Nearly 48 percent of the Yellowstone's main stem and tributaries 

 units are used by nesting and wintering bald eagles. These major 

 waterways also provide important resting areas for migrating 

 waterfowl and nesting habitat for great blue herons and Canada 

 geese. In addition, the Yellowstone, Stillwater, Boulder, and 

 Shields rivers contain nine historic peregrine eyrie sites, while 

 the lower Yellowstone is home to the snapping turtle and spiny 

 softshell, reptiles of special concern in Montana. 



River units gleaning the highest game values include East and 

 West Rosebud creeks in the upper Stillwater River and westside 

 tributaries of the Shields River. The East and West Rosebud unit 

 is one of four units statewide harboring high densities of white- 

 tailed and mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, moose, and black bear. 

 In contrast to the Rosebud unit, the Shields River tributaries 

 support an even broader diversity of game and furbearer 

 populations (at least 16 species) although not in as high 

 densities as elsewhere in the state. Significant game and 

 furbearer values were also associated with Yellowstone tributaries 

 from the Gallatin Range and from Red Lodge Creek and upper 

 headwater units within the Clark's Fork of the Yellowstone 

 drainage. 



With more than half of its units achieving Class II or above 

 in either habitat or species values, the upper Yellowstone ranks 

 near the top for eastern Montana's river systems. High quality 

 riparian vegetative communities coupled with a wide diversity of 

 wildlife habitats, ranging from river bottom to 9,000-foot 

 plateaus, are major reasons for this region's high wildlife 

 values. 



Recreation 



The fact that the Yellowstone River is undammed throughout its 

 entire length is a testimony to its recreational values. It makes 

 quite an entrance into Montana, crossing the border near Gardiner, 

 the northern gateway to Yellowstone National Park. The National 

 Park Service disappointed many kayakers with its recent decision 

 not to open the river for boating, but one can start a good day 

 trip right in downtown Gardiner. The rapids, good, clean fun that 

 lasts for several miles, are rafted commercially. About eight 

 miles of flat water separate this Whitewater stretch from Yankee 

 Jim Canyon, another popular boating spot, but potentially 

 dangerous and not to be taken lightly. 



The Montana Rivers Study inventoried the recreational 

 attributes and values of 90 river segments in the upper 

 Yellowstone drainage, about 1,760 miles of river, or 14 percent of 

 the 12,528 miles studied. Managers and recreational river users 

 rated 13 percent of the miles as Class I (Outstanding), 28 percent 

 as Class II (Substantial), 33 percent as Class III (Moderate) and 

 19 percent as Class IV (Limited) (Table 58). The drainage 



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