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Wetland Delineation

A page within Wisconsin wetland science workshops

Wetland Delineation Workshops

Two workshops are offered. Choose the option that works best for you!

Wisconsin Rapids

  • Online asynchronous learning: May 10–June 4, 2024
  • Live online lectures: June 5, 2024
  • In-person field work: June 11–13, 2024

La Crosse

  • Online asynchronous learning: June 7–30, 2024
  • Live online lectures: July 1, 2024
  • In-person field work: July 10–12, 2024 ** Sessions will meet at 8 a.m. each day at the Courtyard by Marriott  La Crosse. The front desk staff can provide you directions to the room we are using.
Wetland delineation workshop students work in the field with soil samples.

About the format:
The workshop will be offered in a hybrid format utilizing both online learning and in-person training in the field. Please review the agenda for details.

Online asynchronous learning
Recorded lectures, readings, and quizzes designed to test your understanding will be provided through Canvas, the online course platform used by the Universities of Wisconsin. Instructions for accessing the Canvas course will be sent closer to the start date.

Live online lectures
Live online lectures will be available via Zoom links in the same Canvas course in which you completed your asynchronous online sessions.

In-person field work
In-person field work will be completed in Wisconsin Rapids or La Crosse. A central meeting point, along with hotel room block details will be confirmed soon.

** The La Crosse field dates can be combined with the Basic Wetland Plant Identification workshop on July 8–9.

What you will learn

The Hybrid Wetland Delineation workshop provides participants with a background in wetland hydrology, vegetation, soils, and gives students a solid understanding of USACE wetland delineation methods and protocols. Difficult to delineate situations, current offsite review guidance and tools, report writing, and field data collection are also covered in the more than 36 hours of instruction. Instructors are multi-agency regulators and scientists from the region. Online recorded lectures, other online activities, and a live online session will prepare students for hands-on learning in the field. The hybrid format provides flexibility in gaining background knowledge and lets us focus on hands-on experience in the field during the in-person days.

Hybrid Wetland Delineation takes the place of the Basic and Advanced Wetland Delineation Training Workshops previously offered at UWL. This course will satisfy the training requirement of the WI DNR application for the Wetland Delineation Professional Assurance Initiative.

Wetland Delineation Online Technology & Access

The virtual/online portions of this event will utilize Canvas for asynchronous learning, and Zoom for the scheduled video conferencing.

Technology Requirements

Technology Requirements

To access the online portion of the Wetland Delineation workshop, you will need the following:

  • Internet connection
  • One of the following internet-connected devices: 
    • Desktop computer
    • Laptop computer
    • Tablet or mobile device 
  • Audio output (either speaker or headset) to hear the video presentations
  • Audio input (microphone) to contribute to the live Zoom sessions

Below is a list of the browsers and operating systems by device type that are compatible with the technology that is utilized to host the event:

 

Operating Systems

Browser

Desktop or Laptop Computers

Tablets and Phones

Google ChromeTM Windows 10, macOS 10.14+ Android 9+
Firefox® Windows 10, macOS 10.14+ Firefox is not supported
Safari®  macOS 10.14+ iOS® 12+, iPadOS
Microsoft Edge® (Chromium) Windows, macOS Android, iOS

 

For the best results, please ensure that your device utilizes one of the two latest releases of its operating system and browser.

Screen Reader Browser Support

For the best experience with your screen reader use ChromeTM and JAWS on a Windows® system. On a Mac® use Safari® and VoiceOver.

  • Windows 10
    • Chrome with JAWS v17: Provisional
  • Windows 7
    • Chrome with JAWS v17: Compatible
  • macOS
    • Safari with VoiceOver: Certified
    • Chrome with VoiceOver: Provisional

Accessing & navigating Canvas (the online course platform)

STEP 1: Activating your Canvas account for new users

NOTE: If you already have a UW-La Crosse Canvas account associated with the email address used to register for this program, skip to "STEP 2: Signing into your Canvas account after your account has been activated."

  1. An email will be sent to the address you used when registering
    1. The email will invite you to participate in the corresponding Canvas course 
    2. The email will have a button that says, "Get Started"
  2. Click the "Get Started" button
  3. Then, select the "Create My Account" button
    1. You will be prompted to create a password
      1. Please save this password, you will need it each time you log into Canvas
    2. You can adjust the time zone if needed
  4. Once complete, you should be able to access the online platform
Email inviting you to your Canvas course. The email will be sent from <notifications@instructure.com>. Click the "Get Started" link to activate your account.
STEP 2: Signing into your Canvas account after your account has been activated

There are two ways to access your Canvas account once you have activated your account.

Option 1

If you leave Canvas and want to return to your course, you may click the button below to access the Canvas login page.

ACCESS CANVAS LOGIN PAGE

  1. After clicking the button, you will be taken to the Canvas login page. 
  2. Select "UW Continuing Education Student" 

On the Canvas login screen, choose "UW Continuing Education Student."

Then, log into Canvas by completing the two fields

  1. Login: <type the email address you used when registering for the event>
  2. Password: <this is the password you used when you created your Canvas account>

Option 2

If you leave Canvas and want to return to your course, you may also click the "Click here to view the course page" link in your Canvas invitation.

Email with Canvas invitation

  1. After clicking the button, you will be taken to the Canvas login page. 
  2. Select "UW Continuing Education Student" 

On the Canvas login screen, choose "UW Continuing Education Student."

Then, log into Canvas by completing the two fields

  1. Login: <type the email address you used when registering for the event>
  2. Password: <this is the password you used when you created your Canvas account>
STEP 3: Setting up your Canvas profile

Set up your profile

Once you've logged into Canvas, update your name in the profile settings. By doing this, your name (rather than your email address) will be visible to other participants. 

1. In the upper left side of your screen, select "Account"

2. Then, select "Profile"

In the upper left side of your screen, click on the "Account" icon. Then, click "Profile".

3. Next, select "Edit Profile"

Select the edit profile button.

4. Then, in the "Name" field, replace your email address with your name. You can also update your pronouns in this area and add your title. 

Change the name field from your email address to your name.

5. Finally, save your changes by clicking "Save Profile" on the bottom of the page.

Click "Save Profile."

 

STEP 4: Accessing your Canvas course

Accessing your course in Canvas

Once you are in Canvas you can open your course in the upper left-hand navigation panel.

  1. Click on the "Courses" icon
  2. Then, select your course
  3. Your course will open and you can follow the instructions on the welcome page

Opening your course in Canvas

If you have questions, please contact ex@uwlax.edu for assistance.

Need help accessing Canvas?

Troubleshooting

If you're having difficulty accessing Canvas:

  1. Ensure that you have activated your account per the instructions in STEP 1
  2. If you have already activated your account and are trying to get back into the event platform, please follow the directions in STEP 2
  3. If you're still not able to access Canvas, please email ex@uwlax.edu for assistance
Zoom

Zoom access will be provided within your Canvas course. You will use Zoom to join the live (synchronous) video conferencing sessions. This video provides tips for navigating Zoom once you are in a session.

2024 Hybrid Wetland Delineation Workshop Agenda

36 Contact Hours/3.6 CEUs 

Online content

Learn at your own pace - 12 contact hours

Watch recorded lectures and complete online learning activities using  Canvas—the online course platform used by the UW System. Connect with your classmates and the course facilitator in online discussions. Complete all modules by:

  • June 4 - Wisconsin Rapids participants
  • June 30 - La Crosse participants

Wisconsin Rapids:
May 10–June 4

 

La Crosse: 
June 7–30

Hydrophytic Vegetation

  • Introduction to the 1987 Wetland Manual and the Regional Supplements
  • Definitions, vegetation strata and plan species indicator status
  • Morphological adaptations
  • Plant lists (including National Wetland Plant List), keys, and other sources of information
  • Determining dominant vegetation and the hydrophytic vegetation (50/20 rule)

Wetland Soils

  • Soil morphology
  • Hydric soils, including redoximorphic features and field indicators of hydric soils
  • Problem soils
  • Web Soil Survey

Hydrology

  • Water budgets and definitions
  • Evaluating climatic conditions before a field visit and evaluating for growing-season conditions
  • Field indicators
  • USACE Antecedent Precipitation

Additional topics

  • Procedures for delineating in problematic and disturbed situations
  • Air photo interpretation
  • Off-site and on-site methods
  • What to include in a a wetland delineation report
  • WIDNR wetland delineation confirmation
  • Online data acquisition demonstrations

Live online session

Wisconsin Rapids participants: June 5, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.
La Crosse participants: July 1,
10 a.m.–3 p.m.

Verify your understanding - 4 contact hours

Connect online via Zoom with instructors for live lectures and a chance to ask questions about online material.

10-10:15 am

Introduction, the "big picture," and field logistics

10:15–11 a.m.

Vegetation

  • Review of tests, practice example
  • FAC-Neutral test for wetland hydrology
  • Q&A
11 a.m.–Noon

Soils

  • Overview and soil texture preview
  • Review of field indicators and Canvas quiz
  • Q&A
Noon–1 p.m. Break
1–1:40 p.m.

Hydrology

  • Review
  • Q&A
1:40–2:20 p.m.

Difficult to delineate/problem situations 

  • Review
  • Q&A
2:20–3 p.m.

Off-site review

  • Review of methods
  • Preview of course field sites
  • Q&A

In person field days

Practice and apply your knowledge - 20 contact hours
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin: June 11–13, 2024
La Crosse, Wisconsin: July 10–12, 2024

Day 1
8 a.m.–5 p.m.

  • Check-in
  • Orientation
  • Instructor-led delineation
  • First student delineation

La Crosse sessions will meet at 8 a.m. each day at the Courtyard by Marriott  La Crosse. The front desk staff can provide you directions to the room we are using.

Day 2
8 a.m.–5 p.m.
Two additional delineation field sites
Day 3
8 a.m.–3 p.m.
Final on-site delineation and wrap-up

The Wetland Delineation workshops are at capacity. Please add your name to the appropriate wait list and we will contact you if space becomes available.

 

Participant Registration

Fee

State & Government agencies
Non-profit organizations
Tribal Agencies
$999
Private Employers $1,099

Registration includes access to recorded and live lectures, online learning activities. Registration also includes:

Online course Access

Wisconsin Rapids participants La Crosse participants
In-person instruction, fieldwork and lunch on the following days: June 11, 12, 13. Online course access will be provided through June 28, 2024.  In-person instruction, fieldwork and lunch on the following days: July 10, 11, 12. Online course access will be provided through July 26, 2024. 

Cancellation policy:
Substitutions welcome. Full refund less $100 processing fee two weeks prior to the start of the online portion of the workshop, no refunds thereafter. Cancellations must be submitted in writing to ex@uwlax.edu.

Privacy policy:
Registration implies permission for photos, publicity and inclusion in a participant list, unless Graduate & Extended Learning is notified in writing prior to the program: ex@uwlax.edu.

CEUs:
3.6 CEUs/36 contact hours
Continuing Education Units (CEUs) are a means of recognizing and recording satisfactory participation in non-degree programs. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (UWL) awards one CEU for each 10 contact hours in a continuing education experience. Actual contact hours are recorded. CEUs are offered at no additional charge, through UW-La Crosse. UWL CEUs fulfill continuing education requirements for many professionals, agencies and organizations. Professional associations may have specific licensing requirements. Individuals should contact their licensing association before assuming UWL CEUs will fulfill all requirements.

FAQ

Who should attend?

These workshops are intended for engineers, planners, scientists, resource managers, local and tribal officials, environmental professionals and others interested in the determination of wetland boundaries.

Last modified: 07/25/2016

Am I a certified delineator in Wisconsin after taking this wetland delineation workshop?

No, there is no wetland delineation certification for Wisconsin. However, the course will satisfy the training requirement to apply as an assured delineator with the WI Department of Natural Resources. 

Last modified: 12/29/2022

Are there any requirements that need to be completed prior to the training classes?

There are no pre-requirements for the Wetland Delineation workshop. 

Last modified: 12/14/2022

Are the Regional Supplements covered in the Wetland Delineation Workshop?

Both the Midwest and Northcentral Regional Supplements are covered in the course.

Last modified: 12/14/2022

In preparation for the Wetland Delineation Workshop, are there any good materials to read prior to the workshop?

The materials to read or brush up on for a basic understanding of what we cover in the workshop revolves around information from the Army Corps of Engineers.

See: Supplements to the 1987 Corps manual for the region you work in at http://www.usace.army.mil/missions/civilworks/regulatoryprogramandpermits/reg_supp.aspx

1987 Corps of Engineers Wetlands Delineation Manual www.cpe.rutgers.edu/Wetlands/1987-Army-Corps-Wetlands-Delineation-Manual.pdf

Last modified: 12/14/2022

If my wetland delineation work is currently considered assured through the State of Wisconsin, will these wetland workshop count towards my continuing education requirements?

Yes, all of the wetland-related workshops provided by UW-La Crosse, including Wetland Delineation, count towards the State of Wisconsin’s assured delineator program’s CEU requirements.

Last modified: 12/14/2022

What has become of the Basic vs. Advanced Workshops?

We have combined the two, in-person workshops we used to offer into a single, hybrid workshop. 

Last modified: 12/16/2022

Do you offer any other wetland-focused workshops?

Yes! We will be offering a workshop in La Crosse focused on Basic Wetland Plant Identification on July 8-9, 2024. This can be combined with the La Crosse Wetland Delineation course.

We expect to offer Grasses, Sedges, and Rushes in La Crosse in summer 2025. We have also offered Hydric Soils workshops in the past and hope to do so again in the future. 

Last modified: 11/29/2023

Wisconsin Rapids lodging:

A limited block of rooms is available at: 

Hotel Mead Resorts & Convention Center
451 East Grand Ave.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI 54494

800.843.6323

You must call the hotel directly to make reservations.

  • Last Day to Book: Friday, May 17, 2024
    Please reserve your overnight accommodations early as there are a limited number of special rates available. Once a room block has filled and/or after room block expiration date, reservations received are subject to space availability and at prevailing room rates.
  • Room block dates: June 10–13, 2024
  • Refer to: Wetland Delineation Workshop when making reservations and provide the group number: 318275.

Room rates, per night: 

  • $150/night plus taxes & fees - includes complementary parking

Please refer to the hotel's website or contact them directly for check-in and check-out times, services and amenities, directions, shuttle service and other hotel information. 

 

La Crosse lodging:

A limited block of rooms is available at:

Courtyard La Crosse Downtown/Mississippi Riverfront
500 Front St.
La Crosse, WI

608.782.1000

Reserve your room

  • Last Day to Book: Thursday, June 6, 2024
    Please reserve your overnight accommodations early as there are a limited number of special rates available. Once a room block has filled and/or after room block expiration date, reservations received are subject to space availability and at prevailing room rates.
  • Refer to: UWL Wetlands Workshop when making reservations.

Room rates, per night: (government per diem rate, may be subject to change)

  • $107/night (plus sales and room tax)

Please refer to the hotel's website or contact them directly for check-in and check-out times, services and amenities, directions, parking/shuttle service and other hotel information. 

Kara Brooks

Kara Brooks is the Wetland Delineation Coordinator – Bureau of Watershed Management at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). She has 10 years of experience in documenting wetlands including delineating tens of thousands of wetlands across the Midwest. She has experience reviewing wetland delineations for controversial and complex wetland sites as a state regulator in Wisconsin and has administered the WDNR Assured Delineator Pilot Program since 2019.

Jeff Deniger

Jeff Deniger is an Area Resource Soil Scientist with USDA-NRCS, Richland Center, WI. He has worked as a Soil Scientist with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) for 36 years. His job duties have changed through the years, he was a soil mapper on county soil surveys for 8 years, worked in MLRA (Major Land Resource Area) offices for 20 years updating older soil surveys, supervised a MLRA office for a few years, and the rest as an Area Resource Soil Scientist. Working as an Area Resource Soil Scientist has been the most diverse where he deals with soils related questions/ investigations/ training for 12 counties in SW Wisconsin. Jeff also completes Certified Wetland determinations for USDA Farm Program participants, averaging ~100 a year, and handles other wetland related issues.

Steve Eggers

Steve Eggers is a senior ecologist and Professional Wetland Scientist with the Regulatory Branch of the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has specialized in Clean Water Act jurisdiction, wetland plant communities, wetland delineation, compensatory mitigation, and impact assessment of projects in waters/wetlands. Since 1994, he has served as lead instructor for Regulatory IV (wetland delineation) training sessions in Minnesota and Wisconsin for Tribal, Federal, state and local agency staff. Steve is a member of both the National Advisory Team for Wetland Delineation and the National Technical Committee for Wetland Vegetation. He co-authored Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin (1987, 1997, 2011) now in its third edition.

Marissa Merriman

Marissa Merriman is a Regulatory Ecologist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District Regulatory Division, with over 13 years of experience in the federal government and private sector. In her current role she evaluates wetland and stream compensatory mitigation proposals in Minnesota and Wisconsin. She also provides technical support and training for Regulatory program staff and the public regarding mitigation, wetland and waterbody delineation, and Clean Water Act jurisdictional determinations. Marissa holds a B.S. in Forest Management and Ecosystem Restoration from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, and certifications in Wetland Science and Ecological Restoration from the University of Wisconsin and the University of Minnesota.

Tim Miland

Tim Miland is an Area Resource Soil Scientist with USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) stationed in Altoona, WI covering the northwestern 22 counties of the state. He’s worked with the agency for nearly 32 years. He spent the first half of his career mapping soils in northern and western Wisconsin, New Mexico and Alaska. In his current position he helps users access and understand soils and soils data. For the past 15 years he has also been heavily involved in wetland delineation for Food Security Act purposes, Wetland Evaluation Potential Screening (WEPS) and wetland restoration for various USDA programs. 

Amber Miller-Adamany

Amber Miller-Adamany is the Professional Education Program Specialist in Graduate & Extended Learning at UWL. She studied biology and English as an undergraduate, and earned her MS in Biology at UWL. Her thesis research focused on wetland restoration in the floodplain forest of the Upper Mississippi River. She will be helping to facilitate the online and field portions of the course.

Meredith Thomsen

Meredith Thomsen is the Dean of Graduate & Extended Learning, a member of the River Studies Center, and a former Biology Professor at UW-La Crosse. A wetland ecologist specializing in floodplain forest restoration, she lacks experience with wetland delineation, but suspects she is the midwest expert in digging through reed canary grass to find silver maple seedlings. She will be helping to facilitate the online and field portions of the course.

Kevin Traastad

Kevin Traastad is the USDA-NRCS Major Land Resource Area Soil Survey Office Leader for the Driftless and Central Sands areas, based in Onalaska, WI. He has a Bachelor of Science-Agriculture degree in Soil Science from UW-River Falls. He has been working in the field for 22 years. From 2005–2009 he conducted wetland identifications and delineations in southeastern Wisconsin.

Kathy Turner

Kathy Turner is an Area Resource Soil Scientist with the USDA-NRCS based out of Appleton, WI. She has worked as a Soil Scientist, Soil Conservationist, and District Conservationist with the USDA for 18 years. Kathy supports NE WI field staff with soils-related conservation planning requests, wetland investigations and soil-based trainings. Kathy is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist, Certified Crop Advisor and NRCS Certified Conservation Planner.

Allison Willman

Allison Willman is a wetland expert for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. Her current role specializes in providing wetland technical expertise to the DNR’s waterways program, wetland delineation reviews and trainings, and botanical trainings. Previously, she served as a Wetland Identification Specialist for the DNR and participated in a research study on wetland restorations. Prior to the Wisconsin DNR, she graduated with a Soils and Land Management degree from UW-Stevens Point and spent several years working in the private sector, along with completing a wetland internship with the Lake County Stormwater Management Commission.