7np fir^t oD'ective 'or Smith Lake WPA should be the exchanae of tracts 17, 

 17t:, an- 22 (aDout 350 acres) for lands immediately north or south of t.'^e 

 ■^'xistirc ',;PA (Figure ^) . Additional land could be ourchased near Smith Lake, 

 but accu:sition is a low onority for the following reasons. 



1. •■noc'jndment of water to create a 3-foot deeo wetland uostream wouk, 



recuire the ourchase of about 1,0C0 acres of land 3-4 miles uostream from 

 17 l.indowners. 



?. .-sr:ley Creek is oresently over-aDorooriated and water rights would "ave to 

 oe ourchased to allow development. 



3. the wate'-fowl oroduction potential on Smith Lake is only fair - FV.'S 



'■ecorred 57 duck oairs n 1985 and 154 in 19fl6. For 1986, tnis reoresents 

 .1 :airs oer acre of wetland. 



AcquiSTt:cn of 590 acres on the north end and 1,000 acres en the south end 

 would round out the Smith Lake WPA. Acauisition of land to the south would 

 allow construction of a low dike and imooundment of about 800 acres of water 

 JD to 3 feet deeo. Water rights would have to be acquired from existina users 

 or the f-'DFWP. A letter from the Director, MDFWP, to the FWS Regional Director 

 indicates that ud to 11,448 acre-feet of water from Ashley Reservoir mav be 

 available. MDFWP is evaluating their storage rights and fishery values for 

 Ashley Reservoir. Preliminary information suggests MDFWP may relinquish their 

 rights because of high maintenance costs and low fishery value. If some of 

 that wate!" can be acquired by BPA, an impoundment should be built on the south 

 end of the Lake. 



Because of the reasons mentioned above, acquisition and development at Smith 

 Lake should be accomplished only by BPA or entities other than the FWS. 



Swan RivP"' NWR 



Tract 123 (71 acres) on the attached map should be a c qui red first to roundout 

 the best habitat remaining within the authorized boundary (Figure 5). The 

 remaining 10 tracts are primarily forested and a lower priority for the 

 -■efuap. Tracts 1, la and the northern portion of lb are under Forest Service 

 ;uri SG I ction , but managed by the FWS under provisions of a flemorandum of 

 understanding. The rest of Tract lb and Ic are managed by The Forest Service. 

 Six tracts (534 acres) s^rQ privately owned and should be ourchased to round 

 out the refuge. Because of Swan River's unique habitat and oristine setting, 

 the FViS snould use Land and Water Conservation Fund monies for acquisition, 

 'ne area is also a good candidate for BPA funding for waterfowl and grizzly 

 bear ni ti ':ation . 



11 



