SUMMARY 



Ute ladies'-tresses has been systematically surveyed across potential habitat spanning eight counties, 

 based on three primary search criteria that were ground-truthed and extrapolated in the field. The 

 survey methodology included interpretation of aerial photography in all eight counties, 

 interpretation of soil survey maps for those three counties having published soil surveys, and survey 

 at or around the places where two other rare species that are closely associated with Ute 

 ladies'-tresses have been collected. Vegetation and soils data were collected at representative sites 

 of Ute ladies'-tresses to document habitat conditions. 



The distribution of Ute ladies'-tresses has been circumscribed in western Montana, where it is 

 known from four counties in intermontane valleys centered on the Jefferson River, and confluent 

 lower reaches of the Gallatin, Madison, Beaverhead and Ruby rivers. While this spans app. 80 

 miles of valley, the species is in a highly restricted microhabitat that falls within four soil series, 

 within them to shallow meandered wetlands, and within these wetlands to small pockets of sparse, 

 highly calcareous meadow. 



Ten occurrences have been documented, doubling the total number previously known. Two of the 

 largest had flowering plant numbers approaching or exceeding 500 individuals in 1997. Small 

 populations or population segments were found on three small tracts of state land but the balance are 

 on private property. Occurrences in Montana represent over 10% of known occurrences rangewide, 

 but likely less than 10% of total numbers of plants rangewide. 



All Montana populations are vulnerable and unprotected but are not under immediate threats. 

 Priority conservation tasks include: conveyance of species information to land managing and 

 regulatory agencies and to agencies that work with private landowners, delimitation of potential 

 habitat for Sec. 7 reference purposes in Montana, expanded systematic survey at those EOs where 

 boundaries have not been delimited, noxious weed control, determination of the pollinator and its 

 habitat requirements, refinement and analysis of the monitoring work, hydrological consultation, 

 comparison of rangewide genetic resources, and coordination with other researchers working on the 

 species. 



