CHAPTER 2 

 RIVER ASSESSMENT PROCESS 



Process 



The major objective of the process is to identify the significance of river 

 segments and systems for natural, cultural, and recreational resource 

 categories. Comparative assessment is a major feature of this process. The 

 process does not, however, result in rivers being ranked in numerical order. 

 Rather, it clusters stream reaches into groups according to their relative 

 resource significance. 



The study is not an inventory or data collection exercise. The focus is on 

 evaluation by recognized resource experts. The effort will rely on existing 

 information and expertise with field survey kept to a minimum. Study 

 conclusions will ultimately be the responsibility of these resource 

 specialists. The states. Tribes, and Federal agencies will be represented in 

 the evaluation process commensurate with their legal authorities and 

 management responsibilities. 



The following is a detailed description of the assessment process. 



Step 1 : Identification of fish, wildlife, natural, recreational, cultural, 

 and institutional river resource categories. 



Categories were chosen to: 1) accurately reflect the overall value of rivers 

 and streams as natural resources; 2) reflect the interests of various public 

 agencies and private interest groups; 3) acknowledge the resource 

 responsibilities of the Tribes, states, and Federal agencies; and 4) reflect 

 the priorities of the Pacific Northwest Electric Power Planning and 

 Conservation Act [(Regional Act) P.L. 96-501]. Tribal cultural and 

 archeological values will be included through a NPPC contract, as will 

 regional anadromous fish values. Tribal participation in determining other 

 river values will be through state level studies. 



A "senior resource expert" and cooperating experts have been designated in 

 each state to oversee activities related to each specific resource category. 

 Cooperating experts will provide input into the assessment through the senior 

 resource expert. This manual in Chapters 4-9 describes the methods to be used 

 in the state level effort. 



Step 2 : Inventory of Existing Information and Identification of Experts 



Each state task force has inventoried the availability of expertise and 

 information in each of the six resource categories. Agencies, groups, 

 individuals, or other sources possessing useful data or with the capacity to 

 produce useful data within the study period were identified, including key 

 contact person(s). A list of resource experts is included as Appendix A. 



Step 3 : Evaluation Criteria and Standards Development 



For each river resource category, regional staff and senior resource experts 

 have identified minimum standards and criteria by which data will be 

 evaluated. These were subsequently adapted to meet the needs of each 



