habitats support a wide array of aquatic plants and animals which in turn provide habitat 

 for resident and migratory juvenile and adult fish such as bull trout, west-slope cutthroat 

 trout, pygmy and lake whitefish, rainbow trout, lake trout (mackinaw), northern pike, 

 large-scale sucker, squawfish and peamoudi. Western toads and painted turtles also use 

 diese aquatic habitat types. Great blue herons, solitary sandpipers, and killdeer are 

 commonly found foraging along die shoreline. Many species of diving ducks can be seen 

 year-round on die main channels including common mergansers, hooded mergansers, 

 common goldeneyes, and Barrows goldeneyes as well as dabbling ducks such as Canada 

 geese, mallards, and green-winged teal. 



Aquatic fiirbearing mammals are common along die shoreline, logjams, and backwater 

 channels and include river otter, beaver, mink, and muskrat. 



2. Riparian Habitat Types 



The dense shrub cover along backwater sloughs and channels provides exceUent upland 

 nesting habitat for mallards, Canada geese, ruffed grouse, ring-necked pheasants, and 

 wild turkey. The older cottonwood snags provide cavity nesting habitat for wood ducks, 

 common and hooded mergansers, woodpeckers, tree swallows, and chickadees. The old 

 snags are used by nesting osprey, Canada geese, and owls. Overhanging banks provide 

 nesting habitat for belted kingfisher, bank swallows, and rou^-winged swallows. 

 Riparian shrubs and mature cottonwood habitats also provide nesting habitat for a variety 

 of neo-tropical migrants and other passerines. The security, cover, and fai^ quality 

 forage on the island provide important year-round habitat for w^te-tailed deer. 



The island's accumulated logjams, dead and down material, berry-producing shrubs such 

 as hawdiom provide habitat for raccoons, striped skunks, coyotes, and red fox. Black 

 bear and moose are occasional visitors. 



3. Proposed Actions 



a. FWP would complete an inventory and map of all aquatic, wetiand, and riparian 

 habitats and dieir associated species and values during die two field seasons 

 following purchase of die Island. This baseline report would include photo points, 

 vegetation lists, cover type maps, stand size and stocking, species lists, weed 

 maps, human disturbances, and odier data from which future changes in habitat 

 can be detected or quantified. This baseline information would be important for 

 monitoring both natural or man-made changes, developing new management 

 policies as needed, and to ensure maintenance of the existing habitat qualities and 

 functions. 



b. FWP would incorporate a weed management plan into the Morris Island 

 Management Plan. This plan would address how FWP intends to meet county 

 weed management obligations. The weed management plan would address die 

 current infestation of Canada diisde and any other weeds observed during baseline 

 inventories. 



c FWP would plan to take at least one field inspection trip each year for purpose of 



monitoring habitat changes or human impacts, updating resource values, and 

 recommending management changes if needed. FWP would encourage members 



B3 



