values stemmed from excellent habitat diversity due to abundant 

 wetlands and islands, and moderate quantities of mature 

 Cottonwood forests. Outstanding species values resulted from 

 occurrences of heron rookeries, waterfowl staging areas, dense 

 osprey populations, and golden eagle nesting habitat. In addition, 

 the upper Missouri main stem supports a high density of wintering 

 bald eagles, while the lower reach supports breeding bald eagles 

 and an historic peregrine eyrie. 



Although many of the upper Missouri tributary basins support 

 high densities of mule deer and elk, as well as moderate 

 populations of whitetails, furbearers and upland game, most 

 tributary units earned Class III species values. The drier climate 

 and lower elevations of these isolated mountain ranges do not lend 

 themselves to high quality black bear, moose, bighorn sheep, and 

 terrestrial furbearer habitat. 



Of the upper Missouri's 16 units, 13 percent obtained an 

 Outstanding value class, with only another 27 percent in Class II 

 (Table 41). The two outstanding units included the undammed 

 portions of the Missouri River floodplain, indicating the high 

 resource values of this once free-flowing river. 



Recreation 



The Missouri main stem from Three Forks to Townsend, the short 

 but free-flowing stretch between Hauser Dam and upper Holter Lake, 

 and the stretch from Holter Dam to the confluence with the Smith 

 near Ulm were assessed for their recreational resource value. 

 Because this drainage includes tributaries only down to Holter 

 Dam, the recreational inventory contained just 24 river segments 

 or about 278 miles total. Eight percent of the river segments 

 received a Class I (Outstanding) value, 21 percent of the river 

 miles were rated as Class II (Substantial), 40 percent were rated 

 Class III (Moderate), and 30 percent as Class IV (Limited). Good 

 fishing (mentioned for 59 percent of the river miles), and access 

 (poor on 41 percent of the mileage and good on 28 percent) were 

 the two major reasons for assigned a resource value (Table 42). 



From its headwaters near Three Forks to the marshes at Canyon 

 Ferry, the free-flowing stretches of the Missouri provide a 

 classic Montana floating experience. The river flows through 

 rural country, mostly ranch land. Where the river slips into a 

 canyon such as the one above Toston Dam, grassy, rocky hillsides 

 glow in the evening sun. The stretch between Toston and Townsend 

 is a good day float, often combined with fishing. Deep Dale 

 Fishing Access Site is an intermediate put-in or take-out, just 

 upstream from a great blue heron rookery. Mount Edith and Baldy, 

 snowcapped much of the year, rise from forests to the east. 



Recreational use was heavy on 25 percent of the river mileage, 

 moderate on 26 percent, and low on 43 percent. Access was rated as 



105 



