Format | Time Commitment | Helpful Hints | Assistance | Additional Resources | Future Updates
The Restoration Monitoring Planner guides you through a six-step process that culminates in a complete monitoring plan for your project that can be printed out or saved to your computer as a text file. To get a sense of what your final plan will resemble, you should view a completed monitoring plan developed through the use of this tool.
At the start of each of the six steps, be sure to read the brief instructions and explore any background information provided before proceeding.
Throughout the planner, you will be required to provide information about your project by either selecting options from drop-down menus or typing in text specific to your project. In some instances, you will be provided with choices recommended by NOAA. The answers you choose will determine the available options provided to you in subsequent questions. At the end of the planner, your selections from each step will be automatically combined to construct a basic monitoring plan for your project. NOAA Restoration Center grantees can submit this document to their regional Restoration Center staff representative for review.
NOTE: Please be aware that if you choose to type in your own responses rather than utilize an option provided by the planner, you will not be provided with suggestions for subsequent questions, and you will have to originate and type in your own responses throughout the remaining steps. Continuing in this manner is encouraged, since the tool will still provide you great benefit by illustrating the format of the monitoring plan required by the NOAA Restoration Center.
With this tool, a monitoring plan can be completed quickly; however, some questions may lead you to examine aspects of your project more closely, requiring you to temporarily suspend the process while you conduct research and make adjustments to your project. If you need to suspend the process, you will not be able to save your work and will need to re-start the process from step 1. This should not be a major inconvenience, as you can quickly re-select your previous answers and get back to the step where you left off.
The planner is intended to guide you. Take time to familiarize yourself with the planner; it is very easy to add a new goal or parameter or start the process over entirely.
Familiarize yourself with the
planner. Look
for definitions at the bottom of the page, question-mark icons
providing suggestions, and icons depicting the funding, effort, and complexity of
various monitoring techniques. You can always return to this page by
clicking the 
at the bottom of the
planner.
NOAA Restoration Center staff members can assist individuals interested in developing monitoring and evaluation plans for their NOAA-funded restoration projects. If you have questions as you move through this planner, consult your regional representative. Contact information for regional staff members can be found at the Contact the Restoration Center Web page.
The following links can provide useful background information for those engaged in the development of coastal restoration monitoring plans.
NOAA Restoration Center Project Monitoring
This two-page document provides an explanation of the rationale behind the NOAA Restoration Center's project monitoring efforts. [PDF, 81KB]
Science-Based Restoration Monitoring of Coastal Habitats
This two-part guidance manual provides technical assistance and outlines necessary steps and useful tools for the development and implementation of sound scientific monitoring of coastal restoration efforts. |
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Volume One: A Framework for Monitoring Plans under the Estuaries and Clean Water Act of 2000 This volume explains in detail where monitoring fits into the restoration process, describes how to create a monitoring plan, and gives important information that should be considered when monitoring specific habitats.
Volume Two: Tools for Monitoring Coastal Habitats This volume contains detailed discussions of the habitats, including techniques, manuals, and quality control and assurance documents for monitoring in each habitat. Also included: an inventory of coastal restoration monitoring programs, federal legislation, cost analysis, socioeconomic issues, and references and contacts to pursue for further information. |
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The Restoration Monitoring Planner will be updated with suggestions for reference and target values. If you have data you would like to contribute, please contact the NOAA Restoration Center.
