A Class I in the sport fishery category usually meant abundant 

 wild trout where access was readily available and fishing pressure 

 was high. The lack of reaches receiving a Class I in both 

 categories illustrates why the rating system was established to 

 allow the highest class of the two categories to become the final 

 resource value for a reach. 



WILDLIFE 



The wildlife data base contains information on nearly 70 

 wildlife variables for 400 river assessment units. Forty-eight 

 assessment units (12 percent) achieved a Class I final resource 

 value (Table 4). Most fell into Class II (39 percent) or Class 

 III (33 percent) final resource values. Relatively few (16 

 percent) river units contained limited or Class IV wildlife 

 values. These results indicate that most of Montana's rivers and 

 basins contain significant, if not exceptional, wildlife 

 resources . 



Among the 12 major river basins in Montana, the Big Hole and 

 Beaverhead drainages clearly contained the greatest percentage of 

 Class I and II streams (Table 5). Of the 18 units within this 

 basin, 39 percent achieved Class I, while 55 percent earned Class 

 II final resource values. The 15 assessment units comprising the 

 Rocky Mountain Front ranked second statewide, with 33 percent in 

 both Class I and II final resource values. With 19 percent of its 

 43 units in Class I and another 44 percent in Class II, the upper 

 Flathead ranked third among the 12 river basins in overall 

 wildlife values. 



Within the habitat category, statewide ratings were skewed to 

 the lower value classes with the largest percentage of units (36 

 percent) falling into Class IV. Another 29 percent achieved Class 

 III, while 19 percent earned Class II and 16 percent earned Class 

 I habitat ratings. This skewed distribution probably reflects 

 impacts of developments and activities on most of the state's 

 riparian zones, and the relatively poor development of extensive 

 riparian zones in upper drainages of western Montana and along 

 small streams of eastern Montana. Most of the river units 

 achieving Class I habitat values were found along the main stems 

 of major river systems such as the Yellowstone, Missouri, Big 

 Hole, Blackfoot, and Flathead rivers. Only six river units 

 statewide earned the maximum score in all habitat quality 

 categories. These included portions of the Flathead main stem, 

 and the Big Hole, Red Rock, Missouri, and Yellowstone rivers. 

 Most of the North, Middle, and South forks of the Flathead and the 

 central Missouri rivers achieved Class I habitat status for their 

 Wild and Scenic River status. Other streams with notable 

 designated lands include portions of the Flathead main stem, the 

 Swan River, Tobacco River, Teton River, and Beaver Creek in the 

 Milk River drainage. 



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