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,