No Action: This Alternative offers no guarantee as to die continued maintenance of 

 natural habitats and die species v^ch depend on diem. Anticipated changes in land uses 

 such as sand and gravel operations, logging, or grazing could reduce the existing hi^ 

 quality wildlife habitat values. 



6. Unique, endanyerfid. fragile, nr limitftd wivimnmental resmircgs; 



Proposed Action: Extensive riparian areas in nearly pristine condition are relatively rare 

 in Montana. The braided section near Kalispell has many of these qualities; die proposed 

 project would help ensure at least a part of diis dynamic ecosystem would be maintained 

 into die future. The project would also benefit breeding, wintering, and migratrog bald 

 eagles, a federally direatened species. It benefits river otter, osprey, and great blue 

 herons, also species of special interest in Montana (Flath 1991). In addition, die project 

 would benefit bull trout, a species warranting listing as a federal direatened or endangered 

 species, and west-slope cutthroat trout, a fish species of special concern in Montana (Fladi 

 1991). 



No Action: The opportunity to protect a biologically important, relatively rare and unique 

 riparian/wetiand community would be foregone. 



B. EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES 

 ON THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT 



1. NoLse/Elcctrical Effects/Traasportatinn 



Proposed Action: Noise from recreation activities including hunting would probably be 

 similar to that which exists today. No other noise effects expected. No impacts on 

 electricity supply or demand or transportation are expected. 



No Action: Noise from recreational uses could be die same as the Proposed Action. 

 There is a low probability that activities such as sand and gravel extraction or logging 

 mig^t occur at some point in die future. If diese activities did occur, diey would 

 contribute to noise impacts in a natural setting and relatively quiet area. No impact to 

 electrical or transportation effects are expected. 



2. Public or Government Services/SchooLs/Utilities 



Proposed Action: The Proposed Action should result in no impact on public services or 

 utilities. The proposed action will have no impact on local schools and should not require 

 any other government services (outside of FWP) except during die development of a weed 

 management plan. The proposed project will result in increased management 

 responsibility for FWP; diis could be translated into service contracts or employment. 

 The costs may be shared between die Riparian/Wetiand Conservation Program and FWP 

 Wildlife Management Area programs. 



No Action: Minimal impacts expected to government services, schools, or public utilities 

 due to low probability of permanent development occurring widiin the main channel of the 

 Fladiead River. 



r 8 



