operations, timber harvest, grazing, and commercial recreational uses such as 

 a commercial hunting preserve. 



4. Risk/Health Hazards 

 Proposed Action: No impact. . 



Alternative 1 (Conservation Easement): No impact. 



No Action: Low probability of any type of risky or hazardous development 

 occurring within the main channel of the Flathead River. 



5. Recreation/Local Economy/ Aesthetics/Open Space 



Proposed Action: The impact of the proposed action will be to maintain high 

 quality fish and wildlife habitat associated with the island. It will also help 

 maintain the existing recreational opportunities associated with the Flathead 

 River islands which, in turn, will maintain or encourage local river-related 

 economies such as fishing, boating, bird- watching, and hunting. The proposed 

 action will maintain existing open-space and aesthetics of the area. However, 

 this alternative would not allow commercial development of these recreational 

 opportunities (e.g. commercial hunting preserve). These general impacts have 

 been described in the Riparian/Wetland Programmatic EIS issued September 

 1995 by FWP. 



No additional impacts are expected to adjacent landowners as the island is 

 already used by the public. The goals of the attached management plan are to 

 first maintain the habitat values and secondarily to allow public use which does 

 not impact wildlife or habitat values. Overnight camping and campfires would 

 not be allowed. Monitoring public use and resulting impacts to the island and 

 adjacent private land is an important element of the management plan. 



Alternative 1 (Conservation Easement): Although the fish and wildlife 

 habitat would be conserved, the actual opportunity for the public to recreate on 

 the island would not be assured under this alternative. This recreational 

 opportunity would likely be purchased by a future landowner for personal 

 purposes or for profit. 



No Action: Both the habitat base and public recreational opportunity which 

 exists on the island would not be assured. When placed on the market, the 

 Coriell property is likely to be purchased for personal recreational or habitat 

 purposes or for profit from its recreational values (e.g. by an outfitter). 

 Recreation, as the most marketable aspect of the property, would likely 

 continue under all alternatives. However, the proposed action would allow 



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