Sagebrush Removal 



From the advent of homes teading, sagebrush removal has been 

 an on-going and intensifying activity. Today, in the western 

 segment of the project area, sagebrush habitat is essentially in 

 a remnant status in parts of the breaks too steep to farm. The 

 critical importance of this vegetation type for sage grouse, 

 antelope and mule deer winter range makes it essential that any 

 sagebrush removal or land conversion programs on public lands 

 be carefully evaluated - if not eliminated. Public assistance 

 programs on private lands should consider conservation of these 

 important areas. 



Dams 



With the passage of the Upper Missouri River Wild and Scenic 

 River Act, impoundments of the Missouri River from Fort Benton 

 to Robinson Bridge have, for the time being, been precluded. 

 However, proposed hydroelectric dams at Fort Benton, Carter, 

 Highwood Creek, and Belt Creek pose serious impacts for the 

 wildlife resource. Much of the breaks area taken in by these 

 dams contains important deer winter range for a sizable and in- 

 creasing mule deer population. These impoundments would inun- 

 date significant Canada goose nesting habitat. The possible 

 downstream impacts from changed-flow regimes in the Missouri 

 River could have even greater negative impacts for the Canada 

 goose nesting population. 



Eastern Segment 



The study area abounds in wildlife; however, there are many 

 existing and potential problems detrimentally affecting this 

 wildlife resource. The following discussion is a summation of 

 these problems: 



Overgrazing 



Overgrazing by livestock is a major land use practice which 

 adversely affects the wildlife resource. Overgrazing destroys 

 big game, upland game and nongame animal food sources and im- 

 portant cover for upland game birds, waterfowl and other birds. 



Many private lands are overgrazed, and public agencies 

 cannot prevent it; however, on public lands, the land managers 

 involved can prevent overgrazing. It should be the primary re- 

 sponsibility of public land managers to discourage programs that 

 lead to overgrazing. 



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