The Hub Conservation Area - Montanans 4 Safe Wildlife Passage

Townsend FlatsSpeciesGeographic BoundaryThis linkage area is a valley locatedsoutheast from Helena and northof Townsend. Canyon Ferry Lake ison the eastern boundary, the ElkhornMountains border to the southwest,and the northern part of the linkage isbounded by the Lake Helena-Devils ElbowRecreation Area, where the Missouri Riverflows into Canyon Ferry Lake.Importance of Linkage AreaThis linkage area connects the northernElkhorns to the Big Belts. It also connectsthe Helena Valley with the large valleyarea between the Boulder River andMissouri River to the south.Mountain ranges connected in thislinkage: Big Belts, ElkhornsEcological SettingThis linkage is primarily the foothillshabitat between the Elkhorn Mountainsand the Missouri River (Canyon Ferryreservoir). Open sagebrush grasslandsoccur throughout the area with scatteredpatches of limber pine (Pinus flexilis)and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperusscopulorum) on rocky ridges andoutcrops. Some cropland and hay fieldshave been developed in the linkagewhere water diversion or wells havemade irrigation feasible. Highway 287and the Montana Rail Link railroad runthe length of the linkage with severalsmall subdivisions and commercialareas adjoining the corridor. Severalroads leading to the Elkhorns bisectthe linkage. Elevation in the linkageaverages about 4,500 feet.WildlifeThis area currently functions asa movement corridor for elk and181pronghorn.Elk use Antelope and Beaver Creek tomove between winter range and summerrange in the northeast Elkhorns. Themost heavily used river crossing area isin the very northern end near the Hauserdam, in the El Dorado Heights area.Pronghorn move north-south along thiscorridor between Canyon Ferry and EastHelena. This is primarily winter andtransitional range for pronghorn. Thebest pronghorn habitat in this linkage isbetween Winston and Townsend. TheSpokane Hills have been called the“Causeway” for antelope because oftraditionally good pronghorn habitat.However, development is changing theavailability of this area for pronghorn.Conservation ThreatsDevelopment is rapidly increasinghere; thus the long-term viability ofpronghorn populations in this linkage isthreatened. Biologists consider the cityof Helena an exclusion area for wildlife,due to development, traffic, and socialconflict. Sprawl from Helena ranchettes(exurban growth) is fragmenting a lotof habitat. The northwest end of thelinkage, at Montana City, is alreadydegraded habitat, and is slated formore development. The Scratch GravelHills northwest of this linkage usedto be great pronghorn habitat, butextensive development has displacedthe pronghorn. There is extensivedevelopment from Interstate 15, BirdsEye Road, and the Spokane Hills. In theEl Dorado area, near Hauser Dam, thereis a lot of private land and development,a worrisome issue since elk favorthis area to move into the Big Belts.Development pressure has reduced thepronghorn herd between Winston and