Restoration Performance Standards

Performance standards are criteria used to evaluate the results of a project and assist us in ensuring that appropriate remedial measures are implemented if project goals are not met.  Performance standards can be developed for:

• Revegetation implementation
• Revegetation results
• Erosion control
• Exotics removal/treatment

Some examples of performance standards include;

• The number and size, of installed plants and/or seeding rates by specific dates
• Vegetation survival and growth
• 1. amount of total cover established at the end of 1^st year and consecutive years
  2. native plant cover vs. introduced cover
  3. number and size of plants at the end of 1^st year and consecutive years
• Weeds: cover of invasive exotics is no more than "x" amount
• Erosion Control:  Contouring requirements, topsoil salvage

Monitoring is a critical component of ensuring that performance standards are being met.  Monitoring methods must be both feasible and meaningful and be based on project-specific methods based on the performance standards.  Monitoring can be both qualitative (photo monitoring) and quantitative (plant species richness, percent cover).  Monitoring methods should be described in detail in a monitoring plan and include who is responsible for monitoring as well as how the results will be presented, e.g. monitoring report.

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