INTRODUCTION 



The National Forest Management Act of 1976 mandates the 

 protection of biological diversity on National Forest lands. One 

 response to this mandate has been the development of sensitive 

 species programs throughout the national forest system (Reel et 

 al. 1989). Each national forest is required to protect the 

 viability of sensitive species found within its bounds. Numerous 

 plants that are listed as sensitive in the U.S. Forest Service 

 Region One occur in the mountain ranges of southwest Montana 

 (Lesica and Shelly 1991) . 



The ?iighland Mountains are a small alpine mountain range in 

 southwest Montana. Much of this range is land administered by 

 Deer Lodge National Forest. In spite of The Highland's proximity 

 to Butte, there has been little botanical exploration of the 

 area. Recently, Klaus Lackschewitz made collections in the area 

 and discovered populations of Carex idahoa and Erigeron gracilis , 

 but the size and extent of these populations was not reported. 

 The Highland Mountains receive a great deal of use by 

 recreationists as well as having mining, timber harvest and 

 livestock grazing activity. In order to manage the Highland 

 Mountains for the protection of biological diversity, the Forest 

 Service must know which sensitive species are present, what 

 habitats they occur in, and how common they are. The purpose of 

 this study was to survey the Highland Mountains for sensitive 

 plant species and report the size, location and habitat for these 

 species. In addition, a complete list of all vascular plant 

 species encountered during this study was prepared. This list 

 will be useful to managers doing other studies in the area. 



STUDY AREA 



The Highland Mountains are a small alpine range in southwest 

 Montana, just south of Butte. They lie between the Big Hole 

 River and the Jefferson River on the south and east respectively, 

 and they contain the headwaters of Silver Bow Creek and the Clark 

 Fork River. The main divide ridge of the Highland Range is the 

 Continental Divide. It runs between Red Mountain at 10,070 ft on 

 the north, and Table Mountain at the south end, which is the 

 highest peak at 10,200 ft. Slopes on the north, east and south 

 sides are relatively steep, and streams and glaciers have formed 

 canyons dropping to the main river valleys. On the west side of 

 the divide there is a large plateau that is the headwaters of 

 Moose Creek. Part of this plateau is referred to as Moose Town, 

 while the northwest portion is called Burton Park. Low mountains 

 (7,000-8,000 ft) surround Moose Town and Burton Park on the 

 north, west and south sides. Low mountains on the west are 

 called the fiumbug Spires (Fig. 1) 



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