r 



tion, or just to confirm waterfowl use of an area. Key 

 wetland areas in each geographically different area were 

 checked. Approximately 20% of all wetlands delineated 

 from the air were rechecked on the ground. 



4. Personal Contacts 



During 1974 many personal contacts and letter comnunications 

 were used to determine areas for wetland studies. By con- 

 tacting the right people a better picture can be obtained 

 of a wetland and its uses and can be of great help in making a 

 delineation. Some of those who assisted in initiating 

 "recommended search areas" for wetland reconnaisance were 

 Montana Fish and Game Regional Biologists, Soil Conservation 

 Service personnel, local Agricultural Stabilization and 

 Conservation Service personnel at each county seat, and 

 land owners. 



III. Wetland - Physiographic Relationships , 



In the report "VJetlands Inventory - Montana, 1954" page 10, is ? 

 good description of the physiographic regions of Montana: 



"The major physiographic provinces represented in Montana are 

 the Great Plains, Northern Rocky Mountains, and Middle Rocky 

 Mountains. The glaciated and unglaciated portions of the Mis- 

 souri Plateau, which com.prise the section of the Great Plains 

 province in Montana, are roughly divided by the Missouri River. ^ 

 The inventoried area in Lakt County is located in the Northern ' 

 Rocky Mountain province and it includes a broad glaciated valley 

 surrounded by mountain ranges." 



To draw all factors of waterfowl use, physiography and climate to- 

 gether one must certainly consider weather or precipitation records. 

 From a publication of the Department of Commerce entitled "Climate 

 of Montana," 1960, a chart indicating precipitation isolines shows 

 much of the Hi-line of Montana to receive approximately twelve inches 

 of precipitation annually. A closer evaluation of individual sta- 

 tions shows some areas to receive ten inches while others might 

 receive as high as fourteen inches. 



Generally speaking, areas in the higher precipitation zones receive 

 higher waterfowl use where good habitat is available. In final 

 analysis of the data in the delineations, the best waterfowl areas 

 are generally found in the higher precipitation zones. 



In Section IV the counties are listed in order of rank with respect 

 to importance of waterfowl habitat. Six of the top ten counties 

 are those found in the Hi-line portion of the state. Of this list 

 the top four counties are found in a precipitation zone of approxi- 

 mately thirteen inches. Again, the first seven of the top ten 



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