WCB General Monitoring Efforts
Monitoring of WCB projects help determine the status and trend of the condition of protected and restored lands in which we have a proprietary interest. Information gained from this work will inform future conservation efforts. Due to the large volume of projects to monitor (1,500+, and more every year) and the geographic remoteness of many of them, it is not logistically feasible for WCB staff to visit all projects on an annual basis, therefore, WCB visits roughly 100 past projects annually which allows us to evaluate overall project compliance and determine whether individual projects continue to meet their intent and the goals of the WCB Strategic Plan, and support WCB’s Mission.
Conservation Easement Monitoring Requirements
The WCB requires annual monitoring reports on all grant funded conservation easements. These projects must be supported by a Baseline Conditions Report which represents an accurate description and representation of the protected property, its resources, and conservation values at the close of escrow. Any future changes in the condition of the property are measured against the information in this report. The annual monitoring report is provided by the easement holder and describes and assesses the condition of the Easement Area and condition of the conservation values. In addition, the WCB has the right to access the property no less than once in any period of three calendar years, to assess compliance with the terms, covenants, and conditions of the Grant Agreement between the WCB and the easement holder.
Fee Acquisition, Restoration, and Public Access Monitoring Requirements
There are normally no formal long-term annual monitoring report requirements under WCB grant funded fee acquisition, habitat restoration, and public access projects, however, within these grants, the WCB reserves the right for staff to access and monitor projects for continued compliance with the terms of the grant. For restoration and public access projects this would be through the term of the management plan provided in the grant, normally running 25 years. For fee acquisitions this right would be in perpetuity.