severe repercussions on J. hallii . Livestock grazing, 

 mining, timber and peat harvesting should not be 

 /permitted in the wetland complex area. Moderate 

 levels of non-motorized recreation seem to be 

 compatible. 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: As time did not 

 allow a truly thorough search of the all the sloughs 

 within the Needles wetland complex and surrounding 

 basin, a definitive survey should be conducted. 



SUMMARY: Juncus hallii is a Forest Service Sensitive 

 species known from wetland areas around a basin north 

 of Mount Edith in the Big Belt Mountains on the Helena 

 National Forest. State status of tufted rush has been 

 re-evaluated and changed to changed to S2 ("imperiled" 

 within Montana) due to its numbers and its restriction 

 to wetland habitats which are easily altered or 

 destroyed by humans. The Helena National Forest site 

 is one of nine within Montana. Currently no threats 

 are perceived to J. hallii ; however any activity such 

 as mining, timber or peat harvesting, or livestock 

 grazing which would degrade the quantity and/or quality 

 of the hydrologic system on which the species is 

 dependent, would have a negative effect on J. hallii . 

 Further surveys of the wetland complex in which the 

 species occurs need to be conducted. 



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