wildlife habitats and species exclusively associated 

 with riparian areas or regionally important big game 

 species. As the assessment process evolved, the 

 approach shifted from a riparian dominant species and 

 habitat assessment to a more inclusive, diversified 

 wildlife database. Although riparian zone species and 

 habitat continued to play a primary role in the 

 analysis, species diversity and overall habitat condi- 

 tion played an equally important role. 



CATEGORY DESCRIPTION 



Wildlife values were measured by assigning points 

 to each resource assessment unit based on three 

 criteria: species, habitat, and recreational charac- 

 teristics. Habitat values included specializer* wild- 

 life land designation and habitat quality. The species 

 criterion considered threatened and endangered species, 

 overall game and furbearer species diversity and densi- 

 ty, species of special concern, and wetland species. 

 Recreation value measured consumptive and nonconsump- 

 tive values including hunting, scientific/educational 

 value, and aesthetics. Evaluation of recreation pro- 

 vided an opportunity to include social information in 

 the inventory, identify river segments and drainage 

 basins noted for their recreation value, and integrate 

 the species and habitat values with the recreation 

 values. 



VALOE CLASSES 



Each river assessment unit in Montana was assigned 

 to one of the following five value classes to denote 

 its value for wildlife: 



I - Outstanding wildlife resource 

 II - Substantial wildlife resource 

 III - Moderate wildlife resource 

 IV - Limited wildlife resource 

 V - Unclassified wildlife resource 



CRITERIA 



HABITAT VALDE 



The criteria used to evaluate habitat value for 

 each river assessment unit were designed to recognize 

 specialized land uses and evaluate habitat quality. 

 Specialized land uses included tracts of land estab- 

 lished by federal, state, or private agencies for the 



