Monitoring and Evaluation - Project Planning and Management for Ecological Restoration - page 202

Table 13-1. Compilation of Monitoring Characteristics, Attributes, and Frequency for Restoration Sites
Characteristic

Measuring Frequency of Sampling

Hydrology

Salinity of water Monthly

Salinity of interstitial soil water Seasonally

Water levels at various tidal cycles Spring tide cycle

Tidal flow rates at distances from inlet Spring tide cycle

Tidal flushing maintained Annually

Streamflow rates Seasonally

Groundwater levels Monthly or at least seasonally

Flooding events At occurrence

Rainfall Weekly during storm season

Topography

Elevations Initially and after storm events or floods

Slope of banks Initially and after storm events or floods

Configuration of special features Initially and after storm events or floods after

vegetation starts maturing annually

Soils

Texture Initially

Organic matter Site evaluation stage

Toxic substances Site evaluation stage

REDOX potential Useful in diagnosing cause of plant mortality

Nutrient Dynamics

Inorganic N in sediments and pore water Initially to plan for amendments;

repeat if growth is poor

Litter decomposition Seasonal

Vascular Plants

Aerial photo of plant cover and habitats Annually

Heights and total stem lengths Annually at end of growing season

Vegetation growth/biomass Twice yearly

Cover of vascular plants Annually

Patch size or population of rare plants Annually

Density of annual plants Annually

Species diversity Annually at various times of year to

capture all species on-site

Consumers

Decomposers and shredders Annually

Aquatic insects Seasonally

Terrestrial insects Seasonally

Pollinators Seasonally

Predatory insects Warm season

Fishes Annually or seasonally

Birds Weekly in nonbreeding season;

correspond with migration if occurs in region

Reptiles and amphibians Weekly during breeding season

Mammals Weekly during breeding season