RESULTS 
“Low-Stage“ 35mm Aerial Photography System 
Although the initial development of this system was specifically to 
monitor range vegetation trend and the use of stock watering ponds by, and 
for, wildlife (Meyer, Eng and Gjersing, 1973), actual tests by suitably 
trained and equipped resource managers on the six BLM districts in Montana 
not only improved on these primary applications but developed a great many 
more: (a) evaluation of browse range conditions, (b) Off-the-road vehicle 
impact, (c) detection of weaknesses and breaks in waterspreading dikes, 
(d) detection of stable and unstable mine spoil, (e) detection of bentonite 
deposits, (f) detection of bark beetle infestations in pine, (g) reservoir 
water quality analysis, (h) location and mapping of archeological sites, 
(i) monitoring prairie dog towns, (j) monitoring the condition and movement 
of gullying and headcuts and (k) locating and planning repairs in reservoir 
dams and spi 1Iways. 
The 35mm aerial photography system now in use by BLM personnel in Montana 
has attracted much attention and interest in other groups and agencies in 
Montana and other states in the western U.S. As a consequence, Montana BLM 
personnel are frequently invited to make state-of-the-art presentations, con 
duct special training sessions and assist in the development and implementa 
tion of monitoring techniques for specific problems. 
The 35mm system has also proven itself a useful tool from higher alti 
tudes. During the summer of 197^ a BLM resources team developing Environmen 
tal Impact Statements for some potential coal leases in SE Montana found the 
available photography and data in the area totally inadequate for their purpos 
Unfortunately, they also had neither the time or money to obtain the surface 
resource data by conventional ground techniques and it was not possible to 
contract for suitable (new) CIR photo coverage. On an emergency basis, the 
area was flown in color and CIR from 10,000' with a 35mm camera used in an 
aircraft belly mount. The resulting color photography was used to make a mosa 
ic of the area and the CIR coverage used in conjunction with it to satisfac 
torily map the vegetation and other surface resources of importance in a mini 
mum time period and at very low cost. 
“Middle-Stage" 23 x 23cm CIR Large Area System 
The Decker-Birney survey, for which this technique was first used, was 
totally satisfactory — both in terms of the data gathered and the time frame 
within which it was accomplished. Further, it provided a basis for planning 
even more economical and efficient (similar) means for resource surveys in 
similar areas.