The RPS Tool can be most valuable when users have a clear sense of their screening objective, including the purpose for comparing subwatersheds, the basis for how subwatersheds will be compared and the end-products needed from the comparison. If these elements are clearly defined in the beginning of a screening effort, the screening will be more targeted, more efficient and more informative.

On this page:

• Define the Screening Purpose
• Define the Desired End-Products

Define the Screening Purpose

Most users employ the RPS Tool to compare subwatersheds and identify differences that help inform their decisions or actions. Users can begin their screening with a non-specific 'just compare my subwatersheds' purpose, but a clear, well-stated purpose will inform subsequent steps in the process.

Example questions to ask when defining a screening purpose include:

• What decisions and actions will the screening support?
  • What statutory program(s) and requirements are associated with these decisions and actions?
  • What are the relevant performance measures or goals for these decisions and actions?
  • What are the relevant time frames for these decision and actions?
• What general subwatershed characteristics are relevant to the screening? 
  • Is the screening focused on a particular geographic area or waterbody type?
  • Is the screening focused on certain water quality conditions or ecological traits?
  • Is the screening focused on certain water quality threats or risks?

Defining a clear purpose also helps reveal who should be involved in the screening. Users that are simply gaining insights for themselves can use the RPS Tool on their own. For a larger group effort, screening participants can fill three basic roles: designers, assessors and appliers. The designers include essential participants for defining the screening objective and the screening settings. The assessors usually possess detailed knowledge of the screened subwatersheds and evaluate the quality of the screening. The appliers are the end-users of screening results. Although including many participants in a screening may seem complicated, broader involvement generally increases buy-in and relevance of the screening results.

Define the Desired End-Products

A screening objective that clearly describes the intended end-products of the screening can help inform users as they view, interpret and apply the screening results. Example end-products could include:

• A distinct proportion or number of screened subwatersheds to select for a decision or action (e.g., the top 10% of screened subwatersheds).
• A list of all screened subwatersheds ranked by one or more screening outputs to serve as a general reference for future decisions or actions.

As part of this step, users can also identify plans for how the end-products may be applied. For example, whether the screening is intended to inform a final selection of priority subwatersheds for action or to identify a group of alternative candidate subwatersheds that will be communicated to decision-makers for further discussion and comparison.