CATl£GURY DESCRIPTICi: 



liatural tfcsturts incltoe: in) encJariLjered enu trirtjotened plants; (u) rare or 

 unique plant cor.ii.-.uni ties; (c) river-related geologic and hyarologic features, ana 

 (d) previously designated natural areas or features. Specific elei.ients addresseu 

 are I istea i n Tab I e 1 . 



VALUE CLASSES 



Each natural feature was assic,ned to one of the followiny value classes to 

 denote its relative significance. The criteria and standaras discussed below v/ere 

 usea to assign features to these value classes. 



Value Class Definition 



1 Outstanding or unique natural feature (of national or 

 regional significance) 



2 Substantial value natural feature (of statewide 

 signi f icance) 



3 (iouerate value natural feature (significant over a 

 multi-county area) 



4 Limited value natural feature (of local significance) 



U Natural feature of unknown significance 



CRITERIA 



Tne following criteria were used to oetermine the value class of each inuividual 

 natural feature: 



A. Scarcity 



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



C. Publ ic and recreational use 



U. Scientific or educational value 



Each site iaentified was rated separately based on these four criteria. The 

 final value class assigned to a site was equal to tne highest rating received in any 

 of the four criteria. 



STAIIDARDS 



Criterion A; Scarcity . The value class for criterion A was based on the 

 overall rarity of the feature, as follows: 



1. Very r;are (only a few examples worldwide, nationwide, or regionally) 



2. Rare (only o few examples in ilontana) 



i. Scarce (several examples present in Ilontana but limited to a few counties) 

 4. Uncoi.imon (exainplss present in several liontana counties) 

 U. Aounocnce unknown 



Criterion L: Previous designation , natural features which have been designateo 

 or proposea for uosignation by governin^ntal or private entities were yiven higher 

 value classes within tn i s criterion than those which have not. The higher the level 

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



