Future STPS and Photovoltaic Systems: Monitoring Programs Establishment of ecological monitoring programs for future STPS or photovoltaic systems should wait until at least a year's worth of data have been obtained from the 10 MWe STPS and data from the ecosystem parameter response studies at the solar powered irrigation sites and simulation sites have been fully analyzed. It is entirely possible that the 100 MWe STPS to be constructed within the next decade will not have to have a monitoring program but for future environmental planning the following steps at such a site would be advisable. (1) Do an ecological baseline study at the proposed 100 MWe STPS site. (2) Based on data from the baseline study and the 10 MWe STPS monitoring program and simulation site ecosystem response study predict the ecological changes that might be expected to take place. These should include biotic and abiotic changes as influenced by the proposed construction and operation methods and geographic size of the unit. (3) Develop a simple monitoring program to validate the ecosystem changes predicted. (4) Establish a post-project analysis of the accuracy of the original prediction. This should be done at least two years after beginning the monitoring program. If it can be shown that the original predictions were significantly accurate, then future ecological monitoring programs for this type of solar conversion system will probably not be necessary. If the predictions were not accurate, then additional monitoring will be necessary. It is likely, however, that solar conversion systems completely different from the 10 MWe or 100 MWe STPS proposed, such as large scale photovoltaic systems, will have to have additional monitoring programs unless the data from studies simulating photovoltaic systems proves to be generally applicable. Progress. A general monitoring program for a 100 MWe STPS is suggested in the following section. This is a limited program and should be altered based on data obtained prior to the time of establishment of the program.
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