Adaptive monitoring was suggested as a guiding principle for the Oil Sands Monitoring (OSM) Program based on its successful application in the federal Environmental Effects Monitoring programs within the Pulp and Paper Effluent Regulations and Metal and Diamond Mining Effluent Regulations. Implementation of adaptive monitoring principles leads to more efficient use of resources. That is, adaptive monitoring is intended to focus monitoring effort on areas of greatest concern, where scaled monitoring efforts can help identify the causes of unanticipated, undesirable change and propose candidate solutions, while maintaining a base level of monitoring in areas of lesser concern. Further, when fully adopted and implemented, adaptive monitoring has the potential to efficiently demonstrate to stakeholders the level to which the environmental resource has been successfully managed.
Despite the history of adaptive monitoring in aquatic environments, the approach to adaptive monitoring in OSM workplans is variable. The purpose of this report is to provide a generic framework for application of adaptive monitoring principles and to further harmonize adaptive monitoring methodologies among OSM disciplines.