Site Description Summaries 



Medium Prairie River Ecological Types 



Medium Prairie River (AES 8005) Ecological Types inorderof highest biological integrity to lowest. 1) 

 Little Missouri Montana site, 2) Little Missouri #2, 3) Little Missouri@ Camp Crook, 4) South Fork 

 Moreau #3 



Management/Threats to this ecological system include: Grazing and livestock use around the 

 riparian areas occurs and can have strong local effects resulting in sedimentation and stream widening at 

 cattle crossings. Introductions of game or forage fish in stock ponds anywhere in the watershed can 

 make their way downstream to these larger prairie rivers and become permanent residents, competing 

 with (green sunfish) or preying upon (northern pike) resident native fish species 



Global Rank Comments: The number of viable occurrences is unknown, but probably somewhat rare. 

 These prairie river ecological types are abundant in terms of river miles across the Northern Great Plains 

 Steppe of North America, but the hydrology (i.e. water permanence) and biological integrity can be easily 

 affected by upstream dams or diversions in the watershed. Stock ponds that are stocked with game fish, 

 and bait bucket introductions can also contribute to the community degradation of introduced fish species. 



15 



