abundant on 36 percent of the inventoried river miles, compared to 

 limited access on 19 percent and restricted access on 20 percent. 

 Scenic quality was rated as Substantial or higher for 23 percent 

 of the mileage studied, and as Moderate for 59 percent. The 

 drainage contained just 15 miles that provided primitive 

 recreation settings, while 26 percent were rated as semi- 

 primitive, 14 percent as transitional, and 52 percent as more 

 rural . 



Fishing from shore was the most common water-based recreation 

 activity, a primary use on 80 percent of the river miles, followed 

 by canoeing and innertubing (a primary or secondary use on 35 

 percent), fishing from boats, swimming and kayaking (28 percent), 

 and rafting (25 percent). Over half of the river miles (55 

 percent) were rated as not boated. The floated rivers included 38 

 miles of flat water and 55 miles containing stretches of riffles 

 and minor rapids. Hunting was the most common land-based activity 

 on about 30 percent of the river miles. Other popular recreational 

 activities included picnicking, camping, viewing scenery, and 

 driving for pleasure. 



Botanical Features 



The upper Missouri River drainage contained 13 (six percent) 

 of the state's 228 botanical natural feature sites that received a 

 final value rating of Class I or II. Of the 20 sites inventoried 

 in this drainage, 10 received a final value rating of Class I, 

 making it the drainage with the highest proportions of Class I 

 ratings in any of the 12 drainages. 



The Middle Fork Canyon area, on Sixteenmile Creek at the 

 northern edge of the Bridger Mountains, is a designated National 

 Natural Landmark, based on its unique geological natural features 

 and is currently under evaluation as a ecological landmark. This 

 960-acre site is forested with Douglas fir, lodgepole pine and 

 scattered groves of aspen along the northern face. The canyon's 

 southern face supports a dry shrubland community that includes 

 limber pine, common juniper, curlleaf mountain mahogany, and 

 skunkbush sumac. The area has received some grazing pressure 

 within the canyon bottom and there is evidence of selective 

 logging on a small section that is owned by the U.S. Forest 

 Service. Therefore, it is unlikely that this site will be 

 designated as an ecological natural landmark. 



An interesting example of a rare plant found within the upper 

 Missouri River drainage is Lesquerell a k lausii , a recently 

 described member of the Mustard family. This endemic species is 

 only known from Lewis and Clark and Meagher counties. It is found 

 on open slopes at low to high elevations, including a site at 

 Rogers Pass (5,609 feet), along Highway 200. A botanist once 

 returned to a known Lesquerella site after a fire and was unable 

 to locate adult plants. He did notice an abundance of juveniles 



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