Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation / Regional Supplement / Waters of the United States Training
This training covers the protocol of the Regional Supplements in concert with the mandated 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual to identify the presence and boundaries of Waters of the United States. This training incorporates the rulings of the SWANCC, Rapanos and Sackett Supreme Court decisions.
This 38-Hour Course
- Covers, in detail, the knowledges necessary for one to delineate wetlands per the accepted protocols of the Army Corps of Engineers and many state and local agencies
- Covers in detail the applicable Regional Supplemental Methodology
- Covers the current protocol for the presence and boundaries of Waters of the United States.
- Covers current events including the SWANCC, Rapanos and Sackett Supreme Court Decisions.
- Satisfies the training requirements of the state Departments of Transportation that require their contractors who perform wetland delineation services to have completed a Wetland Delinator Certification Program or Regulatory IV Interagency Wetland Delineation Training Course
- Provides approximately 2.6 semester hours toward the specialized wetland training required to become aProfessional Wetland Scientistfrom theSociety of Wetland Scientists
- Richard Chinn Environmental Training covers all the materials designated in theArmy Corps of Engineers' Wetland Delineator Certification Programplus additional wetland management topics of interest to environmental consultants, engineers, land developers, land managers and regulatory staff
- Satisfies the training requirements or recommendations to be listed by the Corps of Engineers districts as a competent wetland delineator and/or consultant on their mailing list and/or web page
- Is designed for the novice, the wetland manager with limited experience and the seasoned wetland manager seeking refresher re-training
- Is 50% (2 days) Classroom material and 50% (2 days) Field training
- Allows you to access ouralumni page.
- Click here to download a sample certificate of completion
Skills & Knowledges you will gain
Upon completion of this course, you will:
- Be able to determine if a site satisfies the hydrophytic vegetation requirements, once the dominant plants have been identified
- Be able to determine if a site satisfies the hydrology requirement based on in-situ field indicators of hydrology
- Be able to determine if a site has hydric soils, based on in-situ field indicators
- Be able to understand the biological, chemical, and physical features at work in wetlands
- Be able to apply your knowledge of wetlands to other parts of the country / world
- Be able to determine if a site is within a wetland
- Be able to determine the boundaries of a wetland
- Be able to determine if a water is a Waters of the US based on the current protocols
Topics
- Introduction to the 1987 Manual
- Wetland and Waters of the US events, including the SWANCC, Rapanos and Sackett Supreme Court decisions.
- History of wetland regulations in the US
- History of the ACOE's Wetland Delineation Manuals (1987, 1989 and proposed 1991)
- Section 404 authorization
- Definitions of Waters of the US (and how it has changed over time)
- Rapid test for vegetation
- Dominance test for vegetation
- Introduction to the Cowardin System
- Introduction to wetland hydrology
- Definition of prior converted croplands
- Definition of farmed wetlands
- Growing season determination
- Primary field wetland hydrology indicators
- Secondary field wetland hydrology indicators
- Introduction to hydrophytic vegetation
- Morphological, physiological, & reproductive adaptations to hydrology
- Vegetation strata
- Measuring and comparing species within strata
- National Wetlands Inventory classifications
- Selection of dominant species
- 50 / 20 test
- Determination of prevalent vegetation
- Prevalence index
- Rapid test for vegetation
- Introduction to hydric soils
- Development of hydric soils
- Anaerobic and aerobic microbes
- Utilizing your Soil Survey and Websoil
- Soil taxonomy
- Soil hydrogeochemistry processes
- Oxidation / Reduction processes
- Redox depletions, redox concentrations, reduced matrix, coated sand grains
- Detailed application, criteria and use of each of the A, S, and F hydric soil indicators
- Determination of faint, distinct and prominent redox concentrations
- Soil colors
- Routine determination vs Comprehensive determination
- Atypical situations
- Problem areas and Problematic areas
- Field delineation using the Regional Supplement
- Field delineation of Atypical situation (if available locally)
Now, a note from our legal counsel: Because of the field nature of this course, there are hazards that we cannot foresee, including, but not limited to, slips, trips, falls, sharp objects, uneven terrain, venomous snakes, bees, wasps, ants, cold and heat stress, lyme disease, chiggers, large mammals, alligators, & poison ivy.
That said, the field trip portion of this course carries no more health and safety risk than what the typical wetland scientist would expect in a day’s assignment. And after 700+ field trips, we have never experienced anything more severe than athlete’s feet.
Logistics
- All courses are four days long, either Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday. Courses start at 7:30 am and end at 6:00 pm daily, with an hour-long lunch and frequent short breaks.
- You will be confirmed within 2 days of registering by telephone, email, or fax.
- Your cancelled check or credit card statement is generally accepted by the IRS; however, we give you a receipt at the end of a course. if you need a receipt from RCET before the course, please let us know and we will mail, email, or fax you a receipt before the course.
- Your comprehensive workbook will be provided on the first day of class. You only need to bring pens, although they are often provided by the hotel.
- We generally provide coffee in the morning and soft drinks after lunch.
- Lunch is on your own; on field days we may bring our lunches into the field or go to a restaurant..
- Dress appropriately for the weather; our classes range from cold weather (90 F). If you are not sure what the expected weather is, please seeThe Weather Channel.For cold climates, we recommend Sorel or Lacrosse (or equivalent) insulated, waterproof boots; multiple socks; multiple layered clothing; head covering and mittens (preferred) or gloves. For hot weather, we recommend full skin covering (i.e., long sleeves and long pants), and leather Gore-Tex or rubber mid-calf (preferably white) boots. Snake chaps or snake boots may be appropriate. All persons should carry drinking water and a snack, and, if appropriate, sunscreen and / or insect repellant.
- If you are allergic or may be allergic to bee or wasp stings or ant bites, contact your physician and the instructor before the field trip.
- Covers current events including the SWANCC, Rapanos and Sackett Supreme Court Decisions.
- Covers the changes imposed by the Rapanos vs. US Supreme Court decision
- Is designed for the novice, the wetland manager with limited experience and the seasoned wetland manager seeking refresher re-training
- Is 50% (2 days) Classroom material and 50% (2 days) Field training
- Allows you to access ouralumni page.
- Click here to download a sample certificate of completion
This 38-Hour Course
- Covers, in detail, the knowledges necessary for one to delineate wetlands per the accepted protocols of the Army Corps of Engineers and many state and local agencies
- Covers, in detail, the knowledges necessary for one to delineate wetlands using the new implemented or proposed Interim Supplemental Regional Methods of the Army Corps of Engineers
- Satisfies the training requirements of the state Departments of Transportation that require their contractors who perform wetland delineation services to have completed a Wetland Delinator Certification Program or Regulatory IV Interagency Wetland Delineation Training Course
- Satisfies the training requirements or recommendations to be listed by the Corps of Engineers districts as a competent wetland delineator and/or consultant on their mailing list and/or web page
- Provides approximately 2.6 semester hours toward the specialized wetland training required to become aProfessional Wetland Scientistfrom theSociety of Wetland Scientists
- Richard Chinn Environmental Training covers all the materials designated in theArmy Corps of Engineers' Wetland Delineator Certification Programplus additional wetland management topics of interest to environmental consultants, engineers, land developers, land managers and regulatory staff
- Covers current events including the SWANCC, Rapanos and Sackett Supreme Court Decisions.
- Covers the changes imposed by the Rapanos vs. US Supreme Court decision
- Is designed for the novice, the wetland manager with limited experience and the seasoned wetland manager seeking refresher re-training
- Is 50% (2 days) Classroom material and 50% (2 days) Field training
- Allows you to access ouralumni page.
- Click here to download a sample certificate of completion
Skills & Knowledges you will gain
Upon completion of this course, you will:
- Be able to determine if a site satisfies the hydrophytic vegetation requirements, once the dominant plants have been identified
- Be able to determine if a site satisfies the hydrology requirement based on in-situ field indicators of hydrology
- Be able to determine if a site has hydric soils, based on in-situ field indicators
- Be able to understand the biological, chemical, and physical features at work in wetlands
- Be able to apply your knowledge of wetlands to other parts of the country / world
- Be able to determine if a site is within a wetland
- Be able to determine the boundaries of a wetland
- Be able to determine if a wetland or other water body generally is, generally is not, or may be a waters of the US following the Rapanos Guidance
- Be able to follow the Interim Regional Supplemental methods to determine if a site is a wetland
Topics
- Introduction to the 1987 Manual
- Major wetland events, including SWANCC vs. US decision and the Rapanos decision and guidance
- Use of the Interim Regional Supplemental methods
- History of wetland regulations in the US
- History of the ACOE's Wetland Delineation Manuals (1987, 1989 and proposed 1991)
- Section 404 authorization
- Definitions of Waters of the US (and how it has changed over time)
- Introduction to the Cowardin System
- Introduction to wetland hydrology
- Definition of prior converted croplands
- Definition of farmed wetlands
- Growing season determination
- Primary field wetland hydrology indicators
- Secondary field wetland hydrology indicators
- Introduction to hydrophytic vegetation
- Morphological, physiological, & reproductive adaptations to hydrology
- Vegetation strata
- Measuring and comparing species within strata
- National Wetlands Inventory classifications
- The NWI's proposed, new Subregional lists
- Selection of dominant species
- Introduction to hydric soils
- NTCHS old and new criteria compared
- Hydric soil lists (national, state and local)
- Utilizing your Soil Survey
- Soil taxonomy
- Soil hydrogeochemistry processes
- Oxidation / Reduction processes
- Soil colors
- Routine determination vs Comprehensive determination
- Routine Large Area application
- Atypical situations
- Problem areas
- Field delineation using Routine Small Area application
- Field delineation using Routine Large Area application
- Field delineation of Atypical situation (if available locally)
- Overview of Mitigation (i.e., Creation, Restoration, Enhancement, Preservation, Mitigation Banks): as time permits
- Overview of the Nationwide Permit system, Nationwide Permits and Regional General Permits, their conditions and their criteria: as time permits
Now, a note from our legal counsel: Because of the field nature of this course, there are hazards that we cannot foresee, including, but not limited to, slips, trips, falls, sharp objects, uneven terrain, venomous snakes, bees, wasps, ants, cold and heat stress, lyme disease, chiggers, large mammals, alligators, & poison ivy.
That said, the field trip portion of this course carries no more health and safety risk than what the typical wetland scientist would expect in a day’s assignment. And after 700+ field trips, we have never experienced anything more severe than athlete’s feet.
Logistics
- All courses are four days long, either Monday through Thursday, or Tuesday through Friday. Courses start at 7:30 am and end at 6:00 pm daily, with an hour-long lunch and frequent short breaks.
- You will be confirmed within 2 days of registering by telephone, email, or fax.
- Your cancelled check or credit card statement is generally accepted by the IRS; however, we give you a receipt at the end of a course. if you need a receipt from RCET before the course, please let us know and we will mail, email, or fax you a receipt before the course.
- Your comprehensive workbook, including Interim Regional Supplemental manual, will be provided on the first day of class. You only need to bring pens, although they are often provided by the hotel. We supply a sufficient number of augers, shovels, probes, Munsell charts, and data forms.
- We generally provide coffee in the morning and soft drinks after lunch.
- Lunch is on your own; on field days we may bring our lunches into the field or go to a restaurant.
- Dress appropriately for the weather; our classes range from cold weather (90 F). If you are not sure what the expected weather is, please seeThe Weather Channel.For cold climates, we recommend Sorel or Lacrosse (or equivalent) insulated, waterproof boots; multiple socks; multiple layered clothing; head covering and mittens (preferred) or gloves. For hot weather, we recommend full skin covering (i.e., long sleeves and long pants), and leather Gore-Tex or rubber mid-calf (preferably white) boots. Snake chaps or snake boots may be appropriate. All persons should carry drinking water and a snack, and, if appropriate, sunscreen and / or insect repellant.
- If you are allergic or may be allergic to bee or wasp stings or ant bites, contact your physician and the instructor before the field trip.