Site Basic Record 

 UPPER RED ROCK LAKE SPRUCE FOREST 



From Monida, proceed east on the main Centennial Valley gravel road ca. 32 miles to Upper Lake 

 Campground. Continue past the campground 1.5 miles and park. The site is the prominent spruce 

 stand 0.2 mile due north. 



The site contains an old-growth riparian Picea engelmannii forest on the southeast shore of 

 Upper Red Rock Lake. The Picea present appears to be a hybrid between P. engelmannii and P. 

 glauca. The stand is surrounded by a complex of riparian shrub and graminoid communities. The 

 primary disturbance present appears to be windthrow. 



COUNTY: Beaverhead 



uses QUADRANGLE: UPPER RED ROCK LAKE 



TOWNSHIP-RANGE: 014S001U SECTION: 22 

 QUARTER/ADDITIONAL SECTIONS: SE4 



BOUNDING RECTANGLE: S: 443536N N: 443544N E: 11K155U W: 11U216U 



BOUNDARY JUSTIFICATION: The primary boundary encompasses the entire Picea engelmannii cover type and 

 follows the boundary between this type and adjacent shrubland and graminoid 

 communi ties. 



APPROXIMATE ACREAGE: 15.00 



GENERAL RATING: 2 



Old-growth riparian Picea engelmannii forest is present. 



BIODIVERSITY SIGNIFICANCE: B4 



High-quality, pristine, old-growth occurrence of Picea engelmanni i/Equisetum arvense (G4S3) 



OTHER VALUES: V2 



This site and the surrounding areas are highly significant riparian/wetland wildlife habitat. 



PROTECTION URGENCY: P3 



The site is currently protected within the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness. However, maintaining 

 hydrologic integrity is vital to maintaining the vegetation characteristics of the site. 

 Mismanagement of surrounding lands could alter hydrologic characteristics and degrade the site. 



MANAGEMENT URGENCY: M4 



Ensure that the surrounding watershed remains intact and that cattle are excluded from the 

 site. 



CONSERVATION INTENT: Recommend establishment as a Fish and Wildlife Service Research Natural Area. 



PROTECTION COMMENTS: Site is currently protected within the FWS Red Rock Lakes Wilderness. 



LAND USE: Wildlife tracks bisect the site and wildlife habitat preservation/management maintenance appear 

 to be the primary land uses in effect. 



NATURAL HAZARDS: Close encounters with upset moose. 



EXOTICS: None observed. 



OFF-SITE LAND USES: Logging of nearby upland forests and heavy grazing of nearby grasslands and 



shrublands could result in hydrologic alterations significant enough to degrade 

 this riparian/wetland site. 



INFORMATION NEEDS: A detailed survey of the surrounding riparian shrub and graminoid communities 

 would be desirable. 



MANAGEMENT NEEDS: Establish a special natural areas designation for the site, focusing on ensuring 

 that the site's natural characteristics are maintained. 



MANAGEMENT COMMENTS: The site is fully contained within the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness and Red Rock 

 Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. 



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