MOM TAMA 
Weather and Vater Conditions 
Water conditions during the May survey of the glaciated 
physiographic subdivisions were improved over last year in all 
areas except Sheridan County (Table 1). There was an increase in 
the number of reservoirs in all areas except the Great Falls 
Piedmont, this was probably due to an increase in runoff from the 
melting of the heavier than average snow cover this year. ‘The big 
increases were in the number of potholes in the Central Hi- Line 
and Great Falls Piedmont. 
Most of the stock reservoirs were filled and on many 
the water was going over the spillway, others that had been dry 
were filled to capacity, particularly in the Eastern and Central ~ 
Hi-Line. In the Great Falls Piedmont, the reservoirs were nearly 
all filled last year and remained good this year. The big increase 
of water areas in the Central Hi-line was in the pothole type of 
which most were temporary. At this time it is questionable of how 
much value these were to waterfowl this year. This may be 
determined during the production survey. 
The water conditions in the unglaciated prairie was _ r 
improved this year due to the heavier snow cover and rummoff in the 
reservoir type. The number of reservoirs containing water in- 
creased in the McCone County trend area. This was generally the 
case throughout eastern Montana. This increase in reservoir water. 
should be of the more permanent type and will be of great value, 
at least to the ude ducks. 
Breeding papuaeeion Indices 
The 1959 May survey indicated an 18% increase in total 
ducks over last year (Table 2). With the exception of Sheridan 
County, all of the physiographic areas showed an increase in duck 
numbers over the 10-year average. 
There was. also an increase in numbers of ducks in the 
southern unglaciated prairies. The Carter County trend area 
went from 1.6 ducks per square mile in 1957 to 3.2 in 1958 and up 
to 12.3 ducks per square miles this year. The numbers of water- 
fowl in the McCone County trend area remained about the same as 
1957, (about 1.3 ducka per square mile). No survey of this area 
Was made last year. 
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