miles. The drainage contained eight percent of the state's 

 outstanding river miles for scenic quality. 



Just under half (43 percent) of the region's river miles 

 provided opportunities for semi-primitive or primitive recreation 

 experiences. The rivers inventoried contained six percent of the 

 state's miles rated as primitive or semi-primitive. Access was 

 rated as abundant or moderate for about 43 percent of the river 

 miles, while about 50 percent of the rivers statewide had these 

 levels of access. Twelve percent of the mileage contained abundant 

 access, compared to 16 percent statewide. 



Fishing from shore was the most popular recreational activity, 

 taking place as a primary activity on nearly 76 percent of the 

 segments. Tent camping was a primary activity on 31 percent, car 

 camping on 30 percent, non-motorized trail use on 25 percent, and 

 motorized trail use on 15 percent. Boating was a primary activity 

 on only 15 percent of the segments and a secondary activity on 

 about 20 percent. This is not surprising, because raters believed 

 that 86 percent of the rivers in the Beaverhead/Big Hole drainage 

 were not boatable. No rivers were believed to contain moderate or 

 larger rapids, although riffles and minor rapids were present on 

 eight percent, including the main stem of the Beaverhead as it 

 drops through the canyon to Dillon. 



Botanical Features 



The Big Hole and Beaverhead drainages contained 10 percent of 

 the states' botanical features that received a final value rating 

 of Class I and 58 percent of the 31 sites statewide that received 

 a final value rating of either Class I or Class II. Of the total 

 sites inventoried within these drainages, 11 are either proposed 

 or already designated research natural areas (RNAs) or national 

 natural landmarks (NNLs). Two botanical natural feature sites in 

 this drainage are located within U.S. Forest Service wilderness 

 areas . 



Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge is a prime example of 

 a designated ecological natural landmark. Situated at an 

 elevation of 6,600 feet, it encompasses 38,144 acres of lakes, 

 saline and freshwater marshes, wet meadows, bogs, grasslands, 

 deciduous and coniferous forests. This area contains a 

 representative series of relatively undisturbed presettlement 

 wetland, upland meadow and forest types. The Refuge was 

 originally established to protect the declining resident 

 population of trumpeter swans. However, in 1969, after the swan's 

 population increased, the species was removed from the federal 

 endangered species list. About 70 percent of the refuge is 

 included in the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness Area. 



The North Fork of the Big Hole River flows through the 656- 

 acre Big Hole National Monument, administered by the National Park 



86 



