Wetland Science and Delineation

The Northwest Environmental Training Center presents:

Wetlands Demystified!
Navigating the Complicated World of Wetland Delineation, Regulation, and Restoration
Course ID: BIO-401 (3 days) :: July 8-10, 2008, 8:30 A.M. to 5 P.M.
McMenamins Edgefield :: The Ballroom :: 2126 S.W. Halsey St. :: Troutdale, Oregon

Lead Instructor: Ryan W. Taylor, PhD.

Esther Lev, Executive Director of The Wetlands Conservancy
and the author of "Heroic Tales of Wetland Restoration"
Will present a discussion on wetland conservation and restoration opportunities for private lands.
Kate Norman, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Will be leading a talk on hydrophytic plant ID, and will guide participants in methods for
determining wetland dominance for delineation purposes
John Marshall, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
Wetland mitigation banking specialist for Oregon will discuss mitigation criteria and unveil
their new wetland health and condition monitoring software program.
Mike Turaski, The United States Army Corps of Engineers
Jurisdictional issues specialist will discuss the Corps role in wetland regulation and recent
court cases that have affected the 404 Regulatory Program. Along with the Arid west supplement to the 1987
wetland delineation manual and unveil the NEW Western Mountain, Valley, and Coastal Supplement.
Corey Owens, The Natural Resources Conservation Service
Acting Resource Soil Scientist for NW Oregon, who will discuss county soil surveys and field indicators of hydric soil types.
As well as assist with providing help during the field trip with hydric soils identification.
Clyde Keebaugh, The City of Troutdale Parks Department
The City of Troutdale Parks Department Supervisor will share success and pitfalls they have encountered in
conducting wetland restoration at each site, along with partnering/funding techniques.

Register Online | Course Catalog | Directions | Course Brochure PDF | Accommodations

This three day course will provide participants with a solid understanding of state and federal regulatory landscape affecting wetland resources in the NW. The US Army Corps of Engineer's Section 404 Permitting Process will be described in detail with a particular focus on changes to federal jurisdiction resulting from recent federal court cases. This discussion will highlight the influence of state wetland regulations on federal wetland regulations and the 401 water quality certification process's. It will also address the influence that local political and socioeconomic factors can have on the federal wetland permitting program.

Equal attention within this course will be given to providing participants with guided, hands-on experience identifying field-indicators of different types of wetland resources. Activities will provide opportunities to identify field indicators of hydric soils, key characteristics of hydrophytic vegetation, and hydrologic characteristics for palustrine, lacustrine, and riverine wetland habitats. Wetland delineation field-trips will include visits both to natural wetlands and artificially created mitigation wetlands, where successful mitigation construction techniques will be discussed. Soil probes, spades, and munsell soil charts will be used. Waterproof boots and clothing will be required.

Each participant will receive a copy of the "Heroic Tales of Wetland Restoration" by Esther Lev, which tells of 12 rural landowners, who changed their farming practices to reclaim wetlands, streams and rivers. The first section of this book includes these tales of vision, passion, perseverance, and economic survival. The second section describes land conservation options and a range of state and federal technical assistance and funding programs. The last section includes descriptions of the restoration techniques employed by the landowners, as well as recommendations for the future. It outlines difficulties experienced by landowners working with federal and state incentive programs.

Course Topics | Excel Schedule

Wetland Definitions and Classification:
US Army Corps of Engineers
Oregon Division of State Lands
US Fish and Wildlife Service (Cowardin Classification System)

Wetland Data Sources:
National Landcover Dataset
National Wetland Inventory Maps
Local Wetland Inventory Maps
County Soil Survey Maps
USDA National Plants Database

Wetland Status and Trends:
Historic Wetland Loss in Oregon and the United States

Wetland Regulations:
US Army Corps of Engineers Section 404 Permits
Oregon Division of State Lands Removal-Fill Permits

Wetland Delineation:
Hydric Soils
Hydrophytic Plants
Hydrology

Wetland Mitigation:
Restoration Techniques
Mitigation Banks in Oregon

*This course includes one day FIELD TRIP on July 9, 2008

About the lead instructor: Dr. Ryan Taylor has twelve years of experience working with wetland resources. He began his wetlands career with the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, where he worked on a variety of wetland regulatory issues and managed a number of large-scale restoration projects, ultimately becoming the state wetland policy administrator. He then went on to participate in a number of wetland preservation planning efforts for local governmental units as a watershed coordinator on the Little Miami National Scenic River in Cincinnati, Ohio. Currently, he serves as a hydrologic technician with the Bureau of Land Management, where he annually trains and leads field crews in surveying and inventorying wetland and stream habitats on public lands.

Dr. Taylor completed his PhD in Environmental Science from Oregon State University in 2006. His dissertation focused on the effect that state and federal agency interactions have on wetland permit applications and created the first nationwide model of wetland permit activity. His Masters in Environmental Administration came from the University of Illinois where his research focused primarily on the implementation of that state's wetland regulatory program, and his BS degree in Biology comes from Mount Vernon Nazarene University.

Intended Audience: Any environmental professional wanting to learn more about wetland resources and the regulatory landscape that affects them. Specifically invited are Watershed Coordinators, Master Watershed Stewards, Natural Resource Managers, Land-Use Planners, Transportation and Consultants who may potentially become involved in projects that impact wetland resources.

Level: Introductory/refresher

Course Materials: Attendees will receive a binder containing workshop proceedings and reference material.

Continuing Education Units: 2.0 (20 hours)

What to Bring: Pen or pencil, coffee mug, and a water bottle (to reduce waste). Please wear comfortable clothes appropriate for the prevailing weather. Drinks and snacks will be provided each day. Field/rain gear.

Registration: $695 (*$595 reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes; government employees; nonprofits; students; and NAEP, NEBC, NWAEP members). You may register via the link below or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at 206-762-1976.

Cancellation Policy: Registration fees are fully refundable up to 30 days prior to the event and 50 percent refundable (or 100% credit) thereafter up to 7 days prior to the event. Registration may occur up to the day prior to the event provided that space is available.