The following two forms can be copied and filled out, or used as a content guide for writing a narrative monitoring plan. They are intended to address the major decisions faced by rangeland managers as they determine what to monitor; where, when, and how; and who will take responsibility for which tasks. Form 1 focuses on one objective for the rangeland and it would be used as often as needed to address the many objectives in the management plan. Form 2 focuses on an individual study site. It too would be used as many times as needed to address all the study sites and all the short- and/or long-term (implementation and effectiveness) monitoring that will take place at each key area, critical area, photo point or designated monitoring area.

An important first step at a monitoring plot is to characterize the plot location and determine which of the possible ecological sites best represents the plot location among those that can occur in a soil map unit:

1. Describe the location of the plot.
2. Describe the topography of the plot.
3. Describe the landscape unit and position.
4. Dig a small soil pit and describe it.
5. Determine soil map unit component and ecological site (Herrick et al. 2005b).

Monitoring Area Plan Form 1

Download the Monitoring Area Plan (Form 1) (fillable PDF)

Monitoring Area Plan Form 2

Download the Monitoring Area Plan (Form 2) (fillable PDF)