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• Navigating SEPA Modules 1-4 - virtual

  • Start
    Tuesday, December 12, 2023
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, December 21, 2023
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual (via Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  
  Navigating SEPA Modules 1-4 - virtual

  
  

  The online State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) training series will be presented by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The four-session series is designed to provide participants with a general overview of the purpose of SEPA, the procedural requirements of the rules, and how SEPA can be used in decision-making. 

  
  

  Module 1: Overview and Applicability  will cover the statutory overview and purpose of the Act as well as when it is required for agency decision-making.  It will cover agency roles and responsibilities – including the designation of the SEPA lead agency.  This session also addresses SEPA exemptions and a discussion of when there are exceptions to those exemptions. Here is a recording of the training from April 13, 2021 of Module 1.

  
  

  Module 2: Conducting the Review – Checklists, Threshold Determination, Public Notice, Review and Commenting will covers the basic environmental review and analysis process with a focus on SEPA for projects such as general development proposals, industrial projects, and infrastructure construction.  We’ll discuss the Environmental Checklist, supplemental information, significant impacts, threshold determination (DNS, MDNS, or DS).  We’ll also cover inter-agency distribution, public notice and the SEPA Register as well as tips on how to review and comment on other agencies’ documents.  The general SEPA appeal options will be addressed with time for question and answer about various agency-specific options. Here is a recording of the training from April 15, 2021.  

  
  

  Module 3: Conducting an Environmental Impact Statement Processwill cover the statutory overview and purpose of the Act as well as when it is required for agency decision-making.  It will cover agency roles and responsibilities – including the designation of the SEPA lead agency.  This session also addresses SEPA exemptions and a discussion of when there are exceptions to those exemptions. Here is a recording of the training from April 20, 2021. 

  
  

  Module 4: NonProject SEPA, Phased Review, Adopting Existing Documents will provide more time for Q & A but also go into more depth on how to analyze indirect impacts for a programmatic or “nonproject” SEPA review.  This also leads into some procedural steps related to phased review and how to adopt previously prepared SEPA and NEPA documents. Here is the recording of the training from April 22nd, 2021. (10 AICP credits/CEP Points)

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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:

  Fran Sant is a senior environmental planner for the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program at the Washington State Department of Ecology. She has been providing SEPA technical assistance and working on SEPA rulemaking since joining Ecology in 2012. Prior to joining Ecology Fran was with the Governor’s Office for Regulatory Assistance and Innovation.  

  
  

  Sarah Cassal is a planner for the SEPA Unit providing technical assistance and implementing rulemaking for Ecology. She has worked at Ecology since 2006 and has a background focusing in environmental review, shoreline management and water quality issues.

  
  

  Meg Bommarito is the lead planner for Ecology’s Northwest Regional Office. She has worked at Ecology since 2006 and works to support the environmental review process.

  
  

  
  

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• ALTERNATIVES TO BULKHEADS: Course #6 -Sea Level Rise Issues (self-paced training from January 8 - February 2)

  • Start
    Monday, January 08, 2024
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • End
    Friday, February 02, 2024
  •  
    12:00 AM
  • Location
    Moodle - online
  • Spaces left
    6

  Register

  

  The Alternative to Bulkheads courses are endorsed by the Shore Friendly program and the content is consistent with Shore Friendly recommended practices. Participation in the training program does not indicate any form of endorsement of attendees by the Shore Friendly program, nor does participation assume subsequent work conducted by a participant adheres to Shore Friendly principles. Funded wholly or in part by EPA under grant #PC-01J22301 (NEP Habitat Strategic Initiative).

  
  

  This self-paced course will provide an overview of sea level rise and coastal hazards that impact location and design of alternatives to bulkheads or armor. The course will provide science and policy context; outline the key considerations for sea level rise and shoreline stabilization projects; describe siting, design, and adaptive management of alternatives to bulkheads; and offer local and regional permitting perspectives. You’ll learn why bulkheads may not provide protection against future coastal conditions and explore alternatives including soft shore design, avoidance, and managed retreat. You’ll hear perspectives from instructors representing the research, policy, engineering, and permitting sectors about the key questions, challenges, and opportunities they are identifying as we reconsider shoreline stabilization in the context of sea level rise. 

  
  

  This course will available to registrants from January 8, 2024 to February 2, 2024. The course will take about 3hours to complete. Upon completion, you will receive certificate for 3AICP CM credits. 

  
  

  (Suggested Prerequisite: Course #5- “Techniques for Erosion Control, including Construction Materials and Maintenance”)

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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.
  

  
  

  Instuctors

  Charlotte Dohrn is a climate resilience planner with the Department of Ecology’s Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program, where she works on climate change planning guidance and policy development. Her background includes climate adaptation research, restoration planning, and strategy development. Charlotte holds a Master’s degree from the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs and a certificate from the Program on Climate Change.

  
  

  Dr. Ian Miller is Washington Sea Grant’s coastal hazards specialist, working out of Peninsula College in Port Angeles. Ian works with coastal communities and public agencies on the Olympic Peninsula to strengthen their ability to plan for and manage coastal hazards, including tsunamis, chronic erosion, coastal flooding and other hazards associated with climate change. He holds a bachelor’s degree in Marine Ecology from Western Washington University’s Huxley College of Environmental Studies and a Ph.D. in Ocean Sciences from the University of California, Santa Cruz.

  
  

  Jessica Cote is a coastal engineer with Blue Coast Engineering, which she founded in 2018. Jessica is deeply committed to the health and recovery of Puget Sound. For more than two decades she has worked on complex coastal issues nationally and globally. She received her Master’s degree in Ocean Engineering from Oregon State University.

  
  

  Kathy Ketteridge, PhD, PE, is a coastal engineer with Blue Coast Engineering. Her background includes civil engineering, coastal engineering, hydrodynamic modeling, and restoration projects. She has completed many complex modeling efforts for remediation projects in the Pacific NW, British Columbia, and New York State. Kathy lives in Bellingham and has been a co-owner of Blue Coast since 2020.

  
  Railin Santiago is a Shoreline Planner in Ecology’s Northwest Regional Office. She has done environmental permitting, biology and planning for the past 14 years. She has worked in Federal, State and Local government, and was in private consulting for 8 years. At Ecology she provides technical assistance related to implementation of local Shoreline Master Programs, and Shoreline Permitting. She has a Bachelor’s in biology from the Evergreen State College and a Master’s from the University of Washington’s School of Marine and Environmental Affairs.

  
  

  Robert Perez is an associate planner with Pierce County Land Use and Environmental Review (LUER) since 2018. In this role he has met with applicants to discuss the complexities of the Pierce County Shoreline Management Program, conducted reviews for both public and private permits and represented the county in hearings when required. He received his B.A. in Urban and Regional Planning from Eastern Washington University. 

  
  

  
  

  
  

  

  These courses are endorsed by the Shore Friendly program and the content is consistent with Shore Friendly recommended practices. Participation in the training program does not indicate any form of endorsement of attendees by the Shore Friendly program, nor does participation assume subsequent work conducted by a participant adheres to Shore Friendly principles.  

   

  Funded wholly or in part by EPA under grant #PC-01J22301 (NEP Habitat Strategic Initiative).

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• Using the 2021 Interagency Wetland Mitigation Guidance - virtual

  • Start
    Tuesday, January 16, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, January 24, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    4 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual (via Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  
  

  
  

  Using the 2021 Interagency Wetland Mitigation Guidance

  
  

  
  

  This class is designed for those who develop mitigation plans and for those who review and approve such plans. The training, which is divided into four modules, is based on the 2021 interagency document, "Wetland Mitigation in Washington State," Part 1, Agency Policies and Guidance.

  
  

  This class provides an in-depth overview of the contents of Part 1. Topics include mitigation sequencing, site selection, compensation approaches and methods, determining the amount of compensation, buffers, and more. Several class exercises and poll questions allow participants to apply the concepts being taught.

  
  

  This course does NOT provide technical specifications for how to design or condition mitigation projects. Also, this training will include involve breakout rooms and groupwork. You will have about 1-3 hours of pre-work depending on your background knowledge. The pre-work will be provided to you 1 week before the training. Additionally, you will need a laptop or desktop to participate in this training.(11.0 CM Credits)

  
  

  Link to guidance: https://ecology.wa.gov/Water-Shorelines/Wetlands/Mitigation/Interagency-guidance

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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.

  
  

  
  

  Instructors

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

  
  

  Patricia Johnson is a wetland specialist with the Washington Department of Ecology. She conducted Ecology's Washington State Wetland Mitigation Evaluation Study (Phase 1 and 2) and co-authored Wetlands in Washington - Volume 1: A Synthesis of the Science, the 2006 Interagency guidance document Wetland Mitigation in Washington State, as well as the 2021 update to Part 1. Patricia follows up on wetland mitigation projects to ensure compliance. Patricia has a master’s degree in environmental studies from the Evergreen State College. 

  
  

  Dana Mock is a wetland mitigation specialist for the Shorelands and Environmental Assistance Program at the Washington State Department of Ecology. She coordinated the development of the 2006 interagency wetland mitigation guidance document "Wetland Mitigation in Washington State," as well as the 2021 update to Part 1. Dana tracks and follows up on wetland mitigation projects across Washington to ensure compliance with the conditions of Section 401 water quality certifications and Administrative Orders for non-federally regulated wetlands.

  
  

  
  

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• Winter Tree and Shrub Identification for Western WA Puget Lowland Habitats - in-person

  • When
    Thursday, January 25, 2024
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
  • Location
    Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mt Vernon
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  This one-day class will emphasize winter field character identification of the wetland species and associated upland buffer species found in the Puget lowland region of Washington (approximately 12 trees and 60 shrubs, including willows). Class instruction will be oriented towards the needs of shoreline planners, delineators, and those involved with Ordinary High Water Mark determinations, and restoration.

  
  

  The format will be a lecture/laboratory setup and taxa examined will include common lowland, freshwater (and a few estuarine) species. Fresh material will be provided if in season, and winter characteristics (buds, leaf scars, pith, and bark) will be covered in the winter season. Each class will begin with a short lecture covering the terminology and salient morphological characteristics needed for a taxonomic identification of the species of choice, field characteristics, some ecological aspects of the species’ common habitat, commonly associated species, distribution, potential use for restoration purposes, and any special ecological requirements. Lecture materials will include drawings, slides, and plant material. (6.5 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points)

  
  

  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). 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.
  

  
  

  Suggested texts: Cooke. 1997. A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon. Seattle Audubon. Available through University Books Store, Audubon Books Store and Amazon.com.

  
  

  Not required but recommended. (Dr. Cooke will supply much of the information) Gilkey, Halen. Winter Twigs. revised Edition: A Wintertime Key to Deciduous Trees and Shrubs of Northwest Oregon and Western Washington.

  
  

  COVID-19 Considerations: All participants will be expected to follow Washington Department of Ecology’s COVID-19 guidelines at the time of the training. Masks are recommended. 

  
  

  Instructor: Dr. Sarah Cooke specializes in wetland creation, restoration and enhancement projects, both in design and implementation. She excels in permitting assistance on the local, state, and national level. She has conducted scientific research on wetland ecosystems for the Puget Sound Wetland and Stormwater Management Manual. Her expertise includes restoration designs, wetland inventories, wetland delineation, OHWM studies, baseline studies, impact assessments, monitoring programs, rare plant surveys, soil surveys, vegetation mapping, and watershed analysis in the region.
  

  
  

  
  
  

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• Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP): Estuaries Explorer and Estuary Viewer Data Tools Training - virtual

  • Start
    Tuesday, February 06, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, February 07, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual - Zoom
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  Join us for a training on the use and utility of the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP) online spatial data and web-based mapping tools: the Estuaries Explorer and Estuary Viewer.

  
  

  These tools have been developed for scientists and managers to provide easy access to compiled geographic and biophysical information on estuaries and coastal fish habitats of California, Oregon, and Washington. Users can explore and filter estuary data on regional and local scales for conservation and restoration planning and management purposes. 

   

  In the training, participants will learn how to effectively use the compiled data in both tools and how to download available datasets, upload personal data sets or data from outside of PMEP, and customize their queries and data overlays.  

   

  The four-hour training is on February 6 and 7from 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM each day. The training is $25. (4 CM AICP Credits/ CEP Points)

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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.
  

  
  

  Instructors:

  Kate Sherman specializes in marine and coastal spatial data compilation, management, and analysis. Her experience includes all aspects of executing spatial analysis projects including stakeholder outreach and interviews, fieldwork, literature reviews, data compilation and standardization, data analysis, report writing, and cartography. Her ability to engage with stakeholders and partners as well as clearly communicate project results help her effectively achieve project goals. Kate is currently part of the GIS team at Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission, where she is the data steward for the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP). While at PSMFC she has created West Coast wide datasets on eelgrass distribution dataset and tidally restored areas, and is currently compiling data on nearshore habitats and barriers to tidal connectivity.

  
  

  Van Hare is the GIS Manager for the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission (PSMFC) in Portland, Oregon.  He leads a tight-knit GIS team that helps diverse partnerships use geospatial data and technologies to promote the conservation and management of Pacific Coast fishery resources.  Van represents PSMFC on a number of technical/science & data committees, including the Pacific Marine and Estuarine Fish Habitat Partnership (PMEP).  He welcomes collaborative, interdisciplinary projects that leverage GIS as a platform to improve understanding of coastal and marine environments in order to guide strategic, data-driven resource management conservation and restoration planning decisions.  
  

  
  

  Brett Holycross is a GIS Analyst/Geographer at the Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission.  He has over 20 years of experience in data management, analysis, and visualization for fisheries across the West Coast and Alaska.

  
  

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• How to Explain Science, Share Data, and Build Trust: Presentation Skills for Scientists and Public Officials - 2nd day on 3/6, virtual

  • Start
    Wednesday, February 21, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Wednesday, March 06, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual (via Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  This popular two-day class has shifted the paradigms of hundreds of people and raised the science communication bar at conferences, public meetings, and educational events. It features best practices for designing presentations and is especially geared towards scientists, educators, and professionals who work in the public and private sectors.

  
  

  On Day 1 (2/21/2024), you’ll learn about best practices in message development and slide design - with several opportunities for hands-on application. Over the following 2 weeks, you’ll design a 5-minute presentation applying what you’ve learned. When you return to class on Day 2 (March 6), you’ll give your presentation and receive valuable feedback and coaching. As you witness the other presentations, you’ll see how much more interesting and engaging it is to view slides that are designed without excessive text and bullet points. The ultimate goal of the training is to improve your science communication skills, while making your presentations more enjoyable for you and more engaging for your audience. (12 CM AICP Credits/ CEP Points)

  
  

  
  

  In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Transform the way you do PowerPoint
  • Deliver a crystal-clear message
  • Present data in a way that sticks in people’s brains
  • Keep your audience interested and engaged

  This two-day class features best practices for designing presentations and is especially geared towards scientists and professionals who work for local and state agencies.
   

  The classes will be held two weeks apart. In between, you will develop a short presentation to present to the class on Day Two. This is an opportunity for you to immediately apply what you've learned and to receive positive coaching and feedback.

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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:
  Cathy Angell is a presentation coach and trainer with Cathy Angell Communications. She recently launched her own business after coordinating the Coastal Training Program for 18 years. Cathy is nationally known for her transformative methods of presentation design and delivery. She specializes in presentation skills for educators, scientists, and public officials. In 2015, she received a communications award from NOAA named in her honor.

  
  

  Nicole Faghin is a land use and environmental planner and educator, mediator and lawyer with over 30 years of experience working with local, state and federal governments, tribes, ports, non-profits and consultants. Her work focuses on education, outreach and training on current issues related to coastal management in Washington state. She is a frequent lecturer for Ecology’s Coastal Training Program and has also taught courses at the UW Seattle Urban Planning Program, UW Tacoma Urban Studies Program, and has been a guest lecturer at the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. Nicole is a member of the University of Washington Department of Urban Design and Planning Professionals Council. She received a master’s in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Mass
  
  

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• How to Explain Science, Share Data, and Build Trust: Presentation Skills for Scientists and Public Officials - 2nd day on 3/7, virtual

  • Start
    Wednesday, February 21, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, March 07, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual (via Zoom)
  • Spaces left
    1

  Register

  

  This popular two-day class has shifted the paradigms of hundreds of people and raised the science communication bar at conferences, public meetings, and educational events. It features best practices for designing presentations and is especially geared towards scientists, educators, and professionals who work in the public and private sectors.

  
  

  On Day 1 (2/21/2024), you’ll learn about best practices in message development and slide design - with several opportunities for hands-on application. Over the following 2 weeks, you’ll design a 5-minute presentation applying what you’ve learned. When you return to class on Day 2 (March 7), you’ll give your presentation and receive valuable feedback and coaching. As you witness the other presentations, you’ll see how much more interesting and engaging it is to view slides that are designed without excessive text and bullet points. The ultimate goal of the training is to improve your science communication skills, while making your presentations more enjoyable for you and more engaging for your audience. (12 CM AICP Credits/ CEP Points)

  
  

  
  

  In this class, you will learn how to:

  • Transform the way you do PowerPoint
  • Deliver a crystal-clear message
  • Present data in a way that sticks in people’s brains
  • Keep your audience interested and engaged

  This two-day class features best practices for designing presentations and is especially geared towards scientists and professionals who work for local and state agencies.
   

  The classes will be held two weeks apart. In between, you will develop a short presentation to present to the class on Day Two. This is an opportunity for you to immediately apply what you've learned and to receive positive coaching and feedback.

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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:
  Cathy Angell is a presentation coach and trainer with Cathy Angell Communications. She recently launched her own business after coordinating the Coastal Training Program for 18 years. Cathy is nationally known for her transformative methods of presentation design and delivery. She specializes in presentation skills for educators, scientists, and public officials. In 2015, she received a communications award from NOAA named in her honor.

  
  

  Nicole Faghin is a land use and environmental planner and educator, mediator and lawyer with over 30 years of experience working with local, state and federal governments, tribes, ports, non-profits and consultants. Her work focuses on education, outreach and training on current issues related to coastal management in Washington state. She is a frequent lecturer for Ecology’s Coastal Training Program and has also taught courses at the UW Seattle Urban Planning Program, UW Tacoma Urban Studies Program, and has been a guest lecturer at the UW School of Marine and Environmental Affairs. Nicole is a member of the University of Washington Department of Urban Design and Planning Professionals Council. She received a master’s in Urban Planning from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a law degree from Northeastern University School of Law in Boston, Mass
  
  

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• Advanced Shoreline Permitting: No Net Loss and Mitigation - virtual

  • When
    Monday, March 11, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual - Zoom
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  Advanced Shoreline Permitting: No Net Loss and Mitigation

  The Shoreline Management Act and all comprehensively updated Shoreline Master Programs (SMP) require that authorized activities result in no net loss (NNL) of shoreline ecological functions. Although NNL is a fundamental regulatory concept that underpins many SMP policies and regulations, little implementation guidance exists in this area.

  
  

  In this new chapter of the Shoreline Permitting Manual, we consider how to review individual shoreline proposals for the careful and complete implementation of SMP NNL requirements. Ecology developed this guidance for local government practitioners who review shoreline proposals. Content covers:

  • Mitigation sequencing as the mechanism for achieving NNL,
  • How applicants should document mitigation sequencing,
  • The use of project scenarios to reinforce concepts and best practices,
  • Practical guidance on reviewing mitigation plans, and
  • Tools and resources for improving compliance with mitigation sequencing and NNL requirements.

  This chapter will help local practitioners to communicate requirements to applicants, identify deficiencies in site-specific documentation, and carefully and completely evaluate proposals for correct mitigation sequencing.

  
  

  The scope of this guidance is limited. This chapter does not present a standard methodology for assessing shoreline functions, and it does not present prescriptive mitigation guidance (5 AICP credits/CEP Points).

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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.

  
  Instructors:
  

  Misty Blair is the statewide Shoreline Management Policy Lead with the Washington State Department of Ecology. The Shoreline Management Policy Lead deals with complex shoreline management issues; researching, developing and implementing new shoreline planning policies, procedures and initiatives; coordinating shoreline planning and permitting activities to ensure statewide consistency; and providing technical support and guidance to SEA program planning staff statewide. Misty has been with Ecology for 9 years and previously worked in environmental planning/permitting for the City of Tacoma. She has a BS in environmental policy and land management from the University of California, Berkeley (2002).

  
  

  Carolyn Chase is the Shoreline Management Compliance Lead with the Washington State Department of Ecology. Her work focuses on developing strategies and processes for understanding how effectively Shoreline Master Programs are being implemented across the state and supporting efforts to address noncompliance. Previously, Carolyn has worked as a land use planner, environmental planner, and transit planner. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a Master of City and Regional Planning degree and holds a B.S. in Environmental Science from Western Washington University. Carolyn has been with Ecology for three years and is an AICP certified planner.

  
  

  Rebecca Rothwell is a Shoreline Planner with Ecology’s headquarters office and represents the SEA Program in the development and review of statewide guidelines, policies, and regulations related to protecting and managing the state’s shorelines. She has 11 years’ experience with reviewing shoreline permits, providing technical assistance to applicants and consultants, and coordinating with property owners to resolve SMA violations. Rebecca has a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Puget Sound and a master’s degree in environmental studies from The Evergreen State College. She has worked at Ecology for 15 years.

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• Grass, Sedge, and Rush Identification for Western WA Puget Lowland Habitats - in-person

  • Start
    Wednesday, March 13, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, March 14, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mt Vernon
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  The two-day class will emphasize field character identification of the most common freshwater, estuarine wetland, and associated upland buffer species found in the Puget lowland region of Washington State. The format will be a lecture/laboratory setup. Ample dried material will be available for everyone to practice their keying skills.

  
  

  Each class will begin with a short lecture covering the terminology and salient morphological characteristics needed for a taxonomic identification of the species of choice, field characteristics, some ecological aspects of the species’ common habitat, commonly associated species, distribution, potential use for restoration purposes, and any special ecological requirements. Lecture materials will include drawings, slides, and dried plant material. The class instruction will be oriented towards the needs of shoreline planners, delineators, OHWM determinations, and restoration ecologists.

   (14 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points)

  
  

  Lunch is provided.

  
  

  Recommended text: There is a second edition of Hitchcock and Cronquist published in 2018 and edited by David Giblin, Ben Ledger, Peter Zika and Richard Olmstead. That would be preferred if you can get it. If not bring the older version.

  
  

  Hitchcock, c. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press.

  
  

  If you have or can get a hold of a copy of A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon Sarah Cooke (Ed) 1997. It is out of print but there will be a few copies to share. Much of the material Dr. Cooke discusses is in this book.

  
  

  Please bring a plant dissecting kit (at least a pair of forceps and dissecting needle).

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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: Dr. Sarah Cooke specializes in wetland creation, restoration and enhancement projects, both in design and implementation. She excels in permitting assistance on the local, state, and national level. She has conducted scientific research on wetland ecosystems for the Puget Sound Wetland and Stormwater Management Manual. Her expertise includes restoration designs, wetland inventories, wetland delineation, OHWM studies, baseline studies, impact assessments, monitoring programs, rare plant surveys, soil surveys, vegetation mapping, and watershed analysis in the region.

  
  

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• Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program - virtual

  • Start
    Tuesday, March 19, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, March 21, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    3 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual - Zoom
  • Spaces left
    46

  Register

  Introduction to the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP 101) is a comprehensive introduction to the information needed to implement a local floodplain management program.  The primary objective of this training is to provide floodplain managers, planners, environmental scientists, and insurance professionals in Washington with an introduction to the principals of floodplain management and the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). Additionally, the course will focus on the implementation of floodplain management requirements found at 44 CFR 60.3 and RCW Chapter 86.16.

  
  

  The course will be delivered in three 3 hour virtual sessions on Zoom. The sessions will take place from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm on March 19, 20, and 21.

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 
  

  
  Instructors

  
  

  Matt Gerlach is a floodplain management planner with the Department of Ecology’s Southwest Regional office. Matt provides technical assistance to local governments implementing the National Flood Insurance Program, manages Floodplains by Design grants and assists with comprehensive flood hazard planning. Matt holds a B.S. and M.S. in Geology.

  
  

  Alex Rosen is a Floodplain Management Planner with the Department of Ecology’s Southwest Regional Office. He provides floodplain management technical assistance to communities, and manages Floodplains by Design and other ECY grants.  Alex has been with Ecology for three years.  Alex received his MS in Natural Resource Mgmt and Master of Urban Planning from the University of Michigan.
  

  
  

  Kayla Eicholtz is a floodplain management planner with the Department of Ecology’s Northwest Regional Office. She provides technical assistance to local governments implementing the NFIP and assists in local floodplain planning efforts. Prior to joining Ecology, she worked in local emergency planning for the Washington Emergency Management Division. She has her B.S. in Environmental Science, a Master of Science in Environmental Science with a focus in ecology and conservation, and a Master of Public Affairs.

  
  

  Amanda Richardson is a senior floodplain management planner at the Washington Department of Ecology and serves as the state’s National Flood Insurance Program coordinator, working closely with FEMA Region 10. Amanda has worked on watershed health and regulatory stormwater and floodplain issues for 14 years at the state and local government levels, as well as with nonprofit organizations. She is originally from southern Idaho, has lived and worked all over the western U.S., and spent time overseas as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Nepal and as an English teacher in Thailand.

  
  
  

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• Grass, Sedge, and Rush Identification for Western WA Puget Lowland Habitats - in-person

  • Start
    Wednesday, April 03, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, April 04, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Padilla Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Mt Vernon
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  

  The two-day class will emphasize field character identification of the most common freshwater, estuarine wetland, and associated upland buffer species found in the Puget lowland region of Washington State. The format will be a lecture/laboratory setup. Ample dried material will be available for everyone to practice their keying skills.

  
  

  Each class will begin with a short lecture covering the terminology and salient morphological characteristics needed for a taxonomic identification of the species of choice, field characteristics, some ecological aspects of the species’ common habitat, commonly associated species, distribution, potential use for restoration purposes, and any special ecological requirements. Lecture materials will include drawings, slides, and dried plant material. The class instruction will be oriented towards the needs of shoreline planners, delineators, OHWM determinations, and restoration ecologists.

   (14 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points)

  
  

  Lunch is provided.

  
  

  Recommended text: There is a second edition of Hitchcock and Cronquist published in 2018 and edited by David Giblin, Ben Ledger, Peter Zika and Richard Olmstead. That would be preferred if you can get it. If not bring the older version.

  
  

  Hitchcock, c. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press.

  
  

  If you have or can get a hold of a copy of A Field Guide to the Common Wetland Plants of Western Washington and Northwestern Oregon Sarah Cooke (Ed) 1997. It is out of print but there will be a few copies to share. Much of the material Dr. Cooke discusses is in this book.

  
  

  Please bring a plant dissecting kit (at least a pair of forceps and dissecting needle).

  
  

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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: Dr. Sarah Cooke specializes in wetland creation, restoration and enhancement projects, both in design and implementation. She excels in permitting assistance on the local, state, and national level. She has conducted scientific research on wetland ecosystems for the Puget Sound Wetland and Stormwater Management Manual. Her expertise includes restoration designs, wetland inventories, wetland delineation, OHWM studies, baseline studies, impact assessments, monitoring programs, rare plant surveys, soil surveys, vegetation mapping, and watershed analysis in the region.

  
  

  
  

  
  
  

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• Coastal Adaptation Planning Essentials - virtual

  • Start
    Tuesday, April 09, 2024
  •  
  • End
    Thursday, April 11, 2024
  •  
  • Schedule
    2 sessions
  • Location
    Virtual (via Adobe Connect)
  • Spaces left
    0

  Join waitlist

  This is an interactive course that introduces foundational concepts of a five-step adaptation planning process. Washington State coastal management practitioners who are just starting to plan for climate change impacts are encouraged to sign up.  

  
  

  The entire course is conducted online. It includes a combination of self-guided learning and interactive, instructor-led sessions with group activities. No adaptation experience is needed. (5 CM AICP Credits/CEP Points)

  
  

  You will learn how to:

  • Organize preliminary steps for planning  
  • Find local information sources to better understand changing conditions 
  • Describe the vulnerability assessment process as a tool for adaptation planning
  • Identify feasible adaptation options
  • Describe a pathway for taking action 

  As a participant, you will be expected to:

  • Participate in two 2.5-hour interactive sessions on two separate days (9 am - 11 am on 2/13 and 2/15)
  • Spend up to 90 minutes on your own, prior to and in between the interactive sessions, completing assignments and engaging with course participants online
  • Use the following technologies to engage with trainers and fellow participants: Headset or speakers and a microphone, Adobe Connect, and the learning management system Moodle (access provided by NOAA)

  Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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:

  NOAA's Digital Coast Academy has a wide variety of training opportunities devoted to the coastal management community. Coastal managers can access over a dozen instructor-led training courses and additional self-guided resources such as online modules, case studies, quick references, and videos to learn and build skills. These tried-and-true training programs have helped over 11,000 people in the past ten years.

  
  

  The training team for the Coastal Adaptation Planning Essentials training has over 70 years combined experience in adaptation planning, risk communication, and nature based solutions. They are ready to help you work better and smarter by integrating sound planning processes into your work.

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