grouse, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, and Barrow's goldeneye. In 

 the cases of these target species either the low populations and/or 

 the limited suf^ly of suitable habitat did not warrant a greater 

 impact assessment. The impacts to 1 species, elk, were rated as 

 negligible due to the minimal populations inhabiting the Kootenai 

 River valley prior to formation of Lake Koocanusa. 



During the assessment process only 1 target species (osprey) 

 was determined to have benefitted from the construction of Libby Dam 

 project. The nesting density of osprey along Lake Koocanusa was 

 assumed to be greater than the density found alcng the Kootenai 

 River prior to inundation. 



Previous mitigation has been conducted through the cooperation 

 of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Montana Department of Fish, 

 Wildlife and Parks, and the U.S. Forest Service. Mitigation in- 

 cluded land acquisition, habitat manipulation, and habitat improve- 

 ment. The majority of the projects were short-term and were not 

 designed to provide benefits to the wildlife populations for the 

 duration of the Libby Dam project (100 years). Land acquisition 

 did provide wildlife habitat which could be managed for the benefit 

 of wildlife for the complete life of the project; however, only 

 minimal funds have been available for the operation, maintenance 

 and enhancement, and the three management units have not reached 

 their potential benefit to the wildlife populations. 



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