CONCLUSION 



The Ruby Range contains the most extensive and diverse forests and woodlands on BLM lands in 

 the Dillon Resource Area, although none of the types are rare or imperiled. Four of the timbered 

 types and one of the wetland types had not previously been documented on BLM lands in the 

 state. Segments of high elevation forest have exceptional quality and excellent condition. The 

 best examples of these are recommended for special management consideration in cases where 

 they represent the best examples on public lands of southwestern Montana; potentially the case 

 with a noteworthy old-growlh limber pine stand described under the Pinus flexilis/Festuca 

 idahoensis p. a. In general, the predominance of limber pine in most forested upper-elevation 

 community types is uncommon for southwestern Montana. 



Much of the timbered land, as with the general landscape, is dry and has low productivity. All of 

 the noteably intact landscape segments are places that escaped or were little-affected by the 

 history of logging which continues to the present. Other notably intact segments of the 

 landscape include the high elevation grasslands of Festuca idahoensis/Potentilla diversifolia p. a. 

 at the south end, and the low elevation shrublands of Artemisia nova/Agropyron spicatum p. a. at 

 the lower northeast end. They do not represent BLM special status community types nor habitats 

 for special status species. 



Three BLM special status species were documented for the first time (Lomatiiim attenuation, 

 Oryzopsis contracta and Townsendia florifer), and one previous record was to determined to be 

 in error {Machaer anther a conmixta). The Oryzopsis contracta was determined from other 

 concurrent studies to be more common than previously recognized, so both it and 

 Machaeranthera conmixta are recommended for deletion from the BLM list of special status 

 species. Potential habitat for Townsendia florifer barely extends into the study area, but the Ruby 

 Range may provide important canyon habitat for Lomatiiim attenuatum. This possibility was not 

 thoroughly assessed because the species was not discovered in the range until July, by which time 

 it was difficult to survey. It is known from fewer than a dozen stations in the world, and is a 

 priority for extended early season inventory and status evaluation. 



Among the interesting vegetation features that were documented are the well-developed peatlands 

 and springs of the Ruby Valley, which barely enter the study area. These Ruby Valley wetland 

 systems are a priority for extended inventory for both their sensitive species and communities. 



The Ruby Range is remarkably free of noxious weeds, but encroachment of spotted knapweed is 

 taking place in low numbers around much of the perimeter and lower elevation travel routes. 

 This poses the greatest potential threat identified to date for the special status species and low 

 elevation plant communities. 



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