Monitoring and Research Plan

The Monitoring and Research Plan (MRP) was developed by the GCMRC in cooperation with the AMP Science Planning Group to specify monitoring and research programs consistent with both the management-side Final Draft AMP Strategic Plan (AMPSP) and the science-side GCMRC Strategic Science Plan (SSP). The AMPSP was drafted by the AMP and the GCMRC in August 2001 and refined in 2003. The plan identifies the AMWG’s vision and mission, principles, goals, management objectives, information needs, and management actions.

The 2004 AMP goals are used to organize the science activities articulated in this MRP. Monitoring and research activities are focused on the AMWG priority questions and Strategic Science Questions (SSQs) that grew out of the knowledge assessment workshops. Implementation of the MRP will be described in the GCMRC Triennial Work Plan (TWP), which will identify the scope, objectives, and budget for monitoring and research projects during a 3-year period.

The MRP describes the scope of a 5-year monitoring and research program to address priority goals, questions, and information needs specified by the GCDAMP.

Monitoring and research activities are generally organized into one of three categories:

Core-monitoring activities are scientifically validated protocols to assess the condition and trend of priority GCDAMP resources (e.g., HBC, sediment, the food base, etc.).
Research and development activities are projects aimed at (a) addressing hypotheses or information needs related to a priority GCDAMP resource or (b) developing/testing new technologies or monitoring procedures.
Long-term experimental activities are a suite of flow and nonflow treatments and management actions designed to improve the condition of target resources (e.g., HBC, cultural sites, sediment, etc.) and, through monitoring and research, allow for an understanding of the relationship between treatment/management actions and target resources.

GCDAMP Strategic Plan The GCDAMP Strategic Plan (AMPSP) is a long-term plan drafted in August 2001 by GCDAMP and GCMRC participants that identifies the AMWG’s vision, mission, principles, goals, management objectives, information needs, and management actions.	Strategic Science Plan The GCMRC Strategic Science Plan (SSP) identifies general strategies for the next 5 years to provide science information responsive to the goals, management objectives, and priority questions as described in the AMPSP and other planning direction approved by the AMWG.	Core Monitoring Plan The GCMRC Core Monitoring Plan (CMP) describes the consistent, long-term, repeated measurements using scientifically accepted protocols to measure status and trends of key resources to answer specific questions. Core monitoring is implemented on a fixed schedule regardless of budget or other circumstances (for example, water year, experimental flows, temperature control, stocking strategy, nonnative control, etc.) affecting target resources.	Monitoring and Research Plan The GCMRC Monitoring and Research Plan (MRP) specifies (1) core monitoring activities, (2) research and development activities, and (3) long-term experimental activities consistent with the strategies and priorities established in this SSP to be conducted over the next 5 years to address some of the strategic science questions associated with AMWG priority questions.	Budget and Workplan The GCMRC Triennial Work Plan (TWP) identifies the scope, objectives, and budget for monitoring and research activities planned for a 3-year period. When completed, the triennial work plan will be consistent with the MRP.