Section I
Plan Performance and Monitoring
The purpose of the Plan Performance and Monitoring strategy is to document how the IRWM Plan Objectives are to be measured and determine how projects will be evaluated based on their ability to meet these objectives. Section I includes information on how the achievement of objectives will be assessed at both the planning and project levels.
Performance measures were developed to assess the IRWMP’s success in meeting it’s objectives at the regional planning level. Monitoring methods were then developed to evaluate these performance measures. The performance measures and monitoring methods for each Objective are summarized in the table below.
Table I-1. Table displaying performance measures and monitoring methods to evaluate objectives.
| Objectives | Performance Measures | Monitoring Methods |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Conserve, enhance and regenerate riparian habitats | Increasing number of acres preserved for ecosystem restoration and/or preservation.
Increasing number of acres of healthy or improved natural recharge areas associated with riparian corridors. |
Create list of new projects and opportunities and any specific species benefits. Report on status of maintenance of existing inventory of riparian habitat |
| 2. Conserve and restore native species and related habitats | Increasing number of acres preserved or restored for native species and their related habitats | Report status of current protection and restoration efforts. Report as to new facilities opportunities and development of project related benefits |
| 3. Protect Water Resources that are critical to Native American Tribal Communities | Decreasing number of comments or complaints from tribal communities regarding loss, or potential loss, of quality or quantity of their water supplies. | Report evaluation efforts and conclusions from tribal communities related to water resources.Report on actions taken in response to tribal community outreach.
Evaluate projects based on their potential benefit to critical water issues of tribal communities |
| 4. Evaluate and modify water diversion and conveyance infrastructure | Increasing improvement in existing water diversion and conveyance infrastructure
Increasing number of studies to evaluate functionality and sustainability of existing water diversion and conveyance infrastructure. Increasing number of miles of water diversion and conveyance infrastructure |
Report on project planning, design and construction activities |
| 5. Protect and improve water resources through land use practices | Increasing level of management over land use practices to prevent impacts to water resources. | Report efforts, successes and failures relative to efforts associated with land use policy development and implementation as those policies effect water resource planning and implementation |
| 6. Meet applicable Regional Water Quality Control Board Basin Plan objectives | Increase in the overall level of management and governance through adopted Basin Management Plans. | Report specific IRWM Participant successes in planning and/or implementation of water resource related projects. Report failures within the Tule Basin to meet the Basin Plan objectives and if a Participant project would have a beneficial impact on the cause of the failure |
| 7. Management of recreational activities to minimize impacts on water resources | Increasing number of programs with the intent to minimize recreation related water resource impacts | Report recent test results indicating presence/absence of impacts and educational efforts undertaken to reduce impacts |
| 8. Promote city, community and regional storm water management plans | Decrease the number of communities without a Storm Water Management Plan (Objective = 0) | Report modifications to existing plans and any new plans designed to meet the goals of this objective |
| 9. Evaluate and promote strategies to reduce arsenic, nitrate, and perchlorate contamination to levels below maximum contamination level. | Decreasing arsenic, nitrate, and perchlorate levels. | Report data collected, observed trends, recognized impacts and areas requiring additional mitigation regarding arsenic, nitrate, and perchlorate contamination. |
| 10. Increase Monitoring and Promote Research Programs to Better Understand the Effects of Climate Change on Ecosystems in the Region | Increasing number of projects/programs to study/monitor the effects of climate change on ecosystems in the region | Report data collected, observed trends, recognized impacts and areas requiring additional mitigation regarding climate change impacts on ecosystems in the region |
| 11. Plan for Potential Regional Impacts of Climate Change on Water Quantity and Quality | Increasing number of projects/programs intended to increase regional resiliency with regard to climate change impacts on water quantity and water quality | Report data collected and evaluation of changes needed to address impacts that are other than those projected to occur |
| 12. Identify and promote strategies for hydroelectric generation facilities | Increase the number of Hydroelectric generation facilities within the Region | Report on planning, design and implementation efforts related to new hydroelectric generation facilities |
| 13. Optimize efficient use, conservation and recycling of water resources | Increase number of projects/programs related to water conservation and recycling | Report data collected and evaluate changes in Tule Basin water conditions and approaches to use, conservation and recycling |
| 14. Increase knowledge regarding groundwater conditions and establish groundwater management practices | Existence of public education programs for groundwater management efforts to promote them | Report data collected, observed trends, recognized impacts and areas requiring additional policy direction and/or project development |
| 15. Reduce impacts and optimize benefits from assisting other drought related areas with Basin-to-Basin transfers of water | Existence of adequate facilities to give and accept basin-to-basin transfers of water. | Report efforts undertaken to facilitate Basin-to- Basin transfers. Report on status of return obligations related to prior assistance transfers |
