The primary purpose of the report is to demonstrate a process for prioritizing risks of wetland loss. It is intended for use in regions where technical data are very limited, or where the time or resources for obtaining such data are very limited. Because of the unevenness of the technical understanding of wetland functions in many regions, there are often instances where required, routine decisions by agency staff must rely on 'Best Professional Judgement' (BPJ). The report illustrates one means of formalizing BPJ in the context of risk assessment, using a process that incorporates available literature and information from a panel of regional experts. The process is demonstrated through an assessment of the risks to valued functions (e.g., wildlife production) as a result of wetland loss (through both conversion and degradation) in the Prairie Pothole Region of the United States) (PPR). The process described in the report is intended to support ecological risk assessment, in the sense that it facilitates a priori determinations of probability that wetland functional losses will occur if certain actions are taken.

"December 1992" -- Title page and cover Includes bibliographical references (pages 16-17, A-25, B-106-121).

Summary Report -- Appendix A: Results of application of the risk assessment process--Appendix B: Technical documentation, Prairie Pothole Region--Appendix C: Conceptual process model for basin-type wetlands of the Prairie Pothole Region. Report summarizes literature and expert opinion on the multiple functions of wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region.