February 24, 2003

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This paper presents the Council staff recommendations on the use of analytical tools in subbasin assessment and subbasin planning.

An assessment of the status of fish and wildlife species and their habitats is the first step toward completing a subbasin plan. The assessment involves compiling existing biological data and making inferences concerning the status of species and habitats based on these data. Techniques for making inferences span the gamut from professional judgment to the use of sophisticated computer models. Collectively, these techniques are termed "analytical tools." Decisions regarding which tools to use have major implications in terms of time, cost, and quality of product and it is therefore not surprising that subbasin planners have given considerable attention to this topic. This paper seeks to provide subbasin planners with information that can help them make decisions on the use of analytical tools in preparing biological assessments.

Any discussion of analytical tools invariably expands to involve a host of related topics ? scientific standards, data, and documentation being only three examples. This paper considers analytical tools from this broader perspective and offers recommendations concerning these related topics when such recommendations are germane to the discussion.

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