. Southwest Montana wetland assessment : developing a statewide assessment and monitoring strategy for Montana. Wetlands; Wetland ecology; Wetland management. Finally, the Gallatin, the Jefferson, and the Madison meet at the town of Three Forks to form the Missouri River. Major reservoirs influencing the project area include Ruby River Reservoir (Ruby River), Clark Canyon Reservoir (Beaverhead River), Ennis Lake (Madison River), and Hebgen Lake (Madison River; Figure 2). Ecoregions and Vegetation The project area lies entirely within the Middle Rockies Level III ecoregion (Omernik 1987). Level
. Southwest Montana wetland assessment : developing a statewide assessment and monitoring strategy for Montana. Wetlands; Wetland ecology; Wetland management. Finally, the Gallatin, the Jefferson, and the Madison meet at the town of Three Forks to form the Missouri River. Major reservoirs influencing the project area include Ruby River Reservoir (Ruby River), Clark Canyon Reservoir (Beaverhead River), Ennis Lake (Madison River), and Hebgen Lake (Madison River; Figure 2). Ecoregions and Vegetation The project area lies entirely within the Middle Rockies Level III ecoregion (Omernik 1987). Level IV Ecoregions further subdivide the area into 20 different units based on geology and dominant vegetation (Figure 5; Table 2 and 3). Montane portions of the project area are dominated by coniferous forest, while lower elevations are composed of shrublands and grasslands (Figure 6). Dominant coniferous species vary by elevation with lower elevation forests composed of Douglas- fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) with limber pine (Pinus flexilis) and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus scopulorum) common on calcareous sites. Higher elevation forests are dominated by subalpine fir {Abies lasiocarpa), lodgepole pine (P contort a), and Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii). Upland plant communities below treeline are composed of shrublands and grasslands. Shrublands are dominated by mountain big sagebrush subspecies {Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) although basin big sagebrush (A. t. ssp. tridentata) and Wyoming big sagebrush (A. t. ssp. wyomingensis) are locally common. Additionally, extensive stands of threetip sagebrush (A. tripartita) also occur. Large stands of greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus) occur on saline or alkaline sites. The herbaceous layer is dominated by bunchgrasses, including bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), and needle and thread (Hesperostipa comata). Larger rivers support riparian forests dominated by black cottonwoo
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