Adaptive Management

Environmental monitoring Websites can provide timely feedback on important management issues like the effectiveness of salinity control programs or erosion control projects. The benefits of "adaptive management" have long been touted. But adaptive management depends upon carefully monitoring the effects of management actions on the environment, and then using that information to refine our understanding of the system and to adjust our decision-making and management plan ( Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission, 1998, pp 30-31). What better way to assess the effectiveness of management strategies than with real-time monitoring systems, coupled with comprehensive decision-support software?