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 11. Evidence of threats to survival. 



A. Present or threatened destruction, modification, or 

 curtailment of habitat or range. 



1. Past threats: In certain portions of its range 

 in Montana, the habitat of P. lemhiensis has 

 been impacted by mining. In Beaverhead County, 

 numerous mines have been established in the 

 Rattlesnake Creek drainage in the southern 

 Pioneer Mountains, including four in the French 

 Creek drainage (Park, Yellow Band, Cross, and 

 Discovery mines) . These four mines are all 

 within the known population boundaries of P. 

 lemhiensis (009) , and their establishment 

 undoubtedly caused the extirpation of some 

 individuals. 



2. Existing threats: Renewed gold mining activity 

 is occurring throughout western Montana, and 

 the Yellow Band Mine has recently been 

 considered for reactivation (K. Scow, pers. 

 comm.). This mine is within the boundaries of 

 the French Creek (009) site, which contains the 

 largest number of plants of any of the Montana 

 populations (1,845 individuals counted in 1988, 

 representing approximately 40% of the plants 

 documented in Montana) . 



Herbicides have been used in the French Creek 

 drainage to control weedy plant species. Some 

 of these applications have occurred within the 

 habitat of P. lemhiensis (009) (J. Christensen, 

 Beaverhead National Forest, pers. comm.). 



3. Potential threats: Mining is expected to 

 continue in southwestern Montana, and it is 

 possible that additional populations of P. 

 lemhiensis could be threatened by this land 

 use. Use of herbicides is a serious potential 

 threat, especially to populations along or near 

 roadsides. 



B. Overutilization for commercial, sporting, 

 scientific, or educational purposes: No significant 

 past or existing threats are known. Because the 

 species is very showy, it could potentially be 

 impacted through overcollecting by horticultural 

 interests. 



C. Disease, predation, or grazing. 



1. Past threats: Portions of the range of P. 



