Action Evaluation Procedure and Decision Support Tool

The DRERIP Action Evaluation Procedure uses a standardized set of steps to document the evaluation of proposed ecosystem restoration actions by expert scientists, using the information in the DRERIP conceptual models and other relevant peer-reviewed literature. The steps include the clear description of the restoration action to be evaluated, its geographic and temporal scale, potential positive and negative outcomes (and the magnitude, certainty, and risk associated with potential outcomes), tradeoffs among multiple potential outcomes, reversibility of the action, and the overall opportunity for learning. The outputs from these components of the procedure are then used in the Decision Tree (JPG) (Decision Tree) to assign prospective restoration actions to the following adaptive management categories: 1) discard the action; 2) pursue it as targeted research; 3) initiate a pilot/demonstration project; or 4) initiate full-scale implementation.

11 Steps - DRERIP Action Evaluation Procedure

The DRERIP Action Evaluation Procedure (PDF) uses a structured series of steps to evaluate a given restoration action or suite of potential restoration actions. The process includes the use of the DRERIP conceptual models to score the certainty, magnitude, worth, and risk of potential positive and negative outcomes of the proposed action. The 11 steps are as follows.

Step 1: Is the action written in such a way that it can be evaluated?

Step 2: Assess Support for Action-Outcome Relationship Using Outcomes and Stressor Tables

Step 3: Identify Scale of Action (large, medium, small)

Step 4: Describe Relation to Existing Conditions

Step 5: Identify Positive and Negative Outcome(s) to Evaluate

Step 6: Score Magnitude, Certainty, and Worth of Potential Positive Ecological Outcome(s) based on Conceptual Models

Step 7: Score Magnitude, Certainty and Risk of Potential Negative Ecological Outcome(s) based on Conceptual Models

Step 8: Identify any Important Gaps in Information and/or Understanding

Step 9: Estimate Overall Degree of Worth and Risk

Step 10: Assess Reversibility and Opportunity for Learning

Step 11: Assign the Adaptive Management Category Using the Decision Tree

Assigning the Adaptive Management Category Using the Decision Tree

The final step in the Action Evaluation Procedure involves using a decision tree to make recommendations for the proposed action: that it is either ready for further research, implementation at a pilot scale, or implementation at a full scale, or that it should be discarded - as shown in the figure below.

DRERIP Action Evaluation Procedure and Decision Support Tool Resources

Action Evaluation Worksheet (RTF)

Action Evaluation Guidelines (PDF)

How the DRERIP Action Evaluation Procedure has been used to inform restoration planning in the Delta

The DRERIP Action Evaluation Procedure has been used to evaluate a suite of potential conservation measures for the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP).

BDCP 2009 evaluations

BDCP South Delta Corridors 2012

DRERIP Evaluation of Prospect Island Restoration Alternatives (Phase 1) (PDF)