How to Demonstrate the Importance of Fishery Resources to Interdisciplinary Planning Teams

U.S. Forest Service interdisciplinary teams are currently involved in extensive land use planning that results in allocation of unroaded Federal land for specific purposes. Fishery professionals can demonstrate the importance of the aquatic resource by providing resource managers with estimates of net economic values of fishery resources. The impact that fishery evaluation can exert on allocation of land is illustrated with a specific example from Oregon. In the example, the value of fish produced by the Mt. Butler/Dry Creek Planning Unit exceeded the value of other resources. Consequently, 45 percent of the unit was allocated for production of fish and recreation.