STUDY METHODS 



The recreation study had two stages: identification of river 

 reaches having recreational value; and an inventory and 

 evaluation of those reaches. Two main groups par t ici pa ted in the 

 study: state and federal recreation managers in Montana; and 

 private and commercial river users. The process can be most 

 easily explained by reviewing each task completed. Those familiar 

 with the Assessment Guidelines published in June, 1985, will 

 recognize that the study closely followed initial plans. 



Work on the project began in December, 1984, when an independent 

 contractor was hired to inventory the availability of expertise 

 and information on river recreation in Montana. The contractor, 

 whose title was River Recreation Research Coordinator, developed 

 study methods and prepared worksheets for data collection. In 

 February, another contractor was hired as a Research Assistant to 

 implement the project. These two contractors constituted the DFWP 

 project staff. 



Staff work plans and completed work were reviewed at each step by 

 the Senior Resource Expert and the Cooperating Resource Experts 

 from the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and 

 University of Montana. 



In March, 1985, DFWP project staff wrote to recreation managers 

 employed by the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, 

 and Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks. More than 20 

 managers and staff members participated in the study (see List of 

 Participants) . 



After introducing the purpose and goals of the Rivers Study, the 

 letter asked managers to identify river reaches having 

 recreational values. A set of guidelines and sample map (see 

 Appendix A) were included to help the managers, who used 

 1:100,000 BLM maps provided to clearly identify recreational 

 river reaches in their regions. Followup telephone calls were 

 made to each manager, to make sure the study goals and methods 

 were understood. 



Once all the maps had been returned, project staff compared and 

 adjusted the designated river reaches to create a final map 

 version. Considerable overlap existed among the state and federal 

 agencies' jurisdictions, so this step was necessary to 

 standardize the maps. The resulting maps were cross-checked 

 against recreational river reaches identified in the existing 

 Montana Stream Database to assure inclusion of any additional 

 reaches. A complete set of the working maps is at the DFWP Parks 

 Division in Helena. 



In April, 1985, the adjusted working maps were returned to the 

 managers with a worksheet to complete for each river reach with 

 which they were familiar. The worksheet (Appendix B) contained 

 items on water character and boating suitability, water and land 



