PACIFIC NORTHWEST RIVERS STUDY 



ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES 



MONTANA 



CHAPTER 1 

 INTRODUCTION 



OVERVIEW 



This document presents the process that participants followed to 

 complete the Pacific Northwest Rivers Study. It identifies 

 assessment guidelines for each river resource category and pro- 

 vides reporting formats tor data collection and presentation. 



The Rivers Study was designed to produce a consistent and ver- 

 ifiable river resource data base. While this information may 

 prove useful for a variety of applications, the specific purpose 

 of the project was to identify resource considerations which 

 might affect hydropower development. The objective is to use 

 this information to identify areas where minimal impact can be 

 anticipated and thus where development might be appropriate. 

 The study responds to the expressed need for resource infor- 

 mation for the following: 



1. Energy Supply Forecasting - Bonneville Power Adminstration 

 (BPA) and Northwest Power Planning Council (Council). 



2. Protected Areas - Council: 1984 Columbia River Basin Fish 

 and Wildlife Program §1204 (c)(1). 



3. Site Ranking - Council: Northwest Conservation and Electric 

 Power Plan §14 .2. 



In order to effectively respond to existing policies and prog- 

 rams as well as to reflect differences in river character, data 

 availability, and public concerns, the project was organized 

 into four state level studies. 



In Montana the project was coordinted by the Montana Department 

 of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks with active participation from 

 federal land management agencies, Indian tribes, and other state 

 agencies . 



It was not the intent of the study to circumvent the existing 

 management responsibilities of any participating agency. The 

 study was undertaken as a cooperative planning effort which will 

 benefit all participants. Results do not constitute official 

 policy and by themselves imply no specific action by any 

 part ic ipant . 



