AMWS is fully committed to the professional development
of our members. As a result,
we offer a variety of workshops on wetland science and regulatory
updates. Non-members are welcome to attend . However, membership is encouraged through reduced workshop rates.
AMWS workshops are recognized for their value: nowhere else will you find top working wetland scientists "giving back" to the profession at such affordable rates. As a result, AMWS members only are offered the limited number of seats during the first two weeks of posting an event.
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(Updated 7/02/09)
UPCOMING
WORKSHOPS
7/24/09 (Friday)
Ferns at Wildcat Wildcat Reservation Boxford, Mass.
STATUS: FULL
7/31/09 (Friday)
Ferns at Wildcat Wildcat Reservation Boxford, Mass.
Ferns are some of the most common herbaceous plants found in New England, yet their variety frequently makes them confusing. For example, it is critical that you know the difference between cinnamon and interrupted fern, yet even experienced experts often mistake one for the other. This half-day workshop will teach you about the numerous varieties of common and unusual ferns in Massachusetts. First offered last year, this peripatetic walk through Wildcat Reservation is always useful.
Instructor: John Dick (Hancock Associates). This half-day workshop is from 9:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost $25 for Member, $50 for Non-Member. Limit 8 participants. CEUs available.
STATUS: 1 SPACE JUST OPENED
To register, contact: administrator@amws.org
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8/28/09 (Friday)
Late-Season Sedges and Rushes
Mt. Wachusett Community College Gardner, Mass.
This one-day workshop will focus on identifying the late-season sedges and rushes that are often importantcomponents of wetland systems – Scirpus, Cyperus, Eleocharis, and Juncus will be our targets. The morning session will develop identification tools, review terminology, plant structures, keys, and the common species in each group. The afternoon field session will provide practical experience and allow participants to hone their skills with identification manuals and keys. This is a class for more advanced wetland scientists – at a minimum, you should be able to identify sedges and rushes, and distinguish them from grasses. Lunch included.
Prerequisites: Please bring a field guide and a good hand lens. A millimeter ruler is also useful. Some recommended field guides are: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide; Grasses (Lauren Brown); Field Guide to Nontidal Wetland Identification (Tiner); or Freshwater Wetlands (Magee); we will also use more technical guides, including Magee & Ahles, Gleason & Cronquist,etc. (See AMWS "Library" on this website for recommended texts.)
Instructor: Lisa Standley, Ph.D., Chief Environmental Scientist, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, with Karro Frost, Sr. Botanist, New England Environmental. This full-day workshop is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost $85 for Member, $145 for Non-Member. Limit 15 participants. CEUs available. Contact: administrator@amws.org
STATUS: 8 SPACES LEFT
(TO REGISTER, CLICK "WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM" BUTTON AT TOP OF PAGE)
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9/25/09 (Friday) Intensive Boots-Wet Bankfull
Berlin, Mass.
This full-day workshop is a rare opportunity to obtain an in-depth look at delineating bankfull properly. In many cases, bankfull establishes the beginning of Riverfront, yet even experts frequently misidentify its location. The morning classroom session will include a viewing of the USDA video, "A Guide to Field Identification of Bankfull Stage." Additionally, concepts and application will be discussed in the context of the Wetland Protection Act, along with a review of the 2009 USGS Regional Curves release for Massachusetts.
The afternoon field session--on a nearby site with three perennial rivers of varying watersheds and Bankfullconditions--will be a boots-wet field analysis of bankfull. Field work will use Mean Annual High Water field indicators, including vegetation, bank undercuts, staining, point bars and other indicators. The class will discuss river morphology features that apply to bankfull. In addition, a level will be used to determine bankfull in difficult, transitional areas. This is an advanced course that goes beyond the generalities of the Fall, 2008, workshop taught by the same instructor. Hip waders required. Box lunch included.
Instructor: Patrick Garner, Hydrologist & Sr. Wetland Scientist, Patrick Garner Company. This full-day workshop is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost $110 for Member, $170 for Non-Member. Limit 8 participants. CEUs available. Contact: administrator@amws.org
STATUS: 1 SPACE LEFT
(TO REGISTER, CLICK "WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM" BUTTON AT TOP OF PAGE)
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10/16/09 (Friday) REGISTER NOW!
NEW & CUTTING EDGE
The Science of Headwater Streams -- What Wetland Scientists Must Know
Harvard Forest, Petersham, Mass.
Science is making the way we approach wetlands more sophisticated, and the scientists at Harvard Forest are in the forefront. The data presented in this workshop will assist your evaluation of stream crossings, activities within hyporheic zones, wetland creation and restoration, and wildlife habitat assessment and mitigation.
Dr. William Sobczak, an Assoc. Prof. at Holy Cross and recent Bullard Fellow at Harvard Forest, will discuss organic matter dynamics in headwater streams and wetlands. Specifics include his research with nutrient/carbon and chemical cycling. Dr. Sobczak is a stream biogeochemist and ecologist who studies the fate of terrestrial-derived organic matter and aquatic primary production in a variety of aquatic ecosystems.
Dr. Betsy Colburn, an aquatic biologist at Harvard Forest, previous Bullard Fellow, and author of Vernal Pools: Ecology and Conservation, will present the ecology of headwater streams based on her data (and that of others) at Harvard Forest. She is also a lecturer in landscape architecture at the Harvard Graduate School of Design.
Following the presentations, there will be a Q&A to discuss the application of this research to our assessment of regulatory function. Items for discussion will include how headwater wetlands may play a role with climate changes and how our understanding of headwater wetland ecology can be applied to daily practice.
For example, we’ll discuss how the use of piezometers and monitoring wells provides a greater understanding of the hyporheic zone, how the types of soils in a wetland plays a role in wetland function, and how to consider future carbon loading associated with vegetation. We’ll discuss how dissolved organic carbon may protect macroinvertebrates from UV radiation and whether mitigation design can address this (with leaf litter, replacement soil specifications, and an understanding of the groundwater/surface water exchange). You will leave being better prepared to evaluate impacts to wetlands and understand appropriate mitigation.
Finally, Drs. Sobczak & Colburn will take you to the research sites for further discussion and observation. AMWS member Ingeborg Hegemann (BSC Group) will assist.
As wetland scientists, we read about new research and evaluate methods to apply new data to regulatory interpretation and practical application. This workshop puts you on the cutting edge of what you need to know. Box lunch included.
Instructors: Dr. William Sobczak, Dr. Betsy Colburn, with assistance from Ingeborg Hegemann. This full-day workshop is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost $95 for Member, $155 for Non-Member. Space limited. CEUs available. Contact: administrator@amws.org
(TO REGISTER, CLICK "WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM" BUTTON AT TOP OF PAGE)
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11/13/09 (Friday) REGISTER NOW!
AMWS ANNUAL MEETING
WETLAND SCIENCE: 5 BIG TRENDS IN A CHANGING ENVIRONMENT Climate Change, Stormwater, Wetland Banking, Habitat Protection & a Challenging Economy
Farmhouse at Warren Conference Center, Ashland
New science and new perspectives. Learn about the big trends changing the profession of wetland science.
Presentations include the latest research on climate change and probable impacts to Massachusetts wetland resources, a focus on Low Impact Development (LID) in the context of DEP’s regulatory action on stormwater, as well as wetland banking and rare species protection.
Additional presentations include recent adjudicatory decisions affecting wetland professionals, how stimulus dollars are being spent in Mass. (and the type of projects in which wetland scientists might be involved), and smart business practices for resource professionals, including LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Certification and Sustainability. Includes fabulous luncheon buffet and raffle!
This full-day workshop is from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Cost $125 for Member, $175 for Non-Member. Space limited. CEUs available. Contact: administrator@amws.org
(TO REGISTER, CLICK "WORKSHOP REGISTRATION FORM" BUTTON AT TOP OF PAGE)
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NOTE: ALL AMWS WORKSHOPS HAVE LIMITED SPACE. IF YOU DO NOT
RECEIVE REGISTRATION CONFIRMATION, YOU ARE NOT REGISTERED!
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(Not an AMWS member? See "Join" section on this website!)
AMWS
WORKSHOP POLICY:
(1)
All fees are due in advance of workshop. Should you require
reimbursement by your employer, an invoice will be provided
upon request.
(2)
There are no refunds for cancellations. Substitutions are fine, as long as the difference between member & non-member fees is paid. When possible, your payment will be applied toward another workshop or membership dues.
(3)
Registration is only guaranteed when you are given confirmation
by email or regular mail. Do not assume you are registered otherwise.
Workshop participants often receive box lunches or supplies
that are not ordered in excess. Additionally, the instructor/participant
ratio must be maintained for optimal learning.
(4)
Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. A waiting
list will be maintained.
(5)
CEUs are usually available from the certifying authority. All
participants are given a Certificate of Attendance.
If
you are interested in teaching, please contact AMWS
Administrator
NOTE: CEUs for New Hampshire CWS
CEUs have been approved by the N.H. Joint Board of Licensure & Certification for all 2008 AMWS workshops. CEUs for 2009 workshops are under review by the Board. See http://www.nh.gov/jtboard/nsceu.htm
AMWS
ALSO LISTS ENVIRONMENTAL WORKSHOPS OFFERED BY OTHER GROUPS that
may be of interest to our members. Please see below:
2009 Natural History Seminars at the Humboldt Institute on the coast of Maine
Sphagnum Mosses and Other Wetland Bryphytes
June 14 - 20, 2009
In this seminar, we will focus on the bryophytes of wetland habitats, especially bogs and fens. Bogs and fens are characterized by the extensive accumulation of partially decomposed plant material --so-called peat-- and for that reason are critically important in the global carbon budget and as determinants of global climate. Lectures in this course will focus on the morphology and diversity of peatmosses, evolution and phylogeny of Sphagnum species, and on the ecology of Sphagnum-dominated habitats. Participants will have ample opportunities to develop skills needed to identify Sphagnum and other wetland bryophyte species in the field and laboratory. Field trips will target peatlands with a diversity of Sphagnum species, but we will also collect and identify co-occurring mosses and liverworts so students can develop a thorough understanding of bryophyte diversity in wetland habitats. Instructors: Jon and Blanka Shaw Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195 Contact anne@eaglehill.us or call 207-546-2821 for questions.
Invertebrate Indicators of Marine Coastal Habitats
June 21 - 27, 2009
This seminar explores the idea that some invertebrates have environmental adaptations so specific that they can be used as indicator species for the particular habitats where they are found. Lectures will review intertidal habitat classification, invertebrates living in major habitat types, and the indicator species concept. Simple quadrat sampling methods will be taught in the field for revealing differences in the communities of species residing in various intertidal habitats. Laboratory exercises will focus on identification and quantifying species collected during quadrat sampling. Methods for determining habitat biodiversity will be presented to compare species richness and diversity of different habitats. Indicator species will be identified though statistical analysis that will also show that habitats can be distinguished by their species assemblages. Subject material will be taught at an advanced student level and be of interest to teachers and researchers of marine ecology and conservation biology. Once mastered, the knowledge and techniques learned can be used in the classroom and/or applied to problems in coastal ecology needing biomonitoring. Instructors: Tom Trott and Robert Knowlton. Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195
Sedges, Rushes, and Grasses: Advanced Taxonomy and Ecology of Wetland and Upland Species
June 28 - July 4, 2009
This seminar offers a comprehensive overview of the systematics and ecology of grasses, sedges, and rushes. Field studies will focus on recognition of major groups and important species, but will also cover reasons for the diversity of species in different habitats of coastal and inland Maine. Field identification and field characters are emphasized. Lab studies of specimens and discussions will develop formal identification skills and will review the various keys that are available. Participants are encouraged to bring their own challenging or interesting specimens needing identification or verification. Instructor: Anton Reznicek. Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195 Contact anne@eaglehill.us or call 207-546-2821 for questions.
Applied Field Identification of Sedges, Rushes, and Grasses
Grasses, sedges, and rushes are important components of a wide range of habitats worldwide, and they form the dominant vegetation in many habitats. Yet their structures are often difficult to learn on one's own, and most guides to these families are technical and somewhat imposing. This seminar serves as an introduction to the identification of sedges, rushes, and grasses. Through lectures, field study, examination of plant specimens, and use of technical keys, participants will gain an understanding of the taxonomy, morphology, and ecology of these difficult plant families. At the end of the course, students can expect to recognize many genera and species on sight and have sufficient experience to identify species they run into later, using technical resources. This course will be of interest to plant ecologists, wetland ecologist and delineators, mitigation and restoration ecologists, foresters, botanists, naturalists and native landscapers, and others who need to be able to identify the plants around them. Field trips to a variety of habitats throughout the week will provide the opportunity to learn the plants and their habitats first-hand. Instructor: Andrew Hipp. Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195 Contact anne@eaglehill.us or call 207-546-2821 for questions.
Submersed and Floating Aquatic Flowering Plants: Taxonomy, Ecology, and Management
July 26 - August 1, 2009
This seminar will focus on the identification, biology, reproduction, structure, invasiveness, and ecology of submerged and floating aquatic flowering plants. This information will be especially valuable to consulting botanists, state heritage employees, and those interested in lake monitoring. Field trips will be taken to lakes, ponds, and streams in eastern Maine to collect and observe species found in the pristine waters of the easternmost counties in the US. Discussions, lectures, and lab work will supplement field work. Invasive aquatic plants of the northeast will be discussed in detail and methods of their control will be reviewed. Families concentrated on: Alismataceae, Haloragaceae, Hydrocharitaceae, Lentibulariaceae, Najadaceae, Nymphaeaceae, and Potamogetonaceae. Hebarium and live material of other selected aquatics will be studied Instructor: Barre C. Hellquist Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195 Contact anne@eaglehill.us or call 207-546-2821 for questions.
Flora of Maine Coastal Habitats and Islands
August 23 - 29, 2009
This seminar will focus on the coastal flora of downeast Maine, a north-temperate and boreal region known for its interesting plants with northern affinity. Participants will study the coastal flora through daily field trips to various plant communities. The class meetings will focus on all members of each plant community, including sedges, grasses, and other difficult to identify groups, but the course is suited for those with or without a strong background in botany or field identification of plants. Participants are encouraged to bring digital cameras, and evening discussions will include processing and storing digital images and the production of personal field guides. Trips will sample an array of ecological systems, from coastal mountains, headlands, and peatlands, to offshore islands. Boats will be used to access some of Maine's scenic islands. Noteworthy plants, including those of conservation concern, will be observed and their preservation discussed. Participants should be ready for extensive hiking and scrambling around on rocky shores for the entire week, rain or shine. Instructor: Glen Mittelhauser. Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195 Contact anne@eaglehill.us or call 207-546-2821 for questions
Integrated Ecological restoration of Rivers and Streams, Including, Design of Native Vegetation for Water Quality, in Floodplains, Riparian Zones and Waterways (EHSER #299)
October 4 - 10, 2009 (classroom and field days 5-9 Oct.)
This seminar/workshop is designed to dig deeply into the concepts of waterway restoration from the broader ecological context and in the mode of Ecological Restoration. The focus on vegetation and native plant community issues as they relate to waterway corridors, rather than on strictly mechanistic and engineering oriented channel design, makes this seminar unusual and better suited to well-defined restoration as a part of the ecological system. Participants in this five-day course will learn the vital relationships between the watershed land cover, vegetation, stormwater and the waterway, and how to design plans for the ecological restoration of the waterway corridor. While some bioengineering concepts will be included in the seminar contents, they are not the sole focus of the session. Problem areas or restored waterways will be subject of field trips. Instructor: John Munro Costs: Tuition = $465, Meals = $242, Rooms $115-$195 Contact anne@eaglehill.us or call 207-546-2821 for questions
Descriptions of seminars may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/nhs/nhs-calendar.shtml
Information on lodging options, meals, and costs may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/application-info.shtml
There is an online application form at
http://www.eaglehill.us/programs/general/application-web.shtml
Syllabi are available for these and many other fine natural history training seminars on diverse topics.
For more information, please contact the Humboldt Institute, PO Box 9, Steuben, ME 04680-0009.
207-546-2821. Fax 207-546-3042
E-mail - mailto:office@eaglehill.us
Online general information may be found at http://www.eaglehill.us
NATURAL HISTORY SEMINARS
In support of field biologists, modern field naturalists, and students of the natural history sciences, Eagle Hill offers specialty seminars and workshops at different ecological scales for those who are interested in understanding, addressing, and solving complex ecological questions. Seminars topics range from watershed level subjects, and subjects in classical ecology, to highly specialized seminars in advanced biology, taxonomy, and ecological restoration. Eagle Hill has long been recognized as offering hard-to-find seminars and workshops which provide important opportunities for training and meeting others who are likewise dedicated to the study of the natural history sciences.
Eagle Hill field seminars are of special interest because they focus on the natural history of one of North America's most spectacular and pristine natural areas, the coast of eastern Maine from Acadia National Park to Petit Manan National Wildlife Refuge and beyond. Most seminars combine field studies with follow-up lab studies and a review of the literature. Additional information is provided in lectures, slide presentations, and discussions. Seminars are primarily taught for people who already have a reasonable background in a seminar program or in related subjects, or who are keenly interested in learning about a new subject. Prior discussions of personal study objectives are welcome.
***
Attention Mass. Soil Evaluators : All soil evaluators must obtain 10 hours of approved continuing ed training by the next renewal application in 2010. Contact: Rosemary Decie at the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission @ 978/323-7920.
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If
you have an event to list, please contact
AMWS Administrator
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