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In the final study area selection process, we looked at watersheds within the general areas pointed to by our biodiversity and water quality study area selection efforts. At this scale, we examined a variety of more detailed local data sets and considered the likelihood of major landuse changes and current levels of public involvement in community planning efforts.
Previous studies (Community Planning Workshop and Institute for a Sustainable Environment. 1994.) have shown that if current trends continue, the bulk of population growth within the Willamette River Basin over the next decades will occur at the fringes of major metropolitan areas.
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We chose the Western Muddy Creek watershed in Benton County since it is near a metropolitan area (Corvallis) that is likely to experience strong development pressure within the next twenty to thirty years, has relatively high natural resource quality, and because members of the community expressed interest in participating in the project.