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Monitoring Program: Learning From Restoration Over Time
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers’ Monitoring Program revisits past project sites to observe how restoration work evolves over time. By documenting changes through photos and field observations, WRV gains valuable insight into what restoration techniques are most effective and how landscapes respond years after volunteer work is complete.
Monitoring helps WRV strengthen restoration outcomes, adapt best practices, and share meaningful results with volunteers, partners, and the broader community.
What Is the WRV Monitoring Program?
The WRV Monitoring Program is a dedicated effort focused on returning to completed project sites to document ecological change over time. Monitoring volunteers visit select sites to take repeat photographs, make observations, and record site conditions years after initial restoration work.
This long-term perspective allows WRV to better understand the lasting impact of volunteer-driven restoration and refine approaches for future projects.
Why Monitoring Matters
Monitoring plays a critical role in improving restoration effectiveness. By comparing before-and-after conditions and tracking long-term trends, WRV can evaluate which treatments work best across different landscapes and conditions.
Monitoring also helps WRV report restoration success to land managers, funders, and the community — demonstrating the real, measurable impact of volunteer stewardship on Colorado’s natural areas.
Seeing Change Over Time: Georgia Pass
One example of monitoring success is Georgia Pass, where WRV returned to document conditions before restoration (2011) and several years after work was completed (2014). Side-by-side photos show how targeted restoration efforts helped stabilize the landscape and support recovery.
These visual comparisons help tell the story of restoration in a powerful, accessible way — connecting volunteer effort to long-term outcomes.
Monitoring Reports
WRV publishes monitoring reports to share findings, lessons learned, and project outcomes with the community. These reports highlight observed changes, restoration effectiveness, and insights gained from revisiting project sites.
Supporting Continuous Improvement
Monitoring data informs future restoration planning, supports adaptive management, and strengthens partnerships with land managers. By learning from past projects, WRV continues to improve volunteer training, project design, and long-term stewardship strategies — ensuring restoration work remains effective and sustainable.