This three-day intensive workshop will provide wetland regulators and consultants with practical information and experience in using the 2014 update to the rating system for wetlands in western Washington. It is specifically designed for those who will be using the rating system in the field. You will gain a working knowledge of topics such as the hydrogeomorphic classification of wetlands, how to separate wetlands into units for rating, and how to answer all the questions on the field form. The purpose of the class is to provide you with knowledge so that you can fill out the rating form on your own. You will receive a copy of the rating system manual.
It is important that you already have some experience and/or education in delineating wetlands and identifying natural wetland features such as outlets, boundaries of basins, vegetation classes, and some ability to distinguish between different plant species.
This course will include three virtual sessions and one solo field visit. The virtual sessions will be hosted on Zoom on 10/7/2020 (9:00 AM – 12:00 PM) and 10/8/2020 (9:00 AM – 12:00 AM). From 10/8/2020 to 10/15/2020, participants on their own will apply the knowledge that they gained during the virtual sessions at two field sites. The sites are located at the Woodland Creek Community Park in Lacey, WA and Capitol Lake Interpretive Park in Olympia, WA. Participants should plan to spend 4.5 hours at the sites. As follow up to this, the instructor will host a virtual post-field site visit session on 10/16/2020. During this session, the instructor will answer questions and go over the expected findings from the field visits. (8 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points)
Link to rating system:
https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1406029.html
Instructors:
Dr. Amy Yahnke is the senior wetland ecologist for the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program at the Washington State Department of Ecology. She holds a Certificate in Wetland Science and Management, BS in Environmental Horticulture, MS in Forest Resources, and PhD in Aquatic and Fishery Sciences. She has studied wetland ecology within the contexts of amphibians, invasive plants, and stormwater management. Dr. Yahnke has experience teaching a wide range of environmental topics to audiences of all ages.
Rebecca Rothwell has a BS in biology from the University of Puget Sound (2002) and a master’s of environmental studies from The Evergreen State College (2010). She has worked for Ecology since 2008, doing wetland mitigation compliance, wetland and shoreland permitting, assistance with CAO and SMP updates, OHWM determinations, and technical assistance with local governments.
Doug Gresham is a wetland specialist in Ecology’s Northwest Region and he has 24 years of consulting experience in wetlands, fisheries, water quality monitoring, mitigation design and monitoring, construction inspection, and permitting. He provides technical assistance on wetland protection to government agencies and consultants within Snohomish, Skagit, and San Juan Counties. He also conducts verification of consultant’s wetland delineations and ordinary high water mark determinations, and assesses the adequacy of their mitigation site designs and monitoring programs.
