majority of the growing season. Elevation was 7730 to 7760 feet. The 

 type is dominated by tufted hairgrass ( Deschampsi a cespitosa) > sedge 

 species, alpine timothy, bentgrasses (A grostis ) and rushes (Juncus) . 

 With heavy grazing pressure, tufted hairgrass decreases and is replaced 

 by sedges, rushes, Kentucky bluegrass and forbs such as common yarrow, 

 bistort ( Polygonum bistortoid es) , diverse-leaved cinquefoil and common 

 dandel ion. 



Production data for the Des ces/Carex habitat type are limited in 



western Montana. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) sampled only one stand 



2 

 with a total production of 290.9 grams/meter . This type is 



potentially the most productive grassland in western Montana. Pierce 



(1986) sampled several sedge-dominated community types in west-central 



Montana, which are probably more indicative of production expected in 



the wet phase of the Des ces/Carex type within the permit area. 



Shrubby Cinquefoil /Rough Fescue (Pot fru/Fes sea) Habitat Type . This 



was the only shrubland habitat type identified in the permit area and 

 covered only about two acres. It occupies gentle slopes of straight 



configuration on warm aspects at elevations of 7410 to 7530 feet. 



Graminoid cover averaged 74 percent for one stand sampled, similar to 

 adjacent mesic grassland types, and reflected historic grazing in that 

 rough fescue had been replaced by aggressive increaser species. 

 Dominant graminoids were sedge species (30 percent cover), bluegrass 



17 



