As part of the implementation of the restoration
plan, the Trustees initiated a Baywide Monitoring
Program (Program) to evaluate all natural resource damage
assessment (NRDA) restoration projects in Commencement
Bay. The Program is designed to generate practical information
for evaluating the trajectory of project development,
to identify successful and unsuccessful techniques or
restoration strategies, and to implement mid-course corrections
when necessary. It is intended to fulfill several important
purposes:
To measure success. This plan describes the reference
sites and criteria against which performance and success
can be measured.
To identify adaptive management activities (contingency
planning) that will define a range of mid-course correction
actions that could be implemented if the projects fail
to perform.
To address the monitoring requirements under various
permitting authorities.
To ensure inter-project monitoring consistency within
the CB/NRDA restoration program.
To serve as an outreach tool to provide information
to interested parties regarding the progress of the
projects and the Program.
Based on the monitoring reports and visual observations
of planting performance, along with consultations with
the public, contractors, and other technical staff, the
Trustees initiated adaptive management procedures that
included removing the top two feet of sand from portions
of site and replacing it with amended soil, planting more
varieties of native vegetation, and anchoring logs at
pre-determined locations to prevent erosion and to create
a bench environment. These modifications to the project
are now being monitored for success.
