other native sheep populations. However, all has not gone well for 

 this unusual group of animals. During the early 1970s, sheep 

 numbers suddenly dropped from 150-200 to only 20-25. The decline 

 was attributed to construction of Libby Dam, which inundated a 

 significant portion of their low elevation winter and spring 

 range; relocation of Highway 37 through their year-round range, 

 and ecological succession of their preferred open ponderosa 

 pine/bunchgrass community to a dense forest community, due to fire 

 suppression. A Bonneville Power Administration-funded mitigation 

 project is currently underway to enhance remaining sheep habitat 

 along the reservoir. Enhancement activities include burning and 

 logging treatments to improve forage quality and the construction 

 of critical travel corridors across the highway and roadside 

 cliffs to reduce traffic mortalities. Recent counts indicate 

 population numbers have increased to nearly 100 animals. 



Recreation 



The study inventoried the recreational attributes and values 

 of 23 river segments in the Kootenai drainage--nearly 300 miles of 

 river, about two percent of the 12,528 miles statewide (Table 18). 

 Results from managers and river users assessed one-third of the 

 drainage's river miles as Class I (Outstanding) recreational 

 resources, including the Kootenai River between the Highway 37 

 bridge and the Idaho border and the Yaak River between Yaak and 

 the mouth. This drainage thus contained eight percent of the 

 state's Outstanding river mileage. 



The rivers were valued for their excellent recreational 

 opportunities, fishing quality, wildlife habitat, boating 

 potential, and cultural and historic sites. Some rivers in the 

 region received lower ratings because private lands restricted 

 river access. Raters said use was heavy on 23 percent of the river 

 miles, moderate on 29 percent, and low on 48 percent. Access was 

 abundant on 25 percent of the drainage's river mileage, moderate 

 on 45 percent, and limited or restricted on 22 percent. 



Scenic quality was rated Class II (Substantial) and Class I 

 (Outstanding) on 64 percent of the drainage's river miles. None of 

 the segments were thought to provide a primitive setting, due in 

 part to the fact that wilderness areas were omitted from the 

 Montana Rivers Study. Twenty percent of the miles were rated as 

 semi-primitive and 40 percent (119 miles) were placed in the 

 transition category between semi-primitive and rural landscapes. 



Shore fishing was the most common water-based activity, 

 followed by boat fishing, canoeing, kayaking, and rafting, all 

 possible on the Yaak and Kootenai rivers. 



40 



