Advanced Wetland Delineation & Management / Waters of the US / Interim Regional Supplement Training

This course is a follow-up to our Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class and expands on the topics of interest to practicing wetland scientists, specifically:

• Thorough review of basic wetland delineation, including atypical situations and problem areas,

• What is a Waters of the US?  What water bodies are regulated and what water bodies are not?

• What is regulated after the SWANCC decision?

• What is regulated after the Rapanos decision?

• Use of the Interim Regional Supplement for that area,

• Recent changes to Soil Taxonomy and NTCHS criteria changes,

• Setting up a water table monitoring program,

• Determining true growing season,

• Comprehensive Wetland Delineation,

• Soil Survey application, information and field confirmation of a map unit,

• Recent changes to federal wetland regulations and policies -   what is the Corps no longer regulating?  What is the Corps now regulating?

• Recent state wetland regulation changes,

• Water Quality Certification,

• Nationwide Permits and Regional Conditions,

• Wetland compensation (Mitigation) options, including benefits, disadvantages and applications of each,

• Preparing Individual Permit Applications (ENG 3345 Form), Alternatives Analysis Reports, and Mitigation Monitoring Reports,

• Review and follow-up question and answer period

Completion Awards

• A Certificate of Completion,

• 3.2 Continuing Education Units,

• Approximately 2.0 semester hours (of the 12 required) toward the specialized wetland training required to become a Professional Wetland Scientist from the Society of Wetland Scientists,

Skills & Knowledges

Topics

• (¼ Day): Review of basic wetland delineation and questions and answers,

• (¼ Day): Setting up water table and growing season monitoring programs,

• (¼ Day): Recent changes to federal wetland regulations and policies, including:
  • Implications of SWANCC vs US, January 10, 2001, Supreme Court ruling,
  • Implications of the 2006 Rapanos Supreme Court ruling,
  • Current status of dredging - does it need a permit or not?
  • Definition of "adjacent" water bodies.

• (¼ Day): How to determine wetlands using the Interim Regional Supplements

• (1 Day): Detailed applications of the current (March, 2000) Nationwide Permits and Regional Conditions (participants will receive the posted Regional Conditions of all Corps Districts) including application, conditions, and notification requirements,

• (¼ Day): Case studies of five wetland compensation (Mitigation) options,

• (3/4 Day): "How to":
  • Complete a Section 404 Individual Permit Application (ENG 3345 Form),
  • Prepare a "typical" Alternatives Analysis,
  • Complete the 7 page questionnaire required for wetland delineations
  • Prepare a "typical" Mitigation Monitoring Report

• (¼ Day): Comprehensive Wetland Determination field setup and determination of one observation point,

• (¼ Day): Detailed "walkthrough" of a typical, current Soil Survey and confirmation of a map unit,

• (¼ Day: Review and follow-up question and answer period

Prerequisites

The prerequisite for this course is one of the following:

• Completion of our Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class or an equivalent, or

• Competency in the topics of our Wetland Delineation and Management Training Class

Logistics

• This course is generally four days long (some courses with state rules may be longer), either Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday.  Courses start at 8:00 am and end at 5:00 pm daily, with an hour-long lunch and (2) 15-minute breaks.  The instructor will be available after class for questions.

• 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

Links of Interest

Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineator Certification Program

Wetland Delineation and Management Training course