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The status of Yellowstone cutthroat in National Forests, in Wyoming, indicates a somewhat higher (55%) occupancy value for National Forest habitats (Table 5). No attempt was made to specify population life history and abundance characteristics for Yellowstone cutthroat trout residing in Forest habitats. There was, however, an effort to identify habitat condition and the factors associated with condition (Tables 7 and 8). Of the 23 sub-basins which contained aquatic habitats on National Forests, 74% were considered to have good cutthroat habitat with 26% being viewed as fair. The majority of this habitat was viewed as having a stable trend. Habitat on the Bridger Teton National Forest was essentially viewed as being in good condition and the trend was identified as stable. Umited woody debris, elevated sediment levels, channel modification and channel dewatering were the factors identified and grazing was the most significant land-use. Habitat within the Shoshone and Bighorn National Forest sub-basins was equally split between good (50% of sub-basins) and fair (50%). Four factors (channel dewatering/hydrograph alteration, channel modification, limited woody debris and elevated sediment) associated with habitat condition were identified in all Shoshone National Forest sub-basins. Grazing, mining and logging were the land-uses linked to degraded habitat condition. On the Bighorn National Forest, there was considerable uncertainty regarding the factors influencing habitat condition. Only 50% of the sub-basins reported on factors contributing to habitat condition. Grazing and road construction were viewed as the primary land-uses contributing to increased sediment (Table 8). Montana The assessment area within Montana included the mainstem Yellowstone River and tributaries downstream from the Wyoming-Montana state line. Included were those portions of the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River occurring within Montana In total, thirteen sub-basin areas (Table 9) were established and questionnaires completed. In contrast to previous assessments and evaluations (Behnke 1979 and 1992, Hadley 1984, Varley and Gresswell1992) which identified historic habitat within the entire Yellowstone River drainage downstream to and including the Tongue River, this assessment did not include the mainstem Yellowstone River downstream from about where the Bighorn River enters; nor does it include the lower portion of the mainstem Bighorn River or Tongue River drainage below the State line as part of the historic range of Yellowstone cutthroat trout. The rationale for not including the lower mainstem Yellowstone River was based, in part, on observations made during William Clark's (Coues 1893 as related in Evermann and Cox 1894) return trip along the Yellowstone River. Clark's diary mentioned that "some catfish and soft-shelled turtles were precured" near mouth of Tongue River. This observation indicates that habitat characteristics not conducive to supporting trout. Present day fish sampling within this section of the mainstem Yellowstone River also substantiates that habitat conditions are not favorable for the maintenance of trout populations (Personal Communications, Phil Stewart, Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks). Another source of information that provides an understanding of Yellowstone cutthroat distribution is from the diary of U. John Bourke (Willert 1986). Bourke's diary provides detailed daily accounts of conditions and circumstances associated with General Crooks (1876) travels in the Tongue and Rosebud drainages. Bourke made several notations regarding the poor quality of food that soldiers were required to eat. Upon arriving at the Tongue River near the present city of Sheridan, Wyoming, Bourke goes to great lengths to express his excitement and gratitude for having trout to supplement field rations. After leaving the upper Tongue, the Wyoming Company under General Crook's leadership followed the Tongue River downstream well into Montana and then crossed over into the Rosebud Creek drainage which enters the Yellowstone above the Tongue River. Bourke's account again addresses the poor quality of field rations but there is no mention of fish being part of their diet. The fact that fish and specifically trout were not mentioned is probably a function that they were no longer available. A final indication that trout populations did not reside in the lower portions of these drainages comes from family accounts of early settlers of Lodge Grass, Montana which indicated that 20