The intent of this section is to provide a description of the monitoring activities that need to be implemented in order to evaluate the degree of progress toward the desired management setting .
This section addresses:
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-Brian Cottam, GOPB
Monitoring
Steps and Considerations for Monitoring
The Existing Management Setting is the baseline. The Desired Management Setting is the target. The Goals and Objectives are the steps that need to be taken. The Monitoring section of the CRMP will help the county recognize whether progress is actually being made.
For the CRMP, monitoring is the assessment and resulting measurement of the Goals and Objectives over an extended period of time to determine the status of or trends toward the Desired Resource Management Setting. Monitoring, therefore, is purpose oriented. In general, monitoring information is intended to detect long-term change, provide insights to the consequences of these changes, and to help county officials determine if the observed changes dictate a correction to the desired management setting, associated policies, goals and objectives, and/or the accompanying management actions. This is the concept of adaptive management referred to in the previous Desired Management Setting section.
Monitoring should be conducted at regular intervals to assess the current status of the Desired Resource Management Setting and the progress and time trend(s) of the Goals and Objectives. By its very nature, monitoring is a dynamic exercise; that is, it is a continuing activity and its time span may be indefinite.
Monitoring activities can range anywhere from scientific studies to oral evaluations of progress and improvements. It is important that both the method and frequency of the monitoring activities be specified and adhered to.