3. BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS: It was noted that 



Balsamorhiza sagittata is associated with the main 

 population of Balsamorhiza macrophylla only at its 

 lower edge where it meets the forest boundary. On 

 the steeper, rockier sites where subpopulations of 

 Balsamorhiza macrophylla are found, B. sagittata is 

 the more common species. No hybridization was 

 evident. 



II. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 



A. THREATS TO THE POPULATION: Braided horse trails are 

 extensive on the lower, steeper slopes where the 

 subpopulations occur. The associated erosion and 

 mechanical damage are the most serious threats to the 

 Balsamorhiza macrophylla population. The main trail 

 from the Cinnamon Creek Ranger Station to Taylor Fork 

 winds through the ridgetop population of B. macrophylla . 

 The trail is used by both trail bikers and horseback 

 riders. Off trail riding by either of these users poses 

 a threat of physical damage to the population. 



B. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPDALTIONS: The 

 braided trails are presumably made by riders from the 

 320 Ranch traveling the slopes upward to join the 

 ridgetop trail to Taylor Fork. Provision of a single 

 well-marked trail skirting the lower Balsamorhiza 

 macrophylla populations would very simply avoid further 

 damage to them. In a similar way, trail bikers were 

 observed crossing the terrain off trail from their 

 starting point at the Cinnamon Creek Ranger Station 

 until they found the main trail. Monitoring of off- 

 trail use should be a priority. 



C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: The trail to 

 Taylor Fork should provide good access to meadows in 

 T9S, R4E, Sections 3 & 4, which may be likely habitat 

 for Balsamorhiza macrophylla . Further surveys along the 

 Middle and South forks of Cabin Creek are also 

 recommended. 



D. SUMMARY: Balsamorhiza macrophylla is a Great Basin and 

 Snake River Plains species that has its northernmost 

 known occurrence in Montana, in the vicinity of Cinnamon 

 Creek Ranger Station on the Gallatin National Forest. 

 While there is much seemingly suitable habitat for the 

 species between this disjunct site and the main range of 

 the species, Balsamorhiza macrophylla has not been 

 recently recorded at other sites in Montana. The single 

 population currently known in Montana occurs on Gallatin 

 National Forest lands, and could easily be protected at 

 this time following the recommendations made above. 



