Table 10. Hypothetical example of the matrix of information that could be developed for each part of a river basin. The indicators would differ from river to river, and the numbers used here are merely to illustrate possible trends in indicator status. The numbers do not constitute a scoring system; rather, the specialists’ reports should be referred to for the detail represented by each numbered cell. Decisions should be based on this underlying information. Ratings of change: 1= negligible change from present; 2 = low change; 3 = moderate change; 4 = high change; 5 = very high change. Negative values indicate either that the river ecosystem is moving away from its natural state, i.e. degrading, or a compensation/mitigation cost. Indicators Flow scenarios reflecting increasing levels of basin development Present I II III IV V VI Development benefits     HEP production      0 1 1 1 2 3 3     Crop production      0 1 1 2 4 4 4     Water security      0 1 2 3 4 5 5     National economy      0 1 1 3 4 4 5     Aquaculture      0 1 2 3 3 3 3 Development costs     Fish production      0 -1 -1 -1 -2 -4 -5     Water quality      0 -1 -3 -4 -4 -5 -5     Floodplain functions      0 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -3     Cultural and religious use of river      0 -1 -1 -3 -4 -5 -5     Compensation for lost resources      0 -1 -2 -2 -3 -3 -4