This tool is designed to assist NOAA Restoration Center grantees in understanding and completing monitoring plans that meet monitoring requirements (see below) of their grant agreements. The tool is also available to anyone interested in developing monitoring plans for fisheries habitat restoration projects. Presently, the tool can assist those who are implementing restoration projects in a few key habitats (e.g. salt marsh, oyster/shellfish, and riverine). In the future, the tool can be used for restoration projects in other coastal habitats.
The Estuary Restoration Act (ERA) of 2000 directed NOAA to develop restoration monitoring guidance for all ERA-funded projects. The NOAA Restoration Center has embraced this mandate, and through its Restoration Research Program, has produced a fact sheet that explains the key aspects of a monitoring plan—the same aspects described in this tool.
Incorporating science-based monitoring into a restoration project from the beginning (as outlined in this tool) enables restoration practitioners to answer questions such as which restoration techniques produce the best results and why, and what time frames are appropriate for determining success. In addition, by conducting quantitative monitoring of hundreds of NOAA projects, and collectively analyzing results, the NOAA Restoration Center has the potential to improve restoration success nationwide. Without this evaluation process practitioners cannot learn from their successes or correct their failures.
If you are a first-time user, you should read through the brief orientation before proceeding – Monitoring Planner Orientation
If you are a returning user and would like to start the development of a monitoring plan, you may begin now – Proceed to Planner