Missouri headwater drainages suggests considerably more 

 genetically pure populations exist than previously believed. 



The Missouri headwater rivers hold the largest number of 

 spring creeks assessed in the state. Odell and Blaine flow into 

 the Madison, while Willow Spring, Cold Springs and Parson Slough 

 drain into the Jefferson. The East Gallatin drainage ties with 

 the upper Yellowstone for the largest number of spring creeks in a 

 single drainage in the state. Ben Hart, Reese, Gibson, Thompson, 

 Story, Trout and several smaller springs originate from surfacing 

 groundwater created from melting snowpack in the Bridger and 

 Gallatin ranges. Of the six spring creeks assessed in the East 

 Gallatin complex, none received a habitat and species value 

 greater than Class II. Many of these spring creeks have been used 

 as parts of irrigation systems with their flows augmented by other 

 streams. Habitat has been altered through grazing, and 

 accumulated sediment has limited available spawning habitat. 



Wildlife 



Twenty-five wildlife units were assessed in Missouri headwater 

 drainages; 14 in the Jefferson, six in the Madison, and five in 

 the Gallatin drainage (Table 37). Two units along the Jefferson 

 main stem and two in the upper Madison earned Class I or 

 Outstanding final resource values. However, another eight units 

 comprising much of the Madison and Gallatin drainages received 

 Class II final resource value designations. 



From its headwaters in the scenic Madison range near 

 Yellowstone Park to its confluence with the Jefferson, the entire 

 Madison drainage received outstanding species values. Three units 

 consisting of tributaries from Ennis Lake to Quake Lake received 

 the highest game species values in this upper Missouri basin. 

 High densities of white-tailed and mule deer, elk, moose, black 

 bear, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mountain lion, bobcat, lynx, 

 beaver, and upland game birds, contributed to these high game 

 values. Nesting bald eagles and an historic peregrine eyrie gave 

 the Madison main stem above Ennis Class I species status. The 

 headwaters region received Class I species value for nesting bald 

 eagles and grizzly bear habitat critical for recovery of the 

 Yellowstone population. The lower Madison achieved its high 

 species value because of waterfowl, colonial nesting birds, golden 

 eagles, and high raptor densities. Because of the Madison basin's 

 steep terrain and relatively high stream gradients, riparian 

 vegetation along most of the river system is minimally developed. 

 Accordingly, Class III habitat quality occurred in all but one 

 assessment unit. 



Similar to the Madison in its origin in the spectacular 

 mountain ranges that rim Yellowstone Park, the five units of the 

 East Gallatin and Gallatin River basins yielded two reaches with a 

 final resource value of II and three reaches with a final resource 



92 



