VALUE CLASSES 



Each river reach in Montana will be assigned to one of the 

 following five value classes to denote its value for wildlife: 



1 - Outstanding wildlife resource 



2 - Substantial high wildlife resource 



3 - Moderate wildlife resource 



4 - Limited wildlife resource 



5 - Unclassified wildlife resource 



STANDARPS AND CRITERIA 



Category 1: Habitat and Species Value 



The value class for Category 1 will be based on habitat quality 

 and the relative importance of the wildlife species associated 

 with each river segment (Table 1) . All available habitat and 

 species information will be compiled but the evaluation will 

 feature the combination of habitat and species that determines 

 the highest value class for each river segment. 



Table 1. Proposed value classes of river segments, as determined 

 from habitat and species value. 



Species of 



High Intermediate Low 



Habitat of ... Concern Concern Concern 



High Quality 1 2 3 



Intermediate Quality 2 3 4 



Low Quality 3 4 4 



Species of high concern shall include: 



1. Species listed or proposed for listing as threatened or 

 endangered. 



2. Vertebrate species of special interest or concern, as 

 designated by MDFWP . 



3. Big game animals of regional importance including: 



Mule Deer - Odocoilcus hemionius 

 White-tailed Deer - Odocoileus virginianus 

 Rocky Mountain Elk - Cervus elaphus 

 Moose - Alces alces shirasi 

 Bighorn Sheep - Ovis canadensis 

 Mountain Goat - Qreamnos americana 

 Black Bear - Ursus americana 



4. River Otter - Lutra canadensis 



5. Merriam's Turkey - Melragis gallopavo mirriami 



6. Harlequin Duck - Histrionicus histrionicus 



Species of intermediate interest shall include: 



1. All other game animals, game birds, furbearers. 



2. Species, associated with riparian habitats, that have 

 been identified by the Forest service as indicators 



(except for those included above) , including non-game 

 species of moderate significance. 



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