Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP)

The Habitat Evaluation Procedures (HEP) were developed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, state fish and game agencies, and private conservation organizations to provide a uniform, nationwide method for assessing the impacts on fish and wildlife and their habitat resulting from water development projects. The system is currently being applied and refined by the Division of Ecological Services of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in evaluating federal and federally assisted water resource development projects in accordance with the Water Resources Council’s “Principles and Standards for Planning Water and Related Land Resources” (U.S. Water Resources Council, 1973). Directly related are activities currently underway by the Office of Biological Services of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for a National Wetland Inventory, ¹ and for a Habitat Classification and Analysis Project. ² Among other important uses, these projects will serve as inputs to HEP.