Class I habitat and species values. Key species include many of 

 the same species and habitats of special concern found along the 

 Missouri main stem. 



The Judith River basin encompasses a remote but significant 

 area of central Montana. The river's lower 114 miles earned a 

 respectable habitat rating of III, with a species rating of I for 

 its support of species of special concern such as golden eagles 

 and other raptors that nest along the river's cliffs. The 

 meandering river containing warms springs and wetlands, provides 

 habitat for migrating waterfowl and nesting herons as well as for 

 wintering bald eagles. The Judith's cliffs also contain an 

 historic peregrine falcon eyrie. 



Important game populations inhabit much of the upper Judith 

 River Basin, particularly within the Little Belt Mountains. 

 Established in 1938, the Judith River Wildlife Management Area now 

 comprises nearly 5,000 acres and winters nearly 1,000 head of elk. 

 Because the Little Belts are within easy driving distances of 

 Great Falls, Billings, and Lewistown, and are open to general 

 hunting, this region receives more than 40,000 hunter days of 

 pressure during the hunting season. 



From rocky mountain top to the scoria-capped ridges of the 

 Bull Mountains near Billings, the 25 units within the Musselshell 

 basin contain a wide diversity of wildlife habitat. Although 

 none of the assessment units achieved a Class I final resource 

 value, 11 (44 percent) earned species and final resource values of 

 Class II. Four of the Musselshell's five main stem units contained 

 sufficiently high riparian values to warrant Class I or II habitat 

 ratings. The Musselshell from Fish Creek near Ryegate down to 

 Melstone received Class I habitat values due to an exemplary 

 riparian community with cottonwood gallery forests, abundant 

 wetlands, and high vegetative diversity. It also provides 

 important resting areas for migrating waterfowl. 



Willow Creek, a tributary to the Musselshell near Roundup, 

 also achieved Class I habitat quality due to its numerous and 

 abundant wetlands, pristine habitat quality, and outstanding 

 habitat diversity. Upper Willow Creek also provides critical 

 breeding and resting habitat for waterfowl, supports colonial 

 nesting herons, and contains springs open in winter. Much of 

 upper Willow Creek is protected by the Lake Mason National 

 Wildlife Refuge. 



River units earning Class II species values include Flatwillow 

 Creek, Boxelder Creek, McDonald Creek and the lower 73 miles of 

 the Musselshell main stem. Besides comprising important waterfowl 

 resting areas, many of these reaches contain warm springs and 

 support colonial nesting birds, osprey, and golden eagles. 



The headwater tributaries from the south side of the Little 

 Belts and Big Snowy Mountains and from the north side of the 



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