11 



The disposition of BLM mineral leases in the remainder of the 

 population is unknown at this time, but current lease activity by 

 the National Guard precludes mining. 



There are also potential indirect affects of current quarrying 

 activities, as with recent air quality emission violation charges 

 against the quarry operator for high sulfuric and nitric acid 

 levels, as reported recently in the local newspaper. 



Quarrying activity is highly localized or nonexistent at other 

 population sites in the Pryor Mountains and Beaverhead County at 

 this time. 



3. TIMBER HARVESTING: None. 



4. WEED CONTROL ACTIVITIES: Noxious weeds in the area are presently 

 restricted to roadbeds. An infestation of spotted knapweed, 

 leafy spurge, Dalmatian toadflax, and Canada thistle are reported 

 on adjoining State Land in T.7N R.IE Sec. 33 W 1/2; and T.6N R.IE 

 Sec. 4 W 1/2 (Scow and Culwell 1993) . 



Undesirable weeds observed along roadways on BLM lands include 

 musk thistle, heart-podded hoary-cress and black henbane. 



Since Limestone Hills access is restricted on both the State Land 

 and BLM land (beyond Old Womans Grave Road) , noxious weed 

 introduction on vehicles should be within the realm of control, 

 and vigilant roadside management should keep weed spread in 

 check. Aerial herbicide spraying is unwarranted. Treatment of 

 existing noxious weed problems does not pose a threat to sword 

 townsendia or its habitat. 



Noxious weed infestations are low or nonexistent for other sword 

 townsendia populations in the state. 



B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: The Limestone Hills area is 

 currently leased by the Montana National Guard for training 

 grounds. This involves earth-moving activities, arms explosions, 

 and fire ignitions. 



Earthmoving activity is restricted to areas below the ridges. 

 There is only one roadway crossing the ridge system, at a saddle 

 without sword townsendia habitat. All other construction lies 

 well below sword townsendia habitat. 



Projectile explosion scars are also concentrated at lower 

 elevations and have not pocked the ridge systems. Accidental 

 fire ignitions result from the explosions, however, and have 

 altered ridgeslope areas of grassland vegetation. The affect of 

 the large recent fire as observed on a burn area along the 

 eastern ridge was to reduce plant species diversity as well as 

 habitat structural diversity. The fire barely carried into 



