Task 8: Monitoring and evaluation
Monitoring activities for the above tasks includes baseline measures and significant amounts of photo-documentation before, during, and after treatments. Meeting the requirements of the EPA's Watershed Initiative program, water quality sampling is also occurring during this grant project.
Every monitoring activity paid for by this federal grant is performed according to the requirements presented in the EPA-approved NMED Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Water Quality Management Programs (2002), including the Surface Water Quality Bureau's (SWQB) set of formal protocols. Water quality sampling, biological assessment, photo-documentation, geomorphic surveying and mapping is performed under strict QAPP methodology.
Every monitoring activity paid for by this federal grant is performed according to the requirements presented in the EPA-approved NMED Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) for Water Quality Management Programs (2002), including the Surface Water Quality Bureau's (SWQB) set of formal protocols. Water quality sampling, biological assessment, photo-documentation, geomorphic surveying and mapping is performed under strict QAPP methodology.
Elements of the monitoring plan
- Baseline data compilation: RPMC has formulated a request to NMED-SWQB to provide copies of any Rio Puerco water quality data from their files.
- Photo-Documentation: The RPMC and its cooperators build a file of repeatable photographs that effectively documents conditions, implementation activities and results.
- Stream geomorphology surveys, restoration and natural channel design: Standardized methodologies are used to describe and design river restoration tasks. Reference reach comparisons, cross-sections, and longitudinal survey profiles are standard approaches to both the induced meandering and full stream morphology methods.
- In-stream water quality monitoring: In 2006, NMED-SWQB proposed a Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) for sedimentation in a reach of the Rio Puerco through the town of Cuba. The TMDL is under review.
- Riparian and upland monitoring: Monitoring characterizes the condition of vegetation with qualitative assessments of the ecological health of the area. Indicators include the presence/absence of rills, gullies, and bare ground; compaction; litter movement; plant community composition; plant mortality; and the presence of invasive plants. Transects identify changes in vegetation density, composition and cover.
- Education: The RPMC contacts project participants and workshop attendees to evaluate the effectiveness of outreach, education and volunteer activities.