The EDT is a framework for organizing data information and knowledge about watersheds and the resources they supply and support. It consists of a system of databases and analytical tools that relate human activities and natural events to ecological outcomes. EDT is a holistic, ecosystem consistent approach that produces both quantitative and qualitative evaluations of alternative action plans. Abundance responses of salmon populations can be calculated and qualitative projections made about ecological and community responses. EDT is a tool for evaluating trade-offs among alternatives.
Alternatives are input as potential changes to the baseline conditions.
EDT translates this data and information into survival responses for fish and wildlife under different future scenarios. EDT integrates environmental and biological disciplines. The environment is described in terms that can be analyzed from both ecological and human values perspectives. It is a repository of data and information that can be used to analyze consequences of actions on a wide range of values. The EDT method has been published in the peer reviewed literature and has been applied successfully in several watersheds in the region.