oil and Gas Development 



A gas field is being developed in the study area, and 

 future exploration may find more gas and even oil. oil and 

 gas developments and their associated pipelines, etc. can have 

 a minor impact on wildlife if the developers will follow 

 offered guidelines for the protection of wildlife habitat. 

 Through cooperation with the land managers involved, oil and 

 gas developments can remain a source of energy which has little 

 impact on the wildlife resource and the environment. 



Dam Building 



The Corps of Engineers has designated reaches of the Missouri 

 River, in the vicinity of the mouth of Cow Creek, as possible dam 

 sites. Since this reach of the Missouri River is now protected 

 under the Wild and Scenic River designation, the possibility of 

 a dam is very remote; however, the increasingly critical energy 

 shortage affecting the country could bring this proposal back 

 to life. A dam built on the Missouri River, in the vicinity of 

 the mouth of Cow Creek, would adversely affect the wildlife 

 resource, both above and below the dam, by destroying important 

 Canada goose and duck nesting habitat, and deer and pheasant 

 habitat. In a world of shrinking wildlife habitat, it will not 

 be possible to obtain mitigation for these losses. 



Fencing 



Fencing that prevents antelope migration is a land use prac- 

 tice that adversely affects wildlife. It is minor when compared 

 to the above-mentioned problems, but it can significantly impact 

 antelope. Public land managers should not allow sheep-tight 

 fences or four-plus strand fences to be erected where they will 

 prevent antelope migrations. This can be very critical during 

 periods of crisis, such as severe winters, when longer migration 

 routes are necessary. 



PLANNING RECOMMENDATIONS 

 Western Segment 



1) Riparian vegetation on pxoblic lands should receive protec- 

 tion from overgrazing and land clearing. 



2) Wildlife values on public lands should receive full con- 

 sideration in grazing allotments, since these lands often 

 represent the only native vegetation in the area. 



3) Sagebrush removal or conversion on public lands should 

 cease, and cost-sharing on private lands should be care- 

 fully evaluated with full recognition of wildlife values, 



4) Annual breeding ground and production surveys of Canada 

 geese should continue on the Missouri River. 



5) Winter mule deer surveys of the Missouri River should con- 

 tinue as needed to monitor this population. 



6) The impacts of potential hydroelectric dams at Fort Benton 

 and Carter should be thoroughly evaluated. 



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