Scientists from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 4, Science and Ecosystem Support Division, enlisted the assistance of the landscape ecology group of U.S. EPA, Office of Research and Development (ORD), National Exposure Research Laboratory, Environmental Sciences Division (ESD), in conducting a landscape assessment of the Savannah River Basin as part of their ongoing Regional Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (R.EMAP) demonstration project. In the Scope of Work provided by Region 4, the goal was stated as 'provide technical/scientific assistanceto EPA Region 4 in assessing current wadeable stream conditions in the Savannah River Basin with landscape factors that may be contributing to these conditions or gradients.' Three specific objectives were presented in the form of questions. These were: Are both the proportions of land uses and the spatial pattern of lands uses important for characterizing and modeling stream condition in watersheds/ecoregions of different areas; Can land uses near the streams better account for the variability in ecological condition than land use for the entire watershed/ecoregion; Does the size of the watershed/ecoregion influence statistical relationships between landscape characteristics and ecological conditions.

"September 2001." "EPA 600-R-01-069." Cover title.