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24 potential use values (option values) were beyoud tl1e scope of tilis researcb. However, tile task force did discuss tl1ese otIier components of public benefits. The economic researcb to measure tilese values is evolving and taking on growing importance in tlIe formulation of environmental policy. (See for example, Desvousges, et al., Mitcbell and Carson, and NOAA.) The reliability and validity of these measures is sllown to be enbanced by application to a particular policy so tl1at people can respood to a survey referendum in an incentive-compatible fasllion. Because tilere was no specific policy cboice for respondents to "vote on" in Iltis case, and given tI1at Iltis was a baseline study, emphasis was placed on use value for tlIis researcb. Furthermore, as a baseline study tile metilodology employed here does not utilize some of tile more sopbisticated recreational survey fonnats, in part due to concern about demands placed on respondents and to pursue a representative profile. Due to the intensity of questionnaire formats wbich measure "experiences" and relate to "Benefits-Based Management (BBM)", tiley are typically implemented tI1roogh a screening process wbere potential respondents can self-select tlIemselves for participation. Again given tlIe emphasis on establisbing a baseline for recreation, portions of tlIe upper eud of tile informational bierarcby, such as BBM, were deemed to be beyond tile scope of tlIis study. Witilin tlIe limits of tilis study, an effort was made to collect tlIe most comprehensive information possible, including the demand for activities and settings, and user satisfaction. The resulting survey design is discussed below in section V and the questionnaire is sbown in Appendix B. Sampling Design As mentioned above, tile sample was comprised of four sub- samples. This design was deemed to be most appropriate and cost-effective for gatilering tile higbest quality data available given the constraints uf the research project. The sub-samples enabled the collection of data that woold be botll comparable and distinguisbable between locals, visitors, property owners wbo use tile river and property owners wbo do not A. Interviews Of River Users Interviews of river users enconntered on tile river were deemed essential for tile research objectives. To establish a representative baseline of river uses, tilis approacb wonld yield the most reliable and comprehensive results. In the absence of information regarding tile proportions of uses by property owners versus non-owners, uses on tile water versus uses from tile river bank, bridges, etc. and the relative importance of public accesses versus private or undeveloped accesses, on-the-water interviews served as tile fonndation of the sampling design. As mentioned above tile various segments of tile river were broken down into 15 stretches. (See Appendix A.) Tbe stretcbes were delineated based on logical terminus points, sucb as dams, lakes, public accesses, etc. to tile degnee possible, along witll considerations for tile amount of water tI1at interviewers could cover during an interviewing day. For tlIe most part, tilese stretches were from 20 to 30 miles long. Wben water conditions allowed, tile interviewers covered a stretcb by motoring slowly upstream to maximize tlIe cbance of intercepting river users wbo were stationary or travelling downstream. The sampling plan for determining whicb stretches would be covered on whicb days was based on information on patterns and timing of use provided by experts (agency staff, etc.) combined witil general infonnation on water use patterns by day of tile week, week and montil. This information was used to construct an a priori probability distribution regarding wbere and when the beaviest use would occur during tile four peak montils, June tIirougb September. Advice from experts was used exclusively to set tile sampling plan during tile sbonlder montlls of May, October and November. Wbile tilis was an imperfect metllod, random sampling from tilis a priori probability distribution enabled tile construction of a sampling plan wliicb would be rougbl y proportiunal to the patterns of use. That is to say, the likelihood of being sampled increased witil tlIe expected level of use by stretch, day of the week, week, and montll. As seen in Appendix A. the busiest stretcbes were sampled proportionally more often and weekends were sampled more tilan weekdays. Daily logs were kept by interviewers to determine if use patterns reflected the a priori expectations. Extenuating circumstances sucb as variation in the wealller, etc. were also recorded. American River Management Society