Print this page Advanced Wetlands Primer: Field Evaluation & Permitting Considerations for Design Professionals
Patrick C. Garner, PLS, Wetland
Scientist
Course Outline
This three hour
online course briefly examines the historical attitudes toward, and contemporary
uses of, wetlands in American, and discusses the scientific understanding of
the values and functions of wetlands. Critically, the core of the Advanced Primer
course then goes on to examine specific wetland types, their location and characteristics.
It walks the student through a typical site evaluation in the company of a professional
wetland scientist. The course looks at the many available resources for "office
reconnaissance" prior to making a field visit, including wetland books
and web sites. And it then takes the student through a step-by-step examination
of wetland soils with the intent of examining how a wetland point is determined
on a theoretical site.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end,
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of the course, the student will:
- Be familiar with changing perceptions in America toward wetlands, and with the history of how wetlands have been viewed during the last 250 years;
- Be cognizant of the scientific functions of wetlands, and their values to contemporary society;
- Be familiar with key federal protective wetland legislation, and the federal and scientific literature that has enhanced professional procedures used to identify and map wetlands;
- Be familiar with the many types of inland and coastal wetlands;
- Be familiar with the three main components that define a wetland;
- Be exposed to the best working, wetland field guides;
- Look at the key web resources available for "office reconnaissance";
- Examine a theoretical upland/wetland site with a professional wetland scientist; and
- Walk through
a typical soil examination to determine wetland soils.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for professional architects, engineers, land surveyors and landscape architects.
Benefit to Attendees
Attendee of this course will be able to avoid design situations where otherwise unrecognized wetlands may be protected by federal, state and/or local regulations. The professional will be cognizant of potential values of wetlands for drinking water, flood protection and stormwater mitigation.
Course
Introduction
Attendee of this course will be able to avoid design situations where otherwise unrecognized wetlands may be protected by federal, state and/or local regulations. The professional will be made aware of high liability situations, and be familiar with available resources for wetland determination. The student will look at a theoretical site, and be able to apply the knowledge gained to actual design sites. The student will gain a working knowledge of wetland soils and hydrology. And upon completion, the student will be able to talk with authority to wetland scientists, as well as to federal and state permitting authorities about protected wetland resources.
Course Content The
course content is in a PDF file (96 KB) Advanced
Wetlands Primer: Field Evaluation & Permitting Considerations for Design Professionals.
You need to open or download this document to study this course.
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to download Acrobat Reader to view and print the document.
Course
Summary
Scientists, working internationally, have agreed on universally accepted definitions for various wetland communities. Although misunderstood in the past, wetlands -- because of their numerous values and function -- are now commonly protected by federal, and often local and state, legislation. This legislation has been driven by the federal 1977 Clean Water Act.
There are many types of wetlands, defined primarily by whether they are found in coastal or inland regimes. Types of wetlands are further influenced by their hydroperiod. Wetlands provide numerous values for humans, including flood and stormwater mitigation, water supply and prevention of pollution.
Related
Links
US Corps of Engineers
http://www.usace.army.mil/
US Environmental
Protection Agency--Wetlands
http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/wetlands/
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
