occurs frequently, could disrupt wildlife populations using die island or impact 

 habitat. 



c Fall: The fall season includes upland bird, waterfowl, and big game hunting 

 seasons. The amount of hunting activity wliich takes place on Morris is not 

 presently known; however, a few existing blinds indicate it is used by the public, 

 probably on most weekends during die hunting season. As with die other 

 recreational activities, if it becomes too frequent, impacts to habitat or wildlife 

 may occur. 



d. Winter: Trapping primarily for beaver, muskrat, mink, or river otter have 

 probably occurred on Morris during die winter mondis. Access to the island from 

 Leisure island is dependent on water levels and ice cover. The braided section of 

 the Fladiead has had one of the bluest beaver colony densities recorded in die 

 state. Additionally, river otters are abundant dirou^out die Flathead mainstem 

 probably due to habitat quality and high security; Montana allows trappers to take 

 as many beaver as they want, but only one river otter. 



2. Recommended Actions: 



a. Limit certain recreational uses which will likely have an impact on wildlife during 

 the spring nesting/reproductive period or leave excessive signs of human use: 



i. DO dogs/pets widiout leashes allowed from March 1 to June 30; 



ii. put up signs >^ch explain management objectives and ask the public to 

 minimize human impacts (pack it in/pack it out; odier restrictions listed below); 



iii. no overnight camping or campfires except as provided by 23-2-303 MCA 

 (Montana Stream Access Law). No permanent structures (e.g. duck blinds, deer 

 stands, fire rings, tent poles etc.); temporary structures brou^t by an individual 

 and removed by the individual after each hunt would be acceptable. 



b. Provide copy of die final management plan to sporting good shops, County 

 Offices and Library, local Chambers of Commerce, state and federal agencies, 

 and interested publics to make diem aware of management goals, objectives, and 

 stipulations. 



c Coordinate management plan and monitoring widi FWP enforcement staff, local 



interest groups, Fladiead County Parks and Recreation. 



C. Monitoring and Adaptive Management: 



Most WHPA's receive litde monitoring by FWP due to dieir small size, isolation, and lack of 

 perceived need to monitor these areas because of low use. However, due to die proximity of 

 Morris to a large population center, die evidence of some past recreational uses, and special 

 wildlife values associated with die island, monitoring on a regular basis is recommended. This 

 could be accomplished with volunteers, water saftey patrols, and other FWP resource personnel 

 working on the river. The purpose of monitoring would be to determine if any recreational or 

 human activities are impacting wildlife or habitat values. 



B5 



