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  2. Restoration and Protection Screening

RPS Methods: Screening Process to Compare and Prioritize Subwatersheds

The following pages describe the methodology for systematically comparing subwatersheds with the RPS Tool. When applying the methodology, users' own choices are required to tailor the screening for their own geographic setting and specific screening purpose. Screenings can be completed at different levels of detail. Quick, informal comparisons may be completed in minutes. However, a more robust analysis will require time to plan the screening, add any custom data and evaluate results.

The steps in the RPS methodology are listed below. Clicking on a step will open a webpage that describes concepts and considerations for completing the step so that screenings are well-planned and tailored to specific circumstances. Each webpage also lists the applicable sections of the user guides for the Web RPS Tool and Excel RPS Tool. The user guides provide detailed instructions for operating the tools (i.e., relevant menus and buttons to click) and are available on the RPS Training webpage.

  • Step 1: Define Screening Objective
  • Step 2: Decide Which Watershed Units to Screen
  • Step 3: Select Indicators
  • Step 4: Run Screening to Calculate Index Scores
  • Step 5: Compare Your Watershed Units in Multiple Ways
  • Step 6: Revise and Rerun Screening (Optional)
  • Step 7: Apply Findings

Restoration and Protection Screening

  • RPS Overview
  • RPS Goals and Benefits
  • RPS FAQs
  • RPS Methods
    • Step 1
    • Step 2
    • Step 3
    • Step 4
    • Step 5
    • Step 6
    • Step 7
  • RPS Indicators
    • Base Indicators
    • Ecological Indicators
    • Stressor Indicators
    • Social Indicators
  • RPS Tool
    • Web RPS Tool
    • Excel RPS Tool
    • WSIO Tool
  • RPS Data and Map Service
    • RPS Indicator Database
    • RPS Map Service
    • Supplemental GIS Files
  • RPS User Resources
  • RPS Publications & Citing RPS
Contact Us About Restoration and Protection Screening
Contact Us to ask a question, provide feedback, or report a problem.
Last updated on January 17, 2025
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