access road options during the WE ST EC H reconnaissance as well as 

 species Identified by Richard Prodgers for the High Rye area (John Joy, 

 pers. comm. ) . A number of species which bloom in sprinq or early 

 summer are undoubtedly omitted from the list. 



In the permit area, 195 vascular plant species have been identified, 

 including 37 graminoids, 123 forbs, 4 subshrubs, 20. low shrubs, and 11 

 tall shrubs and trees. Most of these species were also recorded in the 

 access road options. An additional 83 taxa were identified only in the 

 access options, primarily species which are more restricted to lower 

 elevations. These included 17 graminoids, 50 forbs, 3 subshrubs, 9 low 

 shrubs, end 4 tall shrubs and trees. An additional 12 graminoids and 

 27 forbs have been documented for the High Rye area. 



The combined list of 317 taxa was comprised of 66 graminoids, 200 

 forbs, 7 subshrubs, 29 low shrubs, and 15 tall shrubs and trees. 

 Cordilleran flora dominate the list, with some Pacific maritime 

 influence. Lower intermontane valleys (lower elevations of access 

 options) exhibit moderate Great Plains influence. 



The status of rare plants in the Beal Project permit area and access 

 options was ascertained by contact with the Montana Natural Heritage 

 Program (MTNh°) and review of the Montana rare plant monograph by 

 Lesica et al . (1984). A search of MTNhP files suggested seven taxa as 

 candidates for the study area, although there was a rather low 



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