Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

Summary

In order to meet goals and objectives set forth in the 2010 Conservation Lands Management Plan (CLMP, Chapter 3), Conservation Lands Management (CLM) staff documents historic and current conditions on newly acquired parcels. This “New Parcel” inventory is used whenever CLM adopts management of a new parcel either through purchase, transfer, or easement. The need and scope of this process is governed by the size and location of a new parcel and the resource conservation values on site. For some new parcels additional management plans may also be developed in addition to this inventory. By taking stock of newly acquired parcels, we hope to identify critical habitats, existing resources, historic influences and potential threats before agency management or public use of the land occurs. One advantage of this approach is that we can establish baseline assessments of resources before management occurs, allowing us to more directly track the results of management actions. The CLMP directs that Conservation Lands be managed depending on the resource values of the parcel. The existing, and potential recreational, ecological, and cultural uses and values of the land are taken into consideration when deciding management strategies for a specific parcel. The information gathered from a New Parcel Inventory provides land managers and policy makers with factual information to aid in the development of management plans for new parcels. A New Parcel Inventory is often conducted in conjunction with a public scoring process of natural, cultural and recreational resource values by the Conservation Lands Advisory Committee (CLAC).

Table of Contents (ctrl+click to jump to a section) Parcel history ...... 2 Natural history ...... 4 a. General Summary: ...... 4 b. Sensitive or threatened organisms ...... 4 c. Riparian / Wetland Habitats ...... 4 d. Wildlife: ...... 5 e. Vegetation ...... 9 f. Forest ...... 13 Human infrastructure ...... 16 a. Recreation, Roads and Trails ...... 16 b. Other infrastructure ...... 16 Future Monitoring recommendations ...... 18 References / Works Cited ...... 18 Appendix. Maps and Figures ...... 19 Map A: Existing trails and Roads ...... 19 Map B: Vegetation and Weeds ...... 20 Map C forest stands and stocking ...... 21 Map E Geology ...... 22 Map F,G,H: Historic aerial photos ...... 23

Page 1 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Name of Parcel(s) : Currently referred to as the “South Hills Spur”, comprised of five parcels purchased from three private landowners: the Barmeyer family ( ~87 acres), Davis Clapp (~53 acres) and Mike Sousa (~34 acres) Acres: Total of ~164 acres Date Acquired: 2016 Date(s) Surveyed: 3/8/16 to 10/1/2016 Report contributors:_Chris Carlson and Morgan Valliant (Missoula Parks), Five Valleys Audobon Society

Parcel history a. First Peoples information search: Gather any available historical details that suggest names, or uses for the parcels by First Nations, before or during early European settlement. The Missoula area was originally home to the Sélis (Salish or “Flathead”) and Qlispé (Pend d’Oreille or Kalispel) peoples, both speakers of languages in the Salish language family. The Bitterroot band of Salish remained in the Bitterroot valley until 1891. According to the Salish-Pend d’Orielle Culture Committee for the CKST tribes, one of Pattee Canyon’s place names was Sĺoʔté1 (“valley where two ravines meet”). Other sources say that there was a trail running through the valley Es nin paks (Crooked trail), a travel route from the Bitterroot to the upper Clark fork that avoided Hellgate canyon, but this trail did no pass through the South Hills Spur. b. Government Land Office (GLO) records search: Search BLM records to obtain information about the first mapping and land subdivision efforts, as well as for records of early homestead claims made in the areas of interest. The properties in question are located in Township 12N, 19W of the Principal Meridian of Montana, sections 3 and 4. The township was first platted August 26-29, 1889 by Surveyor Charles W. Mead. In this first survey, only the portions of the township with “arable” land were mapped. A second survey in fall of 1901 by Edgar Ford finished the subdivision of this township (and S. Hills Spur properties, Figure 2). Earliest GLO records show that Christopher Shreiber (sic) was issued a Homestead claim on 12/17/1900 for the SW ¼ of section 4, followed on 2/9/1901 by a likely relative (John AB Schreiber), for the SE ¼ of Section 4. This second 160 acre homestead claim contains the Sousa and Clapp parcels. Christopher Schreiber (died 8/21/1909) is buried in the Missoula Cemetery, according to City records.

Records indicate that most of section 3 was deeded to the FIGURE 1. PATTEE CANYON FIRE, 1975. PHOTO NUMBER: Northern Pacific Railway on two dates, 4/4/1896 (SW ¼; S ½ of 88.0076 UM DIGITIZED COLLECTIONS NW ¼; N½ SE¼; SW¼ NE¼ ; S ¼ SE¼) and again in 6/1/1903 (SE¼ NE¼; SW¼ SE¼). c. UM Archives search: search digitized photographs, and likely sources of information about early parcel history in the UM Special Archives Collection. A quick search of UM online archives turned up a few images of the 1977 fire. Jim Habeck contributed aerial photos taken just after the fire occurred which are scanned and geo-referenced. d. Landowner interview/questionnaire: Interview with former landowner will include specific questions about management history, disturbance history, presence and type of wildlife, presence and type of cultural artifacts, stories of special places, memories & people. Interview will include a request for copies of historical photos, documents. Landowner interview not completed at this point.

1 The Salish (or Séliš) language is a member of the Salishan language family, and is fluently spoken by about 120 elders in Montana, Idaho and Washington. The language is considered ‘critically endangered’ by UNESCO. See a Wikipedia page for more information on the Salish language spoken in our area. Page 2 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

Figure 2 (above). Portion of 1890 plat map of township 12N19W. The “South Hills Spur” property (and other Missoula Conservation lands) are shown in blue in section 3+4 (with other nearby parks also visible). Julius H Angst received the earliest homestead claim in the township, obtaining the S ½ of the NE1/4 of section 4 in 1894. The Schrieber family received deeds for the south ½ of Section 4 in 1900 and 1901 (containing all of the S. Hills Spur parcels in Section 4). Northern Pacific Railroad received deeds to most of section 3, in 1896 and 1903. Figure 3 (below). A plat map of the same township in 1901 doesn’t show sections 3 or 4 in detail, but do show the development of a “wood road” running up “Petty Cañon”.

Page 3 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Natural history a. General Summary: Generally describe the parcel, its topographic position and altitude, any geologic features, type and extent of soils, current and potential vegetation. See Appendix maps D and E for soil and geology map. The parcels in question encompass a wide variety of elevations, from ~3470 feet at Pattee Creek, to 4490’ at the top of the parcel. The majority of soils on the properties are classified as Winkler gravelly loams (most common), Bigarm gravelly loams, with a small portion of Bignell gravelly loam. Soils are well, to extremely well drained, and have moderate erosion potential on steeper slopes. Elevation, topography, and fire history explain most of the observed variation in current vegetation type. In general, higher elevation and north/east facing slopes have more trees and higher productivity. Lower elevation south/west facing slopes are dominated by grasses. The climax vegetation on most parts of the Spur parcel is Douglas-fir forest, with areas of Fescue grassland. The major natural disturbance type is wildfire, which tends to favor grassland vegetation, and Ponderosa pine forest. The last major fire was in 1977 on the Barmeyer portion, and at an earlier unknown date on the Sousa and Clapp portions.

b. Sensitive or threatened organisms: List any organisms on state or federal lists that use this parcel. Briefly describe the status of the population, or habitat for each species known to use or potentially use this parcel. The only sensitive or threatened organism known to use this parcel is the Westslope Cutthroat trout (a genetically pure strain exists in the upper reaches of Pattee Creek, which is unconnected to other waterways). A few state-designated Species of Concern may use these parcels as habitat, but have not been confirmed, including Canada Lynx, Pygmy shrew, two species of bat (Fringed Myotis and Hoary Bat), Golden Eagles, evening grosbeak, pileated woodpecker, and a number of other potential bird species. Locally uncommon species which have been documented include Cassin’s finch (prefers post-fire forests, regionally declining populations), the Olive Sided Flycatcher (also preferring post-fire forests, uncommon in Montana), Silene oregona (Oregon Catchfly, an uncommon montane flower).

c. Riparian / Wetland Habitats: Document the type and location of riparian / wetland habitats. Briefly describe each unit of riparian/wetland, especially noting any immediate or long-term restoration needs. Riparian habitats are limited, with only ~0.33 acres of state-mapped riparian habitat where Pattee Creek crosses City Land. Along Pattee Creek, there is a healthy native shrub community, though a few non-native woody plants co-occur: Norway Maple, Common buckthorn, European mountain-ash (see appendix Map A). In addition to several common non- native invasive forbs (eg. houdstongue, leafy spurge, Canadian thistle) a few uncommon non-native invasive forbs (tall buttercup Ranunculus acris, and Dames Rocket Hersperis matromonalis) occur at low densities along Pattee Creek (appendix Map B). There is an additional small seep along the main road, on the second switchback, that forms a small pool in the spring. This seep, along with surface runoff from the road, provide moisture for a moderately rich community of water-loving plants that reside in the barrow ditch on the uphill side of the road, including rein orchid, columbine, 1 species of Juncus, 1 species of Carex, and rattlesnake plantain (as described in sec. I: botanical inventory).

Page 4 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” d. Wildlife: Compile a list of the animal species known to use this parcel, using direct evidence from field surveys, and assistance from clade specialists (Audobon society, etc). Note any unique or uncommon species. Note and show any key habitats on map. If threats or restoration needs are identified, briefly describe.

Birds: See below information from Five Valleys Audubon. Amphibians / Reptiles: A half-day survey by staff in June 2016 found two wandering garter snakes on the eastern boundary of the Barmeyer property. Based on the presence of high quality grassland habitats it is likely that rubber boas, yellow racers, and bullsnakes use the parcel but their presence was not confirmed. We recommend additional surveys in spring 2017 for these three snakes, focusing on possible hibernacula locations (open southern slopes with rocks/stumps). There are limited riparian habitats on the property. Long toed salamanders (locally common) are possible, but none were found in 2016. Tailed frogs have been found farther up Pattee creek. Fish: We used M-FISH (an online database of fish information from MT Fish Wildlife and Parks) to search for information about Pattee Creek. Pattee Creek is not connected to other water bodies – it ends in Cattail Corner Ponds, or is entirely diverted to irrigation ditches. M-FISH shows that west-slope cutthroat trout is the only species to reside in this Pattee Creek. Below stream mile 1 (across from Pattee Cr. Rd. from gravel pit), the cutthroat population is hybridized with rainbow trout genetics. Above stream mile 1, there is a genetically pure population of cutthroat trout. Apparently, there is a fish passage barrier at about mile 1 that keeps these populations separate. The culvert on the Barmeyer property (river mile 1.6) also likely presents a barrier for fish passage, given it creates a 2-2.5’ hydraulic drop, and has an undersized culvert pipe. White Tailed Deer: Present and common. Spotted on Barmeyer side on game camera. Saw 6 does and fawns on Sousa grassland parcel on 9/20/16, which were more easily ‘spooked’ than the standard urban deer. Elk: Elk pellets were observed in spring of 2016 fairly low down on the parcel. At lower elevations in Rough Fescue meadows with mature Ponderosa forest overstory, we found ample evidence of at least occasional elk presence over the winter of 2015-2016. Fewer pellet droppings were observed at mid-elevations, likely due to younger forest type, and grasslands dominated by pasture grasses seeded after the fire in 1970’s. Elk droppings were also observed throughout Fescue prairie habitats at higher elevations, and on open higher elevation benches. Elk on their winter range could be a consideration for winter recreational use on this property. Other mammals (documented and potential): There are a wide variety of mammals that potentially utilize this property for at least part of the year. Lacking current surveys specific to these parcels, we used information from the MT Natural Heritage Program to describe what species are known historically to use the greater Pattee Canyon area, or are likely given their habitat requirements. Past records were accessed via the MTNHP.org map viewer): • Large Carnivores o Black bears and coyotes are known to be present (scat piles, photos in 2016). o Mountain Lion (news article 1, multiple documented records from MT NHP.) o Canada Lynx (1994: obs. in Miller Creek, 2000: Deer Creek) o Bobcat (1985, ’88, ’94, ’97, ’99, ‘07: Furbearer harvest data for township 12N19W; 1948 and 1951: Pattee Canyon; o Grey wolf (no records found for the area. Wolves have a large range, and there are established packs in the Sapphire Mountains, according to a 2015 MT FWP map of pack locations, and a news article)

Page 5 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” o Red fox, (no FWP records from the area; some on Sentinel) PHOTO OF PYGMY SHREW (SOREX • Other smaller mammals that potentially use this property: HOYI, MT SPECIES OF POTENTIAL CONCERN) o Shrews . Water shrew (Pattee Canyon 1966) . Vagrant shrew (Pattee Canyon 1968, Rattlesnake Cr/Greenough 1977) . Pygmy shrew (State Species of Concern; Miller Cr. 1989; Pattee Canyon 1987 and 1988). Habitat information: Throughout its range (Montana is at its’ southern range limit in the Western US), the Pygmy Shrew is found in a variety of habitats. It appears to prefer grassy openings in boreal forest, with moist habitats preferred over dry areas. Mesic portions of dry, open coniferous forests (ponderosa pine, western larch) appear to be preferred by Pygmy Shrews in western Montana. Individuals have also been captured in mesic Douglas-fir-lodgepole pine forests, and sagebrush-steppe in northern Beaverhead County (Foresman 1999, 2012). Understory plants include Amelanchier alnifolia, Berberis repens, Arnica cordifolia, Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Ribes spp., Equisetum spp., and Carex spp. . Masked Shrew (Deer Creek, 1969). o New World Mice / Rats / Voles (family Cricetidae) . Bushy tailed woodrat (Pack rat; multiple observations; widespread) . Deer mouse (widespread) . Long tailed Vole (Pattee Canyon, multiple observations 1939, 1965-67) . Meadow vole (Pattee Canyon, obs. 1968, 1965, 1953, 1939) . Montane vole (Pattee Canyon obs. 1966, ’64, ’61, ’54) . Southern Red-backed vole (Pattee Canyon obs. From 1970, 1948, 1962, 1965, 1969) o Western Jumping Mouse (Pattee Canyon / Mitten Mtn 1965 and 1966) o Northern Pocket Gopher (Pattee Canyon 1969) o Squirrels . Columbian Ground Squirrel (Pattee 1970) . Golden Mantled Ground squirrel (Miller Cr, Deer Creek 1948) . Northern flying squirrel (Larch Camp Rd, 1967; 1959; 1948; Rattlesnake 1978) . Yellow Bellied Marmot (MPG Ranch 2013, Miller Cr 1952). . Red squirrel (Pattee Canyon 1989, 1970 …) . Red-tailed chipmunk (Pattee Canyon 1970, 1967, 1965, 1948) . Yellow-pine chipmunk (Pattee Canyon 1970, 1968, 1967) o Striped skunk (widespread) o Porcupine (Pattee 1972; 1959) o Weasels / Mustelids . long tailed weasel (1972: Rattlesnake Elk ridge; 1973: Blue Mountain; 1973: 8 mi. east of Missoula, 1977: Turah Creek; 2014: Wildcat road in Rattlesnake) . Short-tailed weasel (Pattee canyon 1966; Miller Cr. 1949) . martin, fisher (no observations in or near Pattee Canyon according to MTNHP data; martins more likely than fisher to occur) . badger,(2014: Msla Airport; 1967: Miller Creek) o Bats: MT heritage program data is scarce where this property is located. . At MPG Ranch, about 15 Miles SW of this property, they have found 6 spp of bats using upland seeps from 2013-2016: • Big brown bat, California myotis, hoary bat, little brown bat, long-eared myotis, long- legged myotis.

Page 6 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

Page 7 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” BIRD SURVEY (FIVE VALLEYS AUDUBON SOCIETY) Location Name: Clapp-Sousa Properties Date: 6-8-16 Start Time: 0715 Duration: 3.0 hours Observers: Thomas Kallmeyer, Gerhard Knudsen, Weber Grieser, Catherine Goodman, Andrea Stierle, Don Stierle, Rose Stoudt, Hedwig Wright, Jim Brown Weather: Sunny, temperature 60-75 degrees

Species Number Status Species Number Status Red-tailed Hawk 1 t Cedar Waxwing 8 b American Kestrel 1 t Orange-crowned Warbler 3 b Mourning Dove 1 b Yellow-rumped Warbler 4 b Olive-sided Flycatcher * 1 t Western Tanager 8 b Western Wood Pewee 2 b Spotted Towhee 9 b Hammond's Flycatcher 10 b Chipping Sparrow 20 b Dusky Flycatcher 2 b Vesper Sparrow 15 b Cordilleran Flycatcher 1 b Song Sparrow 2 b Cassin's Vireo 1 b Dark-eyed Junco 6 b Warbling Vireo 5 b Lazuli Bunting 20 b Common Raven 1 t Western Meadowlark 2 b Black-capped Chickadee 2 b Brown-headed Cowbird 4 b Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 b Cassin's Finch * 1 b Ruby-crowned Kinglet 11 b Pine Siskin 5 t Mountain Bluebird 1 b Evening Grosbeak 12 b American Robin 10 b Table 1. List of birds found, their count, and breeding status from a furvey on 6/8/16 by members of the Five Valleys Audobon Society.

Notes: * Denotes nationwide species of conservation concern. Breeding Status: B—direct evidence 1. Occupied nest—adults entering or leaving nest site; adult incubating or brooding. 2. Recently fledged young, incapable of flight or downy young of limited mobility. 3. Adults attending young—feeding, carrying food or fecal sac. 4. Used nest or eggshell found, evidence must be convincing. 5. Nest with clearly identifiable young. b—indirect evidence 1. Singing males or territorial birds in suitable habitat during breeding season. 2. Courtship behavior or copulation 3. Adults visiting a probable nest site. 4. Agitation behavior, distraction display, or anxiety call from adult. 5. Nest building 6. Physiological evidence such as brood patch. t—no evidence of breeding: transients, migrants or wide-ranging species.

Page 8 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” e. Vegetation: Describe the condition and type of vegetation growing on the parcel. Document locations of rare native species, invasive plants, and delineate any ‘pristine and/or unique’ habitats. Develop a botanical inventory for the property. Suggest any immediate threats, or restoration needs from a vegetation perspective. Overview: Generally, these parcels contain reasonably intact native plant communities, with a few major exceptions. The most intact areas of grassland are located largely on the former Sousa parcels, and grasslands on the Clapp parcels. The most intact forested areas are those that were not burnt in the 1977 fire, or invaded by exotic pasture grasses. A number of areas in the grassland (especially those along roads) are experiencing invasion by pasture grasses, as well as cheatgrass, and bulbous bluegrass. See Appendix Map B, for a map of weeds, and intact grasslands. Special Plant Communities: Our vegetative surveys identified four plant communities of special interest. First, a partially intact cushion plant community is located on the prominent knoll. Significant disturbance from off-road vehicles, topsoil stripping and road construction on the knoll provide evidence that these cushion plant communities were historically more abundant than they are now. This community includes Hood’s Phlox, Cushion buckwheat, Beard- tongue penstemmon, and other characteristic forbs. Second, there are some montane meadows that have species uncommon to Missoula Conservation Lands, including Purple pine grass, and Oregon Catchfly. Third, more mature forests, especially those near the bottom of Pattee canyon, contain representatives of a moist forest type uncommon around Missoula, including Rattlesnake Plantain, Rein-orchids, Columbine, and a single western red-cedar. Fourth, the lower Sousa and Clapp parcels contain some of the most intact, and least weedy Rough-fescue/Idaho-fescue communities in the South Hills (or Missoula in general). The lower Sousa parcel in particular has an ecosystem and community structure that provides a good example of an undisturbed mesic grassland. This grassland is characterized by high forb diversity, and has a biotic soil cover composed of lichens and bryophytes that cover the soil surface between established plants. Areas where the soil crust is fully intact have very few weeds. Threats to special communities: threats to intact Rough-fescue communities include: 1)the spread of invasive grasses (especially smooth brome, also Bluegrass species, Bromus species) and broadleaf weeds (Spurge, toadflax, new weeds) into intact communities; 2) the encroachment of Douglas fir into native grassland; 3) the potential for loss of cryptobyotic crusts through trampling by recreationists and dogs. 4) Predicted negative impacts of global warming, including changes in seasonal phenolology of moisture and temperature

Botanical inventory: Note: the botanical list below only includes a thorough inventory of the Barmeyer acreage, not the Clapp/Sousa parcels, due to the slightly later acquisition date. ORGIN GROW SPECIES COMMON NAME NOTES: TH FORM Native Fern Cryptogramma Rock brake fern acrostichoides Native Vine Clematis occidentalis Clematis Native Forb Achillea millefolium Yarrow Allium cernuum Nodding onion Androsace Western Rockjasmine occidentalis Anemone patens Pasque Flower Antennaria neglecta Pussytoes Antennaria racemosa Pussytoes Apocynum Spreading dogbane androsaemifolium Aquilegia flavescens Columbine 2-3 plants along Barmeyer driveway Arabis nuttallii Nuttall's rockcress Arenaria congesta Sandwort Page 9 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Arnica cordifolia Heart leaf arnica Arnica sororia Twin arnica Balsamorhiza sagittata Arrowleaf balasamroot Besseya wyomingensis Kittentails Calypso bulbosa Fairy Slipper Uncommon Campanula Harebells rotundifolia Clarkia pulchella Clarkia Collinsia parviflora Blue eyed Mary Collomia linearis Comandra umbellata Bastard Toadflax Native Forbs Crepis intermedia Cont. Cryptantha celosioides Miner's candle Cushion plant associate Cymopterus glaucus Delphinium bicolor Larkspur Draba verna Erigeron pumilus Fleabane Erigeron divergens Spreading fleabane Eriogonum ovalifolium Oval leaf buckwheat Eriogonum Sulphur buckwheat umbellatum Eriophyllum lanatum Erythronium Glacier Lily grandiflorum Fragaria vesca Woods strawberry Fragaria virginiana Virginia strawberry Galium boreale Northern Bedstraw Galium aparine Sticky Willy Geum triflorum Prairie Smoke Geranium Sticky geranium viscosissimum Gnaphalium palustre Goodyera oblongifolia Rattlesnake plantain Most common in barrow ditch Heterotheca villosa Hairy golden aster Heuchera cylindrica Alumroot Hieracium scouleri White hawkweed Common at higher elevations Lewisia rediviva Bitterroot Lithophragma glabrum Prairie Star Lithophragma Prairie Star parviflorum Native Forbs Lithospermum Stone seed ruderale Lomatium triternatum three leaf lomatium Lupinus sericeus silky lupine Mertensia oblongifolia Bluebells Page 10 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Montia linearis Spring beauty Myosotis laxa Osmorhiza chilensis Sweet cicely Packera cana Dogtooth groundsel Parnassia fimbriata Parnassus Below rocky knobs, with rough fescue Penstemon wilcoxii Penstemon Phacelia linearis Phlox hoodii Hood’s phlox Piperia unalascensis Rein orchid In barrow ditch by Barmeyer road Potentilla gracilis Slender Cinquefoil Ranunculus Spring buttercup glaberrimus Sedum lanceolatum Lanceleaf stonecrop Silene oregana Catchfly species Found just a few at 4000', near mature trees Thalictrum Meadowrue occidentale Triteleia grandiflora Found by Audobon society. Broidea? Urtica dioica Stinging nettle Viola adunca stream violet Zigadenus venenosus Death camas Native Gramin Achnatherum nelsonii Nelson's needle and -oids thread Achnatherum Richardson's needle richardsonii and threat Bromus carinatus Mountain brome Calamagrostis Purple reedgrass Few clumps, SE slope, historic grassland purpurascens Carex filifolia Thread leaf carex with F. idahoensis Carex geyeri Elk Sedge Carex spp. 1 spp. Found in barrow ditch, likely more dryland carex. Danthonia unispicata Single spike oatgrass Equisetum hyemale Horsetail Festuca idahoensis Idaho fescue Festuca scabrella Rough fescue Juncus confusus in barrow ditch along road Koeleria macrantha Junegrass Nassella viridula Short needle and thread Poa secunda Sandbergs bluegrass Pseudoroegneria Bluebunch wheatgrass spicata Muhlenbergia spp. few along road, could not id. Native Shrubs Acer glabrum Rocky Mtn Maple Amelanchier alnifolia Serviceberry Arctostaphylos uva- kinnic-kinnic ursi Page 11 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Ceanothus velutinus Buckbrush Mahonia repens Oregon grape Philadelphus lewisii Mock orange Physocarpus Ninebark Dominant shrub in upper forest type malvaceus Prunus virginiana Chokecherry Ribes cereum Wax current Rosa woodsii Woods Rose Salix spp. Willow species Native Trees Betula papyrifera Paper birch Juniperus scopulorum Juniper Pinus ponderosa Ponderosa pine Common lower elevation Populus deltoides Cottonwood Pseudotsuga menziesii Douglas-fir Dominant tree Thuja plicata Western Redcedar 1 tree, along entrance road. Planted? ~ 5” DBH Exotic Forbs Aegopodium Bishop's Goutweed 1 site, uphill side of road near entrance variegatum Alyssum desertorum widespread in dry grassland Arenaria serpyllifolia widespread in dry grassland Camelina microcarpa small seed false flax few, scattered Centaurea stoebe ssp. spotted knapweed widespread micranthos Cirsium vulgare Canada thistle few near creek, roadside ditch Cynoglossum Houndstongue few, scattered officinale Euphorbia esula Leafy spurge most common on dry, loose sites, SE 1/4 of property Lepidium campestre disturbed sites in dry grassland, near Pattee Rd. Linaria dalmatica Dalmatian toadflax most common on dry, loose sites, SE 1/4 of property Lithospermum Annual stoneseed few, scattered arvense Potentilla recta Sulphur cinquefoil few, scattered Ranunculus acris Meadow buttercup few in creek Sisymbrium loeselii tumble mustard some robust patches in W 1/2 of property, esp. near Clapp parcel Tanacetum vulgare Common tansy wet areas Tragopogon dubius Salsify few, scattered Verbascum thapsus Common mullein few, scattered Exotic Gramin Bromus inermis Smooth brome Most widespread non-native pasture grass -oids Bromus japonicus Japanese brome Widespread, some dense pockets Bromus tectorum Cheat grass Widespread, some dense pockets Dactylis glomerata Orchard grass Scattered in moister areas Elymus repens Quackgrass Most common along roads Poa bulbosa Bulbous bluegrass Along trails Poa compressa Canada bluegrass Along roads, trails in

Page 12 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Poa pratensis Kentucky Bluegrass Scattered patched in more mesic grasslands Thinopyrum Intermediate Major component of non-native pasture grass intermedium wheatgrass Shrubs Rhamnus cathartica Common Buckthorn Few along pattee creek Syringa vulgaris Lilac Trees Acer platanoides Norway Maple Few along Pattee creek Sorbus aucuparia European Mountain Few in wet forest along Pattee Creek. Sorbus Ash scopularum as well?? Table 2. List of vascular plants found growing on the South Hills Spur property in 2016, separated by their growth form and origin.

f. Forest: If present, briefly describe the extent, type, density, health, species and age distribution of any evergreen or deciduous forests. Describe results from any forest surveys. Forest history and general condition: Refer to map C in Appendix. There are currently ~60 forested acres across these three parcels. Because of the predominantly North-East aspect and location of this parcel in a canyon, most of this parcel is either currently forested or has the potential to be forested without fire. West facing slopes and ridges provide an exception, as these locations are too dry to support trees. We assume that the Sousa and Clapp forests received different management in the early 20th century, as they were owned by Homesteaders, instead of the Northern Pacific Railroad. Young Douglas-fir (5-50 yrs old) are invading some portions of intact Rough fescue grassland on the Barmeyer and Sousa property (see 1937 aerial photo in Appendix). The upper approximately 2/3 of Barmeyer property was burned by an intense wildfire in 1977. Most of the burnt area appears to have been logged prior to the fire, as evidenced by stumps ranging from 12-30” diameter with burn scars on stumps. Additional salvage logging may or may not have occurred after the 1977 fire. However, the fire was intense enough to kill most remaining Doug-fir, some of which remain as standing dead snags. Very little of the Sousa or Clapp parcels was burnt in the 1975 fire. Forest Habitat types: There are three predominant forest habitat types on the properties that have different age structures and management history. 1) Forests burned in the 1977 wildfire. Are of the Douglas-fir / Ninebark habitat type, with scattered Ponderosa pine, uncommon Juniper, and scattered grassy openings. Approximately 12 acres are currently fully stocked (to overstocked) with trees, while another approximately 30 acres remain understocked, possibly due to competition with aggressive non-native pasture grasses seeded by the State after the fire. Few mature trees remain in the burned area, and stands are largely even aged at approximately 40-50 years. Denser areas were non- commercially thinned in March of 2016, in the SW corner of the property (stands 1, 33 and 34). 2) Lower elevation forests unburned in the 1977 wildfire. Forests in the lower 1/3 of the Barmeyer parcel (approx. 16 acres, Stands 1, 31 and 32 below) were less affected by the fire in 1977, and are more representative of a Douglas-fir / Snowberry /Fescue habitat type, with occasional pockets of Ponderosa pine dominants. 3) Higher elevation unburned forest: Forests on the Clapp and Sousa properties (Stands 4 and 5) have a Doug-fir/Ninebark habitat type, with some Doug-fir/Pinegrass type. This forest habitat has a multi-aged structure, (but dominated by mature trees), with pockets of newer regeneration (1-30 years old). Lower on property, the slope gets steeper and soil rockier. Much of the understory in this zone is moss with scattered brush and grass. Methods for conducting basal area Cruise: We used a variable radius point sampling method to estimate the basal area of forest in stands on the property. We used a 10 BAF prism to sample approximately 1 plot per acre in forested zones. At each point we also took GPS photos to document current forest conditions. GIS layers of the Basal area survey and Photo monitoring efforts (from all parts of this project) are located on the Missoula City server

Page 13 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Average Average StandI Size Location # plots Live BA Dead BA Fuel Description D (acres) (ft^2/acre) (ft^2/acre) Some pockets of branch and log fuel. Low 7 lowest slope 1 5 132 0.166 flame lengths, low spread rate. mid-slope Pasture grass main fuel, low shrubs. Med 7.5 2 severe burnt 6 8 .2 flame lengths, high spread rate if dry 10.3 Shrubs and needle litter. 4 5 76 15.8 Shrubs and needle litter 5 10 123 Branches/needle litter main fuel. Med 6.5 lower slope spread rate, med flame length. Fuel 31 7 71 0 reduction in progress Branches/needle litter main fuel. Med 5.7 transition 32 6 38 0.333 spread rate, med flame length. upper slope Pasture grass and shrubs main fuel bed. 7.4 33 most dense 6 28 0.33 Med flame lengths, high spread rate upper slope Pasture grass and shrubs main fuel bed. 4.2 34 less dense 5 28 0 Med flame lengths, high spread rate Spread and flame length potentials are roughly based on: http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr153.pdf Table 3. List of forest stands on the property, showing its size, nots on location, # of Basal area plots included in cruise, and the average Basal area (in terms of square feet of tree basal area per acre).

Photos and descriptions of forest stands, moving from downhill to uphill (generally north to south) Refer to Map C in appendix. Stand 1 typical conditions: mature trees, closed canopy, mossy understory, steep with some larger woody debris. Areas higher on the slope have a grassy to lightly shrubby understory. Basal area in this stand average approximately 131 square feet per acre, a relatively high amount of basal area for a Western Montana forest. This stand did not apparently burn in the 1977 fire. Doc Barmeyer spent many hours clearing woody debris out of this stand through the past few decades. The stand is dominated by Douglas-fir with a moss understory, but significant pockets of larger diameter ponderosa pine exist. Potential STAND 1. MOSS AND SHRUB DOMINATED UNDERSTORY, WITH fire spread rate: low. Potential flame length: low. Canopy base height SCATTERED BIG TREES AND BASAL AREAS OVER 120 20 to 50 feet. Stand 31 typical conditions: This stand appears to have burnt at a low severity in the 1977 fire, leaving many remnant mature trees, but also creating openings for dense regeneration of Douglas-fir after fire. This stand was in the process of a hand thin and pile burn treatment while survey occurred. Average basal area in this stand was 71 square feet per acre, measured after thinning. Fuel loads are currently high due to slash from thinning, but thinning increased the canopy base height next to mature trees. After thinning, fuel beds are dominated by slash, grasses, and scattered low shrubs. Potential fire spread rate: medium, potential flame length: medium-high. STAND 31. MULTI-AGED DOUG-FIR FOREST, WITH MATURE TREES, Stand 32 typical conditions: This is the transition area from steep, AND REGENERATION FROM 1975 WILDFIRE.THINNINED 2016, POST THIN ASAL AREA ABOUT FT ACRE moister forests in Pattee Canyon, to drier, grass dominated areas at B 70 ^2/ . Page 14 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” mid elevations on the property. The 1977 fire burned hotter here, and there are dense clumps of trees, with frequent openings. This stand was sampled just before thinning occurred, and basal area averaged 38 square feet per acre. Potential fire spread rate: medium, potential flame length: medium. Stand 2 Typical Conditions: This area is located in a gulley in the middle of the property, above grasslands that have scattered trees. This area was logged before the 1975 fire, and has yet to completely reforest. Tree densities remain low in many areas. Non-native pasture grasses dominate the understory with decent amounts of ninebark cover. Average basal area was just 8 square feet per acre. Potential fire spread rate: high (due to grass and steep slope), potential flame length: medium. Stand 33 and 34 Typical conditions: These two stands are in the uphill, western corner of the Barmeyer parcel. Of all the burnt areas on this parcel, they are the most densely forested. They were logged before the fire, as evidenced by burnt stumps up to 30” diameter. This is a productive stand, but is currently above desirable stocking rates, and trees are young (mostly even aged). BA averaged only 5 square feet per acre in these forests, reflecting the small size of trees. Fuel beds are dominated by thickets of ninebark shrubs, and patches of non-native pasture grasses. These stands are due to be thinned in spring of 2016. Potential fire spread rate: high, potential flame length: medium. Stand 4 and 5: These stands are located on the Clapp and Sousa STAND 33. SHOWING THICKER REGENERATION IN STAND 33, WITH properties. These stands were mostly unaffected by the 1977 fire, STAND 2 VISIBLE IN THE BACKGROUND. and are multi-aged mature forests. Stand 4 is slightly more open and west-facing, and contains a higher proportion of Ponderosa pine as compared to stand 5. Stand 5 is a densely stocked Douglas- fir dominated. It has closely spaced, large trees that have limited diameter growth. Stand 5 also has fewer openings, and most of the scattered seedlings and saplings were removed in a 2016 thinning. Fuels in stand 5 are dominated by woody sticks and logs, with a moderately high potential for severe fire. Potential fire spread rate: medium. Potential flame length: medium. Forest management considerations and recommendations: Fuels: Buildup of woody fuels in mature forest: Some areas of mature forests (both unthinned, and recently thinned areas) have buildup of surface fuels (needles, smaller branches, larger wood) that could produce severe fire behavior if not addressed through prescribed burning or other management Pasture grasses: Oral reports that grasses were seeded after 1977 wildfire. Because of their tall stature, and continuous fuel bed, these grasses provide fuel for fast moving ground fire, or help initiate a crown fire. Manage for closed canopy conditions, use spring prescribed burns to reduce grass density. Forest Stocking Encroachment of Douglas fir into intact rough fescue grasslands. Densely regenerating Douglas-fir stands. Evaluate effects of 2016 thin on young (post-1977 fire) Doug fir stands on stem growth. Consider prescribed burn/non-commercial thin on a 10-15 year rotation to maintain low fuel loads, especially in areas closer to houses. Try to retain widely spaced seedlings and saplings in understory, which will eventually recruit into mature trees. Mature forests: Some mature stands (stands 1, 4, 5) are over-stocked in terms of basal area per acre, due to the high density of fairly large trees. Tree cores in these stands show a decline in growth and/or health due to competition between trees for resources. Overstocked stands are more prone to pest related mortality. Consider using uneven tree selection thinning prescriptions to remove and sell some larger trees in lower mature forest, and create heterogeneous pockets and gaps for seedlings. Retain as much coarse woody debris over 10” diameter as possible to create habitat, and protect soil/water resources.

Page 15 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Human infrastructure Describe, or map any existing trails or roads, fences, gates, culverts, or other infrastructure.

a. Recreation, Roads and Trails: Briefly describe current recreational infrastructure, especially noting features that do not meet CLM design standards, or that are in a degraded condition.

There is a history of low levels of public foot traffic on existing roads on the Barmeyer and Clapp properties. On the Sousa property, there is less evidence of recent use by hikers, but the presence of ATV tracks suggest some rogue ATV usage in the past year. The majority of public use appears to be from neighbors to the east of the Parcel, with little to no evidence of public access from the West, North or South. A number of single track trails, doubletrack trails on roads, bulldozer fire lines from 1977 fire-fighting, old logging roads, and newer maintained gravel roads exist on the Parcel. Much of the existing trail network meets CLMP design standards. However, several sections of trail are too steep and/or redundant and would not make good public trails. Many of the old logging roads and dozer-lines are overgrown with woody vegetation. Future public access on the main access roads that connect the knoll to Rimel Road and the Barmeyer residence to Pattee Canyon Dr. is limited by private access easements. New trail construction is necessary on the Sousa property to connect to the future trailhead, and to by-pass existing doubletrack roads that are too steep to be adopted as trails. Row Labels Sum of length_miles doubletrack 1.93 no-moto road 1.56 old logging road 0.93 singletrack 0.46 Grand Total 4.88 Table 4. Summary of mileage of existing trails / roads on the South Hills Spur property. See trails map in Appendix

b. Other infrastructure. Add a brief section describing other infrastructure There are a few other infrastructure on this property (see map to right) Fencing: There is approximately 3380’ of fence across the property. There is about 100’ of split rail fence along Pattee Canyon drive that is in poor repair. The boundary fence in the SW corner is intact, and keeping cattle off the land. We should remove most other fences marked on the map as they are decrepit barbed wire. Drainage: Pattee Creek passes through a culvert under city-owned land, on the Barmeyer access road. There is a second smaller culvert on the driveway for drainage, and a number of sunken wood slats to help move water off the road, installed in 2016. Power: There are at least two buried utility lines that cross the property, and 3 power boxes. One buried line bisects the Sousa grassland parcel. Another runs NW/SE across the Clapp property. There are a series of power higher on Spanish Peaks road, off the property.

Page 16 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

FIGURE

Page 17 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Future Monitoring recommendations

This report presents an inventory of current known conditions on the South Hills Spur property. Periodic future inventories of vegetation, wildlife and public use will allow the Conservation Lands Program to detect changes on the Parcel and adapt their management to meet the City’s conservation goals. In addition to the long-term maintenance of basic inventories there are several opportunities to conduct more detailed monitoring of specific special resources and/or gather more information about resources which have not been well documented. Cultural: Our research did not identify any specific cultural sites on the Parcel that need monitoring or protection. We recommend conducting interviews with surviving members of the families who sold the parcels to document past land management practices, recent human use and potentially gain knowledge about historic human use of the Parcel.

Vegetation: Intact Fescue grasslands, and some cushion plant communities are the most significant “special” vegetation on this property. We recommend the installation of permanent vegetation monitoring transects in intact grasslands on the Sousa and Clapp parcels. The goal of monitoring would be track changes in the cover of lichen/moss, and the abundance and diversity of native and non-native plants. This is a unique opportunity to understand how vegetation responds to increased public use, in an area that hasn’t seen historical recreation pressure.

Wildlife: We recommend continued attention be paid to winter use of elk on this parcel, to prevent conflicts on their winter range. We should continue to seek opportunities to partner with clade specialists to do surveys (bats, small mammals, reptiles, lichens, fungi, invertebrates, etc). Special attention should be paid to keep an eye out for state species of concern on this, and adjacent parcels.

References / Works Cited Titles in the UM Archives that haven’t been investigated, but are worth checking out. • Pattee Canyon fire, July 1977 : watershed damage and rehabilitation report. Montana forestry division, 1977. 634.9618 F32p (call number link) • Marion Porterfield scrapbooks http://catalog.lib.umt.edu/vwebv/search?searchArg=%20Mss%20795&searchCode=CALL%2B%252B&searchTyp e=1 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv37088 • Line Family Papers Call number MSS 643 http://archiveswest.orbiscascade.org/ark:/80444/xv95440 • Es nin paks: Pattee Canyon Recreation Area. Map, lolo forest, 1991. Citations used as of 10/1/16

o https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salish-Spokane-Kalispel_language o Spread and flame length potentials are roughly based on: Standard Fire Behavior Fuel Models: A Comprehensive Set for Use with Rothermel’s Surface Fire Spread Model. Scott, J and R. Burgan. General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-153. July 2005, USDA Forest Service. http://www.fs.fed.us/rm/pubs/rmrs_gtr153.pdf o Plat maps downloaded from Government Land Office Records, maintained by the Bureau of Land Management. https://glorecords.blm.gov

Page 18 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Appendix. Maps and Figures

Map A: Existing trails and Roads. Shows existing trails, roadcuts, etc on the South Hills Spur properties.

Page 19 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

Map B: Vegetation and Weeds. Showing locations of significant native, and non-native vegetation. Historically, Rough Fescue grassland was the dominant native type, with a significant patch of intact fescue prairie located on NE facing slopes. Upper elevations, and north facing slopes were historically dominated by a Douglas-fir / Ninebark habitat type. Higher elevation east facing slopes have more of a montane meadow character. The most significant non-native species on this parcel include a variety of pasture grasses (Smooth Brome, Intermediate wheatgrass, Quackgrass) that were seeded after 1977 fire, and along roadsides. They occupy a huge amount of habitat at all elevations. Dalmatian toadflax, spotted knapweed are fairly widespread. Leafy spurge is restricted to the east draw and hillslope. Sulphur cinquefoil is scattered along roads, and mixed in with rough fescue.

Page 20 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

Hand thinned stand Reduce conifer encroachment

Map C forest stands and stocking. Showing locations of spring 2016 hand thinning work, estimated Basal area of forest stands, and basal area survey plot locations. It also shows an additional, unsampled stand where FVLT did hand thinning work to reduce conifer encroachment into intact grassland. Page 21 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur” Map D Soils. Map, and key of soil units in the Barmeyer / Clapp / Sousa area. Information generated using the USDA web soil survey tool (http://websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov/app/)

Map Map Unit Name Acres Percent Unit in of AOI Symbol AOI 8 Argixerolls- 114.5 16.20% Haploxerolls complex, 4 to 15 percent slopes

9 Argixerolls- 53.3 7.50% Haploxerolls complex, 15 to 30 percent slopes 19 Bigarm gravelly loam, 148.3 21.00% 30 to 60 percent slopes 23 Bignell gravelly loam, 24.4 3.40% 8 to 30 percent slopes

88 Pits, gravel 12.5 1.80% 131 Winkler very gravelly 113.5 16.00% sandy loam, 30 to 60 percent slopes

133 Winkler gravelly loam, 240.8 34.00% cool, 30 to 60 percent slopes Totals for Area of Interest 707.4 ##### Map E Geology. Geologic map of lower Pattee Canyon area. The properties outlined in this map are situated largely on very old Mount Shield formations, with some newer tertiary sediments at lower elevations. , with Source: Missoula East 30’x60’ quadrangle Geologic Map. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology Open File MBMG 593, Plate 1. 2010

Page 22 Missoula Parks and Rec Conservation Lands Management New Parcel Inventory: “South Hills Spur”

Map F,G,H: Historic aerial photos. Historical Aerial photos. 1937, 1977, 2014. In the 1937 photo, you can see a swath of land in the lower elevation Barmeyer property that was an open meadow, with sparsely treed meadow above it. That portion of the forest survived the 1977 Pattee canyon fire, and by 2014 had filled in with trees. The 2005 photo reveals deforested areas resulting from the 1977 fires.

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