SDOwberry rSymphn ricarpos albus), and herbaceous communities consisting of various 

 sedges (Care^t spp.), cattail (J^sba latiMa), cow parsnip rHeracleum laoaQim) and other 

 riparian species. The existing infestation of Canadian tiiistie (Oisium arvense) , a noxious 

 weed, poses a unique management problem as mechanical means of eradication would be 

 difficult, chemical means could pose environmental risks, and biological control could be 

 ineifective in areas subject to annual flooding. A suitable and safe means of Canadian 

 diistie management (as well as odier noxious weeds should they become established) 

 would be part of FWP's management responsibility. Noxious weed management is 

 addressed in die draft management plan. (Appendix B). 



No Action: This Alternative could lead to degradation of vegetation resources tiirou^ 

 changes in land use such as commercial timber harvest, construction of shelters or cabins, 

 or mineral extraction, or grazing activities. Increase land disturbances (including 

 flooding) increases liklihood of noxious weed infestations. Weed management would be 

 the responsibility of tiie next landowner. 



5. FLsh/Wildlife Resources: 



Proposed Action: The Proposed Action would help maintain existing and future important 

 aquatic plant and invertebrates communities which, in turn, provide food and cover for a 

 variety of fish and other aquatic mammals which utilize these habitats. Fish species wiiich 

 would benefit from long-term habitat protection include migratory juvenile and adult bull 

 trout, west-slope cutthroat trout, and mountain whitefish. Otiier resident native fish v^iiich 

 use tile Flathead mainstem and braided section include squawfish, peamoudi, and large- 

 scale sucker. Nonnative fish species such as rainbow trout, lake trout, and Lake Superior 

 wdiitefish utilize the gravel bars, backwater and main channels of the Flathead River 

 around this island. Nfaintenance of existing vegetation provides bank stability, shade and 

 cover as well as future vegetative and organic material which provides nutrients, cover, 

 and substrate for aquatic plant and animal communities. 



The river banks and backwater channels would contiinue to provide breeding and foraging 

 habitat for native amphibians and reptiles such as western toads and painted turties \via[t 

 the riparian vegetation would continue to support a number common snakes such as 

 common and western garter snakes. The proposed project would maint ^iin higfa quality 

 foraging and nesting habitats for great blue herons, double crested cormorants, osprey, 

 bald eagles, wood ducks, goldeneyes, mergansers, pileated woodpeckers, chickadees and 

 oflier cavity nesting birds (Appendix C). The dense ground vegetation would also 

 contiinue to provide nesting habitat for upland game birds such as ruffed grouse, wild 

 turkey, and pheasants as well as upland nesting waterfowl such as Canada geese and 

 mallard ducks. The forest canopy will continue to support a variety of deciduous forest or 

 spruce forest neo-tropical migrants such as warblers, swallows, vireos, and tiirushes, 

 many of ^^ch are in decline. 



In addition, the Proposed Action would continue to maintain year-round habitat for white- 

 tailed deer. The aquatic and riparian habitats would continue to support beaver, river 

 otter, mink, muskrat, raccoon, red fox, coyote, aixi striped skunks. 



