Site Basic Record 



HOGBACK 



From GLen, proceed south on pavement 7.4 miles to a gravel crossroad. The Hogback is the 

 prominent 3-mile-long ridge northeast of this intersection. 



The Hogback is a quartzite ridge ca. 3.5 miles long, 1 mile wide, and with a relief of ca. 700 

 feet. The vegetation at higher elevations is predominantly Juniperus scopulorum woodlands and 

 Cercocarpus ledifolius shrublands, while the lower elevations feature Artemisia tridentata 

 shrublands and degraded Agropyron spicatum grasslands. 



COUNTY: Beaverhead 



USGS QUADRANGLE: BLOCK MOUNTAIN 



TOWNSHIP-RANGE: 005S008U SECTION: 10 



QUARTER/ADDITIONAL SECTIONS: Portions of 2, 3, 9, 10, 11, 15, 16, 17, 20 and 21. 



BOUNDING RECTANGLE: S: 451330N N: 452615N E: 1123315U U: 1123650U 



BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The primary boundary contains the most pristine vegetation occurrences observed 

 on the Hogback. The east, north and south boundaries follow the topographic 

 discontinuity and road corridor at the base of the Hogback. The western boundary 

 is defined by north-south trending major drainages. 



APPROXIMATE ACREAGE: 2500.00 



GENERAL RATING: 2 



A and B ranked G3 community occurrences are present. 



BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE: B3 



A and B ranked G3 community occurrences are present. 



OTHER VALUES: V2 



The Hogback is a prominent and highly aesthetic feature of the landscape. 



PROTECTION URGENCY: P3 



Mining activity appears to be on the increase. Deer overbrowsing and heavy livestock grazing 

 threaten portions of the site. Consider protection of the most pristine portions of the site 

 via ACEC designation. 



MANAGEMENT URGENCY: M3 



Control deer populations or Cercocarpus ledifolius stands could significantly degrade. Closely 

 regulate cattle grazing to minimize their impacts. 



CONSERVATION INTENT: Recommend establishment of a BLM ACEC. 



PROTECTION COMMENTS: The upper portions of the Hogback are by coincidence protected from most use by 

 domestic stock by very steep and rocky slopes. 



LAND USE: New and old mines are scattered throughout the site. Cattle use dominates on the less steep, 

 less rocky sites. Deer use is heavy, especially within Cercocarpus ledifolius stands. 



NATURAL HAZARDS: Cliffs, large boulders and mine shafts present hazards. Rattlesnakes are common in 

 the area. 



EXOTICS: Bromus tectorum is present sporadically and may increase with grazing and mining disturbance. 



OFF-SITE LAND USES: Cattle from the heavily grazed adjacent areas may move onto the flatter, more 

 accessible portions of the site, and cause increased degradations. 



INFORMATION NEEDS: 



MANAGEMENT NEEDS: Consider establishment of a Hogback ACEC and severely restrict or exclude mining 

 within the ACEC. Control deer populations to reduce or reverse degradataion of 

 Cercocarpus ledifolius stands. 



MANAGEMENT COMMENTS: 



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