rETHOD OF EVALUATING CMALL TRACTS 



Eioloqists evaluated each ootential WPA for Durchase by scorinq according to 

 the four following factors: 



Factor Score 



1. Value of tract to duck breeding pairs 0-4 



- intersoersion of eniergent vegetation 



- shallow shoreline or other feeding sites 



- presence of seasonal water regime 



- quality and quantity of adjacent wetlands 



2. Value of tract to duck broods 0-4 



- ratio of ooen water to vegetation 



- presence of semipermanent water regime 



- escaoe cover available on wetland 



3. Inprovement/devel ooment potential 0-2 



- potential to restore or create wetlands 



- DOtential for island/brood ponds 



- assume upland nesting cover for all tracts 



4. Access 0-2 



- easy management access to tract 



- easy public access to tract 



0-12 



The score for each factor was a subjective judgment by the observers. 

 Biologists made on-site inspections of each tract in Flathead County and 

 aerial inspections in Lake County. They classified wetlands according to 

 Cowardin, et.al. (1979). The aerial flight over Lake County tracts was 

 adequate to identify the existence of wetland complexes and brood water. 



RECOMMENDED ACQUISITION PLAN 



Small WPA tracts 



Table 1 presents a list of small tracts suitable for purchase as Waterfowl 

 Production Areas. The tracts are listed in priority order according to the 

 evaluation score and locations are shown in Figures 2 and 3. Where scores were 

 the same, biologists made a judgment on which tract was a higher priority. 



