a common flicker nested less than 30 yards (27 m) away, also in a cottonwood snag. 

 Fourteen additional species (including 4 waterfowl species) observed on the study 

 area are cavity nesters, the majority of which could be adversely affected from 

 permanent flooding of the riparian zone. Cottonwood trees and several other 

 deciduous species are limited along the remaining free-flowing Kootenai River, and 

 the area which constitutes the proposed forebay area of the impoundment is composed 

 of some of the most extensive riparian habitat remaining along the river. 



Bald eagles, the only known endangered species to occur on the study area, 

 are known to winter in the immediate vicinity of Kootenai Falls. Eagles apparently 

 summer in the area but the occurrence of breeding was not established. A compre- 

 hensive analysis of bald eagle use of the Kootenai River in the vicinity of the 

 proposed reregulation dam is currently in progress. This project was initiated in 

 1978 and should provide valuable information applicable to this development. A full 

 analysis of the possible effects of dam building at Kootenai Falls and resulting 

 habitat alteration upon the endangered bald eagle should be made based upon this 

 information. 



Mammalian species which are dependent upon the riparian zone on a yearly, 

 seasonal or daily basis would also suffer from loss of riparian habitat. Impounding 

 the river will eliminate riparian vegetation, in turn eliminating essential elements 

 of habitat for some species. Changed patterns of flooding on the fringes of the 

 impoundment may affect the viability of riparian vegetation (Kadlec 1976) and 

 ultimately the wildlife which use it. Altered flow patterns or volumes may directly 

 affect aquatic wildlife such as beaver and muskrat. Five of six ungulate species 

 which occur in this portion of the state were noted on the study area. All used 

 the riparian zone to some extent, but the importance of this area to these species 

 is not known. Riparian grassland is among the most productive food sources available 

 to bighorn sheep. Of the ungulates present, the white-tailed deer and bighorn 

 sheep will likely be the most significantly affected by flooding of the riparian 

 zone. «J 



Of the four species of carnivores known to occur on the area, the river otter 

 and mink are directly dependent on riparian habitat, while the black bear and 

 coyote are partially dependent upon the riparian zone for food and security. 

 Because river otter are tied to the river system and are influenced by human 

 alterations of the system, they may be considered the "key" carnivore species. 

 Further investigation would be necessary to determine if any of the 11 other 

 carnivore species, which occur in this region of the state, occur on the area. 



Of the rodents known to occur on the study area, the beaver and muskrat are 

 directly dependent upon the riverine system; the beaver should be identified as 

 the "key" species to represent the small mammals species group in future research. 



Herpetofauna were not intensively studied, and the presence of obligate 

 riparian species was not determined. 



According to species groups and based on the data collected to date, the 

 following "key" species merit greatest concern and possibly additional research: 

 harlequin duck, bald eagle, dipper, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, river otter, 

 beaver. 



The riparian zone as wildlife habitat is far more important than its 

 abundance would suggest. Its demise has been cited as the cause of increasing 

 scarcity of many species, including otter, mink, beaver, muskrat, and wood ducks. 



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