12 



C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: 

 The following recommendations are made to insure the 

 long-term persistence of viable populations of L. 

 humi lis on U.S. Forest Service lands: 



1 • Protection of the St. Marv Peak (001) population 

 from serious impacts due to recreational use. The 

 impacts from the hiking trail could potentially be 

 reduced or eliminated in the following ways: 



a. Designation of St. Marv Peak as a special 

 botanical area. In addition to L. humi 1 is . 

 the St. Mary Peak area supports populations 

 of two other plants of limited distribution 



in Montana: Draba daviesiae (Pointed draba) 

 and Penstemon f lavescens (Pale yellow 

 penstemon). Though not as rare as L. 

 humi lis , these species occur in Montana only 

 in the Bitterroot Range. The presence of 

 these three species together on St. Mary Peak 

 emphasizes the botanical uniqueness of the 

 area. 



b . Placement of signs recommending use of the 

 trail hiking. Signs at the trailhead, and 

 possibly in the timberline area, may be 

 useful in minimizing off-trail impacts to the 

 L. humi 1 is population. 



2- Analysis of any proposed recreational development 

 in the St. Joseph Peak area. Any future proposed 

 trail construction or other developments should be 



carefully planned, to reduce or eliminate impacts 

 to the St. Joseph Peak (003) and East St. Joseph 



Peak (002) populations of L. humil is . 



D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT 



1 • Monitoring surveys of the St. Joseph Peak (003) 

 and East St. Joseph Peak (005) occurrences. These 

 locations should ideally be checked every three to 

 five years, in order to detect any major declines 

 in population size, or impacts should recreational 

 use of these areas increase. 



2. Establishment of monitoring studies of the St. 



Mary Peak (001) occurrence. Permanent monitoring 



transects (i.e., Lesica 1987) would be useful in 

 assessing the impacts of recreational use on the 

 population. Plot studies in locations away from 

 the trail, as well as within the area currently 

 being used, could reveal any reduction in numbers 

 which might be occurring. 



