responsibility. Noxious weed management is addressed in the draft 

 management plan. (Appendix B), 



Alternative 1 (Purchase Conservation Easement): This alternative should 

 result in the same benefits listed under the Proposed Action. 



No Action: This Alternative may lead to degradation of vegetation resources 

 through changes in land use such as sand and gravel mining, tree removal, 

 construction of shelters or cabins, or grazing activities. Weed management 

 would be the responsibility of the next landowner. 



5. Fish/Wildlife Resources: 



Proposed Action: The Proposed Action will result in long-term maintenance 

 of existing important aquatic plant and invertebrates communities which, in 

 turn, provide food and cover for a variety of fish and other aquatic mammals 

 which utilize these habitats. Fish species which would benefit from long-term 

 habitat protection include migratory juvenile and adult bull trout, west-slope 

 cutthroat trout, and mountain white-fish. Other resident native fish which use 

 the Flathead mainstem and braided section include squawfish, peamouth, and 

 large-scale sucker. Nonnative fish species such as rainbow trout, lake trout. 

 Lake Superior whitefish, and kokanee salmon would also utilize the gravel 

 bars, backwater and main channels of the Flathead River around this island. 

 Maintenance of existing vegetation provides bank stability, shade and cover as 

 well as future vegetative and organic material which provides nutrients, cover, 

 and substrate for aquatic plant and animal communities. 



The river and backwater channels would continue to provide breeding and 

 foraging habitat for western toads and painted turtles while the riparian 

 vegetation would continue to support a number common snakes such as 

 common and western garter snakes. The proposed project would maintain 

 foraging and/or breeding habitats for great blue herons, double crested 

 cormorants, osprey, and bald eagles as well as woodpeckers, chickadees and 

 other year-round resident birds (Appendix A). The vegetation would also 

 continue to provide nesting and migratory habitat for a variety of neo-tropical 

 migrants such as warblers, swallows, vireos, and thrushes. 



In addition, the Proposed Action would continue to maintain year-round habitat 

 for a number of important game species such as white-tailed deer, wild turkey, 

 pheasants, ruffed grouse, Canada geese, mallards and wood ducks, and a 

 variety of other waterfowl. The aquatic and riparian habitats would continue to 

 support beaver, river otter, mink, muskrat, raccoon, red fox, coyote, and 

 striped skunks. 



