65 



HABITAT: The Eli Spring setting occupied moist, open meadows in the spring-fed headwaters of a 

 watercourse at 6550 ft., at the low end of species' elevation range in Montana. It was confined to the 

 broad meadows above the Spring rather than the more degraded meadows with flowing u'ater below. 

 The Eli Spring setting is low and wet compared to its knowai habitat at the other Beaverhead County 

 sites, where it ranges in elevation from 6920 to 9500 ft. Most sites are variously dominated by big 

 sagebrush {Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata). Great Basin wild rye {Elymus cinereus), Douglas fir 

 (Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Idaho fescue {Festuca idahoensis). 



A Granite Co. collection of this species, found at >9000 ft., is from alpine turf habitat; verification of 

 this specimen is recommended in order to better determine distribution and ecological amplitude for the 

 species in Montana. 



The Eli Spring soils are silty and saturated or semi-saturated. The long history of grazing has caused 

 pronounced development of hummocks ca. 0.5 m high in all of the potential habitat (Appendix D-28). 

 Between them is standing water. The Taraxacum eriophorum is found only on the crests of the 

 hummocks, a narrow zone where the vegetation is less dense than the hummock tops and hummock 

 sides. The hummock tops are dominated by Jimcus balticus and Muhlenbergia richardsonis. The wet 

 troughs between are dominated by Carex nebrascensis and C. aquatilis. Additional associated species 

 include Hieracium gracile, Potentilla anserina, Trifoliwn longipes, Antemiaria spp., and Crepis spp. 

 The introduced dandelion, Taraxacum laevigatum, is common around the wetland borders and barely 

 gets onto outer hummocks. 



POPULATION BIOLOGY: Population size was estimated to be > 1000 plants, but this may be high. 

 Plants reproduce strictly by seed. The majority of the population was in rosette stage and not producing 

 flowers, making population estimates more difficult and also suggesting low viability. Immature Crepis 

 spp. was similar in overall appearance to the non-flowering Taraxacum eriophorum plants, further 

 confounding population estimates. 



MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: This species' habitat is rare in the study area, and the 

 species is uncommon tliroughout its range. In the wake of a grazing history that has caused hummocks, 

 it is not known if the habitat condition can be significantly improved. It was common to find flowering 

 heads grazed off. Two experimental treatments might be considered. Temporary fencing above the 

 spring would keep livestock out of its habitat during pasture use and may begin to heal o\-er hummocks. 

 Prescribed burning of a segment of the wetland basin in early spring or in fall could be done in order to 

 determine whether a reduction in vegetation cover would benefit the species. With either fomi of 

 treatment, some level of monitoring should be established in order to assess management response. 



This study supports previous recommendations that T. eriophorum warrants BLM sensitive species 

 designation in Montana. 



