This is a two-part webinar series for local government planners, particularly those at small jurisdictions with no technical wetland support staff.  It is intended to give planners the basic tools they need to be able to recognize whether a wetland is present on a particular site, to question whether a wetland delineation report provides adequate and accurate information, and to feel comfortable in discussing wetlands with applicants and their consultants.  For each wetland indicator (hydrology, soils, vegetation), we will discuss how to review the corresponding portion of the delineation form.

This class focuses on western Washington wetlands.  We hope to offer this series for eastern Washington later this spring.

(4 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points)

January 13, 1:00-3:00

• Introduction to wetlands, their types and their functions.
• Hydrology

January 20, 1:00-3:00

• Soils
• Vegetation

This is not a delineation training class.  If you have had delineation training, this class will not provide you with any additional information.
 
Class size is limited to 25 local government planners. We hope to offer this webinar again in the future or provide an on-demand version on our wetland web page http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/sea/wetlands/education/webinars.html .   Watch for future announcements!

Instructors:  Paul Anderson is certified as a Professional Wetland Scientist and has been working in natural resource management since 1990. He was a wetland specialist at Ecology’s Northwest Regional Office from July 2006 to March 2014 when he became the Wetlands Unit Supervisor.  Paul has a bachelor’s and master's degree in wildlife science from the University of Washington.

Patricia Johnson has worked as a wetland specialist with the Washington State Department of Ecology since 1998. During that time she conducted Ecology's Washington State Wetland Mitigation Evaluation Study (Phase 1 and 2) and a forested wetland regeneration study, co-authored Wetlands in Washington - Volume 1: A Synthesis of the Science, and the Interagency guidance document Wetland Mitigation in Washington State. Patricia follows up on wetland mitigation projects to ensure compliance. In addition, she is working to establish In-Lieu Fee mitigation as an option for permittees to compensate for wetland impacts. Patricia has a master’s degree in environmental studies from the Evergreen State College.

Patrick McGraner is a wetlands specialist with the Department of Ecology. He has a Master of Science in Environmental Studies 1983 from the Department of Geography and Regional Planning, Western Washington University, Bellingham, WA. He worked 15 years for three different counties in Western Washington as a wetlands/critical areas regulator (Jefferson, Pierce and Snohomish Counties). During his 11 years with Snohomish County he reviewed over 1,100 complex land-use projects for compliance with county critical area codes.

Rick Mraz is a certified Professional Wetland Scientist who works as a wetlands and shoreline specialist with the Department of Ecology. He began his career in wetlands work in Lee County, Florida in 1987. He has worked as a field biologist and environmental planner with local, state and federal agencies in Washington since 2001. Rick has degrees in Geology, Field Biology and Philosophy.