with outliers in the Great Plains (Nebraska, Wyoming) and the Okanagan Highlands 

 (Washington). In 1993 it was first discovered in Wyoming (Fertig 1994), and in 

 1994 in Montana (Aderhold 1995, Heidel 1995, 1996a,b). In 1996 it was first 

 discovered in Idaho (Moseley 1996) and Nebraska (Hazlett 1996). In 1997 it was 

 discovered in Washington (Sheviak, Gamon pers. commun.). It is now known from 

 seven states and the historic record in Nevada. Figure 3 is a rangewide distribution 

 map by Ronald Hartman (University of Wyoming), differentiating between 

 occurrences documented prior vs. subsequent to the time that it was federally 

 designated. The distribution is highly discontinuous between the dots, and the 

 species is sparsely distributed throughout its range. 



B. 



Precise occurrences. 



1. Populations currently known to be extant. 



a. Montana: The distribution of Ute ladies'-tresses has been 



circumscribed in Montana, where it is knovm from ten element 

 occurrences in four counties in intermontane valleys centered on the 

 Jefferson River, and confluent lower reaches of the Gallatin, Madison, 

 Beaverhead and Ruby rivers (Figure 4). They represent app. 80 miles 

 of connected intermontane valleys in the headwaters of the Missouri 

 River. It is highly restricted to a tiny microhabitat within meandered 

 wetlands within four restricted soil series. The occurrences are 

 represented in Table 1 and in occurrence printouts (Appendix I .) 



II 



