Value Class Definition 



1 Outstanding or unique natural feature (of national or 



regional significance) 



2 Substantial value natural feature (of statewide 



significance) 



3 Moderate value natural feature (significant over a 



multi-county area) 



4 Limited value natural feature (of local significance) 



U Natural feature of unknown significance 



CRITERIA 



The following criteria will be used to determine the value class of an individual 

 natural feature: 



A. Scarcity (from national, regional, statewide, or local perspectives) 



B. Designation or listing by federal, state, local, or private agencies 



C. Scientific or educational value 



D. Public and recreational use 



Each site identified will be separately rated based on the these four criteria. 

 The final value class assigned to a site will be the highest rating received in any 

 one of the four criteria. Near the end of the inventory, when most of the individual 

 sites have been located and rated, river segments may be assigned to these same value 

 classes based on the number and significance of the individual natural features 

 contained. This can be done subjectively or by summing points within a reach. A 

 decision as to which method to use will be deferred until near the end of the 

 inventory. 



STANDARDS 



Criterion A: Scarcity . The value class for criterion A will be based on the 

 overall rarity of the feature, as follows: 



1. Very Rare (only a few examples worldwide, nationwide, or regionally) 



2. Rare (only a few examples in Montana) 



3. Scarce (several examples present in Montana but limited to a few counties) 



4. Uncommon (examples present in most Montana counties) 

 U. Abundance unknown 



Criterion B: Previous designation . Natural features which have been designated 

 or proposed for designation by governmental or private entities will be given higher 

 value classes within this criterion than those which have not. The higher the level 

 of official recognition, the higher the value class, as outlined below: 



1. Nationally significant designation. Includes natural features designated as 

 national monuments, national natural landmarks, BLM or USFS natural areas, areas of 

 critical environmental concern, research natural areas, or outstanding natural areas. 

 Includes known stands of federally-listed threatened or endangered plant species (no 

 plant species are currently listed for Montana), those listed as Category 1 or 2 by 

 USFWS (Federal Register, May 22, 1984), or those proposed for endangered status by the 

 Montana Rare Plant Project (Lesica et al. 1984) (See table 2). Includes proposed 

 national natural landmarks of priority 1. 



