Designing monitoring programs for water quality based on experience in Canada I. Theory and framework

We have developed a systematic process, based on experience in Canada, for designing monitoring programs that provide the information needed to make informed decisions on the management of aquatic ecosystems. This process includes eight steps that, together, enable water managers to define the goals of the data-collection program, design a monitoring program that directly supports these goals, and interpret the resultant data in a manner that facilitates effective management of the human activities that affect water resources. While this process is broadly applicable to designing a monitoring program, we explicitly developed it to support assessment of the status and trends in water-quality conditions and management decisions based on such information.