APPENDIX B 



MORRIS ISLAND DRAFT MANAGEMENT PLAN 



April 9, 1997 



I. PURPOSE 



The goal of this management plan is to describe how die Morris portion (approximately 40 acres) 

 of die entire S8 acre island will be managed by FWP upon approval for its purchase by the FWP 

 Commission. It can be assumed that die same management plan would be extended to the 18 acres 

 at die Dordi end of die island should the ongoing land exchange between FNF aixi FWP be 

 completed. That land exchange is part of a separate proposal which would be addressed throu^ 

 die FNF National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process. 



The Morris Island Management Plan describes die history and wildlife values of diis island, 

 outlines management goals and objectives, specifies various actions FWP plans to implement over 

 die next 2 years, and gives interim guidance on public recreation management until more accurate 

 data can be collected. 



If die Morris project is approved, FWP would include dieir interest in die Morris Island in die 

 Wildlife Division's network of approximately 40 Wildlife Habitat Protection Areas (WHPA's) 

 across die Montana. WHPA's are usually small parcels of land, often donated or sold to FWP 

 below market value, which hold exemplary wildlife habitats or special wildlife use areas such as 

 nesting islaixis. FWP manages several WHPA's in die Fladiead basin including two islands widiin 

 Flathead Lake. 



The management philosophy behind die management of WHPA's is focused on protecting die 

 wildlife habitat and special wildlife uses of die property. Recreation can occur on most WHPA's; 

 however, only low impact types of uses are encouraged. Recreation is often discouraged during 

 critical periods of wildlife use (e.g. during spring waterfowl nesting). 



n. MANAGEMENT GOALS 



The management goal for Morris Island would be: " to protect and maintain die riparian/wedand 

 values and special wildlife uses associated widi diis island property and to allow recreation uses 

 which do not undermine or impact these natural values" . 



There is a potential for including die Morris property into die Montana Natural Areas Program. 

 This potential will be evaluated during implementation of this management plan. 



The Management Plan is organized by die following objectives: 1. Maintain Habitat Values; 2. 

 Provide Public Recreational Opportunities; 3. Monitoring/ Adaptive Management. 



m. GENERAL PROPERTY DESCRIPTION 



The Morris property occupies approximately 40 acres of a 58 acre island within the main channels 

 of the PHathead River (Figs. 1 & 2). The property is comprised of bodi riparian and wetiand 

 habitats in nearly pristine condition. The dominant overstory consists of very mature Cottonwood 



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