Penstemon lemhiensis population structure In the two belt 

 transects for 1991 and 1992 is depicted in Figures 1 and 2, based 

 on the field data recorded in Appendix 1. These indicate that 

 the population size and structure is relatively unchanging over 

 the two-year nonitoring period. There are saall declines in 

 flowering at both sites. 



Data on marked plants in the Badger Pass exclosure for 1990, 

 1991, and 1992 are presented in Appendix 1. The aarked plant 

 study is redundant with the belt transect study to sons degree; 

 59% (N-of the plants in the belt transects are in the Barked 

 plant study. It is reconmended that this aarked plant nonitoring 

 data set be maintained because it includes one additional year of 

 data, provides an opportunity to compare methods, and involves 

 relatively little additional time. 



The Badger Pass sample area has a greater component of flowering 

 plants by a factor of four compared to Horse Prairie sample area, 

 while it has only 25% as high a density as plants in the Horse 

 Prairie area. The Horse Prairie transect lies entirely within a 

 dry narrow right-of-way ditch scraped of all topsoil, apart from 

 adjoining native comnunity cover. It is hypothesized that the 

 Horse Prairie flowering plants are survivors from the 1980s 

 right-of-way scraping, and that all nonflowering plants represent 

 more recent recruitment. This may reflect the disturbance origin 

 of population establishment, with higher density and recruitment 

 on the bare roadside surface. 



The Horse Prairie transect is subject to the road maintenance 

 activities of the U.S. Forest Service along FS Road 7340.1. 

 Dialogue has been initiated with U.S. Forest Service on avoiding 

 the monitoring site during at least the duration of the project. 

 The value of the Horse Prairie transect may be enhanced by 

 comparing subpopulation structure on the right-of-way and the 

 adjoining intact upland. Expansion of the study design to 

 include the adjoining upland will be considered in 1993. 



The presence of species such as Penstemon lemhiensis in a road 

 ditch does not make the species "weedy" or "adventive" just 

 because it does not compete well with other plants or depends on 

 some natural disturbance regime simulated by man-made 

 disturbance. Its habitat is locally distinguished by low 

 vegetation density (Ramstetter 1983). Neither does it make the 

 ditch site a conservation priority. The small part of the 

 population on intact uplands on its own represents a "D-ranked" 

 element occurrence, and its extension into an unnatural setting 

 by definition ranks no higher than "D-rank". Nevertheless the 

 Horse Prairie site is being tracked as it may indirectly fit into 

 species conservation by comparison. 



Preliminary review of the data indicates that recruitment exceeds 

 mortality in the Badger Pass site, signifying a stable or 



