This manual includes a summary volume (Volume 1) and the following four supporting technical documents:
• Volume 2 – Theory and Background;
• Volume 3 – Site Characterization and Numerical Analyses of Cover Performance;
• Volume 4 – Field Performance Monitoring and Sustainable Performance of Cover Systems; and
• Volume 5 – Case Studies.

The information presented in Volume 1 outlined the fundamentals of field performance monitoring, construction issues, and sustainable performance of cover systems. Volume 4 presents additional detail on the topics of field performance monitoring and sustainable performance of cover systems. For clarity, some of the information from Volume 1 is restated in this volume.

This volume is divided into two sections: field performance monitoring and sustainable performance of cover systems. Section 1 includes descriptions of methods for measuring precipitation, evaporation, soil moisture content, soil suction, net percolation, runoff, and erosion. This section ends with a discussion of automated monitoring systems and data management and interpretation.

Section 2 is divided into three topics: a description of the key processes affecting long-term performance, a discussion of surface water management and landform evolution, and a brief discussion on the concept of long-term cover performance.