site Basic Record 

 CHARCOAL CREEK 



From Divide (town), proceed west on State Highway 43 to a Y in the road just before a bridge 

 crossing the Big Hole River. Take the right-hand road (don't cross bridge) and proceed 0.6 mile 

 to a small townsite and dirt road leading north up Charcoal Creek. Take this road 1.1 miles and 

 park. The site is just south of the water tank, 0.3 mile to the west. 



The site is a steep slope with granitic parent materials. Granite outcrops and boulders occupy 

 ca. 40% of the ground surface. The vegetation is dominated by Cercocarpus ledifolius and 

 graminoids. Scattered Pseudotsuga menziesii are present but, for the most part, likely 

 represent "invaders" arriving as a result of fire exclusion. The more mesic areas feature the 

 P. menziesi i/Festuca idahoensis community type. 



COUNTY: Silver Bow 



USGS QUADRANGLE: DEWEY 



TOUNSHIP-RANGE: 001S010U SECTION: 12 

 QUARTER/ADDITIONAL SECTIONS: NW4 



BOUNDING RECTANGLE: S: 454602N N: 454622N E: 1124715U W: 1124737U 



BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The boundaries encompass the Cercocarpus ledi fot ius/Festuca idahoensis 



occurrence west of the water tank road and extend around the suimiit of the 

 hilltop above and to the draw west of the occurrence. 



APPROXIMATE ACREAGE: 60.00 



GENERAL RATING: 5 



An S2? conmunity element is present (Cercocarpus ledifol ius/Festuca idahoensis type) but is in 

 degraded condition and is not likely the best expression of the type. 



BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE: B4 



The abundance of Bromus tectorum diminishes the biodiversity significance of this site. 



OTHER VALUES: V4 



PROTECTION URGENCY: P2 



Bromus tectorum is likely on the increase and will continue to degrade the site with or without 

 protection. 



MANAGEMENT URGENCY: M3 



Consider reducing deer and elk numbers and keeping livestock off the site. 



CONSERVATION INTENT: 



PROTECTION COMMENTS: 



LAND USE: Deer and elk likely use this site frequently. Sheep and perhaps cattle may have heavily grazed 

 this site in the past given the high cover of Bromus tectorum. 



NATURAL HAZARDS: Slipping on granite boulders could present a hazard. 



EXOTICS: The abundant Bromus tectorum cover is cause for concern. It likely indicates a combination of 

 soil disturbance on a naturally mobile substrate and past heavy grazing use. 



OFF-SITE LAND USES: Surrounding lands are primarily used for livestock grazing. Influx of cattle 



onto this site from surrounding areas will probably increase the cover of Bromus 

 tectorum. 



INFORMATION NEEDS: The Cercocarpus ledi fol ius/Festuca idahoensis type has not previously been 



described. Similar but less disturbed habitats in southwestern Montana should be 

 searched for additional examples of the conmunity. 



MANAGEMENT NEEDS: The Cercocarpus ledi fol ius/Festuca idahoensis community type is rare and this 

 occurrence is worthy of considering for protection. However, Bromus tectorum 



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