Site Basic Record 

 SCUDOER CREEK EXCLOSURE 



From exit #59 on Interstate 15 (south of OiUon), proceed west on State Highway 278 for 25 

 miles to the Polaris turnoff. Take the gravel Polaris road 2 miles north to a jeep trail 

 leading east through a gate. Take this jeep trail 1.3 miles to a faint jeep trail leading 

 south. Park and walk 0.25 mile south on this trail. The exclosure is on the ridge to the east. 



The sairpled portion of the exclosure was established in 1963 (pers. comm.. Jack Jones, BLM, 

 Butte). The exclosure occurs on a narrow ridge on limestone-derived soils. An 8-foot-tall fence 

 surrounds the exclosure, effectively excluding deer, elk, livestock, and other large animals, 

 the vegetation within the exclosure and in the immediate surroundings is of the Pinus 

 f lexi lis/Cercocarpus ledifolius community type. Cercocarpus ledifolius plants on the site, but 

 outside the exclosure, are heavily browsed by deer and elk. 



COUNTY: Beaverhead 



uses QUADRANGLE: POLARIS 



TOWNSHIP-RANGE: 006S012U SECTION: 20 



QUARTER/ADDITIONAL SECTIONS: Portions of 16, 17, 20 and 21. 



BOUNDING RECTANGLE: S: 451810N N: 451833N E: 1130513U W: 1130540U 



BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The boundaries follow the Scudder Creek road to the northwest, the exclosure 



access road to the southwest, a secondary drainage bottom to the southeast, and 

 tertiary drainages to the northeast. The exclosure and adjacent lands are 

 contained within these boundaries. 



APPROXIMATE ACREAGE: 50.00 



GENERAL RATING: 2 



S1 plant species are present (Arenaria kingii and either Lesqueralla paysonii or L. prostrata). 

 A G3? community type is present (Pinus f lexi I is/Cercocarpus ledifolius). 



BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE: B3 



SI plant species are present, as is a G3? connunity type. 



OTHER VALUES: V4 



PROTECTION URGENCY: P3 



The existing exclosure is small (ca. 0.5 acre) and is likely subjected to significant edge 

 effects from the surrounding heavily browsed areas. Perhaps enlarge enclosed area to reduce 

 edge effects. Continue current excellent maintenance of fencing. 



MANAGEMENT URGENCY: M4 



Reduce deer and elk numbers on lands outside the exclosure, as continued heavy use of these 

 lands may cause significant edge disturbance within the exclosure. 



CONSERVATION INTENT: Maintain exclosure on site. 



PROTECTION COMMENTS: The exclosure on the site is divided into four segments established in 1953, 

 1963, 1973 and 1983. 



LAND USE: The sampled portion of the exclosure has been protected from grazing by large herbivores since 

 1963. Adjacent lands are being heavily browsed by elk and deer, and moderately grazed by 

 cattle. 



NATURAL HAZARDS: None known. 



EXOTICS: No exotic plant species currently appear to pose a threat. 



OFF-SITE LAND USES: Degradation of adjacent lands by overbrowsing/overgrazing may eventually degrade 

 the vegetation of the exclosure via edge effects. 



INFORMATION NEEDS: The BLM monitors this exclosure. Contact the BLM office in Butte or Dillon for 

 periodic updates on vegetation characteristics. 



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