Conservation Conference and a general audience presentation at a Montana 

 Native Plant Society program. 



Its conservation planning and occurrences are treated as sensitive data 

 because they are on highly accessible land, they have no protection, and 

 private landowners are to be spared unwelcome publicity. It may also be a 

 sensitive topic because of the controversy associated with threatened and 

 endangered animals in Montana. 



5. Other recommendations: Coordination is needed between botanists working 

 on Spiranthes diluvialis and considering its status, recovery, and Section 7 

 guidelines. Genetic comparison of the new range extensions with the 

 Colorado and Utah material would be useful in considering conservation 

 priorities. 



Additional information is needed on the habitat requirements and may also 

 be needed on the status of its pollinator(s) and on the levels of fruit set among 

 Montana occurrences. 



Systematic survey work needs to be completed on tracts adjoining four EOs 

 (#007, #008, #009 and #011). 



Noxious weed control is needed at almost half of the occurrences, including 

 two of the three largest (#001, #004, #005, #009). These are a high priority 

 for consultation involving the landowners and the Natural Resources 

 Conservation Service, and for cost-sharing with landowners. 



Preliminary hydrological consultation on the groundwater source and stability 

 is also recommended. The origin of the wetlands may also shed light on the 

 habitat specificity and hydrology. 



B. Monitoring activities and research needs: Continued monitoring of EO#001 is 

 recommended pending literature synthesis and statistical consultation. 



16. Interested parties: 



Office of Endangered Species 

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 P.O. Box 25486 

 Denver Federal Center 

 Denver, CO 80225 



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