24 



Highway 274, and in part by 

 Beaverhead N.F. Rd. #1000 and other 

 little-used jeep trails. The 

 Hebgen Lake (004) site is traversed 

 in part by Gallatin N.F. Rd. #167, 

 which serves as a major access 

 route to the lake. However, most 

 of the habitat area near Hebgen 

 Lake is privately owned ranch land. 

 Serious off-road impacts were not 

 observed at either of the latter 

 two sites. 



11.12. General assessment of vigor, trends, and 



status: Claytonia lanceolata var. f lava is a 

 regional endemic currently known from seven 

 sites in the northern Rocky Mountains: five 

 locations in southwestern Montana 

 (Beaverhead, Deer Lodge, Gallatin, Jefferson, 

 and Silver Bow counties) , one location in 

 Idaho (Fremont County) , and one location in 

 Wyoming (Fremont County) . Field surveys in 

 Montana in 1988 resulted in the rediscovery 

 of two historical locations (Lockhart Meadows 

 (Champion Pass) and French Creek (Anaconda) ) , 

 and the discovery of one previously 

 unrecorded site (Burton Park) . Surveys of 

 the two recently discovered sites (Vipond 

 Park (003) and Hebgen Lake (004)) showed them 

 to be more extensive than previously 

 documented. All five populations in Montana 

 occur wholly or partially on U.S. Forest 

 Service lands. Systematic studies, which are 

 currently in progress, indicate that C. 

 lanceolata var. f lava is very distinct from 

 C. lanceolata var. lanceolata , evidently at 

 the species level. Final results will be 

 provided when available. The five known 

 populations of C. lanceolata var. f lava in 

 Montana are all very large, and currently 

 appear to be stable. However, potential 

 impacts resulting from road construction, 

 mining, and recreational use should be 

 closely monitored. 



II. 13. A. Reconunendation to U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service: On the basis of information 

 obtained from field surveys and ongoing 

 systematic studies, it is recommended that C. 

 lanceolata var. flava be retained in 

 Category 2. Since the taxon appears to be 

 specifically distinct, and is currently known 

 globally from only seven sites, its 

 conservation remains important. Detailed 



