Effective management of aquatic environments in the National Forests is dependent on high quality information. Recurring inventories are an integral part of the fish habitat and watershed management programs for the Pacific NW Region. Inventory information is used to support a variety of activities, including watershed analysis, planning of watershed restoration, recreational facility development, timber sales and range allotment management. The inventories also serve as the basis for monitoring and evaluation programs.

The Region utilizes a hierarchical approach that recognizes the need for different types of data needs at several different spatial scales:

• Level I: Level I is a basic in-office procedure which identifies standard attributes of the watershed/stream to be analyzed. Its objective is to document and consolidate sources of general knowledge of the stream system.

• Level II: Level II is an extensive stream channel, riparian vegetation and aquatic habitat condition inventory at a watershed scale. This level is used to determine the condition of the system during low flow conditions.

• Level III: Level III is an intensive field inventory designed specifically to answer a particular question (i.e., monitoring, project level planning/design).

The Region has developed standard protocols for Levels I-III. The Level II protocol is similar to and compatible with inventories developed by other Regions (1, 4 and 5) as well as other agencies (BLM, States of Oregon and Washington). Inventory methodologies are available through the Regional Office (see Contact Us.) The Region offers training in inventory protocols (as well as other technical training sessions). Go to the Pacific Northwest Aquatic Training Program web site for more information.

Data, reports, and associated analyses from these inventories is available from the National Forest offices associated with the watershed.