Montana Field Guide

DRAFT: Requesting feedback on the 2026 revised rank, factors, and State Rank Reason outlined below and in the Conservation Status Rank Report. Carex glacialis is rare in Montana, where it is known from several alpine fellfields in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and surrounding areas. Occurrences are in remote areas with most of the known populations occurring within designated wilderness areas. The remote habitat limits the potential for negative impacts, and no significant and widespread threats to the species are known besides potential impacts associated with climate change. Population levels are poorly documented, and trends are unknown though populations have likely been relatively stable in the recent past or experienced only minor declines. All four Montana populations have been documented since 2004 but each of them has only been observed once. Climate change may negatively affect this species over the next several decades. However, the timing and magnitude of potential impacts are largely unknown. Although climate change is listed as a potential threat to the species, it does not affect the overall threat rank or scoring, or the final subnational rank. Survey and monitoring data are needed to be able to determine population levels, assess condition and for assessing population trends. Surveys in potentially suitable habitat are likely to document additional occurrences.