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Abstract

A system is presented for the classification and management of uplands, riparian, and wetland sites within the USDI Bureau of Land Management’s Miles City Field Office in eastern Montana. The Miles City Field of the USDI Bureau of Land Management lies within the northern Great Plains and occupies approximately the eastern 1/3 of Montana. The concepts and terminology used in this document are consistent with usage proposed by Daubenmire (1952, 1968, 1978), and are used in numerous other vegetation-based ecological site classifications for North America. A dichotomous key utilizing indicator plant species is provided for field identification of the habitat types and major seral plant communities (for example community types) that are stable for time frames relevant to land management decisions. The habitat types (for example ecological site types) are identified first in the key. If this is not possible, the key then identifies the major seral community types. Within the description of each community type is a discussion of possible habitat types for the site. Each “type” includes detailed information for managing a particular site. The work utilized 1,126 sample plots resulting in a total of 96 different plant communities identified to either the habitat type (and phase) or community type level. There were 62 identified riparian/wetland types and 28 upland types. In addition, six types are types that can occur in both riparian/wetland and upland situations. There were a total of 663 unique species recorded for the 1,126 sampled stands. Of the 663 species, 551 (83 percent) were native, and 112 (17 percent) were introduced or contain an introduced element. The document can be downloaded from www.ecologicalsolutionsgroup.com.

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