Newly added workshop in our “Challenging Wetland Delineations” series!
Evaluating Floodplain Soils from the Past and Present
(Rain Date: September 20th)
Instructors: Scott Smyers, Oxbow Associates, Inc.; James McManus, JMM Wetland Consulting Services, LLC; and Richard Kirby, LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc.
Every wetland scientist needs experience evaluating wetlands where the boundary is not obvious. Even seasoned professionals can learn from evaluating such areas, especially in geologic settings that are unique to a region. Starting in 2019 and continuing beyond, AMWS is offering a series of workshops focusing on challenging wetland delineations featuring a variety of the complicated geology available across Massachusetts: till soils along Buzzards Bay, floodplains of the Connecticut River, calcareous seeps in the Berkshires, outwash sand from Cape Cod, and rocky outcrops of northern Worcester County.
Ideally, participants would attend each workshop and add to their learning experience by conducting very similar evaluation methods in very different settings, thus emphasizing the importance of standardized methods. In 2019, we begin in eastern Massachusetts including Plymouth and Middlesex Counties. We are planning a series of similar workshops in central and western Massachusetts for 2020 and finally Cape Cod in 2021.
A team of three instructors will lead this workshop. Scott is a wildlife biologist and Professional Wetland Scientist with over 20 years of experience delineating wetlands across Massachusetts. He is currently the President of the AMWS. Jim is a soil scientist from Connecticut and a member of the New England Hydric Soils Technical Committee. Rich is a Senior Wetland Scientist at LEC Environmental Consultants, Inc., with 20 years of experience delineating wetlands and working in the environmental field throughout Massachusetts, and currently serves as the Vice President of AMWS.
There will be up to an hour of indoor instruction about the geology and ecology of the study site (or pre-workshop instruction online), but most of the workshop will be outdoors and require completing BVW Field Data Forms and Federal ACOE Forms. This will require splitting into small groups and digging many holes, identifying many plants, and quantifying plant abundance in each layer with guidance and instructions from peers and instructors.
Bring your own lunch and auger. Each participant will receive a Certificate of Attendance.
SPECIAL OFFER: IF YOU PREVIOUSLY ATTENDED one of our Wetland Delineations Workshops you can SAVE up to $50 from your total! Â Please contact the Administrator for details before signing up.
