14 



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H. LAND OWNERSHIP: The Little Muddy Creek population is on private 

 land that adjoins a BLM tract but is fenced separate from it. 

 Many if not all of the other collections made of this species are 

 from within the floodplains of navigable rivers. 



I. ASSESSMENT AND MA1>IAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: None known. 



2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: The evidence of intense 

 sheep use around the Little Muddy Creek population is taken 

 to indicate that this is not impacted but may actually 

 increase under grazing pressure. 



J. SUMMARY: There was no recent information on Annual bursage in 

 Montana prior to this study. One population v;as found in the 

 study area. The lack of threats, persistence or increase under 

 sheep grazing disturbance, and breadth of historic state 

 distribution are collectively taken to provide a basis for 

 recommending it be dropped from any further consideration by the 

 Bureau of Land Management and from tracking as a state species of 

 special concern by the Montana Natural Heritage Program. 



