Action-Oriented

Adaptive management is an action-oriented approach to resource management.

Adaptive management played a central role in the process of designing the DRERIP conceptual models and the scientific evaluation process.

Monitoring

When habitat and species are restored, scientists will monitor natural resource indicators. This monitoring data can be used to assess, evaluate and adapt.

By using data in this way, over the long-term, uncertainty will be reduced.

onitoring data helps managers understand how the system responds and how actions can be refined to improve resource management over time.

Cyclical Process

Adaptive management is an iterative (cyclical) process. As new knowledge is gained, the conceptual models will be updated. Management actions will be adjusted to reflect the new knowledge.

In this sense, the science represented by the conceptual models is never "finalized" and will be available for future updates.

This figure shows how knowledge gained from research, pilot studies and implementation can be used to revise restoration management strategies.

DRERIP has used the best available knowledge, in the form of conceptual models, to document a common understanding of the Delta ecosystem. This understanding forms the basis of the adaptive management approach.

The DRERIP Delta Planning Tools were developed by the Adaptive Management Planning Team.