Coastal Training Program upcoming events

Pilot of Climate Change in the Northwest (Thursday, May 28, 2026)

Thu, 28 May 2026 16:00:00 GMT

Description: Climate Change in the Northwest is designed for shoreline planners who need to translate climate science into their adaptation planning. You will learn about the specific climate impacts already affecting Washington and those projected for the future, such as sea level rise, extreme heat, storms, and increased flooding.

The free, two-day, virtual pilot training will connect you with state-specific and regional climate data and guidance, equipping you to make informed planning decisions. The course will also review climate adaptation concepts, including vulnerability assessment, adaptation planning, and decision-making under uncertainty.

Finally, you will engage with climate experts to review and discuss Washington-specific adaptation examples, offering practical strategies and insight into implementing adaptation work at the local level.

Objectives:

Participants will learn about the climate impacts that are affecting Washington now and how those impacts may change into the future.
Participants will learn where to access Washington specific climate information, guidance, and projections.
Participants will learn about climate adaptation concepts and approaches that can be applied in adaptation planning.
Participants will discuss Washington-specific climate adaptation examples with climate experts and learn where to find other relevant examples.

Agenda for Day 1 - May 27 (9 am - 12 pm, virtual)

Climate change in the NW 101 (including observed changes, climate drivers, projected changes)
Climate projections and models
Climate adaptation & vulnerability & risk

Agenda for Day 2 - May 28 (9 am - 12 pm, virtual)

Sea level rise
Sea level rise projections
Exposure Assessment Tools including CoSMoS
Coastal resilience

Instructors:

Rebecca Ballantyne, Graduate Student at the University of Washington
Jacob Genuise, Engagement Climatologist at the Washington State Climate Office
Grace Molino, Climate Adaptation Postdoctoral Fellow at the Northwest Climate Adaptation Science Center
Katie Boyd, Education & Evaluation Specialist at the Climate Impacts Group
Sydney Fishman, Coastal Management Specialist at Washington Sea Grant
Ian Miller, Coastal Hazard Specialist at Washington Sea Grant

Alternatives to Bulkheads: Course #4 - Demonstration of Need, Risk Assessment, and Alternatives Analysis (virtual) (Thursday, June 04, 2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

This course examines how to determine which type of erosion protection and shoreline treatment is applicable for a given site, as no one design is applicable everywhere. It will cover the preparation and review of the site-specific alternatives analysis for shoreline stabilization, including an evaluation of where alternatives to bulkheads are appropriate. The information in this course builds upon the information identified and included in the Site Assessment course #3. This course will also address the application review perspective of a local jurisdiction, including the concept of “demonstration of need,” as required in shoreline master programs, and how emergency situations are addressed. The risk assessment tool (as revised), provided in the Marine Shoreline Design Guidelines (MSDG), will be discussed as a basis for determining need (5 AICP CM Credits/CEP Points).

This course is offered as part of a series of six courses related to Alternatives to Bulkheads. Courses 1-6 will be offered throughout 2026.These courses are endorsed by the Shore Friendly program and the content is consistent with Shore Friendly recommended practices. Here is a link to more information.

Please email the Coastal Training Program (ecyrectpadmin@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other). 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.

Instructors

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.

Corey Morss is an Environmental Engineer working for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Habitat Program. He provides technical assistance to WDFW Habitat Biologists statewide, as well as designing and constructing restoration projects in marine and freshwater environments. Corey has developed and delivered trainings on water crossings, marine shoreline protection (MSDG), fluvial geomorphology, reading engineering plans, and fish friendly construction considerations.

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 17 years.

Riparian and Wetland Plant Identification in Eastern WA (Wednesday, June 24, 2026)

Wed, 24 Jun 2026 16:00:00 GMT

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.