The site of the investigation is fictitious Ramford County which is home to a large old city with an industrial history, surrounded by suburban sprawl; agricultural (farm and fruit orchard) land uses; and large tracks of undeveloped state and federal forest land. Ramford, the large city, is bordered on three sides by the Ramford River which once provided the power to run all the early industry. The Ramford River watershed provides drinking water to most of the residents of the state. Upstream from Ramford its waters have been dammed into large reservoirs. As the river approaches the City input of chemicals from point and non-point sources have degraded water quality; and development has altered the natural habitat.