PART I. DESCRIPTION OF PROPOSED ACTION 



A. PROPOSED ACTION 



The Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (FWP) is proposing to purchase approximately 40 acres of a 

 58 acre island located at die junction of the Stillwater and Flathead Rivers southeast of Kalispell, 

 Montana (Sections 22 and 27, Township 28 North, Range 21 West.) (Figs. 1 & 2). The proposed 

 purchase would meet the goals of FWP's Riparian/Wetland Conservation Program, an element of 

 FWP's Wildlife Mitigation Program for Hungry Horse Dam, and utilize interest from die Wildlife 

 Mitigation Trust Fund. The proposed project is adjacent to die previously proposed Coriell Island 

 project pursued by FWP as part of die Riparian/Wedand Conservation Program in 1995 (Fig. 2). 

 Aldiough FWP had issued a Decision Notice (FWP 1996) widi the intent to purchase the 73 acres 

 on Coriell Island, pending final FWP Commission Review, die final purchase is awaiting 

 Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) clearance of dieir claim to tide to die Coriell project 

 area. DNRC has completed dieir review of die Morris Island project area and determined they 

 have no claim to tide (Appendix A). The portion of Morris Island being considered for purchase 

 is privately owned. The remaining 18 acres are owned by U.S. Forest Service, Fladiead National 

 Forest (FNF). This remaining parcel is part of a proposed land exchange between FNF and FWP 

 (Fig. 2). 



The Morris property is dominated by a mature riparian/wedand forest w^ch has had a mininm iTn 

 of direct human disturbance. Dominant overstory species are black cottonwood ( Topulus 

 trichocarpa^ and spruce (probably Picea englftmaniiV The understory is dominated by riparian 

 shrubs and herbaceous species. No human developments have been observed on die property. 

 Recreation is the primary land use. 



FWP has negotiated a purchase price for Morris based on recent appraisals of river islands and 

 lands, a nearby recent sale, and timber/recreational values. FWP is proposing to purchase 

 approximately 40 acres owned by the Morris family for $55,000 or $1,375 per acre. The project 

 would result in 40 acres of wildlife mitigation credit. 



B. AUTHORITIES AND DIRECTION 



FWP is mandated by public law (87-1-201) to protect, enhance, and regulate die wise use of 

 Montana's fish and wildlife resources for public benefit now and m die future. Recendy, die FWP 

 Commission adopted Habitat Montana policy and plan (I^WP 1995a) which calls for FWP to focus 

 conservation efforts on "intermountain grassland, shrub grassland, and riparian ecosystems". 



In addition, die Northwest Poweir Act of 1980 (P.L. 96-501) authorized die creation of the 

 Nordtwest Power Planning and Conservation Council (NPPC) and charged it with developing a 

 program to "protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife affected by die development, operation 

 and management" of die federal hydropower system in die Columbia River Basin. Under die 

 Northwest Power Act, die Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and FWP established an 

 agreement diat provided fiinds from BPA for the protection, mitigation and enhancement of 

 wildlife and wildlife habitat affected by the development of Libby and Hungry Horse Dams. This 

 Setdement Agreement was signed in 1988; payments to die Wildlife Mitigation Trust Fund were 



