completed in 1994. This preliminary project proposal was reviewed and unanimously approved by 

 Ae Fish, Wildlife, and Parks Commission in May 19%. The proposed project was also reviewed 

 and unanimously supported by die Wildlife Mitigation Advisory Committee (WMAC) members on 

 April 11, 1996. WMAC is the group established by die Setdement Agreement to provide 

 reconmiendations and guidance to FWP on implementation of mitigation activities. 



C. PURPOSE AND NEED OF THE PROPOSED ACTION 



The primary purpose of this acquisition is to insure conservation of the riparian and wedand 

 habitat resources of the island as a means to mitigate for some of the 6,400 acres of riparian and 

 wetlands lost due to construction of Hungry Horse Dam. Because die Morris island adjoins odier 

 public lands and is widiin a popular recreation corridor along die Fladiead River mainstem (Fig. 

 2), die project woidd result in die securing of public recreation values as well. The parcel would 

 be managed as part of FWP's Wildlife Habitat Protection Area Program with primary 

 management emi^iasis on habitat values and secondary focus on recreation values. A proposed 

 management plan for the site is attached in Appendix B. 



D. PROPERTY DESCRIPTION 



The Morris property occupies most of an island widiin the main channels of die Fladiead River 

 (island on right side of cover photo). The property is comprised of both riparian and wedand 

 habitats in nearly pristine condition. The dominant overstory consists of mature cottonwood and 

 spruce, a dense understory of deciduous shrubs, younger spruce trees, and many types of 

 herbaceous communities typical of river systems. The island contains a few bacicwater channels. 

 The island lies between the hi^y active or "delta" section of die Fladiead River and its 

 confluence with die Stillwater River. At diis confluence, die Flathead River becomes a wide, 

 single channel, meandering river system. The highly braided channel area around the Morris 

 Island is caused by die change in gradient between the upper and lower Flathead River systems. 



The lower portion of die Fladiead River from Flathead Lake up to diis braided river section is 

 influenced by Kerr dam. The operation of Kerr Dam maintains hi^er than normal water levels in 

 die Flathead River mainstem during die summer mondis. One can see bodi die erosional aspects 

 of die higher water levels on die lower part of die island and die depositional effects on the upper 

 end of die island. 



The dynamic and uiq)redictable nature of diis river section has helped maintain diis island's 

 relatively undisturbed nature. As a result, Morris Island supports some of die best and last 

 examples of undisturbed mature and old growdi riparian forest and high quality riparian habitats 

 widiin die entire upper Flathead mainstem corridor. Historical photos from 1937 to present 

 indicate the island has changed in configuration and size over time probably due to both natural 

 events and to die influence of Kerr Dam. Based on existing trends, die island appears to be 

 gradually eroding along the steeper channel banks (southeast and nortwest) and building at the 

 northeast and soudi points. 



The Morris Island is adjacent to various types of public and private lands (Fig. 2). The Fladiead 

 National Forest (FNF) owns approximately 18 acres on the north end of Morris Island and anodier 

 small parcel on Leisure Island west of Morris. FNF is in the process of exchanging dieir Fladiead 



