Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation / Regional Supplement / Waters of the US Training

We provide training on the methodologies used in the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual (with subsequent clarification memoranda), the local Interim Regional Supplement in effect at that time and in that location, and guidance on determining what are the Waters of the United States following the 2006 Rapanos Supreme Court Decision.

This training has been based in part on the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual Technical Report Y-87-1 (1987 manual), as provided for in the training materials developed in conjunction with Section 307(e) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1990 for the Wetland Delineator Certification Program.

This 38-Hour Course

• Covers, in detail, the knowledges necessary for one to delineate wetlands per the accepted protocols of the Army Corps of Engineers and many state and local agencies,

• Covers in detail the applicable Regional Supplemental Methodology,

• Covers current events including the January 10, 2001, Supreme Court decision, SWANCC vs. US,

• Covers the protocols established by the 2006 Rapanos Supreme Court decision to determine the Waters of the United States,

• Provides training in completing the recent 7-page waters of the US questionnaire,

• Satisfies the training requirements of the state Departments of Transportation that require their contractors who perform wetland delineation services to have completed a Wetland Delinator Certification Program or Regulatory IV Interagency Wetland Delineation Training Course,

• Provides approximately 2.6 semester hours toward the specialized wetland training required to become a Professional Wetland Scientist from the Society of Wetland Scientists,

• Richard Chinn Environmental Training covers all the materials designated in the Army Corps of Engineers' Wetland Delineator Certification Program plus additional wetland management topics of interest to environmental consultants, engineers, land developers, land managers and regulatory staff,

• Satisfies the training requirement to become a Certified Wetland Delineator, upon implementation of the Wetland Delineator Certification Program,

• Satisfies the training requirements or recommendations to be listed by the Corps of Engineers districts as a competent wetland delineator and/or consultant on their mailing list and/or web page,

• Is designed for the novice, the wetland manager with limited experience and the seasoned wetland manager seeking refresher re-training,

• Is 50% (2 days) Classroom material and 50% (2 days) Field training,

• Allows you to access our alumni page.

• Click here for a

Skills & Knowledges you will gain:

Topics (in training sequence)

• Introduction to the 1987 Manual

• Recent wetland events, including SWANCC vs. US decision

• History of wetland regulations in the US

• History of the ACOE's Wetland Delineation Manuals (1987, 1989 and proposed 1991)

• Section 404 authorization

• Definitions of Waters of the US (and how it has changed over time)

• Introduction to the Cowardin System

• Introduction to wetland hydrology

• Definition of prior converted croplands

• Definition of farmed wetlands

• Growing season determination

• Primary field wetland hydrology indicators

• Secondary field wetland hydrology indicators

• Introduction to hydrophytic vegetation

• Morphological, physiological, & reproductive adaptations to hydrology

• Vegetation strata

• Measuring and comparing species within strata

• National Wetlands Inventory classifications

• The NWI's proposed, new Subregional lists

• Selection of dominant species

• Introduction to hydric soils

• NTCHS old and new criteria compared

• Hydric soil lists (national, state and local)

• Utilizing your Soil Survey

• Soil taxonomy

• Soil hydrogeochemistry processes

• Oxidation / Reduction processes

• Soil colors

• Off-site application

• Routine Small Area application

• Routine Large Area application

• Comprehensive application

• Atypical situations

• Problem areas

• Field delineation using Routine Small Area application

• Field delineation using Routine Large Area application

• Field delineation of Atypical situation (if available locally)

• Field delineation of local wetland(s) using the local Regional Supplement Manual methodology.

Logistics

• All courses are four days long, either Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday.  Courses start at 7:30 am and end at 6:00 pm daily, with an hour-long lunch and frequent short breaks.

• You will be confirmed within 2 days of registering by telephone, email, or fax.

• Your cancelled check or credit card statement is generally accepted by the IRS; however, we give you a receipt at the end of a course.   if you need a receipt from RCET before the course, please let us know and we will mail, email, or fax you a receipt before the course.

• Your comprehensive workbook will be provided on the first day of class.  You only need to bring pens, although they are often provided by the hotel.

• We generally provide coffee in the morning and soft drinks after lunch.  Occasionally a continental breakfast is included, if so, you will be notified beforehand.

• Lunch is on your own; on field trip days, we will stop at a mutually-agreeable location for a sit-down lunch.

• Transportation  is generally provided from the training center to the field.  Occasionally, we may ask for a volunteer to drive to a site.

• Dress appropriately for the weather; our classes range from cold weather (<20° F) to very hot (>90° F).  If you are not sure what the expected weather is, please see The Weather Channel. For cold climates, we recommend Sorel® or Lacrosse® (or equivalent) insulated, waterproof boots; multiple socks; multiple layered clothing; head covering and mittens (preferred) or gloves.  For hot weather, we recommend full skin covering (i.e., long sleeves and long pants), and leather Gore-Tex® or rubber mid-calf (preferably white) boots.  Snake chaps or snake boots may be appropriate. All persons should carry drinking water and a snack, and, if appropriate, sunscreen and / or insect repellant.

• The instructor will generally have a cellular telephone for emergencies.

• If you are allergic or may be allergic to bee or wasp stings or ant bites, contact your physician and the instructor before the field trip.

• Now, a note from our legal counsel:  Because of the field nature of this course, there are hazards that we cannot foresee (including, but not limited to, slips; trips; and falls, sharp objects, uneven terrain, venomous snakes, bees; wasps; and ants, cold and heat stress, lyme disease, chiggers, large mammals, alligators, & poison ivy). 

That said, the field trip portion of this course carries no more health and safety risk than what the typical wetland scientist would expect in a day's assignment!  And after 400+ field trips, we have never experienced anything more severe than athlete's feet!

Links of Interest

Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program

Advanced Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class