PARXm. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW 



EVALUATION OF THE PROPOSED ACTION AND REASONABLE ALTERNATIVES 

 ON THE PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT 



1. Land Resources: 



Proposed Action: The proposed action would result in long-term protection of die island's 

 land resources such as soU, wetlands, gravel bars, and sandbars from impacts assoicated 

 widi human development. Land uses which mi^t negatively impact land resources such 

 as sand and gravel mining or vegetation removal would be precluded imder FWP 

 ownership. The land resources would continued to be impacted by river-related processes 

 such as erosion and deposition. 



No Action: This Alternative could possibly result in die loss of die land resource values in 

 die future. Land resources, particularly stream banks, could be impacted by timber 

 operations, sand and gravel removal (low probability), local disturbances related to 

 construction of cabins, shelters or boat docks, or domestic livestock grazing (low 

 probability). 



2. Air Resources; 



Proposed Action: No impact expected. 

 No Action: No impact expected. 



3. Water Resjources: 



Proposed Action: The Proposed Action will help maintain long-term protection of 

 Flathead River surface and ground water quality. No developments or land uses wiach 

 would decrease bank stability or lead to increased erosion rates (above normal rates which 

 are already occuring) would be implemented. 



No Action: Activities >^ch are most likely to occur under diis Alternative include 

 commercial timber harvest and shelter/cabin/dock construction. These activities may 

 negatively impact to water quality dirough disturbance of vegetation and stream banks. In 

 the long term, odier activities which could possibly occur, aldiou^ widi a low probability, 

 include sand or gravel excavation and livestock grazing could signficcantiy impact water 

 quality. 



4. Vegetation Resources: 



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Proposed Action: The proposed action should provide long-term protection for native 

 riparian and wedand plant communities and dieir changes over time. Native plant 

 communities include cottonwood and spruce forest, riparian shrublands supporting willow 

 SalUL spp.), red-osier dogwood (Comus stnlnnifera^ , hawdiom (Crataegus spp.), 



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