Overview
The CMAP inventory contains information on more than 800 monitoring and
mapping programs and assessments.
Under the Resources and Ecosystem Sustainability, Tourist Opportunities, and
Revived Economies of the Gulf Coast States Act of 2012 (RESTORE Act), the
Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Council (RESTORE Council or Council) is
required to report on the progress of funded projects and programs. Systematic
monitoring of restoration at the project–specific and programmatic–levels
(watershed and Gulf of Mexico) enables consistent reporting and gives the
public confidence that the restoration investments selected by the RESTORE
Council will be evaluated and adaptively managed accordingly. Monitoring
information that has been collected at different spatial and temporal scales
can be used as the foundation to illustrate progress toward comprehensive
ecosystem restoration goals and objectives that promote holistic Gulf of
Mexico recovery (see Appendix A for additional background on the RESTORE
Council).
The best available science is required to make informed decisions to
effectively manage ecosystem resources at multiple geographic scales across
the Gulf of Mexico. However, knowing what data are being collected where is a
daunting challenge. Thus, a spatially and temporally comprehensive
environmental monitoring network for habitat monitoring, water quality
monitoring, and habitat mapping is a foundational element that can support
making scientifically sound decisions regarding the health and viability of
the Gulf of Mexico ecosystem. In the context of Gulf protection and
restoration, a coordinated compilation of existing environmental monitoring
programs will provide essential information to support the development,
selection, and application of effective management and restoration
alternatives, and inform adaptive management decisions at the local, state,
and regional levels.
Currently, federal, state and local agencies, universities, private industry,
and non–governmental organizations (NGOs) are conducting extensive monitoring
activities around the Gulf. In addition, each RESTORE Council–funded project
will, at a minimum, perform project–specific monitoring. The Council-funded
RESTORE Council Monitoring and Assessment Program (CMAP) has inventoried
these monitoring activities to highlight opportunities for efficiencies and
collaborative cross-program review of performance with other Gulf ecosystem
recovery efforts. The CMAP inventory, available through this website, is designed
to improve discovery and accessibility of existing monitoring data and ensure
collected information supports management decision-making.
Explore the CMAP inventory
