MSCP biological monitoring requirements for all MSCP participating jurisdictions, including the City of San Diego, are set forth in the Biological Monitoring Plan for the Multiple Species Conservation Program (Ogden Environmental, 1996):

• Plan - Full Version (PDF: 12.8M)
  • Table of Contents (PDF)
  • Introduction (PDF)
  • MSCP Covered Species (PDF)
  • Habitat Monitoring (PDF)
  • Corridor Monitoring (PDF)
  • Covered Species Monitoring (PDF)
  • Reporting Program (PDF)
  • Remediation and Adaptive Management (PDF)
  • Research Recommendations (PDF)
  • Cost Summary (PDF)
  • References (PDF)
  • Appendices A & B (PDF)
  • Appendix C (PDF)
  • Appendices D, E & F (PDF)

Several revisions to the original MSCP monitoring plan are currently underway or were recently completed. In 2001, a review of the plan was undertaken by the Conservation Biology Institute (CBI). Unfortunately, this report was never finalized; however, some of the recommendations were useful and have been incorporated into City monitoring when applicable and when such recommendations improve monitoring utility. More recently, San Diego State University won a grant to perform an overall analysis of the MSCP biological monitoring plan and its implementation to date. This has included a re-prioritization of species based on a defensible and reproducible schema, and SDSU will also be making specific recommendations on habitat monitoring methodologies. Information on these studies is available through the California Department of Fish and Game's NCCP publications page.

Additionally, City MSCP staff has applied for and won two monitoring grants in recent years; one for an outside review and analysis of the rare plant component of the monitoring plan (MSCP Rare Plant Monitoring Revision), and one for the animal monitoring component of the plan. The plant monitoring report is complete; recommendations from that report have been distributed to other MSCP participating jurisdictions and were implemented by City staff during 2006 rare plant monitoring efforts. The animal monitoring grant was initiated in fall of 2006 through a public workshop, and initial recommendations for revising the animal monitoring protocols will be presented at a second public workshop in late 2007 or early 2008.