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• Using the Washington State Wetland Rating System (2014) in Eastern Washington (virtual with field site visit on 5/29 in Spokane)

  • Start
    Tuesday, May 27, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, May 29, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual on 5/27 and 5/28 and in-person at a field site on 5/29
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  This three-day intensive workshop will provide wetland regulators and consultants with practical information and experience in using the revised rating system for wetlands in eastern 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 revised rating system.
  
  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 two required virtual sessions on Zoom on 5/27 (9:00 am - 12:30 pm) and 5/28 (9:00 am - 12:30 pm). Participants will visit sites with the instructor in Spokane on 5/29 (9 am - 4:30 pm). The field session will be conducted in local wetlands, so dress appropriately. Note: All cars driving to the field sites will need a Discover Pass.

  
  

  It is mandatory to attend the virtual sessions and in-person field session in order to obtain your certification for the rating system (13 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points).
  

  
  Link to rating system:
  https://fortress.wa.gov/ecy/publications/SummaryPages/1406030.html
  

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). Washington State Department of Ecology staff, if you need a reasonable accommodation to successfully attend this training, please contact the Core Training Team.

  Additionally, the program can offer a couple of scholarships to cover the registration fees with each training. Please reach out if you need a scholarship in order to participate in the training.
  

  
  

  Instructor: 

  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.

  
  

  
  

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• Designing and Installing Wetland Mitigation and Restoration Projects - June 10 - June 11

  • Start
    Tuesday, June 10, 2025
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, June 11, 2025
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98503
  • Spaces left
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  This two-day class is geared towards those who already have basic knowledge of plants, soils and hydrology and who design and implement compensatory mitigation and restoration projects, and/or those who  review  and  condition  mitigation  plans and want  more technical information. This class focuses on factors to consider when designing wetland projects and protocols to help ensure their success.

  
  

  
  

  Participants will learn:

  •      Factors to consider for site selection
  •      How to develop realistic site-specific goals and objectives and measurable performance standards
  •      Water (hydrology sources and potential hydroperiods - what to look for and evaluate)
  •      Soils (salvaging, amendments, compaction)
  •      Vegetation (source of plant material, salvaging, planting specifications, improving survival, establishing appropriate vegetation communities)
  •      Invasive species (techniques for control and maintenance)
  •      Habitat (design considerations)
  •      Plan specifications (mulches, irrigation, plant materials, habitat features)
  •      Construction and installation considerations
  •      Contingencies, maintenance, and monitoring
  

  
  

  Lunch will be provided both days. (12 AICP CM credits/ CEP Points)

  
  

  The registration fee is $400. 

  
  

  The two-day, in person course will be held on the following days:

  • 1.Tuesday, April 29, 2025, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • 2.Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

  
  

  Class Location: Lacey Community Center, 6729 Pacific Ave SE, Olympia, WA 98503

   

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other).  Washington State Department of Ecology staff, if you need a reasonable accommodation to successfully attend this training, please contact the Core Training Team.

  
  

  Additionally, we can offer scholarships to cover the registration fees with each training. Please reach out if you need a scholarship to participate in the training. 

  
  

  
  

  Instructors:

  Susan Buis: Susan is a restoration ecologist and native plant horticulturist currently working for the US Army Corps of Engineers and the WA State Dept of Transportation.  She is also co-founder and former co-owner of Sound Native Plants, an Olympia company that provides a full spectrum of restoration services including design, installation, native plant propagation, maintenance, and monitoring. Before founding her company in 1991, she worked for Yosemite and Olympic National Parks, where she developed and managed restoration projects and native plant propagation.  Ms. Buis has been teaching workshops in restoration design and installation to professional groups and agencies since 1996 and has published articles on creating restoration plant specifications in Hortus West and in Native Plants Journal.  She is a regular guest lecturer on native plant topics in the coastal NW.

  
  

  Lisa Palazzi: Lisa is an Certified Professional Wetland Scientist (SWS-PCP) and a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (SSSA).  She has over 32 years of professional experience evaluating wetlands, soils and hydrology in the Pacific Northwest.  Ms. Palazzi has provided expert advice and expert witness services on many hydric soils and wetlands hydrology functions in the Puget Sound region to many different municipalities and agencies.   She consistently receives high marks as a teacher from her students and from workshop participants in these subjects, and she has taught in many different settings, ranging from University-level certification courses to professional conference workshops and even as a guest speaker in elementary, middle school and high school classes.  Therefore, she is not only technically competent in her field of expertise, but capable of explaining that knowledge to a wide range of audiences.  She is familiar with the most common mistakes and misinterpretations of soils and hydrology characteristics made that can cause a restoration project to fail. 

  
  

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• Riparian and Wetland Plant Identification in Eastern WA

  • When
    Wednesday, June 25, 2025
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    Wenatchee River Institute, Leavenworth
  • Spaces left
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  This is a one day workshop aimed at teaching field identification skills for wetland and riparian plant species in Central and Eastern Washington.  Students will learn how to identify 30 trees and shrubs most common to wetlands and riparian areas.  Field study will cover terminology, field characteristics that distinguish similar species, Wetland Indicator Status, habitat preferences, and information about using these species in restoration projects. This is a beginner level course and emphasis will be placed on teaching field identification characteristics; students are NOT expected to be proficient in plant taxonomy or wetland ecology. ​Students will build a plant press and take home pressed samples of the species covered during the training.​(6.5 AICP CM credits/ CEP Points)

   

  Please bring one of the recommended texts:
  1.  A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon by Sarah Spear Cooke
  2.  Wetland Plants of Oregon and Washington by Jennifer Guard
  3.  Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast by Pojar and MacKinnon
  4.  Plants of Southern Interior BA and the Inland Northwest by Parish, Coupe, Lloyd  

  
  

  Riparian Plant List, June 2025 Training

  GYMNOSPERMS:
  Scientific Name	Common Name
  Abies grandis	Grand fir
  Larix occidentalis	Western larch
  Picea sp.	Spruce
  Pinus contorta	Lodgepole pine
  Pinus monticola	Western white pine
  Pinus ponderosa	Ponderosa pine
  Pseudotsuga menziesii	Douglas fir
  Thuja plicata	Western red cedar
  Tsuga sp.	Hemlock
  DICOTS:
  Scientific Name	Common Name
  Acer circinatum	Vine maple
  Acer glabrum	Douglas maple
  Acer macrophyllum	Big-leaf maple
  Alnus sinuata	Sitka alder
  Amelanchier alnifolia	Serviceberry
  Apocynum sp.	dogbane
  Berberis (Mahonia) aquifolium	Tall Oregongrape
  Ceanothus velutinus	Snowbrush
  Cornus stolonifera (C. sericea) (C. alba)	Red-osier dogwood
  Crataegus douglasii	Hawthorn
  Holodiscus discolor	Ocean spray
  Lonicara involucrata	twinberry
  Philadlephous lewissii	mock orange
  Populus tremuloides	Quaking aspen
  Populus trichocarpa	Black cottonwood
  Prunus emarginata	Bitter cherry
  Prunus virginiana	Chokecherry
  Rhamnus purshiana	cascara
  Ribes aureum	Golden currant
  Ribes cereum	Wax currant
  Rosa gymnocarpa	Baldhip rose
  Rosa nutkana	Nootka rose
  Rosa woodsii	Wood's rose
  Rubus parviflorus	Thimbleberry
  Rubus discolor (armenicus)	Himalayan blackberry
  Rubus ursinus	Wild blackberry
  Salix exigua	Coyote willow
  Salix lasiandra (S. lucida)	Pacific willow
  Salix scouleriana	Scouler willow
  Salix sitchensis	Sitka willow
  Sambucus cerulea (nigra)	Blue elderberry
  Sambucus racemosa	Red elderberry
  Spiraea douglasii	Hardhack
  Symphoricarpos albus	Common snowberry

   

  Lunch is provided.

   

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). Washington State Department of Ecology staff, if you need a reasonable accommodation to successfully attend this training, please contact the Core Training Team. Additionally, we can offer a couple of scholarship to cover the registration fees with each training. Please reach out if you need a scholarship in order to participate in the training.

  
  

  Instructor:

  Jennifer Hadersberger has over 20 years of experience working in Natural Resources Management. Jennifer worked as a wetland consultant for 6 years performing wetland delineations, wetland mitigation site monitoring, and preparing permit applications and mitigation plans. Jennifer also has 14 years of experience working for government agencies including City of Portland Bureau of Environmental Services, Oregon Department of State Lands, and Chelan County Natural Resources Department. In the public sector, Jennifer has specialized in project management, grant writing, permitting, and project development for stream and wetland restoration projects. Since 2000, Jennifer has also been teaching botany and biology classes part time for various Community Colleges and through the Portland State Environmental Professional Program. Jennifer is a Professional Wetland Scientist with a MS in Botany from Oregon State University. 

  
  

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