proposed action was also reviewed and unanimously supported by the Wildlife 

 Mitigation Advisory Committee (WMAC) members on October 5, 1995. WMAC is 

 the group established by the Settlement Agreement to provide recommendations and 

 guidance to FWP on implementation of mitigation activities. 



C. PURPOSE AND NEED OF THE PROPOSED ACTION 



The primary purpose of this acquisition is to insure perpetual conservation of the 

 riparian and wetland habitat resources of the island as a means to mitigate for some of 

 the 6,978 acres of riparian and wetlands lost due to construction of Hungry Horse 

 Dam. Because the Coriell island adjoins other public lands and is within a popular 

 recreation corridor along the Flathead River mainstem, the project would result in the 

 securing of public recreation values as well. The parcel would be managed as part of 

 FWP's Wildlife Habitat Protection Area Program with primary management emphasis 

 on habitat values and secondary focus on recreation values. A proposed management 

 plan for the site is attached in Appendix A. 



D. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION 



The Coriell property occupies most of an island within the main channels of the 

 Flathead River (Fig.l). The property is comprised of both riparian and wetland 

 habitats in nearly pristine condition. The natural vegetation consists of mature 

 cottonwoods, deciduous shrublands, and herbaceous communities typical of river 

 systems. It is bisected by a primary river channel as well as other backwater 

 channels. The island lies within an active or "delta" section of the Flathead River just 

 upstream from its confluence with the Stillwater River. The island is within a highly 

 dynamic area where the Flathead becomes a slow meandering river system (Fig. 2). 

 This highly braided section exists because of the change in gradient between the upper 

 and lower Flathead River systems which are influenced by Kerr dam which maintains 

 higher than normal water levels in the Flathead River mainstem upstream from 

 Flathead Lake during the summer months. This accentuates the delta-like depositional 

 and erosional activity within this area. 



The large number of islands and unpredictable river activity in this section has helped 

 maintain the relatively undisturbed nature of this island. As a result, this braided 

 section including Coriell island, supports some of the best and last examples of 

 undisturbed mature and old growth riparian forest and high quality riparian habitats 

 within the entire upper Flathead mainstem corridor. 



The Coriell property occupies most of an entire island situated in the main channels of 

 the Flathead River mainstem (Fig.l). FLT would deed to FWP all their rights, title 

 and interests to the island the size of which may increase or decrease depending on 

 river dynamics. 



