': of local interest groups to participate and assist on diis field trip(s). Field 



inspections would include an inventory any human-related problems such as 

 garbage, permanent blinds, weeds, etc. and natural events or changes such as tree 

 blowdowns, new beaver channels or tree cuts, tree diseases, erosion or 

 depositional events, etc. A record of field investigations will be kept with the 

 management plan. 



d. FWP will evaluate die benefits or detriments of including the Morris project 



widiin the Montana Natural Areas Program. 



B. Maintaining Public Recreational Opportunities 



Maintaining recreation opportunities for the general public is an important but secondary objective 

 of the Morris island acquisition. Many islands in the mainstem Fladiead are perceived as being in 

 public ownership regardless of plat status. Purchase of Morris Island by FWP will insure some 

 degree of public access, provided access does not conflict with the habitat objectives stated above. 



1. Current Recreation Activities 



Current recreation uses of Morris Island, aldiough a private island, seem to be 

 similar to that vMch occurs on most islands in the mainstem whedier claimed as 

 private or public: boating; picnicking; fishing; day hiking; photography; asparagus 

 picking; bird watching; camping; waterfowl, upland bird, and deer hunting; and 

 fiirbearer trapping. The Island has never been posted. Due to the density of 

 vegetation and downed woody material, much of the island is rarely accessed. 



Most of diese recreational activities which take place occur seasonally, such as 

 boating in Ae summer, hunting in die fall, or trapping in the winter. Based on 

 preliminary observations, diese activities seem to have had litde or no impact on 

 die islaixls's habitat quality. 



a. Spring: Intense or frequent recreation activities during die spring bird 

 nesting/reproduction period (March dirou^ June) could impact nesting success 

 of waterfowl and odier wildlife species. Dogs allowed to run dirough die island 

 can pose a significant hazard. However, because of the difficulty in negotiating 



) die ever-changing channels near Morris with normal propeller motor boats, the 



lack of an easy access point adjacent, and rising treacherous water associated widi 

 spring runoff, public use during diis time does not appear to be in conflict with 

 nesting/reproducing wildlife. This could change widi die increased use of jet 

 boats and jet skis which can negotiate die shallow channels and can go up or down 

 stream with few problems. 



b. Summer: During summer, Fladiead Lake is at full pool vMch allows normal 

 propeller boats to reach Morris from die lower Flathead and Stillwater Rivers. 

 Also, floating from Old Steel down to Foys bend or from Leisure Island is fairly 

 common as die water levels stabilize and warm. Due to die construction of die 



' selective withdrawal system at Hungry Horse dam, the Flathead mainstem water 



should be warmer dian in the past. Tliis may increase recreational activities on 

 the mainstem. Fishing, picnicking, hiking, bird watching, and camping, if it 



B4 



