Grassrange, Montana 



Location 



Fergus Co., MT; Sec. 20. R. 23 E., T. 14 N.; GPS-UTM 5203446 N, 665626 E. 

 About 4 miles south of Grassrange. 



From Grassrange, travel to the southwest corner of town. Take the left fork onto Tyler Cutoff Road, 

 which crosses the south fork of McDonald Creek. Continue south after crossing the creek, about 4 

 miles. Photopoint is located west of the road before the road descends a steep grade. 



Description 



August 11, 1999 



Side Slope Along Fence 



Grasses. Agropyron 

 spicatum, Agropyron 

 cristatum, Poa pratensis 



Forbs. Achillea millefolium, 

 Melilotus officinalis 



Shrubs. Rosa woodsii 



Upland Behind Fence 



Grasses. Agropyron smithii, 

 Stipa comata, Koeleria 

 pyramidata, Bonteloua graci- 

 lis, Agropyron cristatum 



Forbs. Psoralea tenuiflora, 

 Melilotus officinalis. Solidago 

 spp. 



Shrubs. Artemisia cana, 

 Artemisia Jrigida, Rhus 

 trilobata 



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Synopsis 



Original photo served as the 

 cover shot for Phillips' (1963) 

 publication. In contrast to 1917, 

 barren areas are completely 

 vegetated in 1998, with Melilotus 

 officinale invading open areas, 

 particularly near the road and 

 along the fence line. The most 

 apparent change is the dramatic 

 increase of Pinus ponderosa on 

 the hillside in the background. 

 Originally considered a moderate 

 cover of Pinus ponderosa, this 

 site now supports a closed 

 canopy. The central drainage 

 area is the south fork of 

 McDonald Creek. No notable 

 change in drainage vegetation 

 has occurred since 1917. 



11 



