Measuring Program Success

Baseline and follow-up wildlife habitat assessments will be completed using Montana's Wildlife Habitat Assessment Guides (WHAG) for the appropriate land use. For stream corridor projects, we will use the Montana NRCS Riparian Assessment Form. Habitat Evaluation Procedures (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) will be used when a particular wildlife species is the project focus (that is, sharp-tailed grouse habitat restoration). Baseline wildlife habitat assessments will be completed during the development of the Wildlife Habitat Development Plan. Follow-up assessments will be completed the year all essential practices are installed and the year of contract expiration. Monitoring will include establishment of permanent photo points. Photos will be taken of baseline conditions and during all subsequent follow-up activities. Status reviews will be conducted annually until all required practices are installed and the year of contract expiration. The following information will be collected:

1. Maintenance of previously applied practices,
2. Comparison of planned and actual conditions,
3. The improvement in wildlife habitat compared to baseline conditions.

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