3. K-rixting and Vutun^ Tjind Uses/ Industrial & Agricultural Production/ Housing 



Proposed Action: Existing land use is primarily recreational. Therefore, no impacts to 

 existing land uses are expected. Commercial timber harvest was contemplated by die 

 existing landowner. Given the current transportation expenses associated with commercial 

 timber harvest on an island (e.g. helicopter or hi^ilines), harvest limits within Streamside 

 Management Zones, and water quality regulations, the present gross commercial timber 

 value (approximately $10,000 - $12,000) is not great enou^ to cover diese costs. 

 However, future values are unknown. Because of the higji value older cottonwood and 

 spruce trees have to wildlife, die proposed management plan does not include commercial 

 timber harvest as an objective. 



Because of die island's current location in the middle of the Flathead mainstem, die site is 

 not generally suited for agricultural, industrial, residential, or most commercial activities. 

 Industrial activities such as sand and gravel operations would probably never occur due to 

 environmental concerns. However, private recreation-based commercial activities such as 

 landowner outfitting on die island could occur. The Proposed Action would preclude 

 exclusive private commercial operations. 



Land use and associated impacts assoicated widi fee-titie acquisitions under die 

 Riparian/Wetiand Conservation Program were disclosed in die Riparian/Wetiand 

 Programmatic EIS issued September 1995 by FWP. 



No Action: Althou^ diere is a low probability of residential, industrial, or commercial 

 development occurring on an island in the main channel of die Fladiead River, these land 

 uses would not be precluded under die no action alternative. Likely potential land uses 

 imder the No Action Alternative include use of 20-40 older spruce trees for house logs or 

 other wood products, cottonwoods for pulp, and die island for private recreational 

 purposes which migjht include cabin sites, houseboat sites, and/or commercial hunting 

 preserve. 



4. Hisk/Hi^lth HaTiirHs 



Proposed Action: Recreational use of die Fladiead River near Kalispell is increasing due 

 to population increases and diversity of water craft available today. Recreational use on 

 the Fladiead mainstem may also increase widi increasing availability of public lands within 

 die river system. The risl^ to human healdi and safety associated widi floating on die 

 Flathead River (die degree of which depends on weather, season, water flows, woody 

 debris, type of boat, and many other factors) may also increase somewhat with die 

 purchase of Morris Island. Any increase in recreational activities due to die proposed 

 project and odier potential ownership changes (for example, the completion of Coriell 

 project by FWP or its claim as school trust land by DNRC) could lead to increased public 

 use of the river and consequentially, an increase in the rate of boating/recreating 

 accidents. 



No Action: Increasing population growth in die Fladiead with its resulting increase in 

 recreational use of the river is likely to occur without die proposed action. The extent of 

 diis increase may not be as great under this Alternative becasue slightiy less public land in 

 die river would be available. 



