I 



disturbance in areas thus affected. Mapping of the 

 approximate areas occupied by H. aquatilis within the 

 ponds is an alternative monitoring method that will be 

 applied to a sample of ponds in 1989. Lastly, 

 frequency data will also be collected along the five 

 established transects. 



III. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 



A. THREATS TO THE NEWLY LOCATED POPULATIONS: The Salmon 

 Prairie (053) population is bisected by a fence; the 

 west side is on Flathead National Forest land, and the 

 east side is privately owned. The surrounding forest 

 is currently intact, and no evidence of impending 

 threats was observed. 



The southernmost Elk Creek population (054) is 

 partially owned and managed by Plum Creek Timber 

 Company (south half) , and by the Flathead National 

 Forest (north half) . Portions of the forests around 

 the southern end of the wetland have been logged. 

 However, this part of the site is slightly higher in 

 elevation, and was dry on the date of survey; it did 

 not appear to be suitable habitat for y. aquatilis . 

 The north end, on National Forest land, is ca. 20 m. 

 from a logging road (Flathead N.F. Rd. #9553); some 

 impacts from construction were noted in the bordering 

 forest, but the wetland habitat itself is currently 

 intact. 



The northernmost Elk Creek population (055) is entirely 

 located on Flathead National Forest land. It is also 

 adjacent to a logging road (spur road of #9553) , but 

 this road is closed by a locked gate. However, much of 

 the forest on the west side of this pond is marked for 

 a timber sale. 



B. MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: All three of these 

 populations should be considered in further land use 

 planning activities. Since the long-term effects of 

 disturbance adjacent to the habitats of H. aquatilis 

 are currently unknown, it is important that mitigation 

 measures be adopted wherever possible (i.e., adequate 

 buffer zones around the wetland habitats) . 



