Executive Summary 



Twelve vascular plant species of special concern listed by 

 the Montana Natural Heritage Program are known to occur in the 

 Sage Creek area of southern Beaverhead County. Three of these, 

 Astragalus terminalis, Carex parryana idahoa and Sphaeromeria 

 argentea are on the proposed BLM sensitive species list. Surveys 

 in 1995 located or relocated 25 populations of these species. 

 Two of these species, Halimolobos virgata and Townsendia 

 nuttallii , appear to be very common and should not be considered 

 sensitive. Five additional species, although not as common, are 

 probably not threatened by current management practices. 

 Calochortus bruneaunis appears to be very rare in Montana. Four 

 species are associated with wet meadows that usually receive 

 heavy disturbance from livestock grazing. These plants, 

 especially Carex parryana ssp. idahoa and Thelypodium sagittatum 

 are likely declining under current management and should be 

 considered sensitive. 



