12 



Gulch is in largely undisturbed habitat. 

 Although some grazing does occur in the area, 

 it appears to be restricted to the lower, 

 more gently sloping hillsides, below the 

 population. 



11.12. General assessment of vigor, trends and 



status: All 13 A. fecunda populations occur 

 within a radius of ca. 47 miles. Centaurea 

 maculosa (spotted knapweed) is currently not 

 a threat to populations along the flanks of 

 the Pioneer Range, but appears to be 

 impacting the sites along the foothills of 

 the Sapphire Range. See Appendix B 

 Schassberger (1988) , and Appendix A of this 

 report (p. 16) . Reproductive output of the 

 A. fecunda population at Cattle Gulch appears 

 to be normal, but has fewer individuals than 

 other populations nearby. 



II. 13. A. Recommendation to U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service: It is recommended that Arabis 

 fecunda be retained as a Category 2 species, 

 until threats to populations can be more 

 fully evaluated. 



II.13.B. U.S. Forest Service: Arabis fecunda is now 

 known to occur on lands administered by the 

 U.S. Forest Service. Thus, it should be 

 placed on the list of sensitive species in 

 Region 1 for Montana. 



II. 15. A. 1. Recommendations regarding present or 



anticipated activities: The effects of 

 mining or increased grazing in areas 

 supporting populations of Arabis fecunda 

 should be assessed before any new management 

 actions are implemented. Although spotted 

 knapweed ( Centaurea maculosa) is not 

 currently a problem in the Pioneer Mountains, 

 its eventual dispersal into the area should 

 be monitored, as this species appears to have 

 a negative impact on many plant species, 

 including Arabis fecunda . 



2. Areas recommended for protection: 



Canyon Creek (Oil) : Large representative 

 population of Arabis fecunda located at a 

 higher elevation site on U.S. Forest Service 

 lands in the East Pioneer Mountains. 



