PACIFIC NORTHWEST RIVERS STUDY 



Method for Assessing the Significance of River Segments 

 and Systems for Recreational R^esources in Montana 



April, 1985 



LEAD AGENCY 



Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks 

 1A20 E. Sixth Avenue 

 Helena, MT 59620 



SENIOR RESOURCE EXPERT AND STAFF 



Paul Pacini, Senior Resource Expert 



Stewart Allen, River Recreation Research Coordinator 



Jim Traub, River Recreation Research Assistant 



COOPERATING RESOURCE EXPERTS 



Wendell Beardsley, U.S. Forest Service 



Bob Lund, Bureau of Land Management 



Dr. Stephen McCool, University of Montana 



INTRODUCTION 



The Pacific Northwest Rivers Study was initiated to assess the 

 significance of river segments and systems for a variety of fish, 

 wildlife, natural, recreational, and cultural resource values. 

 The Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks has been 

 designated to take the lead in assessing the value of rivers for 

 Recreational Resources in the state of Montana. 



This report summarizes the method which will be used to 

 complete this assessment. 



The Category Description section provides background on the 

 rationale for Montana's inventory method. 



The Value Class section describes the end product of this 

 portion of the study — the classes into which river segments 

 will be grouped. 



The Criteria section explains the nine criteria Montana will 

 use to inventory river segments. 



The Standards section explains how the criteria and 



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