Monitoring of changing ecological conditions or the benefits rivers provide to communities will enable the lead entity to assess progress toward or away from the stated planning objectives. Monitoring results should be compared against planning objectives and measurable results. Without monitoring, it may be difficult or impossible to determine whether or not implemented action(s) had their intended effect.
Thoughtfully engage stakeholders/the community with evaluation results. This can be a great way to continue relationships with stakeholders over the long term.
Additional Considerations for Monitoring:

When possible, use data assessment methods that were used for planning to ensure consistency.

The frequency of repeated monitoring assessments should be determined by practitioners and stakeholders.

Plans for ongoing monitoring and the costs associated with it must be embedded in final implementation plans for each implemented action.

Consider engaging volunteers or stakeholders in ongoing data collection efforts, where appropriate.

Ensure that there is a report-back mechanism or process established to review the monitoring results.

Consider establishing an interdisciplinary team to oversee monitoring activities.

Thoughtfully engage stakeholders/the community with evaluation results. This can be a great way to continue relationships with stakeholders over the long term.
Monitoring results may reveal changes in the ecology or services rivers provide to the community. If changes are undesirable, stakeholders may need to:

Consider new or different approaches to address priority actions

Revisit the evaluation and prioritization step while reflecting on this new information
