ABSTRACT
Many counties in the Rocky Mountain West of the United States are experiencing a population surge that promises to surpass the impact of the first western migrations (Rudzitis, et al., 1996). Seven of the ten fastest-growing states in the nation are in the Rocky Mountain West (U.S. Bureau of the Census, 1995) and 67% of the counties in the Rocky Mountain axis grew at rates faster than the national average (Nelson and Beyers, 1998). In Montana, annual population growth rates in several counties have reached double digits since 1990. For example, Ravalli County experienced 30% population growth between 1990 and 1995. Gallatin and Flathead counties reported almost 18% growth over the same period. This rapid population growth results in significant land use change in and around many small rural communities. These landscape changes have ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts not clearly understood prior to change occurring although this is when land use planning and policy could minimize negative impacts of growth in the community. However, prediction of land use change can be a valuable tool for rural communities to plan for the future. Spatially referenced information is essential for ac curately predicting land use change and subsequent ecosystem and socioeconomic impacts in these communities.
