USE CONSIDERATIONS 



The potential uses of the wildlife river assessment 

 database are limited only by the wildlife biologists, 

 resource planners, and wildlife and land managers who 

 could benefit from the system. Their use of the system 

 as a planning tool and their involvement in updating 

 and expanding the database will determine its future 

 use. Although the database and the final resource 

 values can be used in the planning process, it should 

 not be considered suitable for the siting of facilities 

 or solely determine major changes in land use. It can, 

 however, serve as a valuable tool for assessing overa]! 

 quality of species diversity and densities and overall 

 habitat considerations on a relative scale. The data- 

 base could be used in providing information on wildlife 

 species use when determining timber sales and other 

 land management decisions. The planning process for 

 any project could be greatly reduced with the use of 

 the database. 



The database could also aid in determining habitat 

 protection and land acquisition. Units with habitat 

 ratings of Class I could be included in a potential 

 list of lands needing formal land protection. 



Wildlife resource values can now be compared across 

 the state. Locations of potential habitat for 

 threatened and endangered species and species of 

 special concern, relative species densities, critical 

 habitat for a particular species, or important recrea- 

 tional use areas can be accessed through the database. 

 With the wildlife database, collected data will now 

 endure personnel changes and file rearrangement. 



The use of the database will continue to expand and 

 become more reliable as more quantitative data are 

 entered, unit size between regions becomes more consis- 

 tent and habitat variability within a single unit is 

 reduced. 



PARTICIPANTS 



Two levels of participation occurred in the wild- 

 life river assessment project. The Wildlife Task Group 

 Force consisted of cooperating wildlife experts from 

 federal and state agencies to oversee assessment 

 activities and provide their input to the senior 

 resource expert and staff. Specifically, these indivi- 

 duals reviewed the Rivers Study r4anual and proposed 

 value classes, criteria, and standards; were invited to 



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