The Center's Watershed Assessment and Planning Program is engaged in ecological assessment at a variety of scales. Projects range from detailed evaluations of small, unique habitat areas to the characterization of entire watersheds. 

Assessment data become the basis for science-based planning in support of on-the-ground ecological restoration projects. The Program uses an adaptive management approach to watershed assessment and planning, continually incorporating new data into the planning framework. Additionally, the Center's Assessment and Planning Program develops new data to be compatible with accepted state and federal protocols, ensuring that resources may be effectively shared.

The Program relies upon a variety of technologies to support science-based assessment and planning. These include GIS (Geographic Information Systems), GPS (Global Positioning Systems) technology, and AutoCAD drafting.