Flathead Wild and Scenic River CRMP Botany & Geology Fact Sheet

Introduction

The Three Forks of the Flathead River were designated a Wild and Scenic River (WSR) in 1976 and are a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System. A total of 219 miles of the Flathead River are included in the designation. The free-flowing conditions and water quality of designated wild and scenic rivers are to be protected and enhanced. BOTANY

Botanical resources on the three forks of the Flathead are considered one of its Outstandingly Remarkable Values (ORVs). Therefore, review of baseline conditions, potential threats to resources, and future management and monitoring objectives will be integral to the ongoing Comprehensive River Management Plan (CRMP) process. High Quality Riparian Habitat

The Three Forks of the Flathead River occur within one of the largest intact ecosystems in the lower 48 states where natural processes such as fire, flooding, plant succession, wildlife migration, and predator-prey dynamics shape the landscape and its wildlife. A full complement of native plant and wildlife species is present in the river corridor, which is a significant value at both a regional and national scale. Management and Regulatory Framework

The Forest has one designated wild and scenic river, the Flathead River. Its three forks—the South Fork, Middle Fork, and North Fork—Wild and Scenic river corridors extend 0.25 miles (roughly 1,300 feet) on each side of the river.

Public Law 94-486 established the Three Forks of the Flathead as a Wild and Scenic River in 1976 and states that it would be, “administered by agencies of the Departments of the Interior (NPS) and Agriculture (USFS) as agreed upon by the Secretaries of such Departments or as directed by the President.”

Glacier National Park addresses the WSR management in its General Management Plan https://parkplanning.nps.gov/document.cfm?parkID=61&projectID=39894&documentID=44643 and the Flathead National Forest will incorporate the CRMP as an amendment to its recently revised Forest Plan https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/flathead/landmanagement/planning/?cid=stelprdb5422786&width=full

The current River Management Plan (1980) https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/fseprd578470.pdf has no monitoring requirements related to botany. The new CRMP will include a monitoring plan for each ORV, including botany. Definition of Wild and Scenic Rivers Baseline for Botanical ORVs

An understanding of baseline condition of botanical resources on WSRs enables faster identification of emerging concerns and evaluation of management objectives. Baseline condition for resources on Wild and Scenic Rivers, is defined by the Interagency Wild & Scenic Rivers Coordinating Council (2003), as that which existed at the time of designation.

However, baseline for the Flathead WSR CRMP were not identified in the Flathead River Wild and Scenic River Study Report (1975) and the River Management Plan (1980).

1

Post WSR Designation Monitoring and Survey Data

Historical data exist with the Montana Natural Heritage Program (MNHP) for the state of Montana. Area specific surveys on the Flathead National Forest did not start until the 1990s. These data sources were used for the ORV assessment in 2013. The 2013 ORV assessment documented resources and information that have been compiled since designation. Botanical resources and invasive plant infestations affect land management and are incorporated into agency planning. Selected sources of additional information on botanical resources and invasive plant species related to the Flathead region include: Montana Field Guide (Montana Natural Heritage Program). Search for any Montana plant or animal species http://fieldguide.mt.gov/

Six-Year Post-Fire Mortality and Health of Relict Ponderosa Pines in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Montana. 2011. Signe B. Leirfallom and Robert E. Keane https://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_rn042.pdf

Post-Fire Ponderosa Pine Mortality https://www.firelab.org/project/post-fire-ponderosa-pine-mortality

National Strategic Framework for Invasive Species Management https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5436273.pdf

Montana Weed Control Association https://www.mtweed.org/

------GEOLOGY ------

Who Manages What?

• The Forest Service manages the geologic resources within the National Forests. • Glacier National Park manages the geologic resources inside the park. • The Bureau of Land Management administers oil and gas leases on National Forest lands. • These agencies work together to manage the unique, pristine geologic environment.

The 2013 Forest Service Land Management Handbook Chapter on WSR describes geologic values and categories for outstanding remarkable values as follows (FSH1909.12 Ch 80): https://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5409888.pdf

The river, or the area within the river corridor, contains one or more examples of a geologic feature, process, or phenomenon that is unique or rare within the region of comparison. The feature(s) may be in an unusually active stage of development, represent a “textbook” example, and/or represent a unique or rare combination of geologic features (erosional, volcanic, glacial, or other geologic structures).

Four ORV geologic features identified for the three forks of the Flathead River include: 1) Fossils of Parasitic Wasps, 3) Meadow Creek Gorge, and 2) Goat Lick, 4) Colored riverbed rocks

Flathead River System Baseline Geology

The baseline geology for the Flathead River System was published in 1975, in a revised version of the 1973 Flathead River Wild and Scenic River Study Report. Understanding baseline geologic conditions enables faster identification of emerging concerns and evaluation of management objectives. The study includes a brief summary of the different ages of rocks present, the structure and the landforms present in the area of the Flathead River System.

2

Precambrian Rocks and the Belt Supergroup: The geological exposures that dominate all three segments of the Flathead River system are units of the Belt Supergroup. The Belt Supergroup units were deposited in a shallow sea located along the western edge of the North American continent from approximately 1.47 to 1.37 billion years ago. Glacier National Park and the Flathead Region have been estimated to be 25,000 to 30,000 feet thick (Ross, 1959).

The Belt Supergroup rocks consist of low-grade metamorphosed sedimentary rocks, including argillites (highly compacted mudstones), quartzites (metamorphosed sandstones), and limestones. At some locations along the upper reaches of the South and Middle Forks, precambrian igneous rocks also intrude into rocks of the Belt Supergroup.

Paleozoic and Mesozoic Rocks: Paleozoic (600 to 230 million years old) sandstone, shale, and limestone units are present in the South and Middle Forks. Sandstone and limestone rock units form prominent cliffs and ridges. A unit of highly erosive Mesozoic (230 million to 65 million years old) sandstone and shale is located near the head of the Middle Fork.

Pre-Glacial Deposits: Paleogene (65 to ~23 million years ago) deposits are exposed in all three river valley bottoms and include pre-glacial alluvial deposits consisting of sandstone, siltstone, conglomerate, a variety of fossils and some shale and lignite. The Kishenehn Formation was deposited at this time and contains a variety of sediments including ash and coal. Coal seams imply the likely presence of restricted lakes and ponds and that the climate was wet enough to sustain abundant plant life.

Glacial Deposits: Glaciation helped shaped the topography and river drainage patterns within the Flathead River System. The region near Glacier National Park has experienced at least 10 periods of widespread glaciation though evidence from early advances is often destroyed by later advances. During the height of the Wisconsin Glaciation (the youngest of the four major Pleistocene Glaciations) – called the Pinedale Glaciation in the Rocky Mountain Region – the valleys of Glacier National Park were filled with glaciers, leaving only the peaks free of ice. Massive ice sheets flanked the regions west and east of Glacier National Park.

Structure: The three forks of the Flathead River are located within the northern Rocky Mountain physiographic province. Major fault and fold trends are north-northwest. Normal and reverse faulting are present but not frequently exposed.

The Lewis thrust fault occurs along the upper reach of the Middle fork. The Lewis thrust fault not only underlies the entire park, but also is responsible in part for the rugged alpine scenery. Due to its excellent exposure in the cliff faces on the south and east sides of Glacier National Park, the Lewis thrust fault is recognized worldwide as a classic geologic structure (Whipple, 1992). The Lewis thrust fault formed as the result of compressional forces that began about 170 million years ago due to collision of tectonic plates. It’s estimated that these forces drove a thick wedge of rock 50 miles (80 km) eastward.

Extensional forces during the Paleogene (formerly the Tertiary) resulted in normal faulting and the formation of the Kishenehn Basin – a half-graben.

Landforms: Landforms in the Flathead River System were grouped into three categories: glaciated valleys and uplands, mountainous lands, and bottom lands. The bottom lands were a key area of interest as they are most closely associated with the river. The 1975 baseline study considered soil mass movement, compatibility, suitability for septic drainfields, and development of roads. A summary of the baseline study for these factors can be found in the appendix of the 1975 report. Mineral Resources

Principal commodities in upper Flathead River include coal, oil, copper, gold, building stone, and sand and gravel. The most abundant commodity is sand and gravel. Coal has been produced from Tertiary beds near the North Fork of the Flathead River. Oil and gas seeps are found around Kintla Lake in GNP. Oil may be present along the Continental Divide

3 and in the Whitefish Range. Little precious or base metals mining has occurred. Based on the geology, the potential for high quality minerals deposits and development is low. North Fork Flathead River Status

An international team of UNESCO scientists recommended a moratorium on mining north of Glacier National Park in 2010. "Their conclusions were very sweeping in that there is no possibility whatsoever of proceeding with mining in the Canadian Flathead without having substantial impacts on the World Heritage Site." Stephen Morris, chief of international affairs for the National Park Service; Missoulian January 22, 2010

"Mining, oil and gas development and coalbed gas extraction will not be permitted in British Columbia's Flathead Valley.” Lt. Gov. Steven Point, Missoulian, February 10, 2010 The North Fork Watershed Protection Act passed as part of the National Defense Authorization Act in December of 2014. This Act formally protected the North Fork area from any type of mineral development except mineral materials used by USFS to maintain roads.

Monitoring

No formal monitoring of the geology is currently ongoing. GNP wildlife biologists monitor the goat lick to determine effect of floaters on goats use of mineral lick. FNF observe and record goat behavior and use pattern. Both agencies provide oversight of activities occurring within their jurisdiction that might impact the geologic resource. The need for formal monitoring of the geologic resource in the future will be evaluated.

References

Ross, C.P., 1959, Geology of Glacier National Park and the Flathead region, northwestern Montana. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper, Report: P 0296, 125 p. gic Resource Evaluation Report, 2004.

Thornberry-Ehrlich, T., 2004, Glacier National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report: Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR: National Park Service, Denver, Colorado, 59 p.

U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, 1975, Flathead River Wild and Scenic River Study Report.

Whipple, J.W., 1992, Geologic Map of Glacier National Park, Montana. U.S. Geological Survey, Miscellaneous Investigations Series Map I- 1508- F.

4