 by the adjoining Lewis and Clark, Lolo, Flathead, and Helena 

National Forests. 

o Amendment 2: Verified those rivers meeting 

the two eligibility qualifications (free-flowing and 

containing at least one 'outstandingly remarkable' 

resource value) under the Section 1 (b) ,and 2(b) of 

the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act; assigned a potential 

classification to each eligible river as directed under 

Section 2(b) of the Act; and applied the appropriate 

standards to manage and protect each river. This 

amendment was implemented in 1989. Under this 

amendment, the following rivers met eligibility qualifications: 

Smith River - 11.8 miles scenic 

North Badger Creek - 7.3 miles scenic 

Dearborn River - 18.1 miles wild 

North Fork Sun River - 25.4 miles wild, 1.3 miles 

recreational 

Swth Fork Sun River - 25.5 miles wild 

North Fork Birch Creek - 6.6 miles wild 

Tenderfoot CiWk - 4.6 miles scenic 

Green Fork c4 Straight Creek - 4.5 miles wild 

Middle Fork Judith River - 4.8 miles recreational 

0 Amendment 3: Made changes, adjustments 

and corrected typographical errors and omissions 

identified during the preparation and review at the 

PI 87 and FY 88 Monitoring and Evaluation Reports. 

This amendment was implemented in 1989. 

0 Amendment 4: Changed the Forest-wide 

Management Standard dealing with Reforestation 

(Ea) to comply with the Northern Region requirement for certification of regenerated timber stands. 

This amendment was implemented in 1991. 

e Amendment 5: Changed the management area designation on 685 acres in the Swth Fork 

project area from Management Area B to Management Area C. This amendment was implemented in 

1991. 

0 Amendment 6: Changed all eleven Region 

One Forest Plans to partition Allowable Sale Quantity (ASQ) into two non-interchangeable components 

- from inventoried roadless areas and from existing 

roaded areas. This amendment was vacated by the 

Secretary of Agriculture. He found that the Regional 

Forester had sufficient discretion to assure that Forest Plan direction is implemented in accordance 

with the standards and guidelines without resorting 

to the amendment process. 

0 Amendment 7: Changed the management area designation on 22,930 acres in the Spring Creek 

project area Management Areas B, C, E, and G 

were affected. This amendment was implemented in 

1991. 

0 Amendment 8: Recomputed-the small business share governing the timber sale set-aside program in the Lewis and Clark Market area to 70% 

from 80%. This amendment was implemented in 

1991. 

0 Amendment 9: Redefined Management Area 

M (Paine Gulch Research Natural Area) to include 

all nominated Research Natural Areas. Kcres assigned to Management Area M will increase as areas are added. The amendment also removed the 

prohibition of boundary fencing on RNAs. This 

amendment will be implemented in 1993. 

1 
IntroductlodFP Decisions 

e Amendment 10: Added monitoring items for 

Cultural Resources. This amendment will be imple- 

' 'mented in 1993. 

m Amendment 11 : Introduced Weed Seed Free 

Feed policy for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Corn 

plex. This amendment will be implemented in July 

1994. 

Q Amendment 12: Added a *goal, objective, 

standards, and monitoring items to add emphasis 

to the Sensitive Species program. This amendment 

was implemented in 1991. 

Xb 

8 Amendment 13: Added a more specific 

Forestwide objective, glossary item and Forest-wide 

Standards for me management These additions 

will ensure the Forest is in compliance with the 1988 

Federal Cave Resources Protection Act. This 

amendment will be implemented in 1993. 

8 Amendment 14: Corrects an error in the Forest Plan that showed an area stratified for Grizzly 

Bear management on the Rocky Mountain Front as 

Management Situation 2 The stratification has been 

corrected to show as Management Situation 1. 

e Amendment 15: Clarifies the wording of Riparian Standard D(3)4. Amendment makes clear ' 

that this is not a stand-alone standard but rather 

should be used through the AMP process. This 

amendment will be implemented in 1993. 

@ Amendment 16: Adds a Forest-wide Objective that outlines the development of an elk vulnerability analysis process developed jointly by the Forest Service and the MDFWP. The amendment also 

removes the lower range on the open road density 

prescription for Management Area B. These amendments have been implemented. 

8 Amendment 17: Changed the management 

area designation on 4,970 acres in the Spring Creek 

project area to more effectively protect elk habitat. 

- 

Management Areas B, C, and G were affected. This 

amendment will be implemented in 1993. 

Although the Forst Plans include management decisions that project well beyond the first decade of 

implementation, each Forest Plan will be thoroughly 

reviewed after 10 years. In preparation for thii 

10-year review and revision, we analyzed our progress at the midway point of five years. Through the 

Five-Year Review, we have determined whether additional changes are needed now, before the end of 

the first decade. The Five-Year Review was complaed in December 1992. 

11. FOREST PLAN DECISIONS 

The Forest Plan is a compilation of decisions that 

guide our management of the Forest In general 

terms, it contains three types of decisions: 

Goals, Ob]ectives, and Deslred Future CondC 

ffons (pages 2-2 through 2-22 of the Plan) provide 

general direction for managing Forest resources. 

Standards (pages 2-23 through 2-73) and 

Management Directlon (Chapter 111 of the Plan) tell 

us how to put the plan into practice or what conditions we must meet while we implement the Plan. 

Management keas (described in Chapter 111 of 

the Plan) basically delineate the Forest into areas 

that are suitable and available for different types of 

management and resource production. 

Given these major decisions, the Pian also includes 

a prediction of the average annual 'outputs' produced by the Forest These predictions are outlined 

in Table 21 (Plan page 2-10 ancj 11) and discussed 

in the Record of Decision. 

The following pages contain reports for each monitoring item listed in the Lewis and Clark Forest Plan. 

The items are reported sequentially, as they appear 

in Chapter V of the Forest Plan. 

2 
RECREATI 

- 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARlABluTy (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER RlALUATlON 

-r 

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum setting 

being implemented 

Annually --1 +/- 10% d projected ROS setting 

FINDINGS 

Recreation Opportunity Spectrum settings by management area were established in the Forest Plan. 

The Plan projects an increase by 73,000 acres of 

'Roaded Natural' lands, with a decrease by the 

same amount of 'Semi-primitiie' lands over the next 

50 years. These changes in ROS setting would occur because of road building in certain roadless 

areas. In FY 1992 timber sales and associated road 

construction accessed approximately 100 acres of 

roadless lands. This, along with another 3,000 acres 

of roadless areas affected since 1987, is less than 

projected in the Forest Pian. 

Other ROS setting factors include visitor management; social encounters; remoteness; visitor impacts; site and facility management; and access. 

These factors have either not changed from 

previous years (visitor management; site and facilii 

management; remoteness; and access) or have 

changed insignificantly (social encounters, and visitor impacts). None of these factors have changed 

enough to cause a change to projected ROS settings. 

Additional direction is needed to formalize acceptable site and facility management improvements for 

the Forest. Some question has arisen on the acceptability of concrete picnic tables and barriers 

and wheelstops in Roaded Natural settings. The 

desire to have low maintenance facilities has run 

counter to desired ROS settings in om campground. 

A-2 Recreation Direction Meets Visitor Expectation 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I RTzlbNG I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

I Direction meets expectation of visitor I Annually I Adverse comments or correspondence I 

- 

FINDINGS 

This item was measured this year based upon comments received from the public in the form of correspondence to the Forest, campground fee envelope comments, and discussions with Forest Service 

personnel. Considerable correspondence was also 

generated about access to the Highwood Mountains. 

1. Desire for non-smelling toilets. 

2. 

3. Need for firewood. 

4. Campground hosts were complimented. 

5. 

Garbage service was wanted by some. 

Desire to improve access roads on Rocky 

Mountain Front, particularly to the Bsnchmark 

area 

Campground comments can be generalized into 

the following: 

3 
Recreation 

General Correspondence: 

' '1. , Good support for the cabin rental program, 

and suggestion we have more. 

2. Petition signed by 30 patties asking for toilet at 

Mud Creek on the Musselshell Ranger District. 

Trail Register Comments: 

1. Desire on Rocky Mountain F& to separate 

horse and hiker trails because of horse impacts. 

2. Desire to improve Trails Nos. 202 and 203 into 

Bob Marshall Wilderness and to correct boggy 

trails out of South Fork Sun River area 

Receptionist comments: 

1. Some concern expressed during late autumn 

and Christmas tree cutting time when some of 

the public don't know when certain roads are 

open or closed to vehicles and snow machines. Some conflict between snowmobilers 

and wheeled vehicles still using the roads. 

A-3 Recreation Use 

FINDINGS 

Developed recreation increased 9% from last year 

and is 175% of what was projected in tho Forest 

Plan. Camping figures are our most accurate indicator of developed recreation, as fees are collected 

and closely accounted for. These indicate only a 1 % 

increase over last year in camping at developed 

sites. This suggests that Forest figures for other 

forms of developed recreation, which are harder to 

measure, are probably overestimated. 

Dispersed recreation, which is not an easy figure to 

measure, rose by 18%. This figure is also questionable. Hunting figures from the state in 1991 were 

only 70% of what the Forest figures indicate. State 

figures are considered more accurate than our own 

figures. They show an increase of 6% o;er last year. 

State Fish, Wildlife, and Parks figures this year are 

being reported by the Forest wildlife biologist as 

hunter days, rather than Recreation Visitor Days 

(RVDs), making a comparison with last year's RVDs 

difficutt. In the future, dispersed use can be indexed 

to these hunter days, since so much dispersed recreation is hunting. 

The Forest needs to develop a monitoring program 

for recreation use that relies much more on use 

figures that are less questionable. These would include Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks hunting figures for the Forest, Forest road and State and Federal highway traffic counts, state tourism figures, 

and our own campground receipt figures. 

Additionally, the Forest now has better abilities to 

monitor trail use. This information used together will 

more accurately show trends. - 

Wilderness use figures are more accurate because 

of established monitoring methods used by wilderness personnel. This year's wilderness use declined 7% from last year and was the lowest annual 

use since 1988, the year of large wilderness forest 

fires. This year's use is only 69% of the Forest Plan's 

anticipated use. 

4 
87 88 89 90 91 92 

Develop& Use 

Recreation condition of developed sites 

- 

600 

500 

em 

300 

200 

100 

0 

- 

Annually Less than acceptablektandards, public 

safety hazards not corrected by 1990, 

poor conditions not corrected by 2005 

87 88 89 90 91 92 

Dispersed Use Non-Wild%rmss 

87 88 89 90 91 92 

Dispersed Use Wilderness 

8-4 Condition of Developed Sites 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATlON 

FINDINGS 

The physical condition of developed sites is largety 

a reflection of funding available in Recreation Operation and Maintenance and in Recreation Capital 

Investment. The Forest Recreation Operation and 

Maintenance budget for FY 1992 was 4296 larger 

than the previous year. While 50% of this increase 

was earmarked for specific Challenge Cost Share or 

America's Great Outdoors projects, the remaining 

increase enabted the Forest to increase maintenance levels at developed recreation sites from the 

'minimal' level in 1991 to 'reduced' levels in 199& 

Under either level, safety hazards are taken care of 

when identified. 

With 'reduced' service levels, more backlog maintenance can be initiated. Challenge Cost Share 

projects along the Smith River and U.S. Highway 89 

campgrounds near Kings Hills accomplished signif4 

5 
Recreation 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

PERIOD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

icant deferred maintenance in 1992. Recreation 

capital investment projects at Crystal Lake Camp 

ground are reducing maintenance backlogs there. 

On the Rocky Mountain District, 40 fire rings were 

replaced, and a water system corrected at Summit 

Campground. Significant reductions in maintenance backlogs in other facilities are not anticipated 

until F.Y. 1993, when capital investment camp 

ground rehabilitation programs occq at South Fork 

Sun Campground. Capital investment projects are 

anticipated in 1995 for Mortimer, and U.S. Highway 

89 campgrounds. 

,. 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Deferred maintenance items are. shown as 'backlog' and typically include painting of toilets and picnic tables, replacement of old BBQ fire rings and 

tables, covering with soiVgravel exposed tree roots 

at camping units, conversion of developed sites to 

handicapped accessible facilities, and the widening 

~ ~~ 

Off-road vehicle damage & Travel Plan ef- Annually 

fectiveness 

and lengthening of spurs to accommodate modern 

RV vehicles. 

Conflicts with Forest Management Area 

goals. Increase of 20 or more situatior variances 

The Challenge Cast Share program has been very 

beneficial for the Forest. The program allows the 

Forest to accomplish recreation and wildlife projects 

in cooperation with private individuals or organizations. The cooperative ventures allow the Forest to 

accomplish much more than it would 1 solely dependent on appropriated funding. Some of the recreation projects accomplished in FY 1992 with the 

Challenge Cost Share program are: Cave cleanup 

and management on the Rocky Mountain District; 

Building a snowmobile warming hut on the Judith 

District; Judith Station recreation site; CM Russell 

Auto Tour; A mountain bike guide on the Judith 

District; and trail construction projects (Steiner and 

Briggs). 

? 

A-5 Recreation Opportunity Guide 

~~ 

creation Opportunity Guide Annually Failure to complete by 1986 1 

FINDINGS 

Recreation Opportunity Guides(R0G) completion 

status has not changed since last year. Both the 

Musselshell and Judith Ranger Districts have been 

unable to complete these because of low funding 

levels. 

A-6 Off-road Vehicle 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Forest should continue to seek creative means 

for completing the ROGs through partnerships with 

colleges, universities, youth, and volunteer programs. 

Damage & Travel Plan 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

FINDINGS rr 

This element is monitored by two items. The first 

item is the status of the Forest Travel Plan as it 

relates to Forest Plan goals. The Forest presently 

utilizes the Forest Travel Plan that was revised in N 

1988 specifically to implement the recreation settings in the Forest Plan. We anticipate the Forest 

6 
Recreatlon 

The second item is the number of Forest Travel Plan 

citations issued or the number of variances granted 

annually. Situations on the districts are as follows: 

travel plan sign ignored. In the Big Snowy Mountains a few motorcyclists violate the travel plan all 

summer, and have not yet been caught. 

Rocky Mountain Ranger District - This year the district issued violations in the Badger-Two Medicine 

and Willow Creek area No trends suggesting problems with the Travel Plan were noted. No resource 

damage was noted. .- 

Judith Ranger District - No violation notices were 

issued this year, although the district reported a 

major increase in violations. Public support in help 

ing catch violators was good, suggesting travel plan 

support. The district attributes the increase in violations to their past inability to maintain travel plan 

signs over the past 4 years, as well as the lack of 

clarity of old travel plan signing. The district will 

replace or repair its existing travel plan signing starting in 19%. This will take several years to complete. 

Damage to resources noted included a locked gate 

at Bear Park that was cut 3 times last year and the 

Musselshell Ranger District -The district reports improved compliance with the travel plan in 1992 

They report the same problem with motorcycle/AlV 

use on trails on the west end of the Big Snowy 

Mountains, despite existing signing. Some resource 

damage was reported on Trail No. 620 by a chained 

up truck that went over several Kelly humps closing 

a road. The truck eventually slid off the trail. The trail 

had adequate signing. 

Kings Hill Ranger District - Violations issued increased from last year. The district reports no big 

problems areas and that there is general accep 

tance of the travel plan. No resource damage was 

reported. 

The following table summarizes the Travel Plan Vi 

lation Notices issued on the Forest. 

Table A-6a TRAVEL PLAN VIOLATION NOTICES ISSUED 

Table A-6b TOTAL TRAVEL PIAN VIOIATIONS REPORTED 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The need for improved travel plan signing that is 

easier to understand has been noted. Installation of 

.\ 

such new signing has been underway across the' 

Forest. 

di 

7 
Recreatlon 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I PERIOD 

MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

A-7 Condition of Visual Resources 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 1 

Condition of the visual resource mFets objectives in Forest Plan \ Annually Deviation from approved VQOs, ID 

Team review of environmental analyses 

FINDINGS 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

One large timber sale was monitored for compliance with Visual Quality Objectives(VQ0s). Spring Creek EIS is in full compliance with VQOs contained 

in the Forest Plan. 

VARlABlUPl(+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

A-8 Cultural Resource Protection 

I ~~ 

Cultural Resource Protection - selected Annually I sites oncei5 years 1 Less than 10% accomplishment/year I 

FINDINGS 

During FY 1992, roughly 60% of the identified 

projects requiring cultural resource input, were 

completed on the Lewis and Clark National Forest. 

This percentage includes survey for cultural resources, input into the NEPA process on identified 

projects, site interpretation, one Passport-ln-Time 

project, and 36 CFR 800 compliance procedures. 

Twenty-six cultural resource sites were identified, 

inventoried, and evaluated during the fiscal year. An 

overview of the prehistory and history of the Forest 

has not been completed to date. 

Management standard A-7 specifies the nomination 

of eligible properties to the National Register of Historic Places. During FY 1992 one eligible property, 

Judith Guard Station (24JT072), was nominated to, 

and listed on the National Register of Historic 

Places. Rehabilitation and stabilization of the Judith 

Guard Station began in 1992 with help from the 

Regional Hitoric Preservation team, Judith Ranger 

District, and numerous volunteers. The project won 

the National Award for Excellence for the Windows 

on the PaSr program. 

Management standard A-7 also specifies interpretation and public education as necessary aspects of 

the cultural resource program; this standard was 

met during FY 1992. During FY 1992, informational 

signs were designed and purchased to interpret a 

pictograph site on the Forest Weather prevented 

the installation of the signs and the interpretive site 

will be completed during the summer of 1993. As 

part of the America’s Great Outdoor Program a 

Passport-ln-Time project was completed on the Forest during FY 1992. Passport-ln-Time is a National 

Forest Service program which encourages puMi 

education through participation. -Eight volunteers 

worked with Archeologists on the Forest conducting 

cultural resource survey and test excavations at a 

site on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. The 

Passport-ln-Time project was co-sponsored by the 

Bureau of Reclamation, and a Memorandum of Understanding was signed to ensure the continued 

cooperation between the Bureau of Reclamation 

and the Forest Service. & 

The monitoring requirements for cultural resources 

were partially met during FY 1992 While monitoring 

of cultural resources was not undertaken as a spe 

8 
Recreation 

cific task, several sites were inspected during cultur- Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wildernesses 

at resource field work. Monitoring requirements 

were evaluated during the fnre year review of the 

Forest Pian and more rigorous monitoring stipulations were proposed to improve future management 

of cultural resources on the Forest. 

(MANAGEMENT AREA P) 

To date, no comprehensive cultural resource assessment on the evidence of man's activities and 

structures within the wilderness has been completed. One study, completed in 1990, documents the 

majority of the Forest Service administrative sites 

within the wildernesses on the Forest. 

9 
Wlldernws 

Change in Roadless Inventory Annually + or - 10% projected change in roadless inventory - L * 

B-1 Wilderness - Quality of Ecosystem 

ty of ecosystem 

This monitoring item was deleted from the Forest 

Plan under Amendment No. 3 because wilderness 

monitoring has been outlined in detail in the Bob 

Marshall, Great Bear, Scapegoat Wilderness Recre 

ation Management Direction (Forest Plan Amendment No. 1). 

8-2 Bob Marshall-Great Bear-Scapegoat Management 

1 OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, I REPORTING I VARlABlUTll(+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

BearScapegoat Man- Annually 

agement Direction 

Failure to meet time table established in I Appendix U of the Plan 

FINDINGS 

The monitoring results are presented in the annual 

Wilderness Report in Appendix A of this Monitoring 

Report. 

B-3 Change in Roadless Inventory 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I PERIOD I INrlATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

FINDINGS 

During FY 1992, the Harrison Creek Salvage Timber 

Sale was sold. This sale affected 100 acres of the 

Middle Fork Judith Roadless Area However, the 

sale did not encroach into the Middle Fork Judith 

Wilderness Study Area Since the Forest Plan was 

implemented in 1986, 1,370 acres of the 1,002,232 

acres of inventoried roadless area have been affected by timber harvest or road construction. Another 

1,730 roadless acres are in approved projects that 

will be implemented in later years. 

The Forest Plan projected a 7,000 acres reduction 

in inventoried roadless areas. It appears by the end 

of the first decade, about 5,000 of thd roadless 

acres would be affected by management practices. 

The reason for this deviation is that less timber harvest has been scheduled in roadless areas than 

was projected in the Forest Plan. 

10 
Wild1 We 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

ILDLIF 

VARlABlUlY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

I Grizzly Bear - maintain Any indication of downward trend in 

grizzly bear population 

OBJECTIVES 

Monitor the maintenance of suitable and occupied 

grizzly bear habitat to detect any indication of a 

downward trend in population. 

Follow the goals zind objectives set forth in the 

WildlifeFisheries Program Document for the Lewis 

and Clark National Forest. 

M ETH 0 DS 

Biological evaluations were developed based on 

the goals, standards, and guidelines contsined in 

the Forest Plan (P. 232 to 2-34 and Appendix HI I, 

J, #, and L). The grizzly bear cumulative effects 

model as described in the Forest Plan (Appendix L) 

was implemented. 

Monitoring is conducted as recommended in the 

revised grizzly bear recovery plan. Population data 

collected includes females with young (2 or 3 year 

olds) and females with cubs of the year. 

FINDINGS 

Grizzly Bear Recovery Efforts 

Monitoring efforts (began in 1987) have been 

made to record sows with young (2 or 3 year olds) 

and sows with cubs of the year. Monitoring results 

from 1987 to 1992 have demonstrated occupancy 

by sows with cubs in all six Bear Management Units 

(BMU) on the Rocky Mountain Front. 

- 

Fiscal year 1992's survey sighted 3 sows with 7 

cubs within two of the six BMUs, and 6 sows with 10 

young within four of the six BMUs. For fiscal year 

1992 (see Table C-1 a) five of six BMUs have demonstrated occupancy by females with young if the 

sightings of females with cubs and females with 

young are combined. Five of six BMUs during a 3 

year period (1990-1992) have had sightings of females with cubs. The Dearborn-Elk BMU has not 

had any indication of reproduction of bears since 

1988. This does not mean that reproduction is nat 

taking place, but may reflect less intense monitoring 

in this area These data do not allow assessment af 

population size; but, do indicate the beginning af a 

trend toward occupancy of each BMU by sows that 

reproduce during a three year period. 

Two long-term monitoring transects were estab 

lished in 1989 (coordinated with MDFWP and In 

Rocky Mountain Ranger District's files) to acquire 

trend data for bear activity. These transects are located along the North Fork of the Sun River and in 

the Renshaw Mountain-Willow Creek area, and 

were monitored in June 1992. Again, no grizzly 

tracks were found on either transect in FY 1992. The 

value of these transects has become questionable. 

Since 1989, the District has recorded grizzly bear 

sign on these transects only once. Other supplemental monitoring strategies shbuld be evaluated. 

To date it appears that the TetonSun (TETSU) BMU 

and the Badger-Two Medicine (BADTW) BMU are 

the most consistent in producing sows with cubs. 

This may be a reflection of monitoring intensity, not 

bear use. The TETSU BMU is approximately 66% 

private land. The work that Mike Madel (MDFWP) 

has done in conjunction with the private land hh 

resulted in most of the sightings within the TETSU 

BMU. The BMU that produces the least grizzly bears 

is the Dearbom-Elk Creek BMU (DEAEL). &Iring the 

Rocky Mountain Front Studies, Keith Aune stated 

that gr*wly bears were most difficult to trap within 

this BMU. The reasons for these difficulties are un11 
known at this time. Tame C-la displays the trend 

information that has been gathered to date. e. 

Fm=female grizzly 

Cb=cub grizzly 

f/y=female with young 

BADTW = Badger Two Medicine 

BIRTE = Birchneton 

TETSU = TetodSun 

NORFO = North Fork 

SOUFO = South Fork 

DEAEL = DearborrVElk Creek 

Law enforcement efforts were continued in order to 

deter the illegal take of grizzly bears on the Rocky 

Mountain District. In 1992, the District did not have 

a Law Enforcement Officer and no grizzly-related 

patrols were completed. A grizzly bear died from 

strychnine obtained from a permitted recreation residence in Arsenic Creek. An investigation is being 

conducted by the Forest Law Enforcement Officer. 

Nuisance Bear Actions-In 1992, there were 37 

problem bear incidents handled under the Rocky 

Mountain District's 'Problem Bear Policy.' At least 27 

of these incidents involved grizzly bears. Virtually all 

grizzly bear incidents inwotved the same sow and 

2-year olds. Most of these incidents were related to 

accessible food. Actions taken included posting 

bear warning signs, notifying MDFWP personnel, 

closing areas to camping, closing areas to all recreational activii, revising a Special Order on food 

handling, and removing 3 problem bears. The revised Special Order requires storing food at least 10 

feet up and 4 feet out or in a bearprod container. 

This Special Order was stringentty enforced during 

the hunting season. 

Grlnly Bear Conservatlon Efforts 

Biological evaluations were completed in response to 3 Forest management activiiies within 

grizzly bear habitat (Managemd Situation 1). The 

activities were: 1) shrubfield restoration for griuly 

bears; 2) Ford Basin prescribed fire for winter range 

enhancement; and 3) Gibson Lake Trail Reconstruction. All three biological evaluations resulted in 

a beneficial effect or not likely to adversely affect the 

griily bear. 

Project Monltoring: To evaluate the effectiveness 

of buffaiobeny shrubfield restoration projects a vegetation monitoring strategy has been implemented. 

Transects are used to measure buffaloberry pro4 

12 
Wlldltfe 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

duction and ecodata plots are used to determine 

changes in vegetation. 

For the 1990 shrubfield restoration, 2 buffaloberry 

production transects were established outside harvest units and 1 transect was established in each of 

the 4 units. Outside the harvest units, buffaloberry 

production has fluctuated markedly the past 3 

years. Both 1990 and 1992 were poor production 

years. In 1991, there was a moderately high berry 

crop. Transects inside the harvest units have not 

been measured because the shrubs are not sufficiently mature to produce berries. Four ecodata 

plots have been established for this project. Two 

plots are inside harvest units and 2 plots are outside 

units. 

REPORTING VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Both the 1991 and 1992 shrubfield restoration 

projects contain 1 berry production transect and 1 

ecodata plot in each of the 5 harvest units and 4 

transects and 4 scodata plots outside the units. 

There is extremely vigorous buffaloberry resprouting in the 1991 harvest units. 

~~~~~~~~~ ~___ ___~~ - 

Gray Wolf, Bald Eagle, Peregrine habitat Annually 

capacity 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Deterioration or continuing disturbance 

on more than 5% of suitable unoccupied habitat 

Based on the lack of sightings of grizzly bears with 

cubs, more effort needs to be directed at the DEAEL 

BMU during FY 1993 to document occupancy and/ 

or breeding within this BMU. 

Discontinue monitoring North Fork Sun and Renshaw grizzly track transects. 

METHODS 

Evaluate Forest compliance with the gray wolf recovery plan (USWS 1987). Monitor suitable bald 

eagle nesting habitat for re-occupancy according to 

methods described in (Montana Bald Eagle Working Group, 1986); monitor the distribution of wintering bald eagles. Survey historic and potential peregrine eyries for occupancy. 

WOLF FINDINGS 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION 

To determine the status of wolves on the Rocky 

Mountain District, an intensive survey/monitoring 

project has been ongoing since December 1989 (FY 

1990). The initial survey revealed a lone male wolf 

regularly using the Sun River drainage, and a pack 

of 5 wolves regularly using the Dupyer Creek 

drainage during 1989 and 1990. The survey work 

completed in 1992 indicates that the lone wolf in the 

Sun River continues to use its established territoiy. 

A pair of wolves may be using lands east of the 

Forest boundary in the Sun River area 

The 1992 surveys confirmed 21 sightings of wolves 

on or adjacent to the Rocky Mountain District, including 2 multiple sightings (two or more wolves 

together). Over 44 miles of wolf tracks were followed 

and mapped. 

Biological evaluations were completed for the gray 

wolf in conjunction with the same projects discussed for the grizzly bear (shrubfield restoration for 

griily bears, Ford Basin Bum, and Gibson Lake 

Trail Reconstruction). Determinations of 'no effecr 

on the wolf and its habaat were made for all three 

projects. 

- 

.-. 

JEFFERSON DIVISION 

There were no wolf sightings recorded on @e Jefferson Division for fiscal year 1992 

13 
Wlldttfe 

BALD EAGLE FINDINGS 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION 

There were observations of 5 bald gles on the 

Rocky Mountain District and 7 observ Ins on adjacent private and State lands. Most observations 

were made during late winter in the Teton and Sun 

Riwer drainages. One summer observation indicated the possibilrty of a nesting pair. Observations of 

bald eagles were recorded and added to the Forest 

data base. Management practices that could potentially affect wintering bald eagles (shrubfield restoration for grizzb bear, Ford Basin Burn, and Gibson 

Lake Trail Reconstruction) were reviewed in accordance with Forest Plan direction. 

USFS biologists cooperatively assisted USRNS and 

MDFWP biologists in completing bald eagle surveys 

during the month of January 1992. Participating in 

the National Bald Eagle survey, Forest Service biologists reported a total of 47 eagles observed on 

January 10, 1991 (Midwinter Bald Eagle Survey): 

43 Bald Eagle (Adults 19, Immature 24) 

1 Adult Golden Eagle 

3 unknown bald or golden eagles were abserved along the Missouri River (National 

Transect #4). 

A large nest on private land within the Missouri River 

corridor by Stickney Creek was sighted in October. 

k is unknown if this is an eagle or osprey nest. This 

nest needs to be surveyed during FY 1993 to determine what is using the nest site and reported to the 

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. 

JEFFERSON DIVISION 

Another Forest transect was completed on January 

IC, 1992 along the Musselshell River and Cottonwood Creek. This transect yielded 10 eagle sightings: 

6 Bald Eagle (Adults 5, Immature 1) 

4 Golden Eagles (Adults 2, Immature 2) 

On the afternoon of January 21, a Forest Wildlife 

Biologist checked the Beaver Creek and Cottonwood Creek drainages south of U.S. Highway 87 

and north of the Forest boundary in the Big Snowy 

Mountains for the occurrence of wintering bald eagles. One of the recommendations in the wildlife 

section of the monitoring report (Item C-2) states, 

‘Continue to conduct surveys of bald eagle winter 

use and roosting along Cottonwood Creek in the 

Crazy Mountains and the Cottonwood Creek in the 

Big Snowy Momtains: This area was surveyed 

once previously for bald eagles on January 25, 

1989. 

A total of 6 bald eagles (5 adults, 1 immature) were 

seen along Beaver Creek and Cottonwood Creek 

during this year’s survey. Specific locations were 

recorded on the standard‘raptor observation card 

form. The birds observed were all between U.S. 

Highway 87 to about 5 miles south of the Highway 

on private land. All of these observations were a 

considerable distance from the Forest boundary, 

and it is doubtful if much winter bald eagle use 

extends up these drainages that far. The area surveyed was generally open with only patches d 

snow in the more protected places. The weather 

had been exceptionally mild with very little snow 

during December and January. The stresuns were 

mostly frozen over, but some sections of open water 

were noticed. 

During the survey of this general area in January 

1989, only a single adult bald eagle was seen near 

Ross Fork Creek between Hobson and Moore. No 

eagles were observed in either the Beaver Creek or 

Cottonwood Creek drainages. There was a continuous, relatively heavy snow cover that year and all of 

the streams were completely frozen. In January Os 

1988 a single adult bald eagle,was seen along Rock 

Creek about one mile north of the Forest boundary 

while Roger Evans was enroute to a snowmobile trip 

into Crystal Lake. 

Based on these limited winter observations of bald 

eagles north of the Big Snowy Mountains, it is the 

Biologist’ opinion that this coudry supports a widely 

dispersed, but fairty significant amount of winter use 

by bald eagles. This is probably due primarily to the 

large number of relatively undisturbed riparian areas that occur north of the Big Snowies and extending east to the Little Snowies. He expects that bald 

eagles make extensive winter use of this entire area, 

especially during mild, open winters such as this 

year. The larger riparian areas provide large cottonwoods for perching and roosting as well as habitat 

for a good density of prey species. Most of this area 

also provides winter ranges for whitetaif deer and 

mule deer. Deer are probably an important food 

source for bald eagles in the form of carrion resulting from road kills, winter loss, or predation by coyotes and mountain lions. 

14 
Wlldlife 

The general area north of the Big and Little Snowy 

Mountains and south of Lewistown appears to provide important winter habiiat for bald eagles. However, little if any of this winter eagle use is directly 

associated with National Forest lands. This area 

was deleted from survey for the national recovery 

effort. Therefore, further monitoring of this area by 

Forest Service personnel is not warranted. 

-- 

PEREGRINE FALCON FIINDINGS 

There are currently no known active nest sites of 

peregrine falcons on the Lewis and Clark National 

Forest. A survey of historic peregrine falcon nest 

sites east of Great Falls was not conducted during 

FY 1992. 

One reliable observation of a single peregrine falcon 

was reported on private land to the north of the 

Highwood Mountains during the summer of 1992 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Conduct a survey to determine if Haymaker Narrows (Musselshell Ranger District) is being used as 

a bald eagle winter roost site. 

Survey the Smith River for peregrines and potential 

nest sites. 

C-3 Elk Winter Range Capacity 

I 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INlTlATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Elk: winter range capacity (population lev- Annually 

el), sex and age ratios 

Decrease of 5% or more in winter range 

capacity as measured by a 3 year running mean of elk population level, sex, 

and age ratios. 

Decrease of 10% or more in habiiat effectiveness in any timber compartment 

on the basis of a 100% annual sample. 

The goal is to complete habitat effectiveness calculations for all compartments prior to the Forest Plan Revision. 

Elk: habitat effectiveness Annually 

METHODS 

Information on elk population levels and sex age 

ratios were obtained from MDFWP progress reports, personal communications with MDFWP biologists, and research reports. c 

Elk habitat effectiveness ratings were calculated by 

the percent of the subcompartment in cover and 

the road density (miles of open road per square 

mile). 

FINDINGS FOR ELK POPULATION LEVEL 

During FY 1992, the Montana Department of Fish, 

Wildlife and Parks commission adopted the Statewide Elk Management Plan. This plan assembles 

the most current data on elk populations, and develops goals and objectives to aid the State in manag 

ing the elk resource. The elk populations appear to 

be at an all time high in all areas of the Forest. The 

elk plan calls for maintaining these populations with 

the exception of the area on the southwest side of 

the Little Belt Mountains. In this area the Department 

is looking at reducing this herd due to the amount 

of time spent on private land and the amount of 

damage caused to crops on private land. . \% 

The Elk Management Plan addresses the issue d 

maintaining securii areas on the Forest tsretain elk 

on public lands and simultaneously providing a& 

quate escape cover to ensure a level of bull sunrivd 

during the hunting season. The present Forest Plan 

contains no standard measure of elk security or 
Wlldl We 

monitoring items measuring how forest management practices affect security areas. The existing 

. Forest Plan standard applies to road densities and 

effective cover, and cannot be applied to measure 

effects on habitat for elk during the hunting season. 

' 

During FY 1992 the Lewis and Clark and MDFWP 

wildlife biologists developed a procedure to evaluate the effects of timber and road qanagement on 

elk security areas. The basic format followed the 

Hillis Paradigm that was developed on the Lolo and 

Deerlodge National Forests. This procedure will be 

used on the Smokey-Corridor and Running WoH 

timber sale projects that have the potential to affect 

elk vulnerabillty and reduce security areas for elk 

during the hunting season. 

FINDINGS FOR ELK HABITAT EFFECTIVENESS 

In N 1990, Forest personnel developed a model to 

electronically compute elk effective cover based on 

data contained in the Timber Stand Management 

Record System WMRS). This model was used in 

N 1992 to compute elk effective cover for the 

Smokey-Corridor project (77,000 acres) on the 

Kings Hill Ranger District. The analysis for this 

project is still ongoing with a Draft EIS scheduled for 

release for public comment during the summer of 

1993. The model was also used to determine effective cover within the Little Snowies and the information was published in the Draft EIS that was released 

in January 1993. Elk was not a major issue in the 

Little Snowies project but the information was used 

to determine if standards within the Forest Plan 

were being met and the information was used to 

determine effects on the habitat in relation to whitetailed deer. 

Biologists provided input to proposed Cominco FY 

1992 core drilling on nine core drilling sites; concerns involved conflict with implementing road obliteration for Forest Order dealing with the Moose 

Creek EIS road closures and access later in the year 

on the same road by Cominco. Biologists also provided input to proposed Kennecott FY 1992 project 

to excavate trenches for mineral expioration; concerns identified iilvolved proximity to elk wallow and 

sensitive plant populations. The conflicts were resolved through mitigation and awoidance actions. 

Elk habitat values were evaluated by the wildlife 

biologist on the Kings Hill Ranger District for the 

Anderson land exchange proposal. This land transaction involved an exchange of National Forest parcels in Deep Creek Park on the Kings Hill Ranger 

District The effects of this proposal were coordinated with personnel of the MDFWP and the exchange 

will be consummated in FY 1993. 

Mitigation measures designed to improve elk habitat securilty were required in a Decision Notice/ 

FONSI for the Moose Creek projects (documented 

in Moose Creek Final EIS) on the Kings Hill Ranger 

District. The District wildlife biologist coordinated 

with Forest Engineering personnel to implement a 

major road closure program prior to the selling of 

any of the timber sales that were planned in the 

Moose Creek area This program closed or oblierated 35 miles of non-system road, and restricted travel on 30 miles of system roads. This closure program reduced the road density within the project 

area from 1.6 miles/square mile to 0.7 miledsquare 

mile. 

The formal annual coordination meeting between 

the MDFWP and the Lewis and Clark National Forest 

was not held this year. In its place was a series of 

meetings with members of the MDWP in the development of the elk vulnerabilhy process that the Forest will use in addressing the effects of timber harvest and road construction on elk habitat during the 

hunting season. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Continue coordination with the MDFWP on the de 

velopment and implementation of the elk vulnerability process that was developed in FY 1992. 

.. 

16 
Wlldllte 

C-4 Bighorn Sheep & Mountain Goat 

population level, sex, and age ratios 

METHODS 

Data was obtained from MDFWP progress reports, 

research summaries, and contacts with knowledgeable individuals. 

FINDINGS 

No sheep were transplanted from the Sun River 

bighorn sheep herd during the winter of 1992. 

Table C-4a displays the population trends of bighorn sheep on the Rocky Mountain Division for the 

area south of the Teton River and north of the Teton 

River. The Sun River population (south of Teton 

River) may have declined in 1992, but it is also 

possible that some sheep were not counted. The 

population north of the Teton River appears to be 

stable in overall numbers and ewes. Recruitment 

appears to have rebounded since the late 1980s. 

increased reproduction is probably due to the 1991 

transplant of 32 bighorn sheep. 

Table C4b displays the population trends for the 

Rocky Mountain goat. The population in Hunting 

District 414 may have dropped precipitously. However, the decline could also be explained by a family 

group that was not observed. In Hunting District 

415, the total population appears relatively stable. 

Production of kids in 1992 (22) was the highest in 

the past 6 years. 

There has been no development or major disturbing 

activities on National Forest System lands within 

Hunting District 414 following the 1985 termination 

of oil and gas exploratory activities. Presently, the 

reason for the lack of recruitment in this hunting 

district is unknown. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Continue to document individual sightings of mountain goats in the mountain ranges in the Jefferson 

Division. 

Assess the appropriateness of further introductions 

of mountain goats or bighorn sheep in the Jefferson 

Division. 

Recommend to MDFWP to reduce number of goat 

permits from 3 to 1 in Hunting District 414. 

Table C4a BIGHORN SHEEP POPULATION - Rocky Mountain Division. 

I MOUNTAIN RANGE 1987 1988 1989 1990 

Rocky Mtn South of Teton 908 582 lo00 800 

Ewes 392 260 400 

Lamb 133 134 200 

Rocky Mtn North of Teton 127 73 79 90 

Ewes 34 25 29 37 

Lemh 23 5 7 12 

Total Rocky Mtn Division io35 655 1079 890 

1 - 32 sheep were added to the population north of the Teton River during February c 

1991 1994 

1991. 

17 
Wlidltfe 

Table C4b MOUNTAIN GOAT POPULATION - Rocky Mountain Division. 

* - Incomplete survey resulted from equipment failure. Data incomplete to determine population trend. 

C-5 Other Big Game Species 

lation trend, sex and age ratios pacity as measured by a 3 year running 

mean of mule deer harvest data and 

METHODS 

Data were obtained from MDMP progress reports, 

research summaries, and contacts with knowledgeable individuals. 

FINDINGS 

During the past 5 hunting seasons, MDWP has 

had restricted hunting seasons for mule deer in 

Hunting District 441 (North part of the Rocky Mountain Front). The first three weeks allow for antlered 

buck only (no permit required); and the last two 

weeks permit hunting only for antlered (75) and 

antlerless (150). Sportsmen and landowners alike 

supported this restriction when the number of large 

bucks began to decline. The decrease in bucks can 

be attributed to a large harvest in 1984 and 1985. 

During those consecutive hunting seasons, early 

snows forced deer out of the backcountry and onto 

the winter ranges where they were readily accessible by hunters. 

The Hunting District 441 restrictions have been successful in gradually reversing the downward trend 

of mule deer bucks. The present buck to doe ratio 

is 25100. There were 78 fawns/l00 does. Over 

3,300 mule deer were wintering between the Teton 

River and Birch Creek in 1992, a 12% increase from 

1991. 

The MDMP has recommended maintaining hunting restrictions in Hunting District 441 for 1993. 

These restrictions require that, during the first three 

weeks of the hunting season, only antlered bucks 

may be removed from the entire hunting district. 

During the last two weeks of the season, on National 

Forest lands onty antlered buck can be hunted; and 

on private lands 75 antlered permits and 150 antterless permits would be issued. 

These hunting restrictions have been supported by 

the Lewis and Clark National Forest to reverse the 

downward population trend that resulted from the 

1984 and 1985 hunting season. 

' 

18 
Wlldlffe 

FY88 

FY 89 

Between the Teton River and Smith Creek, 3,210 have been initiated on National Forest lands within 

1 wolverinetrapped 

1 wolverine sighted and 1 track observed 

Vule deer Were counted in lgg2- The Hunting District 441. Therefore, the population recovery response can be totally attributed to re- 

'buck:doe:fawn ratio was 20:100:62. 

FY w) 

FY 91 

During FY 1992, no new developments (eg. roads or 

timber harvest) or habitat improvement projects 

duced deer harvests resuhing from the regulated 

permit system. 

~ 

8 wolverines and 1 lynx were observed 

9 wolvednea were observed (3 animal sightings, 6 track observations). 11 lynx (2 animal sighthgs, 9 track observatkm). 

C-6 Small Game -% 

This monitoring item was deleted'from the Forest 

Pian by Amendment No. 3, dated 1989. Brood observations have been discontinued by the Montana 

Department Fish, Wildlife and Parks. 

FY 92 

C-7 Furbearers 

~ I ~~ 

13 wolverines observations were recorded, (2 animal sightings, 11 track dghtlngs). 11 lynx beck observationr were 

recorded, and 1 animal wa8 trapped in Red Poacher Creek in the Badger-Two Medicine are& 5 bobcattrack ~boe~stior# 

were recorded. 

VARlABlUrY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION I I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

~~ 

Distribution of lynx and 

annual sightings I I No sightings reported for three years. I 

METHODS 

Data was obtained from reported sightings of these 

species by individuals (both private and employees). Sightings are recorded in an electronic data 

base and used in analyzing effects of proposed 

projects on their distribution, concentrations and 

use. 

FINDINGS 

Table C-7a ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION SlGHTlNGS 

Year Furbearer Data I 

~~ ~ 

The increase in sightings of wolverine and tynx does 

not indicate an increase in the numbers of these 

species. Additional sightings are the resutt of auxiliary observations in conjunction with wolf surveys, 

snow surveys, and furbearer surveys. Based on IG 

cations, a minimum of 4 lynx were represented by 

track observations. \ 

19 
WlldlHe 

~ 

FY 09 

FY 90 

FY 91 

N 92 

Table C-7b JEFFERSON DIVISION SlGHTlNGS 

Year Furbearer Data I 

~ ~ -~ ~~ ~~ ~ ~ 

0 wolverines sighted 

November 14,1989 one wolverine observed crossing road in front of pickup truck near OBrien Park and Juty 24, 1990 

one wolverine obsewed running down a rock slide near Lucy Park. 

2 wolverlne detected on the dngs Hili Ranger District Tracks were sighted again In OBrien Creek and a live animal was 

sighted in Adams Creek. 

One set of lynx tracks were seen in the snow on the Jefferson Division in the headwaters of Lion Creek in November 1990. 

One wolverine sighted between Many Pines CC3 and Snowmobile Parking Lot on US 89. 

2- 

I N 88 I 6 wolverine dghtings I 

Wolverines have been detected at one general location on the Jefferson Division and the low number of 

animals detected appears to indicate a limited dstribution of adults despite suitable habaat. 

C-8 Old Growth Habitat for Goshawk 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION I PERIOD 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

Goshawk active nesting territories Annually Decrease of 5% or more in active nest 

territories as measured by a 100% annual sample of known goshawk nest territories. 

METHODS 

The goal is to monitor all of the known territories 

each year to establish occupancy and production; 

and compare the results of undisturbed territories 

(no high levels of activii, ie, logging, or oil and gas 

development) to territories with disturbance. 

A computer program has been developed to track 

all nest terriiories as to their occupancy? production, 

and nest site characteristics. 

A computer program has been developed to interact with the Timber Stand Data Base and identify 

timber stands that correlate to specified aerial photo 

interpretation types. The timber stands identified 

electronically and timber stands identified by standard aerial photo reconndksance are mapped and 

ground truthed to determine whether they meet the 

definition of old growth forest, as defined in the 

Forest Plan (Glossary, page 14). As a result of this 

process, more acres are examined per project area 

than are designated for retention as old growth 

stands. 

Old growth stands are selected to provide distribution across different habitat types and to maintain a 

minimum of 5% within a timber compartment. Using 

the parameters defined in the draft R-1 Goshawk 

Habitat Suitability, lower elevation Douglas-fir 

stands are prioriitized and selected. Higher elevation 

timber stands are generally dominated by lodgepole pine with mixtures of alpine fir or spruce. These 

mixed stands are prioritized on the basis of their 

proximity to meadows, seeps, springs, streams, or 

other environmental factors which contribute to the 

diversity of plant and animal life beyondyat v'kible 

in surrounding stands. 

20 
Wlldllfe 

FINDINGS 

Old Growth Inventory and Deslgnatlon as part of an ongoing Old Growth Forest designation program. 

Old growth habitat field validation was completed 

for the Little Snowy Mountains, Smokey Corridor, 

and Running Wolf (both in the Little Belt Mountains). 

Biologists reviewed 135,OOO acres ,a"d identified 

12,235 acres of old growth in the Jefferson Division 

Table C-8a is a compilation af the old growth 

forest acres that have been allwed surveys 

have been completed and displays the progress the 

Forest has made In achieving a Forest wide oJd 

growth forest inventory. 

Table C-8a ACRES DESIGNATED OF OLD GROW 1988-1992 

Ranger District Project Management Areas 

Judith South Fork Complex B, C 

Running Won 8, I 

Musselshell Milbllon B, R 

Spring Creek 

We SMmieo T 

B, C, E, Q, R 

Kings Hill Small Sales 772-776 

Moose Creek 

Smokey Corridor 

A, B. E, F, H, R 

4 B, C, E. F, H, R 

TOTAL 

Acres in Project Area 

275,500 

Designated Old 

(3rd Forest 

2,422 

3,580 

1,027 

4,415 

1,900 

4,653 

1,697 

6,755 

26,449 

In April of 1992, the Regional Office published 'Old 

Growth Forests Types of the Northern Region'. This 

Plan needs to be amended to 

growth forest definitions. 

the new OM 

document specifies the minimum criteria for a timber stand to be old growth. This document addressGoshawk Nest Terrfforles 

- 

es all habitat type groups on the Lewis and Clark 

National Forest and defines Old Growth Forest. The 

One new tevito'Y was detected in FY 1992 for a total 

of 26 known territories; 4 in the Rocky Mountain 

Division and in the Jefferson Division. The 

definitions are somewhat different than the definition used in the Forest Plan. Therefore, the Forest 

of the goshawk monitoring completed from FY 1987 

through 1992 is summarized in the following table: 

Table C-8b GOSHAWK (Nesting Territories - Rocky Mountain Division) 

Fledged Active Territoly i 

21 
Wildllfe 

Special Interest Species: Golden Eagle & 3 Years 

Prairie Falcon nesting territories 

Decrease of 10% or more in active nest 

territories as measured by a 100% annual sample of selected nest territories. i 

Table C-8c GOSHAWK (Nesting Territories - Jefferson Division) 

Description I 1987 

I Nestlng Territories le 

Territories Monitored 3 

Territories Active 

Fledged Adive Territory 

- Attempted to monitor, but data inconclusive. 

I- 7 I I I I 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Amend the Forest Plan to include the Regional Old 

Growth Forests Definitions. These definitions will 

then be used to determine the amount of old growth 

forest within the Lewis and Clark National Forest. 

C-9 Special Interest Species 

I 1 OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, 1 REPORTING I VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

METHODS 

The goal is to inventory and annually monitor a 

minimum number of nest territories each year so 

that in a three year period all nests of each species 

have been monitored. By completing this monitoring the Forest can obtain occupancy and nest production of all known nests. 

Biologists recorded and mapped the location and 

date of sightings of golden eagle and prairie falcon 

in order to identify activity centers fgr suspected 

nest sites. Knowledgeable individuals were contacted for information on known nest sites. Surveys 

were conducted in suitable nest habitat and around 

existing nest sites to determine whether new nest 

sites had been developed. Nest territories were visited during the nesting season to determine the 

number of active nest sites and nest production. 

FINDINGS 

Limited monitoring of territories for golden eagle 

and prairie falcon took place in FY 1992. 

On the Rocky Mountain Division, 3 golden eagle 

nest sites were monitored, one was active. 

On the Jefferson Division, a total of 6 golden eagle 

and 20 prairie falcon territories have been located in 

past years. Of this total, all of the known golden 

eagle territories and 17 of the known prairie falcon 

territories were located and inventoried prior to the 

development of the Forest Plan. Three additional 

prairie falcon territories have been located since 

1988 in association with other work. All of these 

known territories were active at the time they were 

originally surveyed and recorded. One new golden 

eagle nest was located on the Jefferson Division in 

fiscal year 1992 

The known nest territories for these two species on 

the Jefferson Division are located in cliffs, primarily 

in limestone formations. Foraging occurs on neatby 

grasslands or other open vegetative ty&S on the 

National Forest and adjacent piwate land. Very few 

of these territories are located in the vicinity of areas 

where recent timber harvest, road construction or 

22 
WlldlWe 

I 

Nesting Territoriea 1 30 

Territories Monitored 

other development activiiles have taken place or are 

planned in the near future. As a result, monitoring 

'these teriiories has received low priori; and few of 

the territories have been checked during the last five 

years. Summary of golden eagle nesting territories 

is as follows: 

~ ~ ~- 

53 54 54 

6 0 0 

Table C-9a GOLDEN EAGLE (Nesting Territories on Rocky Mt. Division) 

1 includes tenitorb on adjacent State and BLh4 Lands. 

Table C-9b GOLDEN EAGLE (Nesting Territories on Jefferson) 

I Description Pre 1991 1991 I 1992 I 

Table C-9b GOLDEN EAGLE (Nesting Territories on Jefferson) 

I Data is incomplete prior to 1991 

Nesting Territories 1 6 10 

Territories Monitored 0 1 

I Data is incomplete prior to 1991 

Summary of prairie falcon nesting territories is as follows: 

Table C-Qc PRAIRIE FALCON (Nesting Teriiories on Rocky Mt. Division) 

I I 1982 I Description Pre 1987 1989 1991 

Data ia incomplete prior to 1989 

Table C-9d PRAIRIE FALCON (Nesting Territories on Jefferson) 

1 - Data is incomplete prior to 1991 c 

C-10 Cavity Nesting Habitat 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

Cavity Nesting Habitat for Northern $Toed 

Woodpecker - percent optimum habitat 

REPORTING 

PERIOD 

5 Years 

VARlABluTy (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Reduction in snags to below numthr9 

needed to maintain a viable population 

level of woodpeckers in any timber compartment as measured by a three year running mean compared to the existing percent optimum habitat 

23 
Wlldltfe 

METHODS 

*- 

An annual Forest review of selected timber sales is 

conducted to determine effectiveness of snag management guidelines and timber sale administrative 

guidelines. Monitoring efforts focus on stands 

where snag densities may change due to management activities. 

Cavity dependent species habitat w& measured by 

examining the gain, loss, or no change status of 

National Forest System acres of mature conifer 

stands. 

Snag and nest surveys were conducted using the 

methods described in Morrison, et al. (1986) as 

modified to use monumented section corners as 

permanent reference pdnts. Breeding bird plots 

were used to determine the presence or absence of 

avian species. 

FINDINGS 

Biologists have been recording pileated sightings 

for the past several years. They were not known to 

exist on the Forest at the time of Forest Plan preparation. The following are the observations of pileated woodpeckers In FY 1992: 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION 

No observations of pileated woodpeckers were recorded. 

Four wood duck boxes installed in the Teton River 

drainage in 1989 were used by an unidentified duck 

species. 

JEFFERSON DIVISION 

On April 16 at about 1 :15 PM, a Forest Wildlife Biologist drove into the area where a pileated woodpecker had been seen in 1991 (on the Stanford Ranger 

District in the South fork of the Judah River). As soon 

as he got out of the truck, he heard a low unfamiliar 

call and soon saw an adult pileated woodpecker on 

the same ponderosa pine snag where he had seen 

the birds in 1991. The bird moved around to the 

opposite side of the snag and then flew down the 

slope out of sight. 

On August 5, 1992 a pileated was sighted in the 

west fork of Flagstaff Creek. This was an adult bird 

that was heard drumming on a snag. No nest hole 

was sighted. This may be the bird that has been 

seen in the pasture gulch area over the past several 

years. 

On August 10, a Forest Wildlife Biologist walked 

through forest stands with past pileated woodpecker activity in Pasture Gulch (CastJe Mountains). No 

pileated woodpeckers were heard or seen in the 

Pasture Gulch area Several woodpecker species 

(Common flicker, Hairy woodpecker and Rednaped sapsucker) were observed foraging in the 

area 

Snag Management 

The retention of snags is affected by the firewood 

cutting policy and the timber harvesting activities on 

the Forest. FY 1992 figures demonstrate a continuing decline in the demand for firewood. Section E-9 

of this report displays the annual sale of firewood on 

the Lewis and Clark National Forest. 

The downward trend in firewood harvested continued from 1985 through 1992 In commercial cutting 

several operators who harvested large volumes in 

the past retired or went to work for logging companies. A mild winter (91/92) may also have resulted in 

less firewood burned and a carry over for 92/93 and 

therefore less harvest during summer 1992. Reduced acres of recent timber harvest and road closures may also have affected firewood harvests 

During FY 1992 the Forest began incorporating the 

Animal Inn brochure, Be An Innkeeper, in their firewood permit packages. This is an effort being made 

to educate and inform the public on the value of 

dead and down materials within the forest. 

As part of an Eagle Scout requirement, Dan Patterson coordinated and organized the construction 

and installation of 25 nest boxes by Scouts and 

Scoutmasters. The nest boxes were installed at a 

high density along Memorial Falls trail, the turnout 

near U.S. Highway 89 and Jefferson Creek road, 

along Belt Creek next to Many Pines campground. 

The Forest Service provided materials and the Boy 

Scouts constructed and installed the nest boxes. 

The nest boxes are designed for bluebird and tree 

swallows as part of an interpretive program for cavity nesting birds. They will also suffice in increasing 

the amount of cavities available for these secondary 

cavity dependent species. 

c 

24 
Snag Management Monltorlng 

Implementation of the Forest-wide management 

standard for snag 'retention was monitored on the 

Kings Hill Ranger District in FY 1992 for 5 timber sale 

areas. Only one of these sale areas had snags 

marked prior to the selling of the sale. The other four 

sales were examined and snags marked after the 

selling and logging of the sale and prior to allowing 

the taking of firewood by the public. 

Central Park 

Crossroads 

Table C-1 Oa displays the information gathered to 

date. What the monitoring found was that 50% of the 

units monitored met the Forest Plan Standard. What 

the data does not show, in the case of the one post 

and pole sale, is if there are enough snags in the 

stand prior to harvesting to meet the standard. In 

the case of the stand that was harvested for post 

and poles the answer is probably not. This is based 

on experience in recon of post and pole stands that 

have been created in the past by fire. There appear 

to be veFy few snags remaining. Also one can get a 

feel for what was there by what was marked. In all 

the other sale areas, most of the snags marked were 

greater than 10 inches dbh (diameter at breast 

78102045 34A 47 Y- 34% 

781 0201 3 26A 31 Y 19% 

781 0201 0 32A 111 Y 31% - 

77501017 36A 1% 145 Yff -' 41% 

78207069 4 

height). However, in the post and pole sale the diameter ranged from 6.6 inches to 10.0 inches with 

only one of the six snags being 10 inches. 

The Crossroads Timber Sale area was the only sale 

that had snags marked prior to logging. Fifty-one 

snags were lost to logging, however, the Forest Plan 

standard was still met and even exceeded. The 

units in the Central Park sale are interesting. Stand 

numbers 013 and 045 were logged by mechanical 

means while stand 01 0 was logged by sawyers. The 

sale administrator worked with the contractors to 

leave as many snags as possible, because they 

were not marked prior to the selling of the sale. In 

the case of these three units, one can see that some 

people will leave snags while others will not. What 

this demonstrates is that the only way to insure that 

snag habitat needs are met is to mark prior to the 

logging of a unit. Also, when a unit is marked, 

enough snags should be marked to insure Forest 

Plan Standards are met once the logging is complete. The actual number is not known at this time, 

but the Crossroads Sale monitoring indicates that 

about 25% of the snags marked were lost during the 

logging operation. 

Table C-1Oa MONITORING RESULTS FOR SNAG MANAGEMENT ON KINGS HILL RD 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The district needs to follow up snag monitoring on 

the sales in Table C-loa to measure the effect of 

firewood gathering in these units. 

Utilize year-long vehicle restrictions and road closures to aid in maintaining snag habitat. 

-, 

Emphasize the maintenance of large dbh snags 

which are likely to stand longer than smalldiameter 

snags (Raphael and Morrison 1987). Consider a 

maximum allowable dbh for cutting standing dead 

trees for woodcutting in selected areas. 

25 
WlldlHe 

Aquatic Habitat Condition/Quality (Cutthroat Trout, Brook Trout, Rainbow Trout) 

Continue to mark (sign or paint) and inventory the 

lie or dead trees required to meet long term snag 

'management objectives as part of the timber sale 

layout; specify the protection of snags/trees in the 

sale contract and display their locations on the sale 

map. Conduct a post-harvest inventory to quantify 

the proportion of marked trees retained and to monitor future woodcutting activity. 

3 years 

C-I 1 Aquatic Habitat 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESC,R&'TION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I Rygt:G I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Decrease of 5% or more in fish habiiat 

capability based on predicted or actual 

changes in water qualii or fish habitat 

parameters in any stream or lake 

METHODS 

Monitor impacts from management actions that 

take place on the Forest, such as timber sales, wildfire, prescribed fire, and grazing. 

FINDINGS 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION 

During the summer of 1992, the Rocky Mountain 

District did not monitor any streams within the Canyon Creek and Gates Park fires. Based on the past 

three years of monitoring the District believed there 

was higher priority fisheries work to be completed 

(cutthroat trout surveys). The monitoring of the effects of fires on the streams within the Canyon 

Creek and Gates Park fires will be discontinued. 

JEFFERSON DIVISION 

The overall condition of fish habitat and the condition of streamside shrub communities were evaluated on 49 miles of streams in the Castk Mountains 

on the Kings Hill District. Specific evaluations of 

spawning gravel conditions were conducted on 

three streams on the Kings Hill District. 

Of the 49 miles of fish habitat evaluated in the Castle 

Mountains it was determined that approximately 11 

miles were in poor condition, using the regionally 

accepted Cowfish Model to rate fish habitat condition. Although viable salmonoid populations were 

present throughout these reaches, the fish population was very likely reduced more than 5% from its 

potential as habitat conditions, on the streams that 

rated poor, were less than 40% of optimum. 

Streamside shrub communities that are important in 

forming fish habitat components on certain stream 

channel types, were found to be in poor condition 

along approximately eight miles of fishery streams 

in the Castle Mountains. 

The quality of spawning gravels were found to be in 

relatively poor condition on Grasshopper and the 

West Fork Checkerboard Creek with fine sediment 

levels averaging 42% and 35%, respectively. Sediment levels in Fourmile Creek were found to be of 

high quality with only 27% fine sediment present in 

the spawning gravels. Livestock grazing, and inherent natural erosiveness surely play a role in the 

levels of fine sediment preserit in these streams. 

However, not enough monitoring has been completed in different stream channel types, within different landtypes and differing levels of disturbance 

to determine the degree that disturbance activities 

may have affected streams within the Forest. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Improve grazing management on fishery streams in 

poor condition. Continue evaluation of stream gravel quality within various landtypes and &sturbance 

levels throughout the Forest. 

26 
Wildlife 

C-12 Habitat Improvement Outputs 

REPORTING VARIABIUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD INITIATE OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT 

PRESCRIPTION, EFFECTS TO BE 

MEASURED FURTHER EVALUATION 

T& E Habitat Improvement Outputs Annually Identify a 10% decline in accomplishments in T&E 

habitat improvement outputs as measured over a 

fied in the Forest Plan (p 5-11) 

. 

< 5-year average and compared with the level speciWildlife & Fish Habitat Improvement 

outputs 

Annually ldentrfy a 20% decline in accomplishments in wildlife & fish habitat improvement outputs as measured over a 5-year average and compared with 

the level specified in the Forest Plan (p 5-11) 

METHODS 

Anabjsis of data provided in the Management Attainment Report (MAR) which included: MAR 37.1, 

37.2, 38.1, 38.2, 39.1 and 39.2. 

FINDINGS 

All variations below Forest Plan Program are attributed to low funding level and the failure of assigned 

targets from the Regional Office that would allow the 

Forest to accomplish all of the Forest Plan Program. 

All targets assigned to the Forest for FY 1992 were 

accomplished. See Table C-12a for values discussed in the following Management Attainment 

Report (MAR) items. 

37. I Wildlife Habitat Improvement (Acres): A total of 1221 acres of wildlife habitat improvement 

was accomplished. Of this total, 152 acres were 

completed by the challenge cost share program, and 666 acres were accomplished with 

KV funds. 

37.2 Wildlife Habitat Improvement (Structures): 8 

structures were accomplished. 

38.1 Fish Habitat Improvement (Acres): 40 acres 

were accomplished. 

38.2 Fish Habitat Improvement (Structures): 30 

structures were accomplished with appropriated funds. 

39.7 Habitat Improvement Threatened & Endan 

gered (Acres): 630 acres were accomplished; 

610 A with appropriated funds, 10 A by Challenge Cost Share, and 10 acres with KV funds. 

39.2 Habitat lmprovement Threatened & Endan 

gered (Structures): 0 structures were completed. 

Table C-12b displays the accomplishment for 

wildlife habitat improvement for the past 6 

years. The Forest has exceeded the Forest Plan 

level in all MAR items except 37.2 (Structural 

improvement for wildlife) and 38.2 (Structural 

improvement for fisheries).- A wildlife/fisheries 

program document has been developed that 

provides for a more detailed account of the potential for habitat improvement on the Forest. 

The program document displays that there is an 

increase in potential habitat improvement targets over the original Forest Plan and with a 

different mixture of projects. Currently, the program document is what the Forest is working 

from when assigning targets to individual Districts. 

27 
WlldlHe 

Table C-12a FY 1992 TARGETS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS COMPARED TO FOREST PLAN 

1992 Target Accompliohment Code MAR I Forest Plan Measure I 

555 

555 

403 

152 

666 

0 

1221 

37.1 

37.1 

37.1 

37.1 

37.1 

37.2 

37.2 

37.2 

37.2 

37.2 

38.1 

38.1 

38.1 

38.1 

38.1 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 01 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 02 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 03 

WLDL HAB. WPROV APP 04 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 00 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 01 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 02 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 03 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 04 

WLDL HAB. IMPROV APP 00 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 01 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 02 

FiSH HAB. IMPROV APP 03 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 04 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 00 

-r 

\ 

Acres 600 

Acres 

Acres 

Acrea 

Acres 600 

Struc 10 

Struc 

StruC 

Struc 

StrUC 10 

39 

39 

Acres 

Acres 

Acree 

Acres 

Acres 

StWC 

Struc 

Struc 

Struc 

Struc t 30 

30 

30 

30 

38.2 

38.2 

38.2 

38.2 

38.2 

39.1 

39.1 

39.1 

39.1 

39.1 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 01 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 02 

FISH HAB. IMPROV APP 03 

FISH MB. IMPROV APP 04 

FEH HAB. IMPROV APP 00 

TBE HAB. IMPROV. APP 01 

TBE HAB. IMPROV. APP 02 

TBE HAB. IMPROV. APP 03 

TBE HAB. IMPROV. APP 04 

TBE HAB. IMPROV. APP 00 

Acres 

Acree 

AcrX4 

Acres 

Acres 

600 

600 ~ 

61 0 

10 

10 

630 I 

31 = FS funds (non-Challenge Cost-Share) 04 = Timber Receipt Dollan 

02 = Contributed (HRP programs) fund accomplishments for Challenge Costahare projecEs 

03 = KV funds 00 = MAR Code total 

Table Gl2b WILDLIFE HABITAT IMPROVEMENT 

lW1 1 '992 I Average 

6Year I Description 4 

Non-Structural (Wildlife Acres) 600 300 1400 900 1117 

Non-Structural (Fish Acres) 5 2 0 10 16 

- 

Non-Structural (WE Acres) 100 0 0 0 500 

Wildlife Structures 10 0 0 3 2 

I 

T8E Structures 

* - Figures do not include KV accomplishments 

0 0 1 I 

RECOMMENDATIONS i 

Continue updating the habitat improvement portion 

of the Wildlife/Fishenes program document so that 

it will become at least a 10 year habitat improvement 

program. 

28 
OUTPUT, MANAG EM ENT PRES c R I PTI o N , 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

1988 

1989 

1990 

Oil & Gas Activi/Wildlife Monitoring - 

Rocky Mountain Front 

Texaco Seismic raptor, grizzly All guidelines followed 

hit eddy Powerline grizzly, goat All guidelines followed 

EPS Pipeline 1-13 grizzly, elk, raptors All guidelines followed except for 5 

day period on elk, deer winter range 

- which had an effect on 160 acres 

dong an existing open road. 

Bearbee Timber Harvest giily All guidelines followed 

REPORTING 

PERIOD 

1991 

1992 

Annually 

Beartree Timber Harvest grizzly All guidelines followed July I-Oct 15 

Beartree Timber Harvest grizzly All guidelines followed Julyloc115 -'\ 

VAR i.4BIUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

1992 

Display the number of guidelines ap 

plied or not applied to projects that were 

accomplished for the fiscal year. This 

data can then be used to determine the 

cause of any decreases in populations 

that the RMF Guidelines were developed to protect. 

~ __~ 

Ford Basin Bum Big horn/Elk All guidelines followed except for a 1 

day period affecting prairie falcon 

sheep cah/ing/lambing areas. 

nesting habitrd and elk and bighorn IC 

METHODS 

Examine major permitted activities in relation to the 

application of the Rocky Mountain Front Guidelines 

[(BLM, 1987) eg. gaS/Oil development, timber havest, seismic operations, new road construction]. 

FINDINGS 

No new oil and gas development projects were ap 

proved for the past year on National Forest System 

lands. The only resource projects accomplished 

were a shrubfield restoration and a prescribed burn. 

All RMF grizzly bear guidelines were applied to 

these projects. It k anticipated that none of the 

permitted activities (listed in table C-13a) have had 

any influence on populations of wild ungulates or 

raptors on the Rocky Mountain District in the past 

six years. Table C-13a summarizes the projects and 

how the guidelines have been applied since 1987. 

SummaV Of guidelines and operating WhdowS 85- 

signedtoconstru~ion Projects on the Rocky 

tain Ranger District for FY 1987 through 1992 is as 

follows: 

Table C-13a ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT GUIDELINES APPUED 

I Year I ProjectName I SpeciesAffected I Guidelines Applied I OperationWindow I 

I July ldug 1 I I 1987 I Mobillestlng 1-13 I raptor, grizzly I All guidelines followed 

Aug 1-06 15 

21 Jan 4 extension. 

July 1-06 15 

29 
Wlldllfe 

C-44 Sensitive Wildlife & Fisk 

trends in wildlife & fish habitat anQspecies 

populations. 

METHODS 

This monitoring item, along with C-15, were added 

to the Forest Plan by Amendment No. 12. Surveys 

of the habitat are conducted to acquire population 

data on the species that are on the Lewis and Clark 

National Forest's sensitive species list. 

FINDINGS 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DIVISION 

Sensltlve Fish 

Nineteen streams on the Rocky Mountain Division were inventoried to evaluate the presence 

of purestrain westslope cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout were collected from 13 streams and 

sent to the University of Montana for genetic 

analysis. Results revealed that purestrain 

westslope cutthroat were present in 4 of these 

streams. 

In the FY 1991 monitoring report, the Forest 

indicated that streams had been sampled and 

genetic testing would be completed in FY 1992. 

Of the 7 streams sampled only one of these 

streams contained purestrain westslope cutthroat. Results from the 1991 sculprin collections 

revealed that in the Two Medicine River drainage the species present are mottled sculpin not 

shorthead sculpin. 

Sensltlve Anlmal 

The Rocky Mountain Division personnel completed an extensive harlequin duck inventory 

between April 29 and August 6,1992. Over 480 

stream miles on 20 different streams were surveyed. 102 observations on 13 different streams 

were recorded. The Rocky Mountain Front pop 

ulation is estimated at 40 breeding pairs. A minimum of 13 different broods were observed. The 

Sun River and Badger Creek drainages were 

harlequin concentration areas. The results of 

this study will be documented in a report that 

was published and-available to the public in 

May, 1993. 

1 boreal owl was observed in the Deep Creek 

drainage in July 1992. 

The fisher is only known to occur on the Rocky 

Mountain Division. This past year there were no 

sightings of fisher or its sign. 

JEFFERSON DIVISION 

Sensttlve Flsh 

One stream on the Kings Hill District was surveyed to determine the presence of purestrain 

westslope cutthroat trout. Cutthroat trout were 

collected and sent to the University of Montana 

for genetic analysis. The results indicated that 

the fish were hybridized. 

Additional cursory surveys were conducted in 

1992 on numerous other streams throughout 

the Jefferson Division to determine general distribution of cutthroat trout. Evaluations in the 

Castle Mountains indicated that cutthroat trout 

were limited to the Smith River drainage: none 

were found in the Musselshell Drainage. On the 

streams where cutthroat trout have been found 

in the absence of rainbow trout, samples will be 

collected in future years to test for genetic pun- 

.- 

ty. ri 

A current summary of cutthroat trout testing completed on the Forest over the last 10 years is displayed in Table C-14a 

30 
Wlldl We 

Table C-14a ELECTROPHLORETC TESTING RESULTS FOR CUTTHROAT TROUT 

Drainage Stream Year Location 

Sampled 

Sample Resull8* 

Size 

Two Medicine 92 

92 

92 

92 

91 

84 

84 

T29N R12W S17 

T29N R12W S7 

T29N R12W S3 

Taken by State 

T30N R12W S25 

T29N R12W S7 

T29N Rl2W S7 

7 

3 

7 

17 

15 

10 

Sydney Cr 

Lost Shirt Cr 

Whiterock Cr 

Summit Cr 

N.Fk Litlie Badger Cr 

SouthFkTwo-Med 

Woods Cr \ 

WSckRb 

P 

P 

WsckRb 

WsckYCmb 

WsckRb 

WeckRb 

Badger 91/92 

92 

92 

91 

91 

90D1 

85 

84 

See district file 

T13N R9W S33 

T29N R12W S23 

T29N RllW S29 

T29N RllW S30 

T29N R12W S25 

T29N R12W 527134 

T29N R12W S27 

3 

10 

10 

4 

3 

13 

30 

15 

' WsckRb 

WscbtRb 

P 

WsckYckRb 

WsckRb 

P 

P 

P 

Badger Cr 

Badger Cabin Cr 

Red Poacher 

Limestone Cr 

Lonesome Cr 

South Badger Cr 

North Badger 

Lee Cr 

Birch Hungry Man Cr 92 T28N R1 OW S19 10 WSckRb 

T27N R9W S35 

T27N R9W S22 

Dupuyer S.Fk Dupuyer Cr 

N.Fk Dupuyer 

91 

90 

14 

14 

WeCkYct 

WsckRb 

Teton Middle Fk Teton 

Waldron Cr 

S.Fk Waldron 

Green Gulch 

Rierdon Gulch 

N.Fk Waldron Cr 

N.Fk Willow Cr 

E.Fk Willow Cr 

Cow Cr 

92 

92 

92 

92 

92 

90 

90 

90 

90 

T25N FSW S26 

Taken by State 

Taken by State 

Taken by State 

Taken by State 

T25N R9W S17 

T24N R8W S9 

State Collected 

T26N R8W S5 

11 

23 

22 

10 

15 

WsckRb 

P 

WsckRb 

WsckRb 

WsckRb 

P 

P 

P 

P 

N.Fk Deep Cr 

N.Fk Deep Cr 

S.Fk Deep Cr 

Tenderfoot Cr 

Balsinger Cr 

N.Fk Deadman Cr 

Adams Cr 

Daniels Cr 

W.Fk Cottonwood Cr 

Fourmile Cr 

85 

80 

85 

88 

08 

89 

90 

90 

92 

92 

T15N R5E 19,X 

T15N R5E SX) 

T15N R5E S31 

T14N FEE S30 

T14N FEE S20 

T12N R8E S14 

T12N R7E S24 

T12N FVE S11 

T8N R7E 523 

T9N R8E S21 

30 

29 

15 

5 

36 

10 

10 

2 

10 

10 

P 

P 

Hybrid 

WsckRb 

WsckYckRb 

P 

WsckRb 

P 

P' 

Not yet analyzed 

Smith 

Sun River Little Willow Sampled by state Hybrid 

Logging Cr 

Pilgrim Cr 

Jefferson Cr 

Bel! Cr T15N WE S26 

T5N R9E S29 

T15N FEE S3 

T13N R8E S2 

5 

5 

7 

10 

P 

P 

WsckRb 

P 

Judith R South Fk Judith 

Vogo Cr 

Dry Wolf Cr 

84 

88 

90 

TllN RlOE S9 

T13N R1 OE S3 

T14N R9E S13 

30 

5 

4 

f .\ 

WsckYCtxRb 

WsckRb 

P 

Forest Lake Im T6N RlOE S26 

.r 

Musselshell 26 IWsdXYcbrRb 

Note: P- Sampl 

I 

31 
Wlldllfe 

Senslthre Anlmal 

In FY 1992 biologists continued identifying cave locations for future surveys for Townsend’s big-eared 

bats. Townsend’s bigsared bats were found hibernating in Lick Creek Cave in fall 1991. The Forest 

continued to coordinate with the Abandoned Mine 

Reclamation Bureau on the closure,of mines. 

Two nights were spent calling for flammulated owls 

during May 1992 in the Little Snowy Mountains. 

There were no flammulated owls heard. Conditions 

for calling on both nights were excellent, no wind 

and the call could be heard over 112 mile away. 

, 

Biologists from the Montana Natural Heritage Program and Fore Service examined sites on the 

Kings Hill Ranger District to determine if there was 

potential habitat available for the northern bog lemming; several sites in and around the Tenderfoot 

Experimental Forest have sphagnum habiiat which 

may be suitable for the lemming. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Continue testing cutthroat trout for genetic purity in 

streams throughout the Forest. Continue with cursory initial sampling to define distribution of cutthroat trout throughout the Forest. 

C-I 5 Sensitive Plant Program 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Determine distribution of sensitive plants Annually 

on the Forest. Conduct demographic monitoring & taxonomic studies to assess population viabilrty. 

Failure to record any information in a 

two year period. 

METHODS 

Conduct surveys of the habitat to acquire population data on the species that are on the Lewis and 

Clark National Forest’s sensitive species list. 

FINDINGS 

Sensitive plants are those species ‘for which population viability is a concern, as evidenced by a significant current or predicted downward trend - in population or habitat capability.‘ 

When the Forest Plan was developed in 1986 there 

was no sensitive plant list for the Northern Region. 

In 1988 the Regional Forester approved the Region’s first sensitive plant list, and in 1991 the list 

was updated with a revision. The revised list includes 18 sensitive plant species known to occur on 

the Lewis and Clark National Forest and 1 1 additional species that botanists suspect may occur on the 

Forest. 

’ 

The Lewis and Clark National Forest has all or most 

of the known occurrences in Wntana of the following six sensitiie plant species: Dwarf saw-wort, 

Fuzzyspike wildrye, Leadville milkvetch, Stalkedpod crazyweed, Northern rattlesnake-plantain, and 

Short-styled columbine. 

A summary of the number of sensitive plant occurrences known on the Forest and the status, monitoring studies and reports to date are Wed in Table 

C-15a 

32 
Wildltfe 

Table C-15a SENSITIVE PLANTS KNOWN TO OCCUR ON THE LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST 

2 occurrences on LBC (1 on Jefferson), 3 in 

MT, small pops, trend unknown 

none none 

4 occurrences on LBC, 10 in MT, pops appear 

stable, taxonomic questions 

none Status Review 1991 

I 

33 Occurrences on LBC, 34 In MT, may have 

been reduced by past logging 8 wildfire, 

trend unknown 

1 permanent plat Status Review 1991, 

tracked 198889, 2 demographic monitorstudies initiated 1991,2 

more in 1992. 

ing In progress 

Species Name Population Status 8 Trend Monitoring Studies Reports Prepared I 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DNiSiON 

Austin's knotweed 2 occurrences on LBC, 8 in MT, trend ? 

Blunt-leaved pondweed 1 occurrence on LBC based on old collection, 

needs field survey. 5 in MT. 

8 occurrences on LBC, 8 in MT, pops are 

small. trendunknown 

Dwarf saw-wort none none 

Fringed onion 1 occurrence on LBC based on old collection, 

needs field SUN^. 4 in MT. I none 

none 

Funyspike wildrye. 2 Occurrences on LBC (1 on Dl), 3 In MT, 

small pops, trend unknown. 

1 occurrence on Lac, 17 in MT, pop. appears 

stable 

none none 

Giant helleborine none none 

~~ 

Qreemkeeied cotton sedge 1 occurrence on LBC (very small), 16 in MT, 

trend unknown 

none. norto 

Leadville milkvetch 8 occurrences on LBC, 8 in MT. sparse distribution, pops appear stable 

none 

1 Occurrence on LBC (very small), 2nd pop 

possibly extirpated, 4 in MT. 

1 study, tracked since 

1989 

Peculiar moonwort none 

Roundleaved orchis 13 occurrences on LBC, 25 in MT, trend ? 1 dudy initiated 1989 

Small yellow lady's slipper 

stetus Revlew 1988 

3 occurrences on LBC (1 partly vandalized), none none 

34 in MT, trend unknown 

6 occurrences on LBC (all small), 21 in MT, 

trend unknown 

~ ~~~ 

Sparrow's egg lady's slipper 

fenced In 1989 ~ ~~ 

Stalked-pod crazyweed 4 occurrences on LBC, 5 in MT, trend ? 

JEFFERSON DNiSiON 

Funyspike wild rye' 

Missoula phlox 

Northern rattlesnake-plantain 

Pink agoseris 22 occurrences on LBC, 35 In MT, trend ? I none I statusReview1991 

Short-etyied columbine 9 occurrences on LBC, 9 In MT, narrow distribution, trend unknown 

1 demographic and 1 

genetic dudy In progres8 

.. none 

Yellow springbeauty 5 occurrences on LBC, 33 In MT. May be re- none 

moved from sensitive list at next revision. I status revik1- 

I I I 

Funyspike wiidrye Is the only sensitive piant species known to Occur on both the Rocky Mountain Division and Jefferson Division 

the Forest. 

33 
Wildlife 

Projects on the Forest that involve ground disturb- 

. .ace are evaluated for potential effects on sensitive 

plants. Projects which occur in areas that have a low 

probability of sensitfve plant occurrence, as determined by pre-field habitat assessments, may not 

receive field surveys. Field survey accomplishments 

on the Forest are reported in Table C-l5b. 

Table C-15b SENSITIVE PLANT FIELD SURVEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

Research Natural Area 

Miscellaneous 

r 

34 
Range 

RANGE 

D-1 Range Outputs 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 1 Rygl:G I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

,. 

, I I Rangeoutputs I Annualty I +/- 10% of target ~~ 

FINDINGS 

Summary of Forest Plan 10-year average Range 

Management targets and actual accomplishment 

for FY 1987 through FY 1992 is as follows: 

Table D-1 a RANGE ACCOMPLISHMENTS 

M AUM = Thousand Animal Unit Month. 

Permitted grazing use, Thousand Animal Unit 

Month (M AUM), in FY 1992 is within 2% of the Forest 

Plan projection and therefore requires no further 

evaluation. Permitted use is based on the grazing 

permits issued and estimates of recreation pack 

stock use before the grazing season begins. At the 

end of the grazing season the actual grazing use is 

gathered and reported. Actual grazing use in FY 

1992 was 61.3 M AUM. The six-year average actual 

use (1 987 through 1992) is 61 .O M AUM. 

Nonstructural Range Improvements in FY 1992 are 

onty 41 % of the Forest Plan projected output of 1329 

per year for the first decade. The reason for this low 

accomplishment can be attributed to lower funding 

35 

levels and a shift in emphasis from non-structural 

improvement to noxious weed control. However, the 

six year average (1259) is 95% g the Forest Plan 

projection. 

Structural Range Improvements in FY 1992 (37.4) is 

94% of the Forest Plan projection and within the 

10% variability that would require further evaluation. 

However, the six year average (29.2 structures) is 

below the projected Forest Plan output. Again, funding below the projected Forest Plan budggt, did not 

allow the Forest to accomplish the projected outputs. Continued funding at this level will result in 

under accomplishment in structural range improvement. Without these investments in range improve 
Range 

Conditioflrend Studies 

Allotments Monitored 

ment during the first decade of Forest Plan impleI .mentation, the increase in permitted grazing use, 

that is scheduled in the second decade of the 

Forest Plan, will not be possible. 

275 0 28 8 4 0 0 

239 0 12 4 2 0 0 

One allotment management plan (AMP) was completed in FY 1992. In FY 1992, the Forest has again 

under accomplished its projected goal. However, 

the Forest made significant progress toward correcting the problem by completing field range analysis in the Little Belt Mountains area of the Forest. 

See monitoring item D4 for further haluation and 

discussion of the new Forest schedule for range 

allotment planning. 

Noxious weed control by chemical and manual 

methods in N 1992 is 1108 acres, 01 185% Os the 

Forest Plan projection of 600 acres per year. The six 

year average (778 acres) is 130% of the Forest Plan 

projection. This over achievement represents a 

higher commitment to noxious weed control resulting from the noxious weed analysis and Final EIS of 

1987 after the Forest Plan was approved. 

D-2 Range Condition & Trend 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT 

PRESCRIPTION, EFFECTS 

TO BE MEASURED 

Range Condition 

Range Trend 

REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD INmATE 

PERIOD FURTHER EVALUATION 

Annualty Acres of range in fair or Jess condition that have not 

shown any improvement in condition score during 

the monitoring interval (1 0 years). 

Annualty Any acres in downward trend which were previousty 

(at the last reading) stable or in an upward trend. 

Any acres in downward trend which still show a downward trend after another monitoring interval (10 

years). * 

FINDINGS 

There are 275 condition and trend studies on 239 

range allotments on the Forest. None of the 275 

studies established to monitor the condition and 

trend of range allotments were monitored in 1992. 

The last time that any significant condition and trend 

monitoring was conducted on the Forest was In 

1988 when a contract ecologist monitored 28 plots. 

Summary of PI 1987 through FY 1992 range condition and trend studies are as follows: 

Table D-2aRANGE CONDITION AND TREND (Each) 

1 Description I Existing I 1987 I 1988 I 1989 1 1990 I 1991 I 1992 I 1993 I l-994 I 1995 I 1996 1 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The level of range condition and trend monitoring in 

FY 1992 (none) is outside the Forest Plan Standard 

for this activity and funher evaluation is required. 

Monitoring of range condition and trend is needed 

to determine whether vegetation impa&d by livestock grazing is improving or deteriorating and to 

evaluate the effectiveness of range management 

practices. A much higher level of condition and 

36 
Range 

Description 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 

I 

Suitable Range 249.2 249.2 249.3 242.2 220.9 220.9 

trend monitoring is needed to meet the Forest Plan 

objectives and to enable range managers to evalu- 

. .ate their programs. Several years of subsequent 

re-readings of these studies is required to determine trend. 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

The Forest is converting to an ecosystem analysis 

methodology for monitoring, based upon similarity 

to the potential natural community. qis conversion 

will be done over a period of years as new allotment 

management plans are completed. A method of 

comparing the new ecosystem methodology to the 

VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

former condition and trend methodology should be 

developed. The change in monitoring methodology 

should be addressed in the 10-year revision d the 

Forest Plan. 

There are 37 permanent vegetation trend studies on 

25 allotments, established in FY 1991, to monitor 

results of noxious weed treatment. Seven of these 

studies, density transects, were monitored in FY 

1992. It is recommended that noxious weed monitoring be established as a separate Forest Plan 

monitoring item.. 

I 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARlABlUTV (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

supply Annually More than 1% reduction in suitable 

range acres from previous year. Cumulatively, any reduction of 3% or more in 

suitable range acres over a &year period. 

FINDINGS 

Suitable range reported in FY 1992 is 220,900 

acres. The data was derived from the Forest Service 

Range Management Information System (FSRAMIS) Acreage and Grazing Capacity Report for FY 

1992. This report is the result of querying data from 

all of the allotments on the Forest in the FSRAMIS 

data base. 

Summary of FY 1987 through FY 1992 suitable 

range acres reported is as follows: 

- 

D-4 Allotment Management Plan Status .. 

Allotment Management Plan Status $years More than 10% of the allotment plans 

are outdated. On the average, plans ap 

proved more than 15 years agdbefore 

1977) are considered to be outdated. 

37 
Range 

FINDINGS 

All.239 range allotments were considered in the FY 

1992 report, including cattle, sheep, and horse allotments, administrative pastures, special use pastures, and commercial packer grazing areas. A 

summary of the cumber of allotments and allotment 

management plans follows: 

Table D-4a STATUS OF ALLOTMENT MANAGEMENT PLANS 

I Category Number of Allotments Percent of Allotments 1 

Table D-4a STATUS OF ALLOTMENT MANAGEMENT PLANS 

Total allotment management plans 

Plans that will become outdated during this decade (approved 197882) 

Total allotments 239 100 

Total allotment management plans 157 66 

Allotments without pla~ 82 34 

Outdated plans (approved before 1978) 80 34 

Plans that will become outdated during this de- 19 

cade (approved 197882) 

I . 87 I 207 I Total allotments outdated by the end of the de- I cade (1996) ' 

In FY 1992, the Forest accomplished one AMP for 

the Beaver Creek Allotment on the Judith Ranger 

District. 

There are 82 allotments on the Forest without an 

allotment management plan (AMP) and another 80 

allotments that have outdated AMPs, approved before 1978. Within the balance of the first decade of 

the Forest Plan, another 45 AMPs (approved 

1978-1982) will become outdated. A total of 207 

allotments would have outdated plans by the end of 

the decade, if no further allotment planning were 

done. 

This data shows a major departure from the Forest 

Plan standard of 'less than 10 percent of AMPs 

outdated.' To correct this situation within the first 

decade of Forest Plan implementation (1993 

through 1996) would require 52 AMPs per year to be 

within the Forest Plan standard. Projected outputs 

for AMPs in the Forest Plan are only 10 AMPs per 

year. If plans approved more than 15 years ago are 

considered to be outdated (Le., 15 year planning 

schedule), 16 plans per year would be required 

even if there was no backlog of outdated plans. 

Neither the current level nor the projected level of 

planning can meet the Forest Plan standard of less 

than 10 percent of AMPs outdated. 

To resolve this problem, a new allotment management planning process and organization was implemented in FY 1991 to bring grazing management 

and planning into compliance with the Forest Plan. 

Considering budget constraints, a 20 year schedule 

was implemented to complete new allotment management plans on all 239 allotments by the year 

201 0. Because of the time required to complete the 

process from resource inventory to allotment management plan, the first group of 19 plans from the 

revised process will be completed in FY 1994, with 

subsequent groups being completed annually 

thereafter. The new 20 year planning schedule, averaging 12 plans per year, should be addressed in 

the 10-year revision of the Forest Plan. 

Summary of N 1987 through FY 1992 range allotment management plan accomplishment and AMPs 

scheduled for completion (*) are as follows: 

38 
Range 

Table D4b ALLOTMENT MANAGEMENT PLANS (Each) 

1 - lnciudee both new and revidon of existing Albtrnent Management Plans. \ 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

Continue the schedule for range analysis and revision of the Allotment Management Plans with the 

use of the Forest Range Analysis team. 

39 
Tlmber 

Assure prescription not primarily ch&en on 

basis of greatest dollar return or greatest 

timber output 

TIMBE 

5years 

E-1 Silvicultural Prescriptions Meet MA Goals 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, I REPORTING 1 VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Assure silvicultural management prescrip- Annually A departure from management pre 

tions are best suited to management area 

goals with all resources considered 

scription 

METHODS 

One timber sale is reviewed on-the-ground annually 

by an interdisciplinary team. 

FINDINGS 

An interdisciplinary sale review was conducted on 

the Mill-tion and Lion Corral Timber Sales on the 

Musselshell Ranger District in July 1992. The Environmental Assessment for the Mill-Lion Timber Sale 

was completed in May 1988. It was appealed and 

the final EIS was issued in March 1991. Logging 

started during the winter of 1991 -92 and the sale is 

about hatf completed. 

The Environmental Assessment for the Lion Corral 

Timber Sale was completed in 1991 and the sale 

was sold in October 1991. Logging occurred between December 1991 and March 1992 and the sale 

is now complete. 

None of the prescriptions in the Mill-tion or Lion 

Corral Timber Sales are for clearcutting. Most are 

seed tree or shelterwood. A few units in Lion Corral 

were regenerated through the group selection 

method. The review group felt that the prescriptions 

were appropriate to meet Management Area B 

goals, although the arrangement of snags and reserve trees into a group or patch configuration 

would have better met wildlife objectives. Best management practices were met on the project area for 

activities done in conjunction with the timber sale, 

and elk habitat and elk travel linkages were maintained. 

E-2 Prescription Selections 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-I WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 1 RT$:tG 1 INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Test management area outputs against 

those predicted 

METHODS 

Review of a large timber sale sold during the fiscal 

year. 

FINDINGS 

The silvicultural prescriptions for the Moose Park, 

Little Moose, Coyote, Upper Whitetail, and South 

Burley limber Sales called for selection, salvage, 

overstory removal, seedtree, and clearcutting with 

dozer piling of most logging slash and Thechanical 

scarification for natural regeneration. The prescrip 

tion chosen for each stand was based on the type 

and condition of the timber stands recognizing the 

risk of windthrow. Economics and vdume realized 

40 
Plmber 

Moose Park 

Little Moose 

were not the principle reasons for selecting the silvii 

culture method. 

A comparison of predicted bids, volume, and acres 

to the adual for timber sales sold in FY 1992 follows: 

$89.74 $235.00 6.2/615 5.wm 

' $89.74 $226.1 0 4.71470 3.91407 

L 

Table E-2a Predicted vs. Actual Timber Values 

coyote 

Upper Whitetail 

Timber Sale 

~ ~~~ 

$89.74 $134.00 5.0/495 29/330 

$1 01.60 $207.00 3.31330 22/M7 

I Predicted Volume Actual Volume and I and Harvest Acres I Harvest Acres Actual Bid I Predicted Bid I 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIOK, 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Assure openings comply with size limits 

and are periodically evaluated for appropriateness 

South Budey $92.24 $1 59.00 2.01563 1.4/352 I I I I 1 

Annually 

The seed tree and shelterwood methods were chosen to provide benefits to the wildlife and visual 

rescurces as well as providing additional assurance 

of reforestation success. Marking of leave trees resuked in a direct cost to the government and reduction in immediate volume obtained from the stands. 

Some of the .residual trees will be left on site 

indefinitely which will result in a loss of volume. The 

removal of the other trees will result in the costs of 

preparing and administering another sale. 

E-3 Timber Openings 

I Unacceptable results of an ID Team Re- I 

view I 

METHODS 

One timber sale is reviewed on-the-ground annually 

by an interdisciplinary team. 

FINDINGS 

Uniis in the Miil-Lion Timber Sale average 30 acres 

and the units in Lion Corral Timber Sale average 9 

acres. Although five of the seventeen units are larger than 35 acres, none are larger than 40 acres. The 

small units in the Lion Corral Timber Sale are sensitive to the visual and watershed values and ffl the 

tractor ground on each side of the creek. However, 

r 

they and the units in Mill-tion are much smaller than 

the stands created by historic p_rocesses and provide only a very limited start in dealing with forest 

health problems in the drainage. Consideration 

should be given so that future sales in the area will 

be arranged to expand these units to more closely 

resemble the historic patterns of the area 

A review of all timber sales sold during N 1992 

shows that no cutting units exceeded the 40'aCh 

limitation. 

41 
llmber 

E-4 Timber Offered/ASQ for Decade 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Assure timber offered does not differ from Annually 

allowable sale quantity (ASQ) for-llyear 

period 

+/- 20% annually or +/- 10% over a five 

year period \ 

The ASQ is compiled in an annual Regional Report, 

The volume figures are obtained from the Timber 

Cut and Sold Reports. 

FlNDlNGS 

during a ten-year period. It is usually expressed on 

an average annual basis. The ASQ cannot be exceeded on a decadal basis. A summary of the ASQ 

Sold fW FYs 1987-FY 1992 is aS fOllOWS: 

The allowable sale quantity (ASQ) is the amount of 

timber that may be sold from suitable forest lands 

Table E-4a ASQ (Million Board Feet) 

During the first SK years of the Forest Plan, the 

Forest has s~td about 96% of the average annual 

ASQ. With the addition of FY 1992 timber sales that 

were sold in FY 1993, about 97% of the average 

annual ASQ has been sold during the first six years 

of the Plan. This is within the six year variable of 

10%. 

In addition to the ASQ, the Forest monitors its yearly 

timber program. The yearty timber pfogram is an 

agreement between the Forest Supervisor and the 

Regional Forester based on yearly Congressional 

targets and appropriations. The total timber program for the Forest includes all timber products 

such as sawlogs, poles, posts, houselogs, and firewood. 

Credit for meeting the yearly timber program includes the volume sold and the volume offered for 

sale. During FY 1992, the Forest sold or offered for 

sale 24.9 million board feet (MMBF). Of this amount, 

14.1 MMBF was current year sell, 9.5 wak considered carry-over volume (it had been appealed in 

1991), and 1.3 MMBF was offered in FY 1992 but 

actually sold in FY 1993. Credit is not given for vOC 

ume sold from previous fiscal year targets. In FY 

1992, the Forest sold 2.6 MMBF from previous 

years. 

A summary of FY 1987 through FY 1992 timber sold 

or offered is as follows: - .., 

42 
Table E4c TIMBER PROGRAM (Million Board Feet) 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

* FY 1992 target includes planned carry-over volume of 10.5 MMBF. 

Dierencee in total volume figurea are due to rounding. 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

E-5 Restocking 

Assure restocking & in progress within 5 

years 

Annually Unacceptable results of an ID Team Review 

hn ETH QDS 

Stocking surveys are conducted on each Ranger 

District. 

FINDINGS 

Stocking surveys indicate that 96% of the stands 

planted within the past five years and 99% of stands 

where natural regeneration has been initiated within 

the past five years are either certified as being adequately stocked or are on a trajectory to meet adequate stocking within the desired time frame. 

Planted stands that are not meeting the desired 

results have been rescheduled for supplemental 

treatment and will be replanted as soon as planting 

stock is available. 

The survey results indicate that a few of the stands 

planned for natural regeneration are not on trajectory. In most cases this is because first year exams 

show an inadequate number of Seedlings or the site 

condition is questionable for plan!ation success. 

Those stands will be reevaluated at the time of the 

third year exam and a decision made then as to 

whether or not additional treatment is needed. 

In general, reforestation on harvested bnds on the 

Lewis and Clark National Forest has a high ratio . .,of . 

successful seedling establishment. < \, 

43 
Timber 

E-6 Acres Harvested 

Data on acres harvested are excerpted from the 

Timber Stand Management Record System and 

from the Timber Cut and Sold Reports. 

FINDINGS 

The Forest Plan projected that annual harvest would 

average about 1,800 acres of regeneration harvest 

and 29 0 acres of intermediate harvest. So far, average area treated is 1,260 acres annually. Silvicultural methods are 52% clearcut, 27% shekewood, 1% 

selection and 20% intermediate. Volumes per acre 

realized are 11.1 MBF/Acre vs 7.0 MBF/Acre that 

was expected in the Forest Plan. Even with the expected reduction in clearcutting, it is expected that 

the acreage harvested will be somewhat less than 

predicted in the Forest Plan. Harvested acres in 

1992 is 2,890 acres and the harvested volume is 

22.0 MMBF. FY 1992 volume under contract is 30.1 

MMBF. 

Summary of FY 1987 through FY I992 timber vdume under contract, acres, and volume harvested is 

as follows: 

Table E-6a TIMBER UNDER CONTRACT AND VOLUME & ACRES HARVESTED 

i Volume Undar Contract I - I 29.1 I 26.4 

I I I 

Acres Harvested a 

Volume 

3 Data for Volume Under Centrad for 1987 through 1992 has 

2 Data for Acres Harvested for 1987 and 1988 have been adju [I 

~- 

21.9 I 22.7 I 26.8 

been adjusted to include e4 

ted based on updated Timbel 

n 

rl 

1992 1993 1994 1998 

30.1 

2,890 

22.0 

nates for per acre materiel (PAM). 

Stand Management Record System outp 

E-7 Thinning & Silvicultural Accomplishments 

ther silvicultural treatments as projected in 

METHODS 

~ 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

+/- 10% deviation over a five year period, 

1 

r' 

Data for this monitoring item is obtained from the Regional Report from the limber Stand Management 

Record System. 

44 
FINDINGS 

The following table illustrates the accomplishment 

of timber stand improvement (TSI) and other sihicultural treatments: 

Table E-7a TIMBER STAND IMPROVEMENT 

Most reforestation on the Forest is accomplished by 

natural regeneration. Assumptions in the Forest 

Plan were that about 1420 acres would-be regenerated naturalty and 324 acres annually would be 

planted. The experienced average for the past six 

years has been 877 acres of natural and 102 acres 

of planting. The percentage reduction of natural re 

generation acres is about in proportion to the reduction in expected harvest levels. The reduction in 

planted acres is greater than the harvest reduction 

and is a reflection of the high natural regeneration 

success rates usually encountered on the Forest. 

Total reforested acres should match the predicted 

acres as the backlog Os sales is offered and harvested. Planted acreage will probably increase slightly 

above the recently experienced hels due to regeneration problems where only young ponderosa pine 

were left and to areas of Douglas-fir where western 

spruce budworm is currently impacting seed pre 

duction. 

Thinning accomplishment has substantially exceeded Forest Plan outputs. The Cross Creek bum 

(1970) and many of the young stands created by 

harvest in the late 1960s and earty 1970s are showing evidence of reduced growth and thus are being 

thinned. Evidence from unthinned fire 6riginated 

stands indicates that they do become suppressed 

and will require an extended period of time to prc+ 

duce merchantable products. It is anticipated that 

some harvest initiated stands will also become sup 

45 
Tlmber 

pressed. Thinning - of these stands will incur addi- Fuel treatments with brush disposal funds are tied 

-tional expense (proportional to the acreage previ- to the acreage in the Past two 

years. Although Chere will be large fluctuations in 

OUsb planned)* but produce merchantable individual yeam, averane acreaQes should be 

products and stand conditions that better meet 0ther resource objectives in a shorter period of time. 

achieved o& the five ye& period (Refer to ps Fuel 

Treatment Ouiputs). 

1 E-8 Even-Age Harvest < 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I PERIOD I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION I I 

I Unacceptable results of an ID Team re- I is compatible with resource values I view 

Ensure harvest by even-age management Annually 

METHODS -- . 

One timber sale is reviewed each year by an interdisciplinary team. and patches can better achieve resource values 

and help maintain biodiversity. 

Even-aged silvicultural systems will provide greater 

forage production than uneven-aged systems and 

will provide more volume per acre and at less cost. 

The standards for wildlife cover and water quai 

are still being met in the area The gentle terrain and 

Pa harvest Patterns Permit OWnings to stili meet 

the visual management objectives of modification. 

FINDINGS 

The Interdisciplinary Review Team on the post-sale 

review agrees that even-aged silvicultural systems 

were appropriate to meet Forest Plan Management 

Area B objectives and the needs of these particular 

sites. They also agreed that in a number of cases, 

retention of reserve trees, individually and in groups 

E-9 Firewood Removal 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Firewood Removal Use increase exceeds 10% 

- 

METHODS FINDINGS 

Data is compiled annually from the Timber Sale Cut 

and Sold Reports. 

\ 

In FY 1992, 1.6 million board feet of personal use 

firewood was removed from the Forest. Summary of 

FY 1987 through FY 1992 commercial and personal 

use firewood removal is as follows: , 

46 
Table E-Sa COMMERCIAL & PERSONAL USE FIREWOOD REMOVAL 

Personal Use Firewood Sold (Cords) 

____~ ~~ 

REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

~~ 

There has been a leveling-off in the demand for be kept open for two years after sale completion to 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

.. 

firewood from the Forest. 6s expected that the use 

will probably continue a! or near the current amount. 

Dozer piles in the Lion Corral area will not be burned 

for one year after piling, and roads on Mill-Lion will 

provide for removal -of firewood. ~~llii~

made through the timber 

roads at the end of that time. 

to 'lose the 

Evaluate awaiiability of lands classified as ' 5 years 

suitable/unsuitable 

E40 Suitable/Monsuitable Lands 

+/- 5% change in acreage 

METHODS 

The evaluation of land suitability for timber harvest 

(suitable forest land) is ongoing through project 

analyses and timber stand examinations. Data is 

being entered into the limber Stand Management 

Record System FSMRS) data base to provide information for future Forest Plan revisions. 

FINDINGS 

Project analysis has resutted in a change in suitable 

forest acres (those available for scheduled timber 

- 

harvest) from 282,307 to 274,473 acres, about a 3% 

reduction. These changes were made through Forest Plan amendments. 

The timber stand examination process on suitable 

forest land is about 80% complete. With the current 

funding level, it is anticipated thst it will be finished 

by FY 1995. The updated timber inventory information this will provide and current public needs and 

desires will be used to re-evaluate the status of 

tentatively suitable timber lands. 

i ., 

47 
llmber 

E-1 1 Projected Yields 

-r 

METHODS \ 

The Forest established one new permanent growth 

plot and remeasured seven existing plots during FY 

1992. 

FlNDiNGS 

manent growth plots. Each growth plat is to be remeasured on a 5-year interval to monitor growth 

and yield for treatments and/or conditions that exist 

on the forest. Summary of growth plat establishment and remeasurement is as follows: 

Efforts during the planning period (1 0-1 5 years) will 

continue the installation and remeasurement of perTable E-1 1 a GROWIH PLOTS (Number) 

At this time there is insufficient data available to run 

any type of comparison between the growth plot 

data and the projected yields of the Forest Plan. 

When these growth plots were established, they 

were to be installed in stands that were scheduled 

for a timber activii within the next five years (other 

than a regeneration harvest - Le. precommercial of 

commercial thinning). Therefore, growth plots that 

have had their planned timber activity acmm 

plished and remeasurement completed have data 

only from one remeasurement. 

Evaluation will be done in FY 1993. 

F 

48 
WATER 

The Forest manages watersheds and soil resources 

to maintain and/or improve water quality to meet 

State water quality standards. The Forest’s goal is 

to manage both sediment and water yield to allow 

less than 1 % over current kvels as apsult of Forest 

management activities. < 

The goals set forth by the Lewis and Clark National 

Forest Plan for soil and water are accomplished 

through several avenues. Watershed analysis and 

direction is included during the planning and implementation of management activities. Soil and water 

conservation practices are prescribed as necessary 

to protect soil productki and control non-point 

source water pollution. Best Management Practices 

(BMPs) are monitored to assure their application 

and effectiveness during and after project implementation. Restoration efforts work towards eliminating a backlog of soil and water restoration 

needs. Water quality sampling is used to monitor 

stream quality for comparison to State water quality 

standards as well as to assess the effectiveness of 

BMPs on Forest management activities. 

During W 1992, soil inventory collection and analysis was completed on 46,000 acres of National Forest lands primarily in the North Little Belt Mountains. 

This soil work was done as part of the Range Task 

Force analysis for the grazing allotment management plan revisions. Soils data collection and analysis will assist the Forest in making decisions related 

to vegetation production and soil productivity. 

Also in 1992, stream channel condition assessments were conducted on approximately 53 miles of 

streams in the Castle Mountajns in order to determine their present condition and sensitivity to grazing. The assessment included channel typing according to channel dimensions, gradient, sinuosity, 

substrate and entrenchment of flood flows, and was 

conducted in conjunction with other range invent6 

ries for allotment management planning in the Castle Mountains. Survey resutts showed that 47% of 

the total stream miles surveyed classified as stream 

types which are highly sensitive to grazing impacts; 

29% were moderately sensitive; and 24% were relatively insensitiie to grazing impacts. The information 

will be used to develop strategies for allotment management planning. 

Volunteer programs provided an opportunfty for 

both public involvement and education in soil and 

water resources. Two volunteers conducted surveys of riparian exclosures to assess vegetative recovery in areas in which cattle grazing has been 

excluded. Continued surveys of these plots will help 

deternine timeframes for streambank rehabilitation 

and revegetation. 

F-I Adequacy & Cumulative Effects of BMPs 

I VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER NALUATION I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I PERIOD 

Sample I ity or water useabili I Adequacy and Cumulative Annually - 100% Projected deterioration of soil productiv- I Project BMPs 

METHODS 

All proposed projects which have potential for impact on soil or water quality are monitored through 

This review ensures that adequate BMPs have been 

prescribed to maintain and protect existing soil productivity and water quality conditions. In the case of 

significant vegetation removal, a cumulative effects 

analysis is also evaluated to predii increases in 

water and sediment yield as a result 05 the prqect. 

review of the project environmental documentation. rr 

Table F-1 a delineates the proposed Projects which 

required ~~iew for adequate BMPs ad a 

cumulative effects analysis during FY 1992 

49 
Water & Soli 

Table F-la FY92 PROJECT UST REQUIRING REVIEW OF BMPs 

Project We Review Completed 

Rocky Mtn District 

Mwselsheli District 

1. Little Snowiea Fuel Treatment 

In each project reviewed, adequate BMPs were prescribed to meet water quality goals and State water 

quality standards. A cumulative effects analysis was 

conducted on two of the large timber sale Projects. 

This analysis indicated, in each case, that reasonable land, soil, and water conservation practices, as 

required by the State, would Prevent detNbration af 

the soil and water. 

These monitoring 

a potentid for impact on soil OT water quality are 

being succe&ully reviewed assuring adequate 

protection of soil productivity and water useabili. 

indicate that projects 

F-2 Revegetation 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Revegetation of temporarily disturbed ar- Annually - 75% 

eas 81 roads within fwe years sample 2 years view 

after termination 

Unacceptable results of an ID Team Rei 

METHODS FINDINGS - 

Table F-2a delineates the projects on each district 

which were reviewed during FY 1992 of require a 

future review for revegetation efforts. A majority 

the% reviews were made bv &,&id"& from the 

Revegetation efforts on temporarily disturbed areas 

and roads are monitored through Interdisciplinary 

Team reviews. These reviews are to be carried out 

on 75% of the revegetation projects for the Purpose 

of evaluating revegetation Success and the need for 

additional revegetation efforts. The reviews occur 

within two years after project termination. 

Interdisciplinary Team who --ducted the NEPA 

analysis for the project, or by the limber Sale Administrator responsible for implementation I, the 

project 

50 
Table F-2a FY92 PROJECT UST FOR REVEGIXATION 

Project Titte 

Rocky RMn DIstrlcl 

1. Elk Ck Gravel PR 

2. 1 %Mile T.S. 

3. N.F. Ford Rehab 

4. Cyanide Satgage 

5. Old Beawer Ck Roed 

8. Red Me Rd Cloc. 

7. Gresn Gulch TS 

Judith District 

1. Iron Claims Salv 

2. Harrison Ck Fire Rehab 

3. High Springs Sm TS 

4. Tuckey Sakage TS 

5. Mixes Baldy T3 

8. Placer Snow TS 

7. Bear ParkTS 

3. Smith Fiat TS 

9. AMPX Drill 3?ss 

10. Sou!! Fork TS 

Musselshell District 

t. Kents Gulch TS 

2. Galloway Blowdown TS 

3. Neil Creek TS 

4. Crazies Sec.12 Road 

5. Spring Ck Rock Pit 

6. LPark Roed Clos. 

7. High Park Road Clos. 

8. UcdCorral TS 

Kings Hill Dlstrlct 

1. Geis CK Core Drill 

2. Adams Ck Core Drill 

3. Nswlan Ck Core Drill 

4. Kinnoy CkTS 

5. Central Park TS 

6. Junction Sab TS 

7. Link Park TS 

8. Crossroads TS 

9. ConalTS 

10. Holzheimer SU Rd 

11. Poweriine TS 

12. Tree Cache TS 

13. Dlvide Road 

14. Adams Ck Drilling 

15. Black Butte Drilling 

16. Moose Ck Rd Oblk 

17. Allen Park PBP Sale 

18. Plegan PBP sale 

Year Completed 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '95 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

\ 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '91 and 

'92 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

1991 

Seeded '89 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '86 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '90 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '91 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '92 

Seeded '92 

Review 

- Date 

1992 

1993 

1993 

1Q92 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1992 

1992 

1992 

1993 

1995 

1993 

1995 

1994 

1993 

1994 

1992 

1993 

1993 

1994 

1992 

1992 

1992 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1992 

1993 

1992 

1992 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1993 

1994 

1994 

1994 

1994 

1994 

Commenta 

Qr-8 well mtabllshed 

Spring '92 review revealed good seed gennlnotron. AddW 

drainage and debris needed on closed rod. 

Spring '92 review revealed marginal oeed germkratlon. Kelly 

humps were effective for drainage. 

Grasses on temp road and landings wem well established 

Road effedively closed. Seeding succeee needs Fy83 review. 

Road effectively closed. Seeding SUCOBIB neede M93 review. 

Needs final review. 

Reviewed 611 0/92-revegetated 

Reviewed 8/31/92grasses established on cat i&n 

Reviewed spring =-grass seed well edablkhd 

Reviewed 6/92-&ginal seed take. Needs spot king 

Needs final review in 1995 

Schedule review fall 1993 

Water bars need maintenance; wlll require ding/reveg 

after 93 sale completion. 

Seeded by contractor-needs review 

Needs final review 

Vegetation well established 

Recond segment done-New const segment to be UBBd in 

93 to complete dash burning. 

Vegetation well established 

Vegetation well wtablished. Gully .rodon halted but not 

succesefully seeded; will reseed in 93 

Seeding germination poor. Marginally effective waterbaru. 

Addtnl debris needed on slope to hold roil in place; work to 

be done in 93. 

Review in 93 for auccess. 

Vegetation well established 

As of 1992, no evidence of seeding success. 

If sseded. no evidence of success. 

If ded, no evidence of succee8. 

51 
Water 81 Sol1 

OBrien Ck 

O'Brien Ck 

OBrien Ck 

OBrien Ck 

OBrien Ck 

Table F-2a FY92 PROJECT LIST FOR RNEGETATlON (contlnued) 

Completed in FY9l 1993 

Sold In 92 noactMtyin'92 

Sold in 92 noactivityin'92 rr.i 

Sold in '92 

Sold in '92 no 6dVii in '92 

no activity In '82 

Project Title Commenta 

19. DAV S.U. WaterWne 

20. Kennecot! trenching 

21. Old Corral TS 

22. Daniel$ Creek TS 

9/92 1994 Trench to be backfilled and seeded; neede revlew 

1992 1994 Trench- in old gravel pit, backfilled & ded 

1990 1992 

Not ached. 

I seeded, no evidence d seeding UI~COII, aWIough no 

erosion problems evident 

\ 

At least 75% of the revegetation projects scheduled 

for review in 1992 were evaluated. Of the projects 

reviewed, revegetation efforts were for the most part 

successful and complete. In a few cases, seeding 

germination was either poor or not successful. 

These areas will be reviewed again for revegetation 

success. 

F3 Water Quality in Municipal Watersheds 

M ETH ODs 

Activities which take place in municipal watersheds 

are monitored through water quality predictions, administrative reviews, and water qualify sampling. 

The purpose of these monitoring efforts is to assure 

that reasonable land, soil, and water conservation 

practices were prescribed, the Best Management 

Practices (BMPs) were implemented and effective, 

and that no water quality impacts were incurred as 

a resut of these activities. 

FINDINGS 

O'Brien Creek and Willow Creek are tw two municipal drainages within the Forest. O'Brien Creek sup 

plies drinking water to the town of Neihart. Portions 

of several small timber sales were sold within the 

boundaries of the O'Brien Creek watershed. These 

are located high on the slopes and are not anticipated to have detrimental impads to municipal water 

resources, however, effects will be monitored. No 

harvest activity took place in any of these sale areas 

during 1992. 

Because of concern with regard to activities within 

the O'Brien Creek watershed, a water qualii monitoring station was established in OBrien Creek 

above the municipal water reservoir in the spring of 

1992. Water quality data, including sediment and 

bedload sampling, water temperature and conductiv'i, and discharge were collected. 

Table F-3a WATER QUAUT/ IN MUNICIPAL WATERSHEDS 

Project Ti I Project Date I Municipal I Watershed Scheduled Review 

1. Powerline TS 

2. Pick& TS 

3. Lone Tree TS 

4. Wolverine TS 

5. Graveyard TS 

52 
Water & Sol1 

F-4 Riparlan Areas, losd PBalns, and Wetlands 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Activities in riparian areas, flood plains, and Annually - 50% of 

wetlands % all projects view 

Unacceptable results of an ID Team re- 

, 

METHODS FINDING 

Table Flia delineates projects or activities implemented in riparian areas, flood plains, and/or wetlands. Reviews & these were conducted 

Activities in riparian areas, flood plains, and wetlands are monitored through administrative reviews. 

The PurPs@ of these reviews is to verity that the 

contract ar,d Best Management Practices are imple 

mented as prescribed, and that BMPs are effective. 

by ID Team members who had prepared the WEPA 

analysis, or by the Contracting Officer Representative responsible for the project's implementation. 

Table F4a FY92 ACTIVITIES IN RIPARIAN AREAS, FLOOD PLAINS, AND W€RANDS 

Project TWe 1 :$d

Rocky Mtn DlstrlcP 

Cyanide Salvage TS 

I 

I Elk Ck Road Re 

const I 

Elk Ck Gravel Pit 

Beartree Kickoff TS 

13 Mile TS Road 

JudRh Mstrld 

Bear Park TS 

South Burley sold 

6/92 

Harrison Ck. Sal- sold 32 

vage 

Date 

Completed 

Scheduled 

Rewiew 

Project Status Monitoring Commenta 

1989 

1990 

1992 

1992 

Compiated Road drainage Is moderately effective. Better road drainage k 

needed prior to entering riparian zones. 

Soil and water resources were ~ectlvely protected with overthe-snow operation. The temporary road was effectively cloeed, 

brought back to contour and dabilized. 

Completed 

I Roadway was appropriately and effectively drained. I' 1990 I 1992 I Completed 

1990 I 1992 1 Completed Qravel pit was successfully stabilized. drained, and revegetat1990 1992 Will review in '93 to 

determine whether 

area of burned slash 

piles requires 

mulching. 

One unit was clearcut to stream edge and skidding and/or 

tracked equipment was operated within 5 feet of streambank. 

The BMP of malntaining a stream protection zone wan not im 

plemented. Soils were stabilized on the remainder of the una 

with the exception of burnt slash piles. 

1991 1993 Needs final review See comments under F-2 for 1892 review. 

.. 

1995 Harvest 8 erosion 

control to be corn 

pleted by FY95 

Road drainage moderately effective; projed will require weding upon completion. 

d 

roads 1993 Possible harvest Schedule BMP review for '93 

done 92 1993 

1992 1993 Harvest completed Needs post sale work at Collins Crk to obliterate tempomy 

road. 

53 
Water & Sol1 

Effects of other activities on watershed con- Annually - 20% of 

all projects ditions I 

Table F-4a FY92 ACTIVITIES IN RIPARIAN AREAS, FLOOD PLAINS, AND WETLANDS (continued) 

I Unacceptable management practices 

or land productivity 

Date Schedpleted Review 

Project Title 1 zL I Corn- I uled 1 Project Statue 

Crazies Sec. 12 1990 1991 Project completed 

Road vjewed 

1992 

Kings Hill Dislrid 

Central Park TS Seeded'9 1993 Needs final review 

I MooseMtn. 1992 1994 

t 

~ Tillinghast TS 1992 Noactivityin92 

Reviewed in '92 I I '*' I '= I Project completed Deadman fish struc- 1 ture 

Monitoring Comments 

Reconst. segment near stream invoked minor grading, minimal 

disturbance; rehab complete 

see comments under F2 

Culverts and water dips installed in accordance with contract; 

review in 93 for effectiveness 

Structures and stream bank stable ' 

Road drainage near riparian areas in one casa 

could be improved, but generally, of the projects 

reviewed, the results indicate that activities within 

riparian zones are being mitigated successfully to 

prevent impacts to soil and water resources. Forest 

Plan guidelines of monitoring at least 50% of their 

projects in riparian zones are also being met. 

F-5 Other Effects 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I RTf2:G 1 INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

METHODS 

Projects which are not located in a riparian zone or 

located within a municipal watershed, but still have 

potential to impact soil and water resources, are 

monitored through administrative reviews. The purpose of these reviews is to ver'i that the contract 

and BMPs are being implemented as specified, and 

that BMPs are effective. 

FINDINGS 

Table F-5a delineates projects which required an 

administrative review. .\ 

54 
Water & Sol1 

Project Title Proj. Beg 

8 End Date 

Review Comments 

Date 

Rocky Mln Dlstrlcl 

Beartree Challenge 1991/1992 1994 Review in 1992 revealed that harvest method was effective In 

minimizing soil disturbance and erosion potential. 

Judith Dlotrlci 

Placer Snow TS 

. 

* 

1992 1993 Some water bars need replacing; could use more dash on road; 

sale should be reviewed in 1993 for overall BMP sffecth/eneec. ~ ~ - 

South Fork TS end 1992 

Musselshell District 

1W3 To be reviewed for reveg requirements. 

Results from three of the projects reviewed indicated that the contract and BMPs were implemented 

as planned, and potential impacts to soil and water 

Odiver Timber Sale was included in a reiiew of BMP 

effectiveness conducted by the Montana Department of State Lands Forestry Division. The review 

team concluded that in general BMPs were effective. Several 'high risk' BMPs, including adequate 

road surface drainage, stabilizing erodible soils, 

functionEd erosion Control features, skid trail design 

to control runoff, and adequate streamside rfianagement zone protection were evaluated for effectiveness Of practices to protect watersheds. For all 

areas reviewed, the study team determined that, 

overall, application of high risk BMPs resulted in a 

77% effectiveness rating for protection d water reSourcesresources were being successfulb mitigated. The SeverEd harvest Units in the Mill-Lion Timber sale On 

the Musselshell Ranger District were reviewed by an 

interdisciplinary team for contract compliance and 

BMP effectiveness. Recommendations were made 

for design changes in a newb constructed road to provide for better drainage. 

These monitoringesuks indicate that project$ & 

being carried with acceptable management 

practices. In some instances, additional meaSureS 

have been recommended to address @&e&& 

concerns. Table F-5a also lists projects which have 

not yet been implemented, but wiU require monitoring when they do become active. 

I qclone~~ 

L Park Mineral Exploration 

Mill-tion TS 

Odker TS 

55 

I end 1991 completed Firewood gathering ended '92; rehab complete 

199011991 1994 Drill sites need additional rehab work 

1991/ 1993 Winter harvesting; ongoing review by sale administrator. Some 

units seeded in 1992 are completed. IDT review of several harvest 

units; recommendationa made for changes to portion of road for 

drainage structures. 

Completed: StateIFS BMP audit review dotermlned project to be 

completed and BMP'e effective 

1w1991 1992 

Kings Hill District 

Sliderock TS No activity in 1992 

Lonesome TS 

Coyote TS 

Logging Creek Fire 

I1991 unscheduled No activity in 1992 

In progress unscheduled 

1992 Water bars holding sediment; vegetation reestablishing; continua 

to monkor effectiveness 
Water It Soil 

F-6 Water & Soil Backlog 

VAR!ABIUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

Elimination of soil and water restoration Five Years 

backlog by 1995 

Less than 50% by 1990; less than 100% 

L 

< 

METHODS 

Progress in reducing the soil and water restoration 

backlog is monitored by tracking the number of 

acres restored by each Ranger District at the end of 

each fiscal year. 

FY 1992. Total acreage restored totals 94 acres for 

FY 1992 and 367 acres over the past 7 years. This 

accomplishment represents 98% of the total 373 

acres requiring restoration identified in the Forest 

Plan. This level of accomplishment indicates that 

the Forest Plan goal of 100% accomplishment by 

1995 should be met. 

FINDINGS 

Table F-6a delineates the restoration projects that 

were accomplished on each Ranger District during 

Table F-6a RESTORATION PROJECTS ACCOMPUSHED IN FY92 

Project Tie # of Acres Comments 

I I Rocky Mtn District 

Castle Reef road 

Red Lake trespass road 

4 Acres 

7 Acres 

Drainage dips installed; road surface seeded and fertiked. 

Drainage dips installed; road surface seeded and fertilbed; physical barrier 

installed. 

Palookaville 11 Acres Abandoned Forest Service road; no vehicle traffic, but deep erosion guliiea 

required drainage structures, seeding, and fertilizing. Physical bm'er to 

access installed. 

Rutting of FS road and adjolning non-system roads. Dozer used to install 

water drainage structures. Road surface seeded and fertilized. Physical 

barriers to travel on non-system roads installed. 

Pike CreekJTwo Medicine 7 Acres 

Judith District 

Turkey Fire Rehabilitation 

Musselshell Dlstrlct 

Castle Mtns. 4x4 tracks 

28 acres Seeded areas affected by Turkey Fire - 

8Acres Water bars established on key erosion sites, brush scattered along segments; seeding 

Klngc Hlll Dlstrlct 

fflOOS8 Creek Road Obliteration 29 Acres Obliterated 20 miles of road by ripping, seeding, draining and physical 

closures. 

d 

Local Boy Scouts provided labor and enthusiasm 

for an erosion control project in the Thain Creek 

campground in the Highwood Mountains on the 

Judith District. A badly eroding hillside was seeded, 

fertilized, and covered with a straw mulch blanket. 

An unmaintained trail leading through the area was 

also water-barred, stabilized, seeded, and fertilized. 

Periodic site visits throughout the summer showed 

56 
Water 81 Soil 

REPQRTING 

PERIOD SCRIPTION, EFFECTS TO BE 

MEASURED 

that grass was starting to take hold and sedimenta- water restoration accomplishments &om before 

tion from the trail had been diverted through vegeta- 

'tive screening off the site. A summary of the soil and 

1987 through FY 1992 follows: 

Table F-6b SOIL & WATER RESTORATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS (acres) 

VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD INITIATE 

FURTHER EVALUATION 

F-7 Water & Stream Quality 

Water and stream quality as affecting 

fish habitat and other uses: validation 

of estimations of sediment 

Annually Notmeeting State or Federal water quality standards or significant (90% confidence) deterioration, by best available indexes 

METHODS assurance of effectiveness of BMPs, as well as valii 

dation of estimates on sediment yield. 

Water quality as affecting fish habitat and cther uses is to be monitored through water quality sampling of representative streams and intra-gravel 

sediment This monitoring allows comparison of 

stream Water quality to that required by State standards, identification of deterioration in water quality, 

FINDINGS 

Water Qualhy Sampllng 

Table F-7a lists the stations that wBre monitored 

during ~y 1995 the perid of record, and the V& 

ables sampled. 

Table F-7a WATER QUALITY MONITORING FY 1992 

Station I Yra of I ,:zd I Record I Variables Sampled Comments 

South Fork 1987 6 Sed, Flow, Sp.Cond, Temp 

Two Medicine - 

N. Fk. Sun River 1989 4 sed 

Upper Spring Creek 1991 2 Sed, Flow, Sp.Cond, Temp 

South Fork Judith Rhrer 1952 1 Sed, Flow, Sp.Cond, Temp 

Sheep Creek 1992 1 Sed, Flow 

Coop W/ Greenfield I&. Dist, Bureau of 

Reclamation, Uses 

., 

1 Flow measurements taken by S.C.S 1 

OBrien Creek 1992 1 Sed, Flow, Sp. Cond, Temp Within municipal watershed fai town of 

Neihart 

Whitetail Creek 1991 2 Sed, Flow, Sp.Con& Temp 

57 
Water & Sol1 

me Comb Creek station, established in 1986 to 

.acquire baseline water quality data, was dropped 

this year because of the need to install the sampling 

equipment in areas in which activities have been 

scheduled. Five years of sampling at this station has 

established good baseline data of a relatively undisturbed watershed from which to compare impacts 

to similar geologic and stream channel conditions. 

A hand-sampling station in Mill ‘Creek was also 

dropped in 1992, due in part to limited resources 

and the need to initiate sampling in drainages in 

which activities were planned. 

-. 

The South Fork of the Two Medicine Creek, North 

Fork of the Sun River, South Fork Judith River, 

. O’Brien Creek and Whitetail Creek stations were 

sampled with automatic ISCO suspended sediment 

samplers and flow^ level recorders. These stations 

were also sampled manually through width and 

depth integrated samples with a DH48 and discharge measurements with a vertical axis current 

meter. Hand-sampling was conducted at the Upper 

Spring Creek using a DH-48 and vertical axis current meters to gather depth and width integrated 

sediment and flow level values. 

The South Fork of the Two Medicine Creek station 

was established to acquire preprojact data in antkipation of FinalChevron Oil Exploration activitii 

Data collected at this station may also reflect irnpacts to soil and water resources from past land 

management activities within this watershed. Table 

F-7b presents the mean suspended sediment values for May of 1987 and 1988 and June of 1989, 

1990, and 1992 It is during these months that the 

peak flow occurred and the highest sediment concentrations are expected. The sampling devices on 

the South Fork of the Two Medicine Creek were 

washed out by flood level flows resulting from a rain 

on snow event in the spring of 1991 and was reestablished in 1992. Battery and equipment problems at this station have resuited in limited sampling 

data for 1992. Due to equipment loss in 1991, nat 

enough data was collected at this station during the 

month of peak flow to make a valid comparison to 

the data from previous years. 

Table F-7b South Fork Two Mediclne - Mean Suspended 

Sediment Values for the Month of Peak Flow over the 

Period of Record 

The mean suspended sediment concentrations for 

the month of peak flow decreased between 1987 

and 1990 with the exception of 1989. These values 

ranged from 38 mg/l in 1990 to 92 mg/l in 1989. 

Suspended sediment values in 1992 were within the 

range of those collected for previous years and reflect the wide variation of sediment values recorded 

at this site. 

While not technically valid for comparison to mean 

values from previous years, the small amount of 

data collected during May, 1991, the month of peak 

flow, were compiled and computed to mean values. 

These values, computed from the one week of automatic sampling and three manual samples, were 14 

mg/I for suspended sediment and 234 cfs for discharge. It appears from the few samples collected 

that no deterioration in water quality is occurring. 

The North Fork of the Sun River station was estab 

lished in FY 1989 to evaluate potential impacts to 

water quality resulting from the Gates Park fire. Operation of this station is a cooperative effort between 

the United States Forest SeGice (USFS), United 

States Geological Survey (USGS), Greenfield Irrigation District, and Bureau of Reclamation. The USFS 

and Bureau of Reclamation financially support the 

USGS to maintain the gauging station. The Greenfield Irrigation District services the automatic suspended sediment sampler. The USFS is ultimately 

responsible for analyzing the resulting data 

Table F-7c represents the mean suspended sediment values for June of 1 989,1990,1991, and 1992 

at the North Fork of the Sun River statim. June is 

when the peak flows occur and the highest sediment concentrations are expected. 

. 

58 
Water & Soil 

Table F-7c North Fork Sun Rlver - Mean Suspended 

Sediment Values for the Month of Peak Flow over 

the Period of Record 

I 

~ ~~ ~ 

Station 11989 11990 I 1991 1’19921 

Suspended Sediment mgA 

. As shown in Table F-7c, mean suspended sediment 

values ranged from 17 mg/l in 1992 to 260 mg/l in 

1991. RSukS from the North Fork Of the Sun River 

show a dramatic decrease in sedimentation from 

1991 levels. It is possible that effects from the Gates 

Park fire are decreasing. This station will be maintained under a cooperative agreement between the 

Bureau d Reclamation, Greenfield Irrigation District, 

Forest Service, and US-. Stream and sediment 

discharge 

baseline information. 

can be compared to 

sediment sampler was ~~~ish 

the spring of 1992 in the O’Brien Creek drainage 

above the municipal water reservoir in order to assess whether small timber harvest activiities In the 

upper watershed impacts the municipal water 

source. No harvest activity took in 1992 providing an opportunity for collecting initial baseline 

data 

+ 

Table F-7d Q’Brien Creek - Mean 

Suspended Sediment Values for the 

Month of Peak Flow over the Period of 

Record 

I Station I 1992 

I SuspendedSedimentmgll I 24 I 

Samples were collected during the 1992 season on 

Sheep Creek at the SCS gauging station for the 

purpose of collecting pre-project data for scheduled 

timber sales in the area This station has an automatic flow recorder operated by the SCS. Forest 

Service sampling has been manual suspended sediment sampling using a DH4. 

Table F-7e Sheep Creek @ Guage - 

Mean Suspended Sediment Values for 

the Month of Peak Flow over the Period 

of Record 

Ir Station I 1992 I 

I SuspendedSedimentmg/l I 12 I 

Additional data was collected at the Upper Spring 

Creek, Mill Creek, and Whitetail Creek stations for 

assessing impacts of scheduled timber harvesting 

in the area An automatic suspended sediment 

sampler was installed at Whitetail Creek. Manual 

sampling of width and depth integrated suspended 

sediment samples with a DH48 and vertical axis 

current meters continues at the Upper Spring Creek 

and Mill Creek sites. It does not appear that water 

and stream quality is being adwersely affected by 

management activities. Sediment values will be 

used to validate estimates of sediment a0d predio 

tive modeling for impacts by such activities as timber harvest, mining, and grazing. 

59 
Water & Soil 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

Table F-7f Whketall Creek - Mean 

Suspended Sediment Values for the 

Month of Peak Flow over the Period of 

Record 

I I Station 1992 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Suspended Sediment mg/l 8 I I ., 

\Table F-7g Upper Spring Creek - 

Mean Suspended Sediment Values for 

the Month of Peak Flow over the Period 

of Record 

I !%tion I 1992 

I SuspendedSedimentrngA I 5 I 

Results from the Upper Spring Creek, O'Brien 

Creek, South Fork Judith, Sheep Creek, and Whitetail Creek stations are too limited at this stage to 

draw any conclusions. 

Intra-gravel Sediment Sampling 

In N 1992 fisheries monitoring was limited to 

spawning substrate evaluations on three streams in 

the Castle Mountains on the Kings Hill Ranger District. Spawning substrates on Grasshopper and 

West Fork Cottonwood were found to contain relatively high levels of fine sediments, averaging 42% 

and 3596, respectively. Sediment levels in Fourmile 

Creek were much lower, at 27%, and gravels were 

of high quality. 

F-8 Stream Cover & Pools 

I Significant (90% confidence) decline in 

condition 

METHODS 

Inventory of the condition of riparian areas and 

streams is presently conducted using the COWFISH model and shrub condition. Forty nine miles of 

fsh habitat in the Castle Mountains were evaluated 

in N 1991 by these methods. Approximately 53 

miles of streams in the Castle Mountains were inventoried during the 1992 field season to assess 

stream channel conditions. Channel typing was carried out using the Rosgen Channel Classification 

System (Rosgen, 1985). Using topographic maps, 

aerial photos, and field observations, stream systems were broken down into reaches of similar characteristics. Quantitative measurements for stream 

typing were collected within selected representative 

subreaches. In addition, grazed riparian reaches 

were delineated and their condition assessed using 

comparisons with reference vegetation compo.4- 

tions for similar ecological conditions. 

FINDINGS .. 

Using the COWFISH model to rate fish habitat conditions, approximately 1 i of the 49 miles of fish habitat evaluated were found to be in pood;icondition. 

Habitat conditions were rated as less than 40% of 

optimum. Streamside shrub communities were 

found to be in poor condition along approximately 

8 miles of fishery streams in the Castle Mountains. 

60 
Water & Sol1 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

Uvestock grazing, and inherent natural erosiveness 

play a role In the amount of fine sediment present in 

&reams in this area 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

During range analysis work in the Castle mountains, 

11 6 grazed riparian stream reaches were delineated. Comparison of the existing vegetation in these 

reaches to the ecological potential vegetation indicated that many were in poor cond?ioh due to grazing. The reference vegetation composition used for 

comparison was derived from the statewide classification provided by the Montana Riparian Association (Hansen et al1991). In 79 reaches, the sensitive 

vegetation types were measured or estimated to be 

at 50% similarity or less to the potential vegetation, 

and in 18 reaches, vegetation was less than 25% 

similarity to potential. 

~~~~~~~~ ~~ 

Public Health - Water Systems 

Further analysis of riparian condition requires classification. Work continued on a Forest-level classifii 

cation project staited in 1990. In FY 1992 an additional 50 stream rsaches were sampled. Information 

on soils, vegetation, and stream characteristics 

from the sample sites will be used to describe and 

classify the current and potential condition of riparian areas, in the context of the geology and geomorphology of the valley bottom. The classification will 

provide a means to compare existing and desired 

condition in riparian areas, and prioritize areas for 

improvement. l3is classification will be used as a 

basis for riparian monitoring and in development of 

range allotment management plans. The riparian 

reach sampling also serves to document baseline 

conditions of riparian sites. Classification and map 

ping of potential riparian conditions will continue in 

FY 1993. 

Annually - Month- Violates State or Federal drinking water 

ly when in use standards 

I 

F-9 Public Health 

METHODS 

During FY 1992, 36 Forest systems and 7 Special 

Use systems were opened for use. Thirty-three of 

the Forest Service systems and 3 of the special use 

systems were tested and operated in accordance 

with State and Federal Safe Drinking Water Acts. 

For the remaining systems, required bacteriologic 

tests were occasionally not accomplished. 

FINDINGS 

An evaluation of the testing program revealed that 

the sampling and testing omissions were not conr 

fined to any one District for the Forest Service systems. Further analysis indicated that some of the 

Special Use sites failed to meet the established testing requirements. The matter will be disixssed with 

Forest managers and Special Use permittees in an 

effort to redeem this management and public safety 

responsibility. 

Failure to conduct the testing asprescribed by Federal and State regulations could result in serious 

illnesses and/or closure of the systems. Closure of 

Forest Service systems would result in loss of revenue from pay campgrounds and ihe ability of the 

public to enjoy their recreation facilities. 

61 
Mlnerala 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

MINERALS 

VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

The FY 1992 target for minerals management was 

38 cases. A total of 38 cases were processed. 

~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ 

Effect of Mining Activity Annually - 100% 

of active operations on a monthly basis r 

The Forest Plan outlines monitoring requirements 

for minerals management. It addresses minerals related items to be monitored, the frecjuency at which 

such monitoring should occur, anb the type of variance which would initiate further evaluation. Deviations from Forest Plan goals and standards may 

result in either referring problems to the appropriate 

~ 

Adverse effect of Forest Service project 

on mineral activities or revision or departure from approved operating plan 

A 

line officer for improvement of management practice application; modifying a management practice 

as an amendment to the Plan; revising the schedule 

of outputs, or the costlunit of outputs; or initiating 

revision of the Plan. 

For Minerals, 5 items have been identified for monitoring. These and the results 05 monitoring for FY 

1992 (October 1, 1991 - September 30, 1992) are 

provided below. 

G-1 Effect of Mining Activities 

METHODS 

This item includes monitoring effects of minerals 

activities resulting from the approval of Notices of 

Intent or Operating Plans for mineral activities that 

were conducted during FY 1992. According to the 

Forest Plan monitoring requirements, 100% of all 

active operations are to be monitored on a monthly 

bask for either adverse effects of Forest Service 

projects on mineral activiies or revisions or departures from an approved operating plan. 

FINDINGS 

No Forest Service projects were determined to have 

an adverse effect on mineral operations. 

c 

Prior to initiating ground disturbing activities, a mining proponent is required to submit a Notice of Intent, or in some cases, a Plan of Operation. These 

instruments specify the nature of the proposed activities, the location and timing of any surface disturbing activities, and any necessary reclamation 

measures. During FY 1992, eight new Plans of Operation (POOs) were reviewed for mineral activities. 

Environmental anatyses were conducted for each 

proposal. All proposals were analyzed for compliance and consistency with Forest Plan goals, objectives, and management standards. Modifications or 

additions were made, if necessary, to ensure compliance with Forest Plan standards and to mitigate 

issues and concerns. Some activities took place 

under Plans of Operation that were approved in a 

previous year during which the proposal was not 

completed. 

Two drilling programs were conducted in the uttle 

Belt Mountains on the Jeffemn Division. A total of 

12 core holes were drilled. In all but one case, drill 

pads were located along existing roads. The excep 

tion was in the Daniels Creek area where approximately 1 mile of new road was approved for construction in order to access a drill site. This segment 

of road was constructed in a timbered area and was 

seeded and closed to vehicle use following completion of the drilling. 

Five shallow trenches were excavated in the Little 

Belts as well. Two of these were withina existing 

gravel pit and disturbance was minimal. The trenches were evaluated and backfdled within several 

days. 

62 
Minerals 

Table G-1 FY92 Project List for Mining Activities ~~ 

Project Title 

Rocky Mtn Dlatrlcl 

No Mining Activies 

Judith Dlstrkl 

1. Vortex Mining -Yogo Crk. 

2. Amax Qold-Bandbox Mtn. 

3. Whitaker-Running Won 

4. Gamble ClaimePlacer Creek 

5. Bliss claims 

6. Davis claims 

7. Kennecott trenching 

Musselohell DIsdrld 

1. OB5 claim 

Kings Hlll Dletrlct 

1. Cominco Sheep Creek drilling 

2. Kennecott trenching 

3. Kennecott resistivity survey 

4. Many Pines sampling 

statu8 

Active under approved POO’ 

Nb activity during 1992 

Not active 

Approved PO0 

Not active 

.% 

Active under approved Po0 

Approved PO0 

Approved Notice of intent 

Active under approved PO0 

Active under approved PO0 

Active under approved PO0 

Active under approved PO0 

Reviewed monthly during summer operatiom - in 

compliancc with PO0 

Inspected 3 times-activii consisted of opening caved 

adit and installing steel door 

Previour PO0 approved for excavation of one trench, no 

roading necessary, checked during rurnrner, but no 

activity 

Inspected during operating seaaon-actlvity consisted of 

pick & shovel work with minimal disturbarm 

Two shallow trenches dug in vicinity north of Spur Park. 

inspected twice following activity. 

All work done by hand; minimal lmpacta. 

A total of 12 new drillsites approved. InspectioM made 

weekly during activity. 

Three shallow trenches dug in Jeffenon Creek and Sllde 

Rock Canyon areas. Each site Inspected during operatiom. 

Passive operation consisting d eledricel cable atrung 

along surveyed line. Minimal brush clearlng. Inspected 

following operations; no impact. 

Operations consisted of pick and rhovei axcrnation for 

.sampling purposes. Inspected during and following 

operations; minimal distu!bance. 

3 PO0 = Plan of Operation 

G-2 Geophysical Prospecting 

Effect of Prospecting 

, 

This monitoring item includes effects from the issuance of prospecting permits (geophysical exploramits requested or issued for oil and gas exploration 

during FY 1992 

tion). There were no geophysical prospecting per- * 

63 
Mlnerala 

. _- 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

___ ~~ 

Effect of Drilling Annually - 100% 

of active operations on a weekly 1 

, basis 

FINDINGS 

~ - 

Adverse effect upon surface resources 

or departure from conditions of the ap 

proved permit 

The Final EIS on two exploratory drilling proposals 

(by Chevron USA and Fina Oil and Chemical Company) on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District was 

completed in December, 1990. Following a public 

review period, a Record of Decision was jointly 

signed by the Lewis and Clark Forest Supervisor 

and the Bureau of Land Management, Great Falls 

Resource Area Manager approving, with conditions, Fina's Application for Permit to Drill (APD). A 

separate decision on Chevron's application will not 

be issued until evaluations and consultations necessary to fulfill our responsibilities under the American Indian Religious Freedom Act and Section 106 

of the National Historic Preservation Act have been 

completed. This anatysis continued through FY 

1992. 

Fifty-two appeals were received on the decision to 

approve Fina's APD. The Regional Forester upheld 

the decision to allow drilling on Fina's lease. Ap 

peals filed with the Bureau of Land Management 

(BLM) prompted them to vacate their decision to 

allow the drilling until a review of effects of drilling 

was conducted. This review was completed and the 

BLM was in the process of drafting a Record d 

Decision in FY 1992. 

The Final Blackleaf Canyon Field Development Environmental Impact Statement was released in June 

1992. In that no site-specific drilling proposal has 

been received, there was no Decision Document 

issued with the Impact Statement. A decision will be 

issued following the receipt of the first proposal for 

oil and gas activii within the Blackleaf Unit. 

G -4 Re ha bl I it at i o n 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I PERIOD I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Rehabilitation of Disturbed Areas Annually - 100% Rehabilitation less -than 90% of disof activity on a turbed areas 

ing rehabilitation. 

A final inspection 

will be made within 5 years after rehabilitation has , 

been completed 

r weekly basis durRequirements for reclamation were established for 

each mining proposal and made part of the ap 

proved operating plan. Reclamation bonds were established for the proposal, based on the costs 

which would be incurred to rehabilitate the area of 

proposed activky. These bond amounts were cdlected prior to allowing any actVky to take place, 

and retained until final reclamation standards are 

met. Mineral operations inspected for rehabilitatbn 

are listed in the following table. 

64 
Minerals 

REPORTING 

PERIOD 

Table G-4 FY92 Project List for Rehabilitation of Disturbed Areas 

I VARlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER WALUATION 

Rocky Mtn Dlstrlct 

1. Blackleaf Pipeline Installation 

Mineral Availability 

Judlth Dlotrict 

1. Amax Gold Drilling 

2. Kennecott trenching 

Annually - 100% Denial of more than 10% of proposed 

sample projects 

Mus.selahell District 

1. Kennecott Checkerboard project 

2. Kennecott Checkerboard project 

Kings Hlll Dlstrlct 

1. Adams Ck Core Drilling 

2. Newlan Ck Core Drilling 

3. Wolsey/Daniels/Black, Butte Core 

Drilling 

4. Kennecott trenchlng 

Year 

Completed 

1990 

.- 

1991 

' 1992 

1989 

1990 

1992 

1991 

1992 

1992 

Dates 

Reviewed 

8lW 

7/92 

1992 

1992 

1992 

6192 

6/92 

9/92 

Comments 

Revegetation stable; final review complete. 

Rehabilitation requirements met 8 reclamation bond released. 

Final review completed. 

Rehabilitation requirements met, as prescribed In tho POO. 

Final review by 1997. 

Review of rehabilitation et one drillsite necemuy during 1993. 

Two (of 7) drillsites required contouring and reseeding: podon 

of bond retained; scheduled review in 1993 

Mud pit for core drilling project required pumping and backfilling, 

which was completed in '92. One hole required plugging, whkh 

was also done. Rehabilitation effectiveness should be reviewed 

In 1993. 

Additional eeeding on access road complete; final review by 

1996. 

Reclamation bond still held by State. Vehicle oil spills at two 

drill sites were required to be dug up d removed. Final 

Inspection by 1996. 

Reclamation bond released; reciamaton oompleted according 

to PO0 requirements. Final review by 1997. 

G-5 Mineral Availability 

~~ 

PRESCRIPTION, 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

METHODS 

This item addresses the effect of renewable resource prescriptions and management direction on 

mineral resources and activities, including exploration and development. Denials of more than 10% of 

proposed mineral activiies are to be reported. 

FINDINGS 

Statutory rights conferred with the General Mining 

Laws provide for access to mining claims for exploration and development. In some cases, proposals 

were modified to provide for better protection of 

Forest surface resources. All mineral proposals 

(some with operator-approved modifications) complied with established Forest Plan standards acld 

guidelines; therefore, none were denied. 

Conditions for approval, and mitigation yd monitoring needs were adopted in the decision to ap 

prove Fina's Application for Permit to Drill. These 

conditions were necessary in order that the proiect 

be compatible with Forest Plan direction. 

65 
Minerals 

A mineral report for the Deep Creek land exchange 

invoking several parcels on the Kings Hill Ranger 

District was completed in FY 1992. The mineral report recommended that the mineral estate be transferred from federal to private ownership along with 

the surface estate upon exchange, as no mining 

claims or mineral leases were issued on the parcels 

and the lands were found to have low potential for 

mineral resources. Mineral rights, of a comparatively equal value, 3n the acquired private lands were 

transferred to the Federal Government along with 

the surface. 

. 

66 
Lands 

OUTPUT, MARAGEMEM PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

J-I Compliance With Use Permits 

VARIABIUlY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

7 INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION Compliance with use pennits ' ~ 1 Annually Unacceptable results or deviation from I permits 

METHODS 

The computerized Forest Land Use Report (FLUR) 

is used to prepare billings and gather information 

about the Forest's special use permits. Inspections 

of the recreation residences, ski areas, camps, special events, and re'sorts are conducted to ensure 

compliance. 

FiNBINGS 

The Forest Supervisor has delegated authority for 

issuance and administration of special use permits 

to the District Rangers to the extent allowed in the 

Forest Service Manual. 

The condition of facilities authorized through special use permits is generally satisfactory. Annually, 

the Rocky Mountain Ranger District inspects 25 percent of its recreation residences. Ski area permits 

are regularly inspected before and during the ski 

season. For other special use permits, on-theground inspections are done primm'ly for health 

and safety issues and whenever specific problems 

arise. 

Special use permits are generally current and in 

conformance with federal policy. The automated 

Forest Land Use Report (FLUR) program is working 

well. The program is maintained and updated by the 

districts with instruction and assistance from the 

Resource Section. Most of the bills are prepared 

using the FLUR program, then mailed to the districts 

for review and issuance. 

The Lewis and Clark National Forest administers the 

following special use permits: 

Table J-1 a SPECIAL USE PERMITS 

Type of PermH 

1 

1 

167 

5 

1 

48 

2 

1 

3 

32 

11 

1 

1 

1 

1 

1 

3 

1 

Organization Camp 

Isolated cabin 

Recreation Residences 

Resorts - 

Target Range 

Outfiier Guides 

Ski Areas 

Ski Activity 

Cuttivation 

Westock Area (Pastures) 

Corrals 

Sign 

Solid Waste Disposal SHe 

Research Study 

Weather Stations 

Military Training Area8 

Cultural Resources 

Construction CampIResidence 
Lands 

Table J-18 SPECIAL USE PERMITS (continued) 

1 

1 

3 

3 

1 

4 

1 

17 

27 

1 

2 

15 

- 

14 

Mineral Material Sale8 

Oil and Qas Pipelha 

REA Powerlines 

Powerlines 

Railroad Right-of-way 

Departqent of Transportation 

Highyay Easements 

Road Easement 

Road Permits 

Communication Sites 

Resource Monitoring Site 

Telephone Lines 

Irrigation Ditches 

Water Transmission Unes 

The Forest administers four Master Permits (one 

permit issued to one holder authorizing similiar uses 

forest-wide) for telephone and powerlines. Permit 

holders are Fergus Electric, Sun River Electric, US 

West, and Montana Power Company. Prior to consolidation into master permits, these uses were issued as 29 separate permits. The Forest also has a 

master permit to the Soil Conservation Service for 

their 29 snow survey sites forestwide. 

During this fiscal year the following new permits 

were issued (or reissued): 

27 outfitter guide permits of which: 

14 were for river rafting 

4 were for hikindcamping on Forest land 

14 recreation residences 

5 communication sites 

4 water uses 

3 cultural resource 

2 private roads 

1 corral 

The Rocky Mountain District had an appeal filed 

against their decision not to reissue an outfiier 

guide permit. The decision was upheld by the Forest Supervisor, and the permittee appealed to the 

Regional Forester. 

An earlier appeal on another outfiier guide permit 

on the Rocky Mountain District was resolved 

through litigation this year. 

The Forest is continuing its cooperation with the 

Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks in 

updating the Smith River. Management Plan which 

was originally developed in 1988. Due to the enactment of the Smith River Management Act in 1989 

and numerous changes over the past few years the 

necessity for this update is appropriate. 

A total of 20 outfitters were authorized on the Smith 

by the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission for the 

1992 float season with a maximum of 79 launches 

during the peak season. There were no restrictions 

on launches for private floaters. ihis is in contrast to 

the new rules which were adopted late in 1992 for 

the 1993 float season. The new rules authorize a 

total of 16 outfiiers with a maximum of 73 launches 

during the peak season. For the first time private 

floaters have also been limited with no more than g 

launches permitted per day. Outfitter launches are 

also included in the daily launch figure and are limited to one launch per day except on Tuesdays and 

Wednesdays when two launches are allowed. 

Work has begun on reissuing ‘an interforest permit 

for Glacier Electric’s powerline permit on the Flathead and Lewis and Clark Forests. 

The Forest requested Regional Office audits of the 

two ski area permits. The audits were conducted in 

August, and reports will be provided to the Forest. 

The national fee study for communication sites &ntinued, with notification to the forests that fees for 

new uses would be in accordance with the R-1 Fee 

Schedule and revised fees for existing uders would 

be implemented with 1993 fees. 

68 
Lands 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

5-2 Right-sf-Way Easements 

REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

Land Ownership Adjustment Accomplish- Annually - 100% Less than 75% accomplishment of 

ment Sample 5-Year Program -, 

b 

FlNOiNGS 

The Forest Plan does not specrfy a level of accomplishment for the acquisition of rights-of-way easements. However, the Monitoring Section does refer 

One conservation easement along the the Missouri 

River in the Vicinity Of Sulphur Springs WaS received 

from the Montana Power Companyto the Forest's Syear program. The program for FY 

1992 contained four road easements and two trail 

easements. Three of the road easements were to 

'perfem title of existing easements. No rights-ofThe two trail easements have also been signed by 

the landowner but problems with the title company 

have held up final title opinion, 

Table J-2a EASEMENT ACQUISITIONS 

5-3 Land Ownership Adjustment 

c FINDINGS 

The Forest Plan does not specify a rate of accomplishment for this item except in the Monitoring Section where a reference is made to the Forest's 

$year Program. However, the Forest does not have 

an established Land Exchange Program but rather 

relies on opportunities that are forwarded by prop 

69 
Lands 

Oescrlption 1937 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 

\ 

nents. Other opportunities to acquire tracts which 

are desirable for National Forest System ownership 

are pursued as they develop. 

basis.’ For this reason, it would be very difficul to 

‘lock-in@ on targets for accomplishments. me FWest’s annual target with the Region was 90 acres. In 

.. 

1993 1994 1995 19% 

tion (land exchange) except on ‘a willing grantor Deep Creek Park area of the Little Belt Mountains. 

Federal Lands Acqulred 0 I 1 1 I 

5-4 Landline Location 

WHICH WOULD 

I Annually - 100% Less than 75% of the Forest Plan Target I Sample I Landline Location Accomplishment I 

FINDINGS 

The Forest Plan target for landline location is 26 

miledyear decadal average. In N 1992 the Forest 

was funded for a target of 24 miles and accomplished 24 miles, about 92% of the Forest Plan target. For the first six years of the Forest Plan decade 

the Forest accomplished an average of 80% of its 

annual target. 

The Forest has a total of 1636 miles of property 

boundary. Of this, 288 miles has been posted to 

standard leaving 1348 miles not posted. If 26 miles 

per year were to be achieved until the entire boundary was posted, it would take 53 years to complete 

the job. In the interim many miles would need maintenance. 

The Forest and Rangeland Renewable Resource 

Planning Act of 1974 (RPA) set the year 2010 as a ’ 

goal for completing the posting of all National Forest 

boundaries. For this to be achieved on the Lewis 

and Clark National Forest an annual average of 

about 70 miles of accomphshment would be needed in the period 1993 - 201 0. 

Consequences of failing to achieve Property 

Boundaty targets create trespass problems for the 

recreating public and the abt&ng landowners. In 

addition, management decisions may at times be 

compromised for lack of a posted National Forest 

boundary. Also, by deferring the property boundary 

job, valuable physical evidence attesting to the original corner location is being obliterated or lost to the 

forces of man and nature. 

Table J4a LANDUNE LOCATION ACCOMPLISHMENT (miles) 

70 
Facllltles 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

L-I Road & Trail Construction/Reconstruction 

VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Road and Trail Construction; lodal roads; Annually - 100% I trails; arteriaVcollector roads I Sample I +/- 20% of programmed construction/ 

reconstruction accomplished 

FINDINGS - Roads 

The Forest Plan, as amended, projects 20 miles per 

year for the Capital Investment Program and 13 

miles annually for the limber Management Program. This includes all miles, both construction and 

reconstruction in support of all resources. 

In FY 1992 the Forest constructed 0.4 miles and 

reconstructed no miles for a total of 0.4 miles under 

the Capital Investment Program. Under the Purchaser Credit Program 19.8 miles were constructed 

and 22.6 miles were reconstructed for a total of 42.8 

miles of construction and reconstruction mder ail 

programs. 

When considering the total miles constructed and 

reconstructed in both programs during FY 1992, the 

output was 130% of that projected by the Plan. This 

is outside of the variabilny tolerance. 

When considering the average accomplishment for 

the six year period (87 - 92) the Forest accomplishment in the Capital Investment Program is 66.3%; 

the accomplishment for the Purchaser Credit Program is 105.2% and the combined programs 

accomplishment is 82%. The reason for the over 

accomplishment in the Timber Purchaser Program 

is essentially tied to sales that had been backlogged in the appeals process but sold in FY 1992 

along with the scheduled FY 1992 program. 

Shortfalls in the Capital Investment Program are the 

resuA of Regional priorities and reduced road construction budgets at the National and Regional levels. Consequences of not meeting Forest Plan targets in this program primarily result in our inabilrty to 

improve inadequate roads through relocation or reconstruction. Inadequacies include segments of 

roads that are difficutt to maintain, road segments 

that contribute to water quality problems, and roads 

that provide a service level inconsistent with 

planned or existing use. 

Table h-1 a MILES OF ROAD CONSTRUCTED/RECONSTRUCTED 

* 

71 
Faciltties 

' 

FINDINGS - Trails 

Rocky Mtn Ranger Dlstrict 

Gibson Lake I 1 .O miles 

BlacktaiVLanderalElk Pase 6.5 miles 

Judith Ranger Dlstrlct 

Lost Fork 2.8 miles 

Briggs Creek 1:6 miles - 

~ Stelner Creek 3.0 miles 

Musseieheii Ranger District 

Morrissey-Nevada' 3.6 miles 

Klnga Hlll Ranger Dlstrid 

Various force account work 1 .O mile A 

The Forest Plan, as amended, projects an average Cost Share funds. The increase in construction 

Of 14 miles Of trail construction and reconstruction mileaae this vea; reflects the Fmest's Succ- in 

- ~ 

Miles of Roads Open to Public Use - 

- .. miles used contributed funding, such as Challenge projects accomplished, are: 

Table L-lb%IAIL ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR FY 1992 

Annually - 100% 

Sample public - 

+/- 20% of target miles to be left open to 

I Descriptlon I Miles I 

Table L-1 c TOTAL TRAIL RECONSTRUCTlON/CONSTRUCTlON (miles) 

L-2 Mile of Roads Open 

~~~ 1 OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, 1 REPORTING I VARIABILITY (+I-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

FINDINGS 

The Forest Travel Plan resulted in the following summation Of road restrictions and Closures. On the 

public use. lt is estimated that there are approXimateb .. 2.029 miles of roads open to us8 by so43 

Jefferson Division, approximately 267 miles are restricted either yearlong or seasonally to some forms 

of motorized public use. On the Rocky Mountain 

Division, approximately 46 miles are restricted either 

form of motorized on either a ses&,nal oT 

yearlong bask. The Forest Plan does nat establish 

any target l'niles to be open to public ~otobd 

yearlong &-seasonal& to some forms of motorized traffic. 

72 
Protection 

PROTECT1 

P-1 High Risk Stands 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARlABlUTV (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I 1 INITIATE FURTHER EVALUAflON 

Assure harvest emphasizes the rbmoval of 5 Years 

high risk stands for mountain pine beetle 

attack and that timber sales are located to , 

break-up continuous natural fuel accumulations 

Unacceptable results of an ID Team review, or if less than 70% of timber v& 

ume is programmed from high risk 

mountain pine beetle stands 

In FY 1992,89% of the sawtimber sold on the Lewis 

and Clark National Forest was lodgepole pine. Reral fuels. Future planning is also emphasizing removal of lodgepole pine. 

views Of timber sale locations showed the Forest is 

continuing to breakup large concentrations of natuSummary of m 1987 through ~1992 removal of 

lodgepole pine stands is as follows: 

Table P-1 a REMOVAL OF HIGH RISK LODGEPOLE PINE (percent) 

Over the first six years of the Forest Plan, lodgepole 

pine has made “p about 80% Of the volume 

sold on the Forest. This is above the 70% level 

envisioned in the Forest Plan. While the conversion 

of high risk lodgepole pine stands to seedlings on 

suitable forest land is at a pace set by the Forest 

Plan, there remains a high need to convert the very 

old, decadent lodgepole stands to youngeri more 

productive stands. 

P-2 Acres/Volume of Insect & Disease - 

FINDINGS 

Insect and disease surveys conducted during the 

summer of 1992 showed that the Western spruce 

budworm continued to build on the Forest, but they 

had not reached their pre-1989 levels. About 

127,350 acres of visible Western spruce budworm 

defoliation was reported on Forest Iandsflontana 

Forest Pest Condition and Program Highlights, Report 92-2). Other insects and diseases continue at 

endemic levels. The planned yearly surveys are adequate to monitor insect conditions on the Forest. 

73 
Protectlon 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED 

REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Management practices to ensure activities 

do not promote an Increase in Insect or 

disease organisms -% 

Annually 1 Significant increase in insect and dis- 1 

I ease 

Fuel Treatment Outputs 

FINDINGS 

1 +/- 25% of programmed targets 

sample 

No significant increase in insect and disease organisms has been observed. Post timber sale reviews 

showed that the Forest is meeting regional standards for slash disposal and that trees damaged or 

blown down by wind are being removed in a timely 

fashion. 

P-4 Prescribed Fire & Air Quality 

I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I Ry$t:G I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

I Assure prescribed fire meets air quality Annually 

standards I I +/- 10% beyond standard guidelines 

FINDINGS 

In FY 1992, the Forest burned about 1,830 acres for 

slash disposal, natural fuel treatment, wildlife habitat improvement, and range land improvement. In 

order to meet prescribed fire parameters, some of 

the slash disposal was done in the winter outside of 

the fall burning season. There were no known corn 

plaints about any prescribed burning project affecting air quality. Burning conditions and coordination, 

under a State of Montana permit, play a major role 

in meeting air quality standards. 

P-5 Fuel Treatment Outputs 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARIABILITY (+/-) WHICH WOULD I EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED- I PERIOD I INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

FINDINGS . ... 

In FY 1992, the Forest treated 328 acres of activity 

fuels (slash from timber harvest and road building) 

and 1 ,I 08 acres of natural fuels. The Forest Plan 

shows a target of 1,470 acres of activity fuels and 

700 acres of natural fuels per year. Summary of FY 

1987 through FY 1992 activity and natural fuels re 

duction is as follows: * 

74 
Protectlon 

7 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING VARlABlUN (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

Table P-Sa ACTIVITY & NATURAL FUEL ACCOMPLISHMENT (acres) 

Wildfire Acres Burned 

During the first six years of the Fqrgst Plan, about 

5,600 acres of activii fuels were treated. This is 

about 550 acres less per year than projected by the 

Plan. The under accomplishment in treating activity 

fuels is related to the timber harvest schedule, and 

the lag between selling a sale and harvesting it (see 

item E-6). One of the most important factors in managing activii fuels is that treatment be timely (allowing in most cases 1-2 years for firewood removal). If 

harvested areas are treated in a timely fashion, 

there is less risk of a catastrophic wildfire. In this 

regard, the Forest is treating activii fuels on a timely basis, except on the Judith District where fuel 

treatment acres are lagging behind the acres har100% Sample +/- 25% above projected average anAnnually nual wildfire burned acres 

vested (Note: this backlog was eliminated in the 

fall-winter of FY 1993). Because the backlog of timber to be sold on the Forest has been largely elminated, it is antlcipated that during the next four 

years of the Plan, the acres of activii fuels treated 

will be near the Forest Plan level. 

During this time, the Forest treated about 5,200 

acres of natural fuels. This is about 170 acres above 

the 700 acre yearty level envisioned in the Forest 

Plan. The Forest has been able, because of ap 

proved plans, to take advantage of opportunities 

foregone by other Forests. 

P-6 Wildfire 

FINDINGS 

The 1992 fire sewn started off looking serious after 

a very dry winter and spring with low-area vegetation curing out about six weeks early. This was followed by spotty rains in June and July. August was 

somewhat drier, with the lingering effedts of the dry 

years (1 984,85,87, and 88) but with very cool temperatures. At the end of August we received three 

inches of snow, The true fire season never developed, and gradually the days got shorter and the 

temperatures got colder. September and October 

were fairly dry with warm tempeptures, but the fire 

season just faded away. In 1992, the Forest had 17 

wildfires which burned 25 acres This was considerably below the 10 year average of 35 wildfires with 

497 acres burned. 

Summary of 1987 through 1992 total wildfire acres 

burned is as follows: 

Table P-6a WILDFIRE AREA BURNED (acres) , 

75 
Protection 

P-7 Suppression & Protection Costs 

-. 

FINDINGS \ 

The total cost of fire suppression and protection in 

1992 was $484,000. This is below the 10-year average of $590,000. 

Summary of 1987 through 1992 suppression and 

protection costs is as follows: 

Table P-7a SUPPRESSION & PROTECTION COSTS (Thousand Dollars) 

During the first six years of the Forest Plan, acreage and the changing fuel conditions. About 90% of the 

lost to wildfires, and fire suppression and protection 

costs were substantially above those projected by 

the Forest Plan. This situation resulted from very dry 

burned ad 75% of the costs come from those 

fires which escaped initial attack and required the 

weather conditions in 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992 commitment of project resources. 

76 
Wild & Scanlc Riven 

OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTING 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD 

WILD & SCENIC 

W-I Effects on Eligible Rivers 

VARlABlIJTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

~ ~ ~ ~ 

Project-level effects on eligible rivek qualifi- 100% Sample 

cations (free-flowing and 'outstandingly re- Annually 

markable' resource values) and assigned 

potential classification (wild, scenic, recreational) 

Any action that would adversely impact 

or degrade an eligible river's qualification and/or potential classification 

FINDINGS 

No project-level activities occurred along any of the 

nine eligible rivers or river segments which adversely impacted or degraded a river's qualifications and/ 

or potential dassification. This determination was 

made by comparing activities that were implemented in or along eligible rivers with Forest Plan goal 

#11 and Forest Plan Management Standards W-1 

(wild potential classification), W-2 (scenic potential 

classification), and W3 (recreational classification). 

The rivers monitored for project-level activities were: 

Smith River, North Badger Creek, North and South 

Forks Sun River, Dearbom River, North Fork Birch 

Creek, Green Fork of Straight Creek, Tenderfoot 

Creek, and Middle Fork Judith River. 

Restoration of the Judith Guard Station, located 

along the Middle Fork Judith River, was performed 

in the summer of 1992 This activii was consistent 

with Forest Plan management standards assigned 

under a recreational potential classification. This activity had a positive effect on the river's 'outstandingly remarkable' cultural resource value. 

Also in 1992, maintenance and improvements were 

performed on the Smith River boat camps. This activity only enhanced the river's 'outstandingly remarkable' recreation resource value. 

- 

Activities occurred in 1991 which would affect some 

of the nine eligible rivers and could result in the 

addition of other Forest rivers meeting the eligibility 

requirements under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. 

One activity involved a field inventory of harlequin 

ducks on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District. This 

inventory gathered data related to harlequin duck 

habitat, population structure and numbers, and reproduction. Two years of inventory results indicate 

the presence of harlequin ducks, a Northern Region 

Sensitive Species, on some Forest rivers. This data 

would be used in conjunction with the wild and 

scenic river eligibility criteria for an 'outstandingly 

remarkable' wildlife resource value. Existing eligible 

rivers which may be determined to main an 'outstandingly remarkable' wildlife value include the 

North Fork Sun River, North Badger Creek, North 

Fork Birch Creek, and South Fork Sun River. Adding 

this resource value to existing eligible rivers would 

not change their potential classification but recognize another value of the river emphasized under 

the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act. Other rivers which 

contain harlequin ducks and need to be anatyzed 

under the Wild and Scenic River's Act eligibility requirements are: South Fork Two Medicine River, 

Badger Creek, South Badger Creek, West Fork Sun 

River, Middle Fork Birch Creek, and South Fork 

Birch Creek. .. 

Fish population estimates collected by the Montana 

Department of Fish, Wildlife, and f arks tentatively 

indicate that two eligible rivers, the North and South 

Forks of the Sun River, meet the 'outstandingly remarkable' fish criieria This resource data would be 

analyzed and could result in these two rivers being 

recognized for their fishery value. 

The presence of the Shorthead Sculpin and Westslope Cutthroat Trout, both Northern Regldn Sensitive Species, in rivers on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District are being tested for genetic purity on the 

South Fork Two Medicine River, Badger Creek, 

77 
Wild t Scenic Rivers 

South 8adger Creek, and South Fork Dupuyer. The 

results of this testing, along with habitat quality and 

'fish population numbers, could result in these rivers 

being recognized and/or added as eligible for their 

fishery value. 

The Forest's Wild and Scenic Riers Interdisciplinary team has reconvened to analyze the above 

resource data in relationship to tke eligibility re- 

\ 

quirements specified under the Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act. The analysis necessary was not cok 

ducted during Pi 1992 and most likely will not be 

performed in Pr 1993 either. The analysis, when 

completed, may result in a decision that adds additional 'outstandingly remarkable' resource values to 

existing eligible rivers and/or identifies new eligible 

rivers and their assigned potential classification. 

r 

78 
General 

, 

Validation of costs and values used in For- 5 Years - 100% In general, +/- 25%; however, very large 

est Plan Annual Sample cost items such as stump-truck costs 

would have a smaller degree of acceptable variability. 

i 

GENERAL 

1-1 Costs 8i Values 

1 -~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~ 

PUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTIGT REPORTING 1 -VARIABIUN (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

FINDINGS 

As part of the Five-Year Review Process, the timber 

values and costs were reviewed. This review is in 

response to Forest plan appeals submitted by the 

Montana Wilderness Association and National Wildtinuation of the escalating sawlog prices. See the 

Lewis and Clark Five Year Review for recommendations resulting from the timber values analysis. 

life Federation. 

Tlmber values -The results of this review reveal that 

the average actual stumpage price earned on the 

Forest over the last six years ($lO4/mb9 is less than 

half that used in the forest planning process 

($2Wmbf). In 1992 stumpage prices for sawtimber 

on the Lewis and Clark rose dramatically. In the next 

four years (1 993-1 996) of the Forest Plan, with the 

declining availability of sawlogs and the increasing 

demand in central Montana, we see a probable conllmber costs are very close to those used in forest 

planning and therefore no further analysis or adjustments need to be made. 

RECOMMENDATIONS 

The Forest recommends deleting this monitoring 

item, since the onty available tracking system for 

validating costs/values is designed solely for the 

timber resource. 

1-2 Emerging Issues 

I VARIABIUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION I OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, REPORTJNG 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED I PERIOD 

I If issue cannot be dealt with under the I cial values I I Forest Information an-d Involvement 

Effects of emerging issues or changirlg so- Continuous 

I I Plan 1 

FINDINGS 

Public interest in the management of the Lewis and cause of the sensitivity of the Issues involved were: 

Clark National Forest Continues to play a major role Chevron/Fina Environmental Impad Statement 

in the implementation of the Forest Plan. In addition (EI~) on Exploratory oil and G~ wells,$& Land 

projects carried into fiscal year 1992. While each nic Rivers, and as always, Timber Sale Program Ranger District was involved with several smaller 

scale projects requiring public involvement, the key mmber Sale EA and Sale 

projects necessitating more extensive efforts be- Information Report System - TSPIRS). 

- .\ 

to new projects and '~ues, several ongoing Purchase, Eligibility Determination for Wild and sw 

79 
General 

Chewron/Fina EIS: 

. A decision was made to combine the analysis for 

the exploratory oil and gas drilling proposals from 

both Fina (Hall Creek) and Chevron (Badger Creek) 

in order to provide a more thorough examination of 

the cumulative and interrelated effects of both 

projects in the RM-1 Geographic Unit on the Forest. 

Because scoping efforts had beeqconducted for 

each of the projects individually ,(Fins in 1983-84 

and Chevron in 1986), it was decided that public 

scoping meetings were not necessary for the combined EIS effort. Instead, the Study Team mailed 

summary packages to the individuals and organuations on their mailing list. The summary packages 

included the scoping comments and the issues 

identified during initial scoping periods for both the 

projects. The team also included a summary of the 

issues identified in the appeals on the original Hall 

Creek decision. Ttiose receiving the packages (approximatety 350) were asked to review the issues 

that had been identified and submit any additional 

issues to the Study Team. The Forest received seven wriien letters and one telephone comment during this third round of scoping. 

In April 1988, a second letter was sent to the mailing 

list (350) identifying the alternatives to be analyzed 

and a colored map of the alternative locations. 

A social assessment was prepared during 1987 as 

part of the background materials for the EIS. The 

information in this report provided insight into the 

social values, perceptions, and attitudes of those 

residents most likely to be influenced by oil and gas 

exploration and/or development. The need for a 

sociaVeconomic issue was identified by the Study 

Team and included in the analysis. The social conditions and analysis were based on the comments 

received during the scoping process, comments on 

the Forest Plan (1985), newspaper articles, and the 

results from the unstructured interviews conducted 

in the preparation of the Social Assessment background document. During 1988 and 1989, the 

Study Team continued work on the preparation of 

the draft EIS using all of this information. 

The draft EIS was released for public comment in 

early October, 1989. More than 300 people were 

mailed summaries or complete Draft Environmental 

Impact Statements. Included in the DElS was a cover letter listing the comment period closing date and 

dates of five open houses where Forest Service 

officials would be available to answer questions on 

the document. The open houses were scheduled 

and held in Missoula, Montana. November 2,1989; 

Cut Bank, Montma, November 6, 1989; Browning, 

Montana, November 7, 1989; East Glacier, Montana, November 8,1989; and Great Falls, Montana, 

November 14,1989. 

At the same time, news releases on the availability 

of the Draft €IS were sent to 32 newspapers, 18 

radio stations, and 9 television stations. On October 

23,1989, a Notice of Availability and Notice of Meeting for the Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 

Exploratory Oil and Gas Wells; Lewis and Clark National Forest, Glacier and Pondera Counties, Montana, appeared in the Federal Register. Interested 

individuals were requested to submit written comments to the Forest Supervisor by December 15, 

1989. 

More than 1 ,OOO comments were received from individuals, groups, and State and federal agencies. 

Comments were analyzed by the DElS ID team in 

January. Following the analysis of all submitted 

comments on the Draft EIS, all documents were 

microfilmed and microfiche copies were placed in 

six public libraries for public review (Great Falls, 

Missoula, University of Montana - Missoula, Helena, 

Browning, and Cut Bank). Comments, also were 

available at Forest Service offices in Missoula, Great 

Falls, and Choteau. 

There were 141 coded comments which fell into 18 

categories developed from the responses received 

on the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. Resource specialists responded to the comments and 

included expanded information in the Final Environmental Impact Statement which was released in November, 1990. More than 12mpeople were mailed 

summaries or complete Final Environmental Impact 

Statements. 

The Forest Service approved the Fina drilling permit. The Record of Decision for the Fina project was 

signed on February 19,1991. Access to the Fina site 

would be from U.S. Highway 2 beginning in the NW 

1/4 of Section 15, T30N, R13W, proceeding ttirollgh 

sections 14 and 23, then, joining an existing jeep 

road to the well site. 

The Forest Service received 53 appeals on the Fina 

decision. Two of the appeals were not timely, one 

was dismissed for lack of information, and the Regional Forester sustained the Forest decision to is- 

& 

80 
General 

sue a drilling permit after review of the other 50 

appeals. 

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also received several appeals of the decision. One of the 

issues raised with the BLM was their responsibility 

for evaluating impacts on surface resources associated with drilling on public lands. The BLM asked 

the Interior Board of Land Appeals (IBLA) to delay 

their appeal process until the age06 could review 

its responsibilrty for evaluating potential impacts of 

the drilling. As a result of the BLM request, the IBLA 

remanded the decision to the BLM to establish jurisdictional responsibilities. The BLM issued a stay on 

the permit. 

In January, 1992, the Forest Service was contacted 

by the United States Information Agency connected 

with the U.S. Embassy in Vienna, Austria The Austrian Chapter for Endangered Peoples was demonstrating in support of the Brave Dog Society opposition to the decision to allow Fina to drill a test well. 

Information was provided to the Embassy Staff for a 

meeting with representatives of the Austrian Chap 

ter. 

A final decision on the Chevron application has not 

been made. An archival records search to determine whether the area has special religious significance for the Blackfeet Nation was completed and 

the Lewis and Clark National Forest commissioned 

a contract with Historical Research Associates of 

Missoula to conduct interviews with Native Americans to gather data on historical use of th8 RM-1 

Management Unit. 

Gatt Land Exchange/Purchase: 

An ongoing process to evaluate and finalize a land 

exchange proposal in the Crazy Mountain range 

has been the focus of public concern fgr those having an interest in both the Lewis and Clark and the 

the Gallatin National Forests. Many people were 

involved in public scoping meetings during 1986 to 

assist the Forest in identifying issues. Access to 

National Forest lands was identified as the key issue 

during the scoping process. Also expressed was 

the concern that Forest lands involved in the exchange may be more valuable for wildlife than those 

lands to be acquired. 

In response to the access issue, the exchange proponent has agreed to include five trail easements 

and one road easement in the exchange package. 

.. 

Perfection of these easements would ensure public 

access to the National Forest. The total acreage of 

the original exchange proposal was reduced. Letters were sent in late January 1988 to those who 

had been involved in the scoping process explaining the modifications to the original land exchange 

proposal. 

At the end of FY 1989, the landowners made an offer 

to sell the land in the Crazy Mountains to the Forest 

Service. Because of this offer, the decision on the 

land exchange proposal was dropped and arrangements to purchase the propetty proceeded. 

The purchase was divided into four phases with the 

first purchase being completed in FY 1991. The first 

purchase included 3,560 acres. The second purchase of 16,080 acres for $3.9 million was completed in late winter of 1992 and a third purchase for 

4,740 acres at $1.01 million was completed in June. 

The last purchase of the remaining acres will be in 

FY 1993. 

Wild and Scenic Rivers: 

To fuffill the requirements specified in the 1968 Wild 

and Scenic River Act (WSR Act), an analysis was 

initiated on the Forest to determine the eligibility of 

every river on or crossing the National Forest and to 

assign a potential classification (wild, scenic, rweational) to those river segments determined eligible. 

The analysis will be documented in an Environmental Assessment and a Decision Notice will be 

prepared. 

A March 13,1989 Decision Notice and Finding of No 

Significant Impact documented nine rivers eligible 

for further study under the 1968 Wild and Scenic 

Rivers Act. Eligibility was based'on each river being 

free-flowing ahd containing at least one 'outstandingly remarkable' resource value (Le. scenic, recreation, geologic, fisheries, wildlife, cultural, natural). 

Eligible rivers include North Badger Creek, North 

Fork Sun River, South Fork Sun River, North Fork 

Birch Creek, Green Fork of Straight Creek and segments on National Forest System land along the 

Smith River, Tenderfoot Creek, Dearborn River, arid 

the Middle Fork Judith River. These nine rivers were 

assigned a potential classification of Wild, scenic, 

and/or recreational' based on the condition of the 

river and adjacent lands. The March 13,1989 Decision Notice also incorporated Forest Plan Amendment 2 which provided management direction to 

protect and enhance each eligible river consistent 

81 
General 

with their potential classification. This direction re 

mains in effect until the river suitability study is corn 

' 'pleted and/or a future decision is made on their 

designation into the National Wild and Scenic River 

System. 

Copies of the decision were mailed to over 380 

individuals/groups. The decision was appealed by: 

(1) Pikuni Traditionalists Associati~n, (2) Badger 

Chapter, Glacier-Two Medicine Alliance, and (3) 

John R. Swanson. The decision was upheld by the 

Regional Forester. 

The Study Team is presently reviewing resource 

information collected on Forest rivers during past 

field seasons. This review could result in the Study 

Team recommending additional rivers as eligible. 

No additional designations were made in FY 1992. 

Lewis and Clark Natlonal Historic Trall Interpretive Center: 

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center was established by Public Law 100-552 

on October 28, 1988. Congress specifically determined that the 'historic significance of the travels of 

Lewis and Clark on the high Plains and their portage 

around the Great Falls of the Missouri 

requires .... recognition and interpretation.' 

Throughout FY 1990, environmental analyses and 

public involvement on the proposed building, road 

relocation, and associated site developments (parking) progressed. In July of 1990, a Decision Notice 

and Environmental Assessment was released. One 

appeal was received and dismissed. Throughout 

the summer of 1990, the interdisciplinary team 

worked closely with the design contractor to analyze the potential environmental impacts of proposals for additional developments associated with the 

Interpretive Center (ie. interpretive trails and living 

history site locations). These additional develop 

ments and decisions were made under a supplemental Environmental Assessment which was released in January, 1991. No appeals were received 

on this supplemental decision. The A&€ contractor 

incorporated the decisions made in the original Environmental Assessment/FONSI and this supplemental WFONSI in developing the conceptual designs for the project. 

The Conceptual Design was presented for congressional review in February, 1991. Congress did not 

fund the project for Fiscal Years 1991 -92; so the two 

remaining design phases were postponed pending 

future financing. 

Timber Sale Prcrgram: 

The Secretary of Agriculture vacated the Regional 

Forester decision to amend the Lewis and Clark 

Forest Plan partitioning the allowable sale quantity 

(ASQ) into two components: 1) ASQ that is to come 

from inventoried roadless areas, and 2) ASQ that is 

to come from existing roaded areas. The amendment set two separate upper limits on the amount of 

timber to be harvested but the total remained the 

same. In his decision, the Secretary found that the 

Regional Forester has sufficient discretion to asswe 

that Forest Plan direction is implemented in accordance with the standards and guidelines without resorting to the amendment process. 

Spring Creek limber Sales - Environmental Impact 

Statement 

By February, 1990, the ID Team had developed five 

significant environmental issues and seven altemative courses of action for implementation of timber 

management practices in the Spring Creek project 

area Public scoping was conducted through a mailout package to approximately 225 parties and 

through three public open houses scheduled to receive comments on the range of alternatives and 

whether the alternatives addressed the significant 

issues. Comments were received from nine indwiduals and two organizations. These comments were 

reviewed by the ID Team and were used to add to 

the issues and to modify the alternatives. 

The Draft Environmental Impact Statement for 

Spring Creek Timber Sales was released June, 

1991 , with the comments on the document being 

requested by July 29, 9991. Sixty-six individuals, 

groups and agencies responded in writing to the 

Draft €IS. In July, 1991, the ID Team who developed 

the DEE analyzed the comments on the document. 

The Final Environmental Impact Statement with responses to the comments on the draft document 

was released in November, 1991. There were two 

appeals on the Spring Creek EIS. Upon review, the 

Regional Forester affirmed the Forest Supervisor's 

decision. rc 

As a result of the analysis for the Spring Creek 

Complex of limber Sales, an amendment to the 

Lewis and Clark National Forest Land and Resource 

82 
General 

Management Plan was done. Amendment No. 7 

changes the Management Area direction on 22,930 

acres in the Spring Creek project area to provide 

better resource management. 

Smokey-Corridor Timber Sales - Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

A Notice of Intent to prepare an Enuironmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on a proposal for four large timber sales and 

several smaller sales in the area known as SmokeyCorridor on the Kings Hill Ranger District. The public 

was asked to comment on the project proposals by 

March 20, 1992. Eight comments were received by 

the closing date of the comment period. A Draft EIS 

will be released the summer of 1993. 

Little Snowies Vegetative Management & Public Access - Draft Environmental Impact Statement 

A Notice of Intent to prepare an Environmental Impact Statement was published in the Federal Register on proposals to implement fire and timber management practices in the Little Snowy Mountains on 

the Musselshell Ranger District, and the public was 

asked to comment on the proposals. This study was 

expanded to include public access issues. Nine 

teen comments were received during the comment 

period. A Draft EIS will be released in FY 1993. 

Other Issues: 

The Forest is in the center of a regional (eastern 

Montana) issue which revolves around increased 

public awareness and demand for access to public 

lands. In 1987, a Goal Statement was developed by 

the staff of the Lewis and Clark National Forest to 

promote public access to public lands. 'It is the goal 

of the Lewis and Clark National Forest to provide 

equal access opportunities to all National Forest 

System lands except where the impact of public 

access to the unique resources of the a0a would be 

unacceptable. Where the cost of providing public 

access is greater than the anticipated public benefit, the lands will be scheduled for disposal by exchange or other land ownership adjustment process. The number and location of access points and 

type of access facility will be determined through 

analysis of the expressed public demand, environmental impacts, and cost of access for each individual situation.' 

In the summer of 1989, an analysis of Area Access 

Needs for the Highwood Mountains was initiated. 

Individual contact was made with all landowners 

adjacent to National Forest System lands and public meetings were held in FY 1990 to determine the 

type and location of access needed as documented 

in the Forest Plan. After a delay, public involvement 

on access proposals commenced in February, 

1992. Public involvement activities resulted in 175 

letters from individuals, 17 letters from organ&tions 

or agencies and 979 petition signatures. A Final EA 

will be issued in FY 1993. 

As a result of the November 23-24,1990Turkey Fire, 

where private property was destroyed, the Lewis 

and Clark National Forest was involved in litigation. 

An investigation into the cause and origin of the 

Turkey Fire was conducted by fire investigators of 

the Forest Service, California Department of Forestry and Montana State Fire Marshall Bureau. All investigators concurred that the fire originated from 

slash piles which appeared purposely set, by person or persons unknown. 

A bifurcated trial on liability and damages began on 

June 23, 1992. 

83 
General 

(Forest Plan, page 3-2) 

Management Area 

1-3 Land Allocations 

1987 Acres 

R EVALUATION 

~~~ ~ 

+ 1,243 

-8,988 

-8,847 

No change 

+ 8,765 

+ 474 

+ 8,425 

No change 

No change 

-876 

MQ change 

No change 

No change 

+ 96 

25,428 

-292 

No change 

No change 

No change 

FINDINGS 

17,504 

321,850 

10581 7 

24,456 

125,284 

353.220 

256,069 

37,867 

11,100 

9,125 

t6,l 12 

2,405 

41,838 

22,702 

51,834 

33,321 

31,486 

384,-307 

1,843,397 

Ground truthing and site-specific analyses conducted during hIplementatiOn Of the Forest Plan examines the findings of consistency for timber management and other decisions made in the Plan. This 

analysis has resulted in management area adjustments totalling 25,428 acres. This figure represents 

a 1 % change in land allocations and is considered 

a minor modification. The numbers do not reflect the 

proposed changes in management areas as recommended in the Little Snowies and Smokey-Coddor 

E~S~ (p(-l993 projects). 

The following table shows the managemem area 

changes fnade as a result Of Project implementation 

analysis. 

Table I-3a ALLOCATIONS OF MANAGEMENT AREAS AND ACRES 

Management Area A 

Management Area B 

Management Area C 

Management Area D 

Management Area E 

Management Area F 

Management Area G 

Management Area H 

Management Area I 

Management Area J 

Management Area K 

Management Area L 

Management Area M 

Management Area N 

Management Area 0 

Management Area P 

Management Area Q 

Management Area R 

16,261 

330,838 

111,664 

24,456 

116,519 

352,746 

247,644 

31,778 

37,867 

11,100 

9,125 

16,112 

3,281 

22,702 

384,407 

51,834 

33,225 

- - - -wTotal Acres Modified 

Total Forest Acres 

Change 1992 Acres 

i :, 

r: 

The changes in management areas have reduced 

the suitable forest acres (those acres managed for 

scheduled timber harvest) by 7,834 (from 282,307 

to 274,473). This is about a 3% reduction. This small 

change has not affected the annual allowable sale 

quantity (12.1 MMBF), nor has it had much effect on 

the long-term sustained yieM of the Fofast (23.8 

MMBF). 

84 
General 

Validation of employment and income projections 

1-4 Em p I o y m e nul n c o me Pro] ec t i o ns 

5 Years +/- 20% of predicted changes 

I 1 OUTPUT, MANAGEMENT PRESCRIPTION, I REPORTING I VAPlABlUTY (+/-) WHICH WOULD 

EFFECTS TO BE MEASURED PERIOD INITIATE FURTHER EVALUATION 

FINDINGS 

Currentty, the Forest only has the ability to validate 

employment and income projections for the timber 

resource. The following table shows the employment and income projections used in the Forest 

Plan and the actual situation in FY 1992 (Table 3, 

TSPIRS) 

Table 1-48 EMPLOYMENT 81 INCOME COMPARISONS 

I Forest Plan 1987 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 Si Year Average 

Table 1-48 EMPLOYMENT 81 INCOME COMPARISONS 

l- income in thousands and in N 1992 dollars 

JOBS - 192 367 150 110 170 263 

INCOME '-6,855 14,862 6,496 7,104 3,982 5,986 18,970 9,567 

l- income in thousands and in N 1992 dollars 

The $year job (1 99) and income ($7,686,000) projections are within the variability predicted in the 

Forest Plan. FY 1992 projections are considerably 

above the average due to the higher volume of timber harvested on the Forest (22.0 MMBF). It is anticipated that the harvest level during the last four years 

of the Forest Plan will be more near what was projected in the Forest Plan (14.0 MMBF/year). 

a5 
Comparlson of Outputs, ActlvHles, and Budgets 

0 25ooo 46ooo 

71 50 94 ' 108 94 38 

150 373 

23 24 

lo 

1 3.1 17.4 20.2 

21.5 

, 9.8 13.4 22.6 

12.9 30.8 42.8 

~ 14.1 12.0 19.5 

IV. COMPARISON OF OUTPUTS, ACTIVITIES, AND BUDGETS 

562 

35 

0 

472 

10.5 

37.3 

117 

603 

340 

0 

The following two tables compare the outputs, activities, and budgets with those projected in the Forest Plan. 

402 550 

28 37 

2 1 

1062 1261 

17.0 26.2 

35.4 14.6 

38 245 

487 371 

334 186 

0 24 

Table I - COMPARISON OF PROJECTED OUTPUTS/ACTIVITIES BY TIME PERIOD 

Minerals Mgmt 

Land Exchange 

Landline Location 

Road Construction 

Road Reconstruction 

Total Road 

Trail Construction! 

Reconstruction 

Fuels Mgmt-BD 

Fuels Mgmt-FFP 

cases 

Acres 

Miles 

Miles 

Miles 

Miles 

Miles 

Acres 

Acres 

1053 

1025 

737 533 328 

675 860 1108 

~ 

1989 Unit of 

Measure I Output or Activi FP1a I 1987 Decade 1988 

169 

86 

614 

600 

5 

100 

10 

25 

- 

145 

54 

581 

179 

42 

384 

M5 

60 

450 

241 

64 

416 

~ 634 630' 

33' 30 

Developed Use 

Dispersed Use 

Wilderness 

Nowilderness 

M RVD 

M RVD 

M RVD 

Acres 

Acres 

Acres 

structures 

Structures 

Wildlife Habha! Imp 

Fish Habitat Imp 

T&E Habitat Imp 

Wildlife Structures 

Fish Structures 

300 

2 

0 

0 

16 

1400 

0 

0 

0 

19 

1392' 

10 

0 

6' 

11 

1262' 

16 

500 

4' 

34' 

Permit Grazing Use 

RanQe Improvement 

Nonstructural 

Structural 

AMPs 

Nox. Weed Control 

M AUM 

Acres 

Plans 

Acres 

~UdUreS 

71.1 

1329 

40 

10 

600 

72.3 

2433 

18 

4 

61 6 

70.5 72.4 1 71.9 I 71.2 I 70.3 

1999 

30 

5 

772 

7.9 

45.3 

21 7 

1108 

563 

125 

1607 

26 

4 

636 

Total Vol. Sold 

Silvicuttural Exams 

Reforest-Approp? 

Reforest-OtheP 

TSI-Appropriated4 

TSCKV 

MMBF 

M Acres 

Acres 

Acres 

Acres 

Acres 

14 

28.0 

54 

270 

2w 

0 

10.7 

33.9 

225 

829 

568 

12 

6.9 

28.2 

92 

927 

s(M 

0 

Soil Inventory 1 Acres 

Soil 8 Water Imprv. Acres - 45 1: 0 

10 

0 

109 

134 250 

0 

18 

153 

25 

2.9 

20.3 

23.2 

13.3 

0 

1,7.9 

17.9 

12.8 

9.0 

24.0 29.7 

33.0 33.4 

14.Q 

~~ 

1470 ~ I 1713 

700 665 

1201 

863 

'Humben differ from Table C12b because KV accomplishments included in this table's total .\ 

%Total of Reforestation and Site Prep. Natural Appropriated, see Table E-7a 

rfleforest-Other is the rum of Reforestation and Site Prep. from KV, Trust Funds, and Purchaser Work, see Table E-7a 

&Total of Release Acres and Thlnning TSI Appropriated, see Table E-7a 

&Total of Release Acre8 and Thinning TSI KV, see Table E-7a IC 

87 
Comparlaon of Outputs, Actlvttles, and Budgets 

Table II - COMPARISON OF FY 1992 EXPENDINRES/ACCOMPUSHMENTS vs FOREST PLAN 

PROJECTIONS vs REQUESTED OUTYEAFi BUDGET 

Activity Unit of 

Measure 

'Budget in 

Forest Plan 

General Adminlstratlon 

Fire and Fuels 

Timber 

Fuels Mgt-FFP 

Tot Vd Offered 

Sib Exams 

Permkted Graz Use 

Range Imp Non-Struc 

Renge Imp Structure 

Range Res Plm 

Noxious Weed Control 

Minerals Mgi , 

Rec Developed Use 

Rec Disp Use Wilderness 

Rec Dlsp Use Non-Wild 

WlldlHe and Fish 

Wildlife Hab Imp 

Fish Hab Imp 

TBE Hab Imp 

Wildlife Hab Struc 

Fish Hab Struc 

Soil Inventory 

Soils Improvement 

Faclllty Maintenance 

LandsILand Management 

Land Exchange 

Land %us/Acq Admin 

Landline Location 

Landline Location 

Road Maintenance 

Trall Maintenance 

Co-op Law Enforcement 

Reforestation-Approp 

Reforest-Approp 

YSI-Appropriated 

Tbr Std ImpApprop 

Tree Improvement 

KV (Truet Fund) 

Reforest-KV 

Tbr Std ImpKV 

Range 

Mlnerale 

Recreation 

Soil, Air, Water 

CWFSOther (Trust Fund) 

Tlmber Sahr.Sale (Perm) 

Brush Dlspoaal (Perm) 

Fuels Mgt-BO' 

sss 

.ss$ 

Acrea 

ss 

MMBF 

M Acres 

SSS 

M AUM 

Acres 

Structures 

Plans 

Acres 

sss 

Cases 

sbs 

M RVD 

M RVD 

M RVD 

ss 

Acres 

Acres 

Acres 

Structuree 

Structures 

SSd 

Acres 

Acres 

sss 

SM 

Acres 

sss 

Sbf 

Miles 

sbs 

SSS 

$$$ 

SS 

Acres 

sbf 

Acres 

SSS 

$$si 

Acres 

Acres 

SSS 

StS 

SSt 

I Acres I 

1232 

422 

700 

747 

14 

20 

51 5 

71.1 

1329 

40 

10 

600 

565 

160 

654 

169 

86 

61 4 

592 

600 

5 

100 

10 

25 

204 

2Ooo 

45 

143 

140 

60 

246 

115 

26 

489 

357 

52 

73 

54 

36 

200 

10 

129 

270 

0 

30 

40 

30 

1470 

'0uty-f 

Request 

FP Level 

1280 

492 

600 

1141 

16 

26 

632 

71.1 

1600 

50 

4 

650 

525 

59 

636 

WA* 

WA* 

WA* 

730 

500 

0 

loo0 

24 

32 

235 

4Ooo 

40 

92 

140 

60 

1 92 

144 

30 

424 

350 

80 

100 

100 

102 

200 

10 

51 

50 

0 

33 

120 

41 

1600 

1250 

370 

700 

821 

15 

14 

538 

71.1 

450 

4 

4 

631 

200 

38 

533 

NlA* 

N/A* 

MA* 

41 1 

450 

39 

600 

15 

30 

206 

46OOo 

84 

75 

62 

90 

39 

114 

24 

340 

248 

38 

108 

270 

41 

161 

0 

71 

30 

24 

31 

28 ' 230, 

500 

88 
Comparison of Outputs, AcUvltles, and Budgets 

Table II - COMPARISON OF FY 1992 WPENDlTURES/A@COMPUSHMENTS ws FOREST PLAN 

PROJECTIONS vs REQUESTED OUTYEAR BUDGET (continued) 8. 

I I I 

Unit of ’Budget In Qutyear I Measure 1 Forest Plan I Request 

FP Level 

Range Improvement SS 63 61 

59 171 

0 267 

Recreation Construcllon ss5 

Facility Construction $s 

Englneerlng Const Support ss 575 559 

Const-Capital Inv Roads $$s 662 1088 

Road CondReconst Miles 33.0 47.3 

Trail ConWReconsl SbS 168 302 

Total Budget ss 8348 9998 

Trail ConsVReconat Miles 14.0 24.0 

All dollar figures are expreased in 1992 dollars (thousands). 

. *Outyear targets for Recreation are requested using a different unit of measure (MPAOTs). 

The budget in the Lewis and Clark National Forest 

Plan’ (June, 1986) was an estimate of the funds 

needed to implement the activities proposed in the 

Plan. Since that time many of the costs used in the 

Plan have changed. New activiiies and/or emphasis 

items, although authorized by the plan, have 

changed or expanded. Since the development of 

the Forest Plan we have additional and more accurate information on the real costs of resource sup 

port to timber, for example. 

Each fall the Forest submits two outyear program 

requests (dollars and outputs) for the fiscal year two 

years in advance. One program outlines our budget 

needs to implement the Forest Pia#, and the other 

requests a program for the forest within an assigned 

budget constraint3. The constraint is assigned by a 

higher organizational level and forces the forest to 

prioritize work within a limited budget. These program requests are combined with other forests in 

Allocation 

Constrained 

45 47 

171 11 

267 0 

501 408 

800 190 

163 31 

4.0 5.2 

7789 6439 

40.1 42.8 

the country and are eventually submitted to Congress as part of the President’s Budget. 

When Congress passes the Appropriation Bill, the 

dollars and targets are disaggregated to the forest 

level and the forest is left with a budget allocation4 

and targets to execute. In all cases this ‘Actual‘ 

allocation may or may not resemble our outyear 

request. There are several reasons why the budget 

allocation we receive differs from the program we 

requested in the outyear process. The main reason 

for the difference is that Congress’ decision on budgets and targets is influenced by more than just the 

President’s budget submission. The following are 

examples of influences on Congress; committee 

members’ interests, successful lobbying efforts, the 

overall size of the budget (and deficit), and the popularity or unpopularity of certain items in the budget. 

When this budget comes to us-in the form of an 

Appropriation Act (a law) we are required to execute 

it as Congress has specified. 

89 
Ust of PreparerslApproval 

V. LIST OF PREPARERS 

The following individuals contributed to the devedpment of the Monitoring an( 

Lewis and Clark National Forest for Fiscal Year 1992. 

FY 1992 Monitoring & Evaluation Team 

NAME 

Ron Brohman 

Bonnie Dearing 

William Duryee 

Dana Field 

Sam Gilbert 

Donald Godtel 

Arlyss Hagen 

Lynn Johnson 

RonMeyers . 

Richard Newton 

Wayne Phillips 

Dick Smith 

Robin Strathy 

Len Walch 

Ronald Yates 

Evaluation Report for 1 10 

, FUNCTIONAL RESOURCE AREA L 

Zone Timber 

Public Information Officer 

Staff Officer - Engineering/Lands 

Botanist 

Zone limber (Silviculturist) 

Wildlife Biologist 

Resource Specialist 

Program Analyst 

Civil Engineer (Roads & Facilities) 

Archaeologist 

Ecologist 

Staff Officer Land Management Planning 

Geologist 

Zone Fisheries Biologist 

Landscape Architect/Recreation 

In addition, the report was reviewed by the following individuals: 

Jerry Dombrovske 

90 
Ust of PreparerslApproval 

VI. APPROVAL 

I have reviewed the annual Forest Plan Monitoring and Evaluation Report for Fiscal Year 1992 for the Lewis 

and Clark National Forest that was prepared by the Forest Interdisciplinary Team. I am satisfied that the 

Monitoring and Evaluation effort meets the intent of the Forest Plan (Chapter V), Forest Service Handbook 

1909.12, and 36 CFR 219. 

This report is approved: \ 

% 

,.>-A',- 

< 

JOHN 0. GORMAN 

Forest Supervisor 

c 

91 
Append& A 

APPENDIX A 

ANNUAL WILDERNESS REPORT 

Bob Marshall Wilderness 

Rocky Mountain Ranger District 

Fiscal Year 1992 \ 

1. ACREAGE CHANGES: Undhanged from last year. 

II. SIGNIFICANT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: 

A. Resource Management: 

Wlldllfe. Mountain Lion population study adjacent to and within Wilderness. Harlequin Duck 

Survey continued. 

Fisheries. Fish shocking was to identify presence of cutthroat trout in Birch Creek. 

Threatened and Endangered Specles. Documentation of grizzly bear and gray wolf observations 

were conducted. Three problem bears were snared and removed from Wilderness. Five sensitive 

plant surveys were conducted. 

Cultural Resources. Surveys were completed on five trail projects. A finding of no cultural 

significance was documented on all three projects. 

Range. Visual and paced range transects were taken on four outfitter grazing areas. All four were 

within Wilderness grazing guidelines. 

Minerals. None. 

Water. Water sedimentation study continued on the North Fork of the Sun River to measure effects 

of 1988 Gates Creek Fire. Three annual snow surveys were taken at four sites to predict runoff and 

amount of water for downstream users. 

Soll. None. 

Air. None. 

- 

Noxlous Weeds. Continued monitoring and hand pulling of sites within knapweed, leafy spurge 

and hounds tongue infestations. 

Boundary Surveylng. None. 

1, 6. Ongoing Research and Resource Monttoring: 

Wildlife. Harlequin Duck Study ongoing. Mountain Lion Study adjacent to and within Wilderness. 

Fisheries. Fish shocking study completed. No significant population decline was noted. 

Threatened Endangered and Senstthre Specles. Confirmed grizzly bear sightings were documented. Area closures and trail closures due to unusual grizzly bear activities. Three grizzly bears 

rr 

93 
Appendix A 

were snared (sow and two year dd cubs) and removed from Wilderness. Sow was destroyed for 

aggressive behavior and cubs sent to bear lab in Washington. 

Confirmed gray wolf sightings and tracks recorded. 

*. 

Cuttural Resources. Survey results on trail #203, #211, #224, #121 and #261. No sites were 

identified, therefore, a cultural resource clearance was recommended for trails #121 & 261 and 

consultation was completed with SHPO. Consultation will occur with SHPO on trails Y203, #211 

and #224. 

Range. In OC I & II no more than 20% utilization of key forage species. No known locations 

exceeded standard. In OC 111 & IV no more than 40% utilization of key forage species: The only 

known locations that exceeded 40% were Windfall Creek during the fall season and upper Mome 

Creek during the summer season. 

2- 

s 

Minerals. None. 

Water. Sedimentation study not complete but appears there is a moderate increase in sedimentation. 

Soil. None. 

Air. None. 

Noxious Weeds. Noxious weeds have been limited to small isolated areas which are identified, 

mapped, pulled and removed from Wilderness. 

Boundary Surveylng. None. 

C. Recreatlon Management: 

SpecIal Use Permtt Admlnistration. Fourteen outfiier-guide permits were authorized and issued 

involving 5500 service days. 

Trail management and status. Accomplishments included I mile of trail reconstruction due to 

runoff damage on trail 261. 5.5 miles of trail surveyed and design for reconstruction. 290 miles d 

trail maintenance was accomplished. LAC monitoring of trails for 1992 was very limited because 

of lack of funds to hire seasonal employees. In addition, many key trails and areas were closed 

due to grizzly bear activities during peak use for extended periods of time. 

OC I & II - Not monitored. 

OC 111 & IV - Monitored monthly. 

Only trail 203 (both upper OC 111 and lower OC IV) exceeded standards. Lower OC IV - twice and 

upper OC 111 once. 

Campshe management and status. Rehabilitation was completed on three sites near Pretty Prairie 

on the South Fork of the Sun and three sites along the West Fork of the Sun. 
Appendix A 

Campsite density: 

OC I & II - Not monitored. 

OC 111 - Upper Moose Creek exceeded standards once. 

OC IV - West Fork Sun exceeded once. 

OC 111 & IV - Monthly. 

Wllderness education programs -'Leave noTrace' given at Choteau grade school to 5-6 graders, 

Fairfield grade school 5-6 graders, Augusta Grade school 5-6 graders and hunter Safety Class in 

Choteau and Dillon. Totalkof 130 students. 

Signlng. White oak trail directional signs were installed at 16 trail junctions and signs ordered for 

48 more. 

< 

Volunteers. Lookout on Prairie Reef Lookout for 51 days. Lookout on Beartop - 50 days. Lookout 

duties include tracking lightning storms, crew communication relay, visitor information and 'Leave 

no Trace' information to visitors. Prairie Reef lookout had 82 visitors and Beartop had 47 visitors. 

Two volunteer Wilderness Guards in the Pretty Prairie/lndian.Point area for a total of 90 days and 

one WildlifeNilderness Guard in the same area for a total of 20 days. 

D. Admlnlstratlon: 

Administrative use of motorized equlpment. Permission was granted to use power rock drill to 

drill and pin a dangerous slump on mainline trail #202. Power tool use was completed in 6 hours. 

Authorized Use of Motorlted Equipment (Non-Forest Servlce). Seven landings by helicopter 

were made to snare and remove three problem gimly bears from Wilderness. 

Search and Rescue. One helicopter landing at Cliff Mountain for a medical emergency. 

Vlolatlons and Law Enforcement Actlons. One outfiier-guide permit was not issued because of 

unauthorized trips. A criminal complaint was issued for illegal outfitting. Three unattended camp 

fires that had escaped (persons unknown). 

Admlnistratlve Structures. List of administrative sites and total number of structures: 

Gates Park Work Center 

Beartop Lookout 

Prairie Reef Lookout 

Cabin Creek Cabin 

Indian Point Cabin 

Pretty Prairie Cabin 

Rock Creek Cabin 

Wrong Creek Cabin 

Total Structures 

5 

1 

I 

2 

2 

2 

1 

1 

15 

. ., Ongoing Research Projects. None. 

Status of Wllderness Implementation Schedule: Complex managers are progressing on impls 

mentation schedule. r: 

Status of Fire Management Plan: Continue to implement the Lewis & Clark Fire Mgt. Action Plan 

that went into effect in August 1991. The plan set direction for the Prescribed Natural Fire Program. 

95 
Appendlx A 

Regulations In Effect: 14 day camp occupancy enforced in Wilderness and backcountry. CbSures around Lake Levale, Bear Lake, Upper Moose Creek, Indian Point Meadow and Elk Hill (fall 

season only) were enforced. Several campsites were closed for rehabilitation ._ 

Stafflng: 

Grade 

GS-11 

GS-9 

GS-5 

GS-5 

GS3 

GS4 

GS3 

GS-5 

Tour 

PFT 

Temp. 

Temp. 

Temp. 

WAE 

Temp; 

Temp. 

PFr \ 

Position 

Resource Asst. 

Wilderness Ranger 

Wilderness Guard 

Trail Foreman 

Trail Crew 

Wilderness Guard 

Trail Foreman 

Trail Crew 

Time 

.5 FTE 

.5 FTE 

.3 FTE 

.3 FTE 

.3 FTE 

.3 FE 

.3 FTE 

.9 FTE 

3.4 total FTE 

Ongolng Partnershlps: None. 

E. Effectlve Management Limitations: 

Lack of funding and adequate field presence results in continuation of illegal outfiiers operating 

and are contributing heavity to degradation of the Wilderness resource. 

96 
Appendlx A 

Scapegoat Wilderness 

Rocky Mountain Ranger District 

Fiscal Year 1992 

1. ACREAGE CHANGES: Unchanged from last year. 

11. SIGNIFICANT MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES: 

1 

A. Resource Management 

Wlldllfe: Mountain Lion population study adjacent to Wilderness. 

Flsherles: Fish shocking study completed. No apparent effects from 1988 fires on fisheries. 

Threatened & Endangered Specles: Documentation of grimly bear and gray wolf observations 

were conducted. Harlequin duck surveys conducted on Dearborn River, Straight Creek and South 

Fork of the Sun River. 

Cultural Resources: Surveys were completed on two trail construction project. 

Range: Visual transects taken on key grazing areas. 

Minerals: None. 

Water: None. 

Soll: None. 

Air: None. 

Noxlous Weeds: Site inventory continued and weeds pulled and removed from Wilderness. 

Boundary Surveylng: None. 

8. Ongolng Research 81 Resource Monkorlng: 

WlldlHe: Threatened and Endangered species observations 

Fisheries: Fish shocking for population completed. No apparent decline caused by 1988 fires. 

Threatened & Endangered Species: Confirmed grizzly bear sightings and fracks have been 

documented. 

c 

Cultural Resources: Survey on trail project #207 indicated it would not have an effect on cultural 

resources, therefore, cultural resource clearance was granted. . .\ 

97 
Appendix A 

Range: Visual transects indicate range conditions are in an upward trend since the 1988 fires. 

Mlnerals: None. 

Water: None. 

Soil: None. 

Alr: None. \r 

Noxious Weeds: keas of infestations of leafy spurge were hand pulled and removed from 

Wilderness. 

< 

Boundary Surveying: None. 

C. Recreatlon Management 

Special Use Permit Administration: 2 outfitter guide permits were issued and two others were 

reviewed. 

Trall Management & Status: 120 miles of trail were maintained. 4.5 miles of trail reconstruction was 

completed on trails 205 & 207. 

Campstte Management & Status: Due to lack of funds, no monitoring was conducted in OC I or 

II. OC 111 was monitored once a month. No trail or campsite standards were exceeded. A total of 

4 campsites were rehabilitated. 1 seasonal wilderness guard worked for a total of 50 days and 

made 11 1 user contacts. 

Wilderness Educatlon Programs: 'Leave NoTrace' given at Choteau grade school to 5-6 graders, 

Fairfield grade school 5-6 graders, Augusta grade school to 5-6 graders and hunter safety class 

in Choteau and Dillon. Total of 130 students. 

Signing: Two Wilderness Boundary signs were replaced with white oak and 6 trail directional signs 

replaced with white oak. 

Volunteers: Two volunteer wilderness guards performed 45 days of work each. One volunteer 

lookout was located at Patrol Mountain for a total of 25 days. 

D. Admlnlstratlon 

Admlnlstrathre Use of Motorized Equlpment: Power rock drill was used after receiving clearance 

for use on reconstruction of trail #207. Drilling and blasting of drill holes was accomplished in three 

days without any disruption of visitor use. 

Non-Forest Servlce Use of Motorlzed Equipment: None. 

Search and Rescue: None. 

Violations & Law Enforcement Actions: One illegal outfitter case investigated, investigation is still 

ongoing. 

Admlnittrrtivo Structures: Welcome Creek Work Center - 2 buildings. Green Fork Station - 2 

buildings. 
Appendlx A 

Ongoing Research: White Bark Pine lnventoly completed. White Bark Pine is decreasing. 

Status of Wilderness lmplementatlon Schedule: Complex managers are progressing on WS. I. 

Status of Fire Management Plan: Continue to implement Lewis tI Clark Fire Management Action 

Plan that went into effect August, 1991 this plan set direction for Prescribed Natural Fire Program. 

Regulatlons In Effect: 14 day camp occupancy restriction enforced. Pack in, Pack out and Leave 

no Trace as well. CFR Wilderness regulations. 

Staff Ing: 

1 

% 

GS-11 Resource Assistant - 4 pay periods. 

GS-9 WildemeWTrail Manager - 6 pay periods. 

GS4 Seasonal Wilderness Guard - 6 pay periods. 

GS-4 (3) Trail Crew - 8 pay periods. 

Ongolng Partnerships: Surface cave search and exploration with 19 locations recorded in 4 areas 

using Forest GPS equipment in Green Fork area Eight cavek out of 19 are known from previous 

exploration trips with aluminum tags present on 6 caves. Partnership was with Lake Missoula 

Grotto of the National Speleological Society through a Challenge Cost Share Project. 

E. Effective Management Umttatlons 

Lack of funding and adequate field personnel results in continuation of illegal outfmer operations 

which are contributing to degradation of the Wilderness resource. 

Lack of funding and interest has limited ability to rehabilitate firelines and other noticeable impacts 

by man, associated with fire fighting large natural fires. This problem includes the windrow effect 

along trail corridors with an extensive amount of fire killed downfall. 

99