Low - Riparian zone dominated by few to one major vegetation 

 type (e.g. crops, pasture, range) or is unvegetated (urban, 

 industrial situations). 



Final Habitat Value Calculation 



Cutoff values for class assignments were made for both specialized land 

 designations and habitat quality; the highest classification for the 2 

 categories was used for the final habitat rating. Cutoff values were assigned 

 as follows: 



SPECIES VALUE 



Threatened and Endangered Species 



Each threatened or endangered species was assigned weight values of 13 

 points. However, biologists could rate the occurrence of the species or its 

 critical habitat with a value of (species absent), 1 (species present but 

 assessment unit does not contain habitat essential for recovery), or, in some 

 cases, 2 (assessment unit contains habitat essential for recovery). 



For bald eagles, a 1 indicated wintering or migrating concentration area 

 and a 2 indicated current nesting use. An additional 20 bonus points were 

 awarded for bald eagle nesting sites because of this species dependence on 

 riparian habitat. Bald eagle nesting and winter information was obtained from 

 Natural Heritage Program (MNHP 1987) and contacts with MDFWP endangered 

 species biologists. 



For the grizzly bear, a rating of 2 represented management areas or 

 situations 1 and 2 as established by the respective National Forests for the 

 Yellowstone and Northern Continental Divide ecosystems. For the Cabinet-Yaak 

 ecosystem, the area delineated in the MDFWP Grizzly Bear Environmental Impact 

 Statement (Dood et al. 1986) was used to determine a 2 rating. A rating of 1 

 represented other management situations or fringe areas felt to be important 

 for grizzly bear recovery. 



Areas supporting recently reintroduced or breeding peregrine falcons 

 (Flath pers. comm. 1987) received a 2. Areas with historic peregrine eyries 

 received a 1. Because of the current controversy over wolf recovery in 

 Montana, only currently occupied habitat which is being managed for wolf 

 recovery received a rating of 1. At present, this area constitutes only the 

 North Fork of the Flathead. 



