Monitoring ecosystem integrity

Proceedings of the 2009 Georgia Water Resources Conference, April 27, 28, and 29, 2009 Athens, Georgia.In ecosystem preservation, restoration, and management, plan development and implementation is based on both policy and scientific considerations, which are not mutually exclusive. Decision and policy makers, scientists, and practitioners must meet a consensus regard-ing what, where, and how to monitor these initiatives. The results, of which, are synthesized into an end product util-ized by managers to make a decision. We review a theo-retical approach to developing metrics for monitoring res-toration projects which is based on fundamentals of deci-sion analysis and the overarching goal of enhancing eco-system integrity. We then test the application of this framework to a stream restoration case study in Georgia. Through this example, we seek to clarify the roles of tech-nical personnel and decision makers in identification and application of metrics for monitoring ecosystem benefits, goods, and services.Sponsored by: Georgia Environmental Protection Division U.S. Geological Survey, Georgia Water Science Center U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service Georgia Institute of Technology, Georgia Water Resources Institute The University of Georgia, Water Resources FacultyThis book was published by Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, The University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602-2152. The views and statements advanced in this publication are solely those of the authors and do not represent official views or policies of The University of Georgia, the U.S. Geological Survey, the Georgia Water Research Institute as authorized by the Water Research Institutes Authorization Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-307) or the other conference sponsors