NOTE: This document is a report out of discussions held by the Chehalis Basin STC with Triangle Associates and TetraTech/KCM. It is a work in progress and will be informed by input from the Chehalis Basin Partnership.

Discussion at the January meeting of the Chehalis Steering/Technical Committee on options for selecting Phase II, Level 2 projects for the Chehalis Basin Watershed Plan led to the two following possible prioritization systems:

Step 1 (completed) : Compile all of the studies/projects recommended in the Level 1 Assessment, all the issues identified so far, and then brainstorm to identify anything that may have been missed. This will supply a list of potential projects.

Step 2: Rate each project on the list on its likelihood of success and the benefits it would provide. Then place each project in one of the quadrants of this matrix:

High Success, Success: Is the project timely? Can it be completed in time? Do the resources exist to ensure its completion? Low Benefit Low to Medium Degree of Technical Assessment	High Success, High Benefit High Degree of Technical Assessment
Low Success, Low Benefit Low Degree of Technical Assessment	Low Success, High Benefit Low to Medium Degree of Technical Assessment

Benefit: What benefits will the project provide? How important are these benefits?

The projects that fit in the upper right quadrant will be the most valuable.

Step 3: Rate each project on the list on the risk associated with it and the level of existing knowledge about its substance. Then place each project in one of the quadrants of this matrix:

High Risk: high risk can be related to critical habitat areas or places facing intense growth pressure - OR it can relate to issues that, if not included, will put the Plan at risk of not being approved by local governments. Low High Risk, Lots of Knowledge Low to Medium Degree of Technical Assessment	High Risk, Little Knowledge High Degree of Technical Assessment
Low Risk, Lots of Knowledge Low to Medium Degree of Technical Assessment	Low Risk, Little Knowledge Low Degree of Technical Assessment

High Level of Knowledge Low

Once again, the projects that fit in the upper right quadrant will be the most valuable.

The second approach may be used instead of or in conjunction with the first. It involves a point system, where each project would be given points for each of the following categories, with the highest point totals corresponding to the most valuable projects.

Is the information required by law to be included in the Plan? (5 points if yes, 0 if no)

Is the information needed to develop sections of the Plan? (3 if yes, 0 if no)

What is the certainty of success of the project? (rate from 0 to 5)

What will be the benefit of the project, based on its likelihood of success? (0 to 5)

How much knowledge is there about the project's substance? (0 if plenty, 5 if none)

What is the risk associated with the project's substance? (0 if low/none, 5 if high)

How affordable is a particular project, given the limited financial resources? (0 if not affordable, 5 if very affordable)

Project	Info Required by Law? /strong> (0 or 5 pts.)	Info Needed for Plan? /strong> (0 or 3 pts)	Certainty of Success /strong> (up to 5 pts)	Certainty of Benefits /strong> (up to 5 pts)	How Much Knowledge? /strong> (0 if plenty, 5 if none)	Level of Risk? (0 if none, 5 if high)	Affor-dability (5 if very affordable, 0 if not affordable)	TOTAL POINTS /strong> (max. 25)
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