Habitat Monitoring Guidelines 



Effective habitat monitoring for grizzly bears, both within and outside the recovery zones, will require a 

 collaborative approach that includes input from all involved federal and state agencies and tribal 

 authorities. Moreover, habitat monitoring protocols inside each recovery zone will be specified in a 

 Conservation Strategy for each area. Acknowledging this, FWP anticipates that the following habitat 

 parameters will be cooperatively monitored, collated with assistance from the Interagency Grizzly Bear 

 Science Team, and reported annually. This will be used to determine changes in habitat quality and 

 guide management decisions. 



1. Habitat Effectiveness - FWP, in cooperation with land management agencies (e.g. USPS) will measure 

 habitat effectiveness in each BMU or subunit by application of the best available system, which at this 

 time is the Cumulative Effects Model (CEM). Habitat potential is the inherent value of the landscape 

 in the absence of human activities while habitat effectiveness values portray the value of the 

 landscape in the presence of human activities (e.g. roads, timber harvest, mines and subdivisions). 

 Subtracting habitat effectiveness from habitat potential gives the realized or actual value of the 

 landscape to bears. This can be determined using GIS technology. 



2. Road Standards - Forest Service road management standards will be monitored and reported for 

 each BMU. These may include: total road density, open road density and percent secure habitat. 



3. Easements and acquisitions - various agencies and private foundations work to secure conservation 

 easements and acquisitions in western Montana. These serve to improve habitat qualit\' for grizzly 

 bears and an annual report will be submitted detailing these activities. 



4. Wildfire activiU' - wildfires dramatically alter the vegetation and habitat mosaic of grizzly bear 

 habitat. Changes in habitat due to wildfire are generally considered to be long term improvements in 

 the overall habitat condition. Wildfire activity will however be reported annually. 



5. Significant legal or agency activities related to habitat condition - state, federal and corporate land 

 management activities have the potential to affect grizzly bear habitats. Significant habitat 

 management/alteration/improvement activities within the NCDE and CYE will be reported annually. 

 This will include, for example, brief summaries of forest plan revisions, litigations, notices of 

 decisions on logging or oil and gas leases, environmental impact statements and grain spills from 

 trains. 



6. Private land development - categories of private land development will be monitored. This 

 informadon will be used to direct management and outreach efforts aimed at minimizing human- 

 bear conflicts. It will also provide a means of guiding FWP, and other organizations, in efforts aimed 

 at securing conservation easements. 



Habitat Management Guidelines 



The general approach FWP pursues when dealing with habitat issues is summarized by the following 

 statement: FWP seeks to manage all fish and wildlife habitat on public land, whether roaded or 

 unroaded, as valuable and unique lands that will remain open to hunters, anglers, and other public users. 

 Accessibilit}' to public lands will be balanced with the year-round requirements of fish and wildlife 

 (habitat, clean water, food, shelter, open space, and disturbance management), while maintaining a 



47 



