waterfowl resource and wetland functional values. At the present time, the program 

 does not include a discussion of riparian lands or river beds. 



An inventory of existing wetlands is necessary in order to respond to the question of 

 wetland status and trends. The USFWS is currently involved with the National Wetland 

 Inventory project that has targeted the glaciated pothole regions within the U.S., 

 including Montana. The sequence of these photo-mapping efforts in Montana are as 

 follows: 



Completed Drafted 1988 Proposed 1989 Proposed 



Hardin SE Havre NE Wolf Point Great Plains Zone 



Ekalaka Glasgow NW,SW Intermountain West Zone 



(Flathead) 

 Rocky Mtn. Front Zone 



When this project is completed, it will provide the Department of Fish, Wildlife, and 

 Parks with a detailed inventory of wetlands by type (based on the Cowardin 

 classification system) within the state. 



In addition to this ongoing inventory work, completed inventories available as SCORP 

 references include Harvey Wittmier's Land Acquisition and Development Plan. Flathead 

 and Lake Counties (1986), and Rodney King's Wetland Delineation of Montana, (1974 - 

 1975): compiled for the USFWS. The latter effort was directed towards the identification 

 of natural wetlands throughout Montana with significant waterfowl production 

 capabilities. This information was assembled on a county basis and prioritized for the 

 USFWS wetland acquisition and easement program. This was again directed at natural 

 wetlands and did not address the waterfowl production capabilities of the artificially 

 created stock dam complexes of eastern Montana. 



Threat Analysis 



Review of the draft National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan indicates that, on a 

 regional basis, wetland losses within Montana have occurred at a much lower rate in 

 comparison to other regions of the United States. Drainage and irrigation drawdowns 

 can be a problem, but not to the magnitude of that experienced in the Dakotas and 

 Minnesota. However, intensified land use practices on upland habitat adjacent to 

 wetlands has definitely impacted the waterfowl production potential of many of these 

 complexes. Residential development, especially in the Flathead Valley, is reducing the 

 overall values of the wetland/upland complex for waterfowl. 



The wetland losses that have occurred have not been quantified with any accuracy. 

 Estimates are included as part of the inventories above. Impacts to the adjacent upland 

 habitat types in some areas have been extensive and have reduced both the wetland 

 functions and the waterfowl production potential of the wetland complexes. 



Both King's Wetland Delineation of Montana (Tables 2 and 5), and Wittmier's Land 



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