10 



P for it elsewhere include meadows and other 



situations where grazing would likely be a greater 

 threat. Since the distribution of this plant is so 

 poorly known, it may be found to occur in Montana 

 in habitats that are subject to grazing pressure. 



2. TIMBER HARVEST: Timber harvest is a potential 



threat to Botrychium minqanense populations since 

 the forests in which they occur are often 

 considered mature or overmature for timber 

 purposes. The microhabitats occupied by Botrychium 

 minqanense in Ninemile Creek valley are 

 immediately adjacent to the stream and presumably 

 watershed protection measures would prohibit 

 harvest of trees close to the stream. However, 

 harvesting of the adjacent area may cause changes 

 in streamflow and flood patterns that could affect 

 the populations as discussed above (sec. I.G.2). 

 Such disturbance may also affect the mycorrhizal 

 fungi which are necessary for growth and 

 reproduction. Such combined effects likely would 

 reduce the ability of these already sparse 

 populations to maintain or re-establish themselves 

 after harvesting. 



I B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: Nothing is known of 



" the specific responses of Botrychium minqanense to 



grazing or timber harvest. However, given its 

 restriction to a fairly specialized habitat and 

 obligate relationship with mycorrhizal fungi, it likely 

 would not respond well to such practices. 



C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: The 

 following recommendations are made to ensure that the 

 long-term viability of Botrychium minqanense 

 populations is maintained on U.S. Forest Service land 

 in Montana. 



1. Protection of natural habitats that currently 

 support Botrychium minqanense populations . 

 Management plans on the Lolo National Forest 

 should take all known populations into 

 consideration and prevent disturbance of the 

 sites. 



2 . Notification of U.S. Forest Service personnel of 

 sites on U.S. Forest Service lands . To prevent 

 inadvertent impacts on currently known sites, 

 personnel involved in planning activities should 

 be provided with detailed information on the 

 location of Botrychium minqanense populations. It 

 is especially important that timber sale managers, 



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