CNMI Wetland Delineation, RAM, and SVAP
Course Overview
This course satisfies the requirements for basic wetland delineation training as specified by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and certification programs in many states. Learn the technical guidelines for wetland delineations, field indicators of hydrophytic vegetation, hydric soils, and wetland hydrology, methods for making jurisdictional determinations and methods to apply in difficult situations.
Basic Wetland Delineation is offered in two 40 contact hour formats: in-person (5 day) or online lectures with a 2-day field practicum (hybrid). Both in-person and hybrid courses cover the same information in lectures and in the field. Class time is divided between lecture (24 hours) and fieldwork (16 hours). Please see dates and locations below.
Your course registration includes: a Pocket Guide to Hydric Soil Field Indicators, a USB drive containing current 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual, Regional Supplements, Plant Lists, and other publications, and a printed copy of online lecture notes.
For 2021 course participants, online lectures can be started anytime after your course opens on 12/07/2020. All online lectures must be completed prior to attending chosen field practicum. Progress through online lectures at your own pace and review as many times as you wish until online courses close on November 30th each year.
Successful completion of course requires completion of online/classroom lecture portion and participation in one in-person 16-contact-hour field session. Scroll down for dates, locations, and a more specific list of topics covered. Registration can be completed with payment via credit card, check, or purchase order.
Tuition cost: $1,275.00
COVID-19 Precautions
In light of state and national COVID-19 guidelines, WTI has developed plans to provide the safest possible course environment while adhering to social distancing recommendations. All participants must read, sign, and return our Participant Guidelines and COVID-19 Liability Waiver Form before the start date of your course in order to participate. If you are unable to do this, you will not be allowed to participate in the field course. All WTI course dates will continue to be contingent on CDC and State recommendations related to COVID-19 and social distancing requirements.
Recommended Plant Identification Courses (Optional)
While not a prerequisite, you will gain so much more in the BWD field session if you have spent some time honing your basic plant ID skills. Our Plants of the Wetland Boundary (PWB) online courses are designed for nonbotonists that want to improve their delineation skills. A discount is offered when you register for both a Plants of the Wetland Boundary and a Basic Wetland Delineation (BWD) course in the same year to encourage those that know that their plant ID skills are weak, to be better prepared before the field portion of the BWD course. To receive $100 off your registration for a regional PWB course when taking a BWD course in the same year, add both to your WTI cart and enter the following coupon code: “BWDPLANT100” upon checkout. You can take all three regions currently available for just $900! Learn about individual regional courses by clicking the buttons below, or click here to purchase our 3 region bundle (includes Northeast, North Central, Southeast). You can also browse all of our plant identification courses, including more in-depth topics here.
Your Course Includes
Pocket Guide to Hydric Soil Field Indicators
This field guide is based on the National Technical Committee on Hydric Soils’ Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States.
Printed lecture notes and electronic resources
All participants receive the same lecture notes provided in our in-person courses and a thumb drive of essential electronic resources.
Certificate of Completion
You will receive a certificate of completion with instructional contact hours documented once you have completed all course requirements (i.e. all lectures and field sessions)
Frequently asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
You can begin your online lectures anytime after your course opens (December each year). Your printed and electronic course materials should arrive in the mail within about a week after your field location is confirmed unless you request them sooner. You must complete all online lectures before your in-person field practicum date. You may continue to review online lectures anytime until your course closes (November 30th each year).
Can I view lectures at my own pace?
Yes! You can view and review lectures as many times you wish until your course closes. All online courses close on November 30th each year.
Will I have face to face interaction with my instructor?
Yes, you will have face to face interaction with your field practicum instructor to ensure you understand all the material as well as standard field practices. During the online component of the course, please contact the instructor via the discussion board.
Does this course count towards my certification program?
Your certificate of completion can be used to document instructional hours received in this topic. You should contact the specific certifying agency or association directly to find out how they will assess or credit this WTI course. Typically, our courses are accepted by all state and national certifying agencies and associations; however, you should confirm that with the specific certification program to which you are applying or renewing.
Field Practicum Locations
Field session options for Basic Wetland Delineation currently include:
| Dates | Field Locations | Register by Field Location |
| February 8 – 9, 2021 | San Diego, CA | POSTPONED – dates below |
| March 22 – 23, 2021 | Houston, TX | COMPLETED |
| March 24 – 25, 2021 | Houston, TX | COMPLETED |
| April 12 – 13, 2021 | San Diego, CA | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| April 15 – 16, 2021 | San Diego, CA | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| April 19 – 20, 2021 | Sacramento, CA | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| April 21 – 22, 2021 | Sacramento, CA | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| May 3 – 4, 2021 | Great Bend, KS | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| May 13 – 14, 2021 | Portage, WI | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| May 17 – 18, 2021 | Portage, WI | FULL – CONFIRMED |
| May 26 – 27, 2021 | Richmond, VA | REGISTER NOW – CONFIRMED |
| June 17 – 18, 2021 | Fairbanks, AK | REGISTER NOW – CONFIRMED |
| July 12 – 13, 2021 | Laramie, WY | REGISTER NOW – CONFIRMED |
| July 14 – 15, 2021 | Laramie, WY | REGISTER NOW – CONFIRMED |
| August 17 – 18, 2021 | Marysville, WA | REGISTER NOW – CONFIRMED |
| September 20 – 24, 2021 | Portage, WI | REGISTER NOW * 5 DAY IN-PERSON * |
| September 27 – 28, 2021 | Portage,WI | REGISTER NOW * HYBRID* |
| October 12 – 13, 2021 | Charleston, SC | REGISTER NOW |
2022 COURSE DATES WILL BE POSTED THIS FALL – PLEASE CHECK BACK AGAIN!
These dates and locations are also offered as a 2-day Refresher Course for those who have had a full, basic wetland delineation course (at least 32 hours) from WTI or another provider. Click here to learn more.
What Our Participants Say…
“I expected to come away ready to confidently carry out wetland delineations on my own – I feel ready. Lots of great information and the ability to work through practice delineations with the appropriate amount of guidance and supervision.”
“It was useful to be able to re-listen to slides as I progressed through the online course. That was a benefit compared to a live course. If I missed something or did not understand, I could “rewind.”
“The instructor knows the 1987 USACE Manual inside and out and is an expert in the field of wetland delineation. I would recommend this course to anyone wishing to expand their knowledge on the subject.”
“Instructors were awesome! Course was awesome! A LOT of information, but good information, that I would not have learned anywhere else.”
Get Started Now
Select location above and click on “Register Now” to enroll.
Course Curriculum
Basic Wetland Delineation Online Lectures and Field Practicum focus on the application of the Regional Supplements and the portions of the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual still valid as used by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and numerous state governments. Specific lecture topics are listed below. Field practicum agendas include: safety briefing, instructor demonstration and use of data sheets, student characterization of data points and use of data sheets, and a variety of field exercises.
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Basic Wetland Delineation Pre-test
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Discussion: Welcome and Introduce Yourself Here (BWD-CNMI)
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Discussion: I have questions or comments (BWDe – CNMI)
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Welcome to Basic Wetland Delineation for CNMI – v8-2021
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Geographical Jurisdiction (52 minutes)
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Introduction to 1987 Manual and Regional Supplements (CNMI) – v8-2021
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Wetland Hydrology Fundamentals (CNMI) – v8-2021
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Wetland Hydrology Field Indicators (CNMI) – v11-2021
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Soil Fundamentals (CNMI) – v11-2021
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Aspects of Soil Color (27 minutes)
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Redoximorphic Features (15 minutes)
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Field Indicators of Hydric Soils (CNMI) v-11-2021
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Hydrophytic Vegetation (CNMI) v-11-2021
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Hydrophytic Vegetation Exercise Results
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Technical Guidelines (13 minutes)
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Soil Surveys – v7-2018
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Methods – Part 1 (CNMI) v-12-2021
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Methods – Part 2 (23 minutes)
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Difficult Situations and Problem Areas (CNMI) – v12-2021
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Problematic Hydric Soils (CNMI) – v12-2021
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Disturbed/Atypical situations (1 hour, 13 minutes)
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Soil Taxonomy (1 hour, 15 minutes)
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RAM – CNMI – v12-2021
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SVAP Introduction (CNMI) – v10-2021
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SVAP Terms and Conditions (CNMI) – v11-2021
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SVAP Protocol (CNMI) – v10-2021
Instructor Pool
Charles J. Newling is a Certified Wetland Biologist (CWB) and Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) with over 35 years experience in wetland delineation, restoration, monitoring, and mitigation banking. He participated in writing the 1987 United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetlands Delineation Manual and served for 8 years as the national technical coordinator for USACE wetland training. He has testified frequently as an expert on these issues.
Phil Scoles is a Registered Professional Soil Scientist (RPSS), Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), and principal of Terra Science, Inc. He specializes in wetland delineation, hydric soil evaluation, wetland hydrology assessment, permitting, mitigation, and problematic wetland situations. He has extensive experience working with hydric soils and wetland hydrology.
Barbara Walther is a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) with over 35 years of experience in wetland delineation and regulations and is a recently retired Senior Ecologist from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Regulatory Program. Her background includes implementing local, state and federal wetland regulatory programs, conducting delineations and functional analyses, writing and review of permit applications and training in all wetland-related topics.
Michael Whited is a Certified Professional Soil Scientist (CPSS), Certified Professional Soil Classifier (CPSC), and Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) with 40 years experience as a soil scientist. He was regional director of the USDA-NRCS Soil Survey for the West Central Glaciated Region, past chair of the National Technical Committee for Hydric Soils and the New England Hydric Soil Committee, and a principal author of the Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the U.S.
Get Started Now
Select location above and click on “Purchase Course” to register.