growing season is recommended before herbicides are applied in 

 these natural areas. However, weed control efforts will, 

 undoubtedly, be concentrated in the developed areas of park. 

 The vegetation of these areas consists of shoreline dominated 

 by cottonwoods {Populus deltoides) , willows {Salix exigua and 

 others) , sedges (including Carex lanuginosa) , and cattails 

 (Typha latifolia) , meadows dominated by introduced grasses 

 (Agropyron cristatum, Bromus inermis, Elymus hispidus) and 

 legumes {Medicago sativa, Melilotus officinale) , and mowed 

 picnic and camp areas. Weeds in the developed areas include 

 downy brome {Bromus tectorum) , spotted knapweed (Centaurea 

 maculosa) , Canada thistle {Cirsium airvense) , bull thistle 

 (Cirsium vulgaris) , licorice (Glycyrrhiza lepidota) , erect 

 cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) , and salsify (Tragopogon 

 dubius) . 



Deadman's Basin State Park 



This developed water recreation site centered around an 

 impoundment fed by diversion is located in an open, 

 intermontane setting. No MPSSC are known from these settings 

 in Wheatland County, but there have been almost no botanical 

 studies in the county except in the Little Belt Mountains to 

 the north. Records of MPSSC known from the Little Belts and 

 of sand loving MPSSC with highly sporadic distributions 

 statewide were considered, but none of these species were . 

 found and the probability of them occurring here is low to 

 none; the site is too low and dry for the Little Belt species 

 and has little development of a sand loving flora. Native 

 habitat in the park in good condition includes ungrazed mixed 

 grass prairie dominated by Carex filifolia (thread leaved 

 sedge) and Stipa comata (needle and thread) and sparsely 

 vegetated sandstone outcrops. In addition, the artificial 

 wetland habitat created below the impoundment has low plant 

 diversity but appears to benefit wildlife. Noxious weed 

 infestations including patches of Centaurea maculosa (spotted 

 knapweed) and Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle) are mostly 

 limited to developed areas (picnic areas, boat launches, and 

 roadsides) but have potential to spread over much of the park. 

 Control efforts for knapweed need to involve local landowners 

 because there are very severe infestations in surrounding 

 private tracts (e.g. west of the Highway 12 exit to the park) . 

 A list of plant species identified at the park is included as 

 Appendix 3 to this report. 



Fireman's Point Fishing Access Site 



This site along the Stillwater River near its confluence 

 with the Yellowstone contains both bottomland and upland 

 habitats. The dominant trees in the bottoms are Populus 

 halsamifera (cottonwood) and Acer negundo (boxelder) . The 

 understory is dominated by shrubs including Eleagnus 

 commutatus (silverberry) , Prunus virginiana (chokecherry) , and 

 species of Rosa (rose) and Symphoricarpos (snowberry) . Wet 



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