DOCSLIB.ORG

Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report: Lewistown Field Office

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report: Lewistown Field Office Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report Lewistown Field Office, Montana Chouteau, Judith Basin, Fergus, and Petroleum Counties January 2015 Prepared for: US Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management Lewistown Field Office 920 NE Main Street Lewistown, Montana 59497 Prepared by: Environmental Management and Planning Solutions, Inc. Boulder, Colorado TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter Page 1. INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................................ 1-1 1.1 Project Area ................................................................................................................................... 1-1 1.2 Why Conduct a WSR Study and Why Now? ........................................................................ 1-1 1.3 What is a Wild and Scenic River? ............................................................................................. 1-2 1.4 Steps in the Wild and Scenic River Study Process ............................................................... 1-2 1.4.1 Eligibility Evaluation ....................................................................................................... 1-3 1.4.2 Suitability Phase .............................................................................................................. 1-5 1.5 Summary of Findings .................................................................................................................... 1-5 2. METHODOLOGY ............................................................................................................ 2-1 2.1 Methods Used to Identify River and Stream Segments ....................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Geographic Information Systems ............................................................................... 2-1 2.1.2 BLM Resource Interdisciplinary Team ...................................................................... 2-1 2.1.3 Informational Sources ................................................................................................... 2-7 2.1.4 Other Agencies .............................................................................................................. 2-7 2.2 Eligibility Criteria ........................................................................................................................... 2-8 2.2.1 Free-Flowing Criteria .................................................................................................... 2-8 2.2.2 Outstandingly Remarkable Values Criteria and Region of Comparison .......... 2-9 2.2.3 Preliminary Classification Criteria ........................................................................... 2-13 3. ELIGIBILITY EVALUATION ............................................................................................. 3-1 3.1 Armells Creek ............................................................................................................................... 3-2 3.2 Collar Gulch Creek ...................................................................................................................... 3-4 3.3 Fords Creek ................................................................................................................................... 3-6 3.4 Judith River ..................................................................................................................................... 3-8 3.5 North Fork Flatwillow Creek .................................................................................................. 3-11 3.6 Pike Creek .................................................................................................................................... 3-13 3.7 Sacagawea River (also known as Crooked Creek) ............................................................. 3-16 3.8 South Fork Flatwillow Creek ................................................................................................... 3-19 4. INTERIM MANAGEMENT AND NEXT STEPS ................................................................... 4-1 4.1 Interim Management .................................................................................................................... 4-1 4.2 Next Steps ...................................................................................................................................... 4-3 5. LIST OF PREPARERS ....................................................................................................... 5-1 6. REFERENCES .................................................................................................................. 6-1 January 2015 Lewistown Field Office i Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report TABLES Page 1-1 Stream Segments Determined Eligible for Suitability Study .............................................................. 1-6 2-1 Streams Reviewed for Eligibility ............................................................................................................... 2-2 2-2 Outstandingly Remarkable Values Criteria and Region of Comparison ...................................... 2-10 2-3 Preliminary Classification Criteria ......................................................................................................... 2-13 4-1 Interim Protection for Candidate Wild and Scenic Rivers ................................................................ 4-2 FIGURES Page 1-1 Wild and Scenic Rivers Study Process .................................................................................................... 1-4 1-2 Stream Segments Determined Eligible for Suitability Study .............................................................. 1-7 3-1 Armells Creek .............................................................................................................................................. 3-3 3-2 Collar Gulch Creek ..................................................................................................................................... 3-5 3-3 Fords Creek .................................................................................................................................................. 3-7 3-4 Judith River .................................................................................................................................................. 3-10 3-5 North Fork Flatwillow Creek ................................................................................................................. 3-12 3-6 Pike Creek ................................................................................................................................................... 3-15 3-7 Sacagawea River (Crooked Creek) ....................................................................................................... 3-18 3-8 South Fork Flatwillow Creek .................................................................................................................. 3-20 ii Lewistown Field Office January 2015 Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS Full Phrase ACEC area of critical environmental concern BLM United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management EIS environmental impact statement EMPSi Environmental Management and Planning Solutions, Inc. Forest Service United States Department of Agriculture, National Forest Service LFO Lewistown Field Office MFWP Montana Fish, Wildlife, & Parks NEPA National Environmental Policy Act National System National Wild and Scenic Rivers System ORV outstandingly remarkable value RMP resource management plan US United States USFWS US Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service VRM visual resource management WSR wild and scenic river WSR Act Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 January 2015 Lewistown Field Office iii Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report Table of Contents This page intentionally left blank. iv Lewistown Field Office January 2015 Wild and Scenic Rivers Eligibility Report CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION The United States (US) Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), Lewistown Field Office (LFO) has completed a wild and scenic river (WSR) evaluation as part of its resource management plan (RMP) process. During the identification phase, the BLM examined river and stream segments within the LFO boundaries to identify those segments that either pass through or are bordered by BLM-administered lands. Once identified, standard criteria were applied to determine the eligibility of each segment. This report describes the identification process that was followed, the eligibility and preliminary classification criteria that were used, and the determinations that were made during the eligibility phase of the WSR evaluation for the LFO. 1.1 PROJECT AREA The land area to be covered under the Lewistown RMP is in the central part of Montana in Cascade, Chouteau, Fergus, Judith Basin, Meagher, Petroleum, Pondera, and Teton Counties and in the northern portion of Lewis and Clark County. The Lewistown RMP decision area comprises approximately 655,300 acres of BLM-managed lands in a 12,906,800-acre planning area. 1.2 WHY CONDUCT A WSR STUDY AND WHY NOW? Section 5(d)(1) of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act of 1968 (WSR Act; Public Law 90-542; 16 US Code 1271-1287) directs federal agencies to consider potential WSRs in their land and water planning processes (“In all planning for the use and development of water and related land resources, consideration shall be given by all federal agencies involved to potential national wild, scenic,
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Geology of the Flathead Formation (Middle Cambrian) on the Perimeter
    University of North Dakota UND Scholarly Commons Theses and Dissertations Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects 1978 Geology of the Flathead Formation (Middle Cambrian) on the perimeter of the Bighorn Basin, Beartooth Mountains, and Little Belt Mountains in Wyoming and Montana Joel A. Degenstein University of North Dakota Follow this and additional works at: https://commons.und.edu/theses Part of the Geology Commons Recommended Citation Degenstein, Joel A., "Geology of the Flathead Formation (Middle Cambrian) on the perimeter of the Bighorn Basin, Beartooth Mountains, and Little Belt Mountains in Wyoming and Montana" (1978). Theses and Dissertations. 71. https://commons.und.edu/theses/71 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, and Senior Projects at UND Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of UND Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. GEOLOGY OF THE FLATHEAD FORMATION (MIDDLE CAMBRIAN) ON THE PERIMETER OF THE BIGHORN BASIN, BEARTOOTH MOUNTAINS, AND LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS IN WYOMING AND MONTANA by Joel A. Degenstein Bachelor of Science in Geology, University of North Dakota, 1976 A Thesis Submitted to the Graduate Faculty of the University of North Dakota in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science Grand Forks, North Dakota GEOLCGY LIBl(ARY August lJnivenitJ of Ncrtb Dakoll 1978 / . , '"\'';'.ft. ',I l This Thesis submicted by Joel A, Degenstein in partial fulfill­ ment of the requirements for the Degree of :·Iast:er of Science from ci:te University of ?forth Dakota is hereby app:.-c,·ed by the Faculty Advisory Col!llllittee under whom the work has been done.
    [Show full text]
  • Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana
    Report of Investigation 23 Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana Richard B. Berg 2015 Cover photo by Richard Berg. Sapphires (very pale green and colorless) concentrated by panning. The small red grains are garnets, commonly found with sapphires in western Montana, and the black sand is mainly magnetite. Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences, RI 23 Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana Richard B. Berg Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology MBMG Report of Investigation 23 2015 i Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences, RI 23 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 Descriptions of Occurrences ..................................................................................................7 Selected Bibliography of Articles on Montana Sapphires ................................................... 75 General Montana ............................................................................................................75 Yogo ................................................................................................................................ 75 Southwestern Montana Alluvial Deposits........................................................................ 76 Specifi cally Rock Creek sapphire district ........................................................................ 76 Specifi cally Dry Cottonwood Creek deposit and the Butte area ....................................
    [Show full text]
  • Two High Altitude Game Trap Sites in Montana
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1974 Two High Altitude Game Trap Sites in Montana Bonnie Jean Hogan The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Hogan, Bonnie Jean, "Two High Altitude Game Trap Sites in Montana" (1974). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 9318. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/9318 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. TWO HIGH ALTITUDE. GAME TRAP SITES IN MONTANA By Bonnie Herda Hogan B.A., University of Montana, 1969 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1974 Approved by: v s'sr~) s / '/ 7 / y ■Zu.£&~ fi-'T n Chairman, Board''of Examiners Gra< ie Schoo/1 ? £ Date UMI Number: EP72630 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted. In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed, a note will indicate the deletion. Publishing UMI EP72630 Published by ProQuest LLC (2015). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author.
    [Show full text]
  • Montana State Parks Guide Reservations for Camping and Other Accommodations: Toll Free: 1-855-922-6768 Stateparks.Mt.Gov
    For more information about Montana State Parks: 406-444-3750 TDD: 406-444-1200 website: stateparks.mt.gov P.O. Box 200701 • Helena, MT 59620-0701 Montana State Parks Guide Reservations for camping and other accommodations: Toll Free: 1-855-922-6768 stateparks.mt.gov For general travel information: 1-800-VISIT-MT (1-800-847-4868) www.visitmt.com Join us on Twitter, Facebook & Instagram If you need emergency assistance, call 911. To report vandalism or other park violations, call 1-800-TIP-MONT (1-800-847-6668). Your call can be anonymous. You may be eligible for a reward. Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks strives to ensure its programs, sites and facilities are accessible to all people, including those with disabilities. To learn more, or to request accommodations, call 406-444-3750. Cover photo by Jason Savage Photography Lewis and Clark portrait reproductions courtesy of Independence National Historic Park Library, Philadelphia, PA. This document was produced by Montana Fish Wildlife & Parks and was printed at state expense. Information on the cost of this publication can be obtained by contacting Montana State Parks. Printed on Recycled Paper © 2018 Montana State Parks MSP Brochure Cover 15.indd 1 7/13/2018 9:40:43 AM 1 Whitefish Lake 6 15 24 33 First Peoples Buffalo Jump* 42 Tongue River Reservoir Logan BeTableaverta ilof Hill Contents Lewis & Clark Caverns Les Mason* 7 16 25 34 43 Thompson Falls Fort3-9 Owen*Historical Sites 28. VisitorMadison Centers, Buff Camping,alo Ju mp* Giant Springs* Medicine Rocks Whitefish Lake 8 Fish Creek 17 Granite11-15 *Nature Parks 26DisabledMissouri Access Headw ibility aters 35 Ackley Lake 44 Pirogue Island* WATERTON-GLACIER INTERNATIONAL 2 Lone Pine* PEACE PARK9 Council Grove* 18 Lost Creek 27 Elkhorn* 36 Greycliff Prairie Dog Town* 45 Makoshika Y a WHITEFISH < 16-23 Water-based Recreation 29.
    [Show full text]
  • Lower Musselshell River Acquisition Projrect Environmental Assessement
    Environmental Assessment Lower Musselshell River Acquisition Project DOI-BLM-MT-C020-2021-0057-EA February 26, 2021 MTM-111418 Miles City Field Office 111 Garryowen Road Miles City, Montana 59301 Lewistown Field Office 920 NE Main Lewistown, Montana 59457 Table of Contents 1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 1 2 Alternatives ......................................................................................................................................... 4 3 Affected Environment and Environmental Consequences ............................................................. 6 4 Consultation and Coordination ....................................................................................................... 11 5 List of Appendices ............................................................................................................................. 12 Appendix A: List of Preparers ................................................................................................................. 13 Appendix B: Table of Issues and Resources Considered ...................................................................... 14 Appendix C: Acronyms and Abbreviations ............................................................................................ 22 Appendix D: List of References ............................................................................................................... 23 Appendix E: Maps
    [Show full text]
  • Contract for Deed Billings Montana
    Contract For Deed Billings Montana Dell remains unargued: she castaways her knitter waste too charmingly? Dresden Howie unthread some socage and feudalize his toiletry so barometrically! Moral and congested Alfred quartersaw almost presentably, though Hadleigh exteriorize his sandbag outsell. Must be a graduate within an accredited law school. Borders thousands of acres of BLM lands. One line you support do harm to provide sure that utilize tax bills are edge to you directly from possible tax collector. Which types of real estate cases so should handle water often? House hunting made easy. Montana foreclosed home auctions and Montana bank owned properties. Crow Agency, requesting that the Graham leases be canceled. Owners of exempted mobile homes will be notified by the department when they receive his property classification and appraisal notices. Never miss an opportunity remains a cheap home, by saving your searches. Are you spin you enough to delete this alert? The movies The Re. The petition was directed to the Billings Area Director, Bureau of Indian Affairs. This is Yellowstone Country! Contact us to side working and one concept our agents to land access to power entire island of homes available. It was violent enough and had just want others to collect when something works. Since forfeiture often beside the concern remedy, notice form name be used in access all cases where a default is imminent. DISMISSED and the decision of the Acting Area Director is AFFIRMED. Did the District Court err in finding that question First Citizens Bank of Billings had no obligation to terrain that thirst the required deeds were placed in escrow by Double S Investors? The Departmentis charged with the responsibility of the management of bay trust obligations inthe best play of Indian beneficiaries.
    [Show full text]
  • The Flaxville Gravel As an Alluvial Plain...28
    University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 1991 The Flaxville alluvial plain : a cartographic spatial analysis David Middleton The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Middleton, David, "The Flaxville alluvial plain : a cartographic spatial analysis" (1991). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 8961. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/8961 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Maureen and Mike MANSFIELD LIBRARY Copying allowed as provided under provisions of the Fair Use Section of the U.S. COPYRIGHT LAW, 1976. Any copying for commercial purposes or financM gain may be under^en only with the author’s written consent. University of Montana The Flaxville Alluvial Plain: A Cartographic Spatial Analysis By David Middleton B.A., Eastern Washington University, 1986 B.A., Humboldt State University, 197 9 Presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA 1991 Approved by: Chairman, Board of Examiners ^éan. Graduate School j y r u u S / 9 9 / DsOte UMI Number: EP39762 All rights reserved INFORMATION TO ALL USERS The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted.
    [Show full text]
  • RELATIVE ABUNDANCE of SPINEY SOFTSHELL TURTLES (Apalone Spinifera) on the MISSOURI and YELLOWSTONE RIVERS in MONTANA FINAL REPOR
    RELATIVE ABUNDANCE OF SPINEY SOFTSHELL TURTLES (Apalone spinifera) ON THE MISSOURI AND YELLOWSTONE RIVERS IN MONTANA FINAL REPORT Arnold R. Dood, Brad Schmitz, Vic Riggs, Nate McClenning, Matt Jeager, Dave Fuller, Ryan Rauscher, Steve Leathe, Dave Moore, JoAnn Dullum, John Ensign, Scott Story, Mike Backes Abstract In 2003, the Missouri River Natural Resources Committee (MRNRC) Wildlife Section advocated developing a survey for the relative abundance of softshell turtles (Apalone sp.) on the Missouri River system. Softshell turtles were selected because they occur throughout the system and there was some information suggesting that they may have been impacted by system operations. As a common riverine species, there were possibilities that softshell turtles may have been impacted because of the timing, level, and temperature of river flows as well as by dam construction and bank stabilization. In addition, there were reports from other areas in the species range that they may be especially sensitive to human disturbance. From 2004 through 2008, State and Federal agencies and Pacific Power and Light in Montana sampled the Missouri River from Great Falls, MT, to the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone (except Fort Peck Reservoir) as well as they Yellowstone River from above Billings to the confluence. Sampling consisted of setting turtle traps every two river miles and checking for three days. Turtles captured were measured, marked, and released. Results of the sampling efforts indicated high relative densities above Fort Peck Reservoir and variable densities on the Yellowstone. No spiny softshells were found below Fort Peck or on the Yellowstone below Sidney, MT. Possible reasons are presented and recommendations for future program direction as well as potential system modifications to benefit this species are discussed.
    [Show full text]
  • Greatyellowsciethno.Pdf
    Ethnography Overview Yellowstone National Park’s ethnographic resources are natural and cultural features that are significant to certain American Indians because those features are linked with the ways in which a tribe identifies itself as a distinct group. Ethnographic resources include sites used for ceremonial activities, hunting, and gathering, as well as those associated with migration routes and a tribe’s history. They also include objects, plants, animals, and structures that are important to a tribe’s sense of purpose or way of life. For purposes of definition and management, Yellowstone National Park’s Ethnography Program considers ethnographic resources from the viewpoint of the group for which they have an importance that is distinct from that recognized by the general public. The Transition from “Indian Country” to “Uninhabited Wilderness” Before Yellowstone National Park’s inception in 1872, many American Indians used the area to hunt, fish, gather plants, quarry obsidian, take the thermal waters for spiritual and medicinal purposes, rendezvous with other tribes, trade, and live in on a seasonal basis. Although the Crow, Shoshone, and Bannock were the most frequent historical inhabitants, the park’s location at the convergence of the Great Plains, Great Basin, and Plateau Indian cultures meant that other tribes had also developed traditional connections to the area (Nabokov and Loendorf 2004). However, the congressional act that established Yellowstone lacked any reference to American Indians, and congressional delegates declared that “no Indians lived there.” In part, this may have been because by the time Yellowstone was established, many American Indians already had been relocated to reservations.
    [Show full text]
  • Call to Action Friends, Can You Help Us Stop a Recent Development That Threatens the Land Surrounding the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument?
    Call to Action Friends, can you help us stop a recent development that threatens the land surrounding the Upper Missouri Breaks National Monument? Immediate action is needed on the revised draft Resource Management Plan for the BLM’s Lewistown District. This plan will decide how more than 650,000 acres of public lands will be managed for the next 20 to 30 years. It will control the future more than 200,000 acres of wildlands, eight Areas of Critical Environmental Concern, Outstanding Natural Areas, three Wilderness Study Areas, and countless acres of critical habitat for mule deer, elk and sage grouse. It is the heart of the last remaining intact grasslands in our country. BLM’s proposed management (the “preferred” alternative) would open 99 percent of the area to oil and gas leasing. Many of the affected areas are adjacent to or near our beloved Breaks monument, and the proposed management changes will undoubtedly change forever the wild experience of the Breaks that we inherited from countless generations of our ancestors. The deadline for submitting comments to BLM is just days away: Aug. 15. The only way to change the direction BLM has proposed is to overwhelm the agency with local, personal, passionate comments. Even a short, personal comment can make a difference in the outcome of this critical decision. You can read the draft RMP at https://go.usa.gov/xUPsP. Just click on the Documents & Reports tab. Email your comments to [email protected]. Or can you can mail your comments to Bureau of Land Management Lewistown Field Office, Lewistown Resource Management Plan, 920 N.E.
    [Show full text]
  • NATURAL FIRE REGIMES and PRE-EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT VEGETATION of the CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Box 110 333 Airpo
    NATURAL FIRE REGIMES AND PRE-EUROPEAN SETTLEMENT VEGETATION OF THE CHARLES M. RUSSELL NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE Report Prepared for The Charles M. Russell NWR U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Box 110 333 Airport Road Lewistown, MT 59457 by Cecil C. Frost Landscape Fire Ecologist 119 Potluck Farm Road Rougemont, NC 27572 336-364-1924 (office) 919-906-1915 (cell) August 22, 2008 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thanks are due to the staff of the refuge at Lewistown, and managers of Sand Creek, Jordan and Fort Peck. Thanks especially to Bob Skinner as my chief contact for questions, for discussions and for copies of refuge documents and published materials. Thanks go to Joann Dullum for producing the vegetation map and a GIS map of original habitats of prairie dogs in the CMR landscape, to Susan Langley for production of the fire frequency map on GIS, to Paul Pallas for help with assembling crews with equipment for collecting tree sections and for supplying information on fire records at CMR, and to Dan Harrell for field assistance and information on historical numbers of livestock in Montana. The Missouri Tree Ring Laboratory analyzed the historical fire scars in the first sections I collected form fire-killed trees and Michael Stambaugh and his father Phil Stambaugh came from the laboratory to CMR in 2007 to collect additional specimens to complete the fire scar chronologies. DISCLAIMER The findings and opinions expressed herein represent the interpretations and professional judgments of the author. These are not necessarily representative of the policies or opinions of The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
    [Show full text]
  • Hunting Districts 315 and 580)
    CRAZY MOUNTAINS EMU (Hunting Districts 315 and 580) Description: This 1,708-square-mile EMU includes the Crazy Mountain Range and adjacent foothill and prairie habitats in south central Montana. The area is a mixture of private (78%) and public (22%) lands, including portions of both the Gallatin and Lewis and Clark national forests (16%), state school trust lands (DNRC – 5%), and USDI Bureau of Land Management (BLM – 0.2%). Land ownership patterns within the boundary of the national forests are characterized by checkerboard ownership. The EMU contains two roadless areas encompassing 149,467 acres of public and private lands that offer wilderness-type recreation. However, much of this roadless area is not elk habitat. This EMU contains over 590,000 acres of occupied elk habitat (54% of EMU). National forest lands provide a large portion of spring, summer and fall elk habitat, but private lands in mountain foothill and sagebrush-grassland habitats provide over 80% of elk winter range during normal winters and virtually all of the available winter range during severe winters. Public Access: Access by road to elk habitat is limited in most of HD 580 where the checkerboard pattern of land ownership complicates management of access. With few exceptions, public access to elk habitat on the north and east slopes of the Crazies is controlled entirely by private landowners. There are only 3 points in HD 580 where the public may legally access national forest lands – the Big Timber Canyon road in the southeast corner, the Cottonwood Creek/Forest Lake road on the north end and Sixteenmile Creek in the northwest corner of the hunting district.
    [Show full text]