Basic Wetland Delineation Refresher Course
Course Overview
The field practicum portion of our Basic Wetland Delineation course is open to those who have had a full, basic wetland delineation course (at least 32 instructional hours) in the past and want a refresher on field practices. This course alone does not satisfy the requirements for basic delineation training as specified by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. If you are looking to satisfy those requirements, you need to check out WTI’s other courses: Basic Wetland Delineation or Wetland Delineation with Emphasis on Soils and Hydrology Online with Field Practicum.
There are no lectures with the Wetland Delineation Refresher – only two days (16 hours) of intensive field work. You will receive a printed copy of lecture notes to review. You also have access to the course discussion board so you may ask questions of your instructor before and after your course as well as interact with other course participants.
The pre-requisite for this course is completion of a basic wetland delineation (at least 32 contact hours) course in the past from Wetland Training Institute, Inc. or any other provider. When registering, please identify the date, location and provider of the course in the comments/notes box.
You will receive via mail materials you should review prior to your refresher course dates. These include: printed Lecture Notes, a Pocket Guide to Hydric Soil Field Indicators, and a USB drive containing current 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual, Regional Supplements, Plant Lists, and other publications.
Tuition cost: $650.00
Recommended Plant Identification Courses (Optional)
Once you learn delineation, the best way to increase your efficiency is to learn to rapidly identify plants in the field. Our Plants of the Wetland Boundary (PWB) online courses are designed for non-botonists that want to improve their delineation skills. 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 take all three regions currently available for just $1,000! 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. online lectures, field practicum, discussion forum participation).
Frequently asked Questions
When does the course start and finish?
You can begin accessing the course discussion board anytime after December 7, 2020. Your printed and electronic course materials should arrive in the mail within a week after you receive a confirmation email that your field practicum location has been confirmed.
Will I have face to face interaction with the 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. Before and after your course, you can ask questions and share resources via your course 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.
Register by Field Practicum Location Options Below
Field session options for the Basic Wetland Delineation Refresher Course currently include:
| Dates | Field Location | Register by Field Location |
| November 12 – 13, 2024 | Charleston, SC | REGISTER NOW |
| January 16 – 17, 2025 | Orange County, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| January 20 -21, 2025 | Orange County, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| February 3 – 4, 2025 | Ventura County, CA | FULL – JOIN WAITLIST |
| February 20 – 21, 2025 | San Diego, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| February 24 – 25, 2025 | San Diego, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| March 24 – 25, 2025 | Houston, TX | REGISTER NOW |
| March 26 – 27, 2025 | Houston, TX | REGISTER NOW |
| April 21 – 22, 2025 | Sacramento, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| April 24 – 25, 2025 | Sacramento, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| May 7 – 8, 2025 | Des Moines, IA | REGISTER NOW |
| May 13 -14, 2025 | Portage, WI | REGISTER NOW |
| May 28 – 29, 2025 | Santa Rosa, CA | REGISTER NOW |
| June 9 – 10, 2025 | Anchorage, AK | REGISTER NOW |
| June 25 – 26, 2025 | Laramie, WY | REGISTER NOW |
| June 30 – July 1, 2025 | Sheridan, WY | REGISTER NOW |
| July 22 – 23, 2025 | Toledo, OH | REGISTER NOW |
| August 18 – 19, 2025 | Tacoma, WA | REGISTER NOW |
| August 21 – 22, 2025 | Marysville, WA | REGISTER NOW |
| September 9 – 10, 2025 | Portage, WI | REGISTER NOW |
| September 16 – 17, 2025 | Whitefish, MT | REGISTER NOW |
| October 21 – 22, 2025 | Richmond, VA | REGISTER NOW |
| November 12 – 13, 2025 | Charleston, SC | REGISTER NOW |
These dates and locations are also offered as a a full, basic wetland delineation course (40 hours). Click here to learn more.
What our participants say…
“Thank you again for a great Wetland Delineation Refresher Course. I enjoyed it thoroughly and got a lot of good info out of it. I have been doing delineations for some time; however, my gut was telling me it was time to get some new/updated info, and your course provided that.”
“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.”
Course Curriculum
This Basic Wetland Delineation Refresher course consists of a 2-day Field Practicum focused on the application of the Regional Supplements and the portions of the 1987 Wetland Delineation Manual still valid as used by the Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) and numerous state governments. This course is designed for individuals who have had a wetland delineation course in the past and would like to revisit field techniques and best practices. Materials include a 2017 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 copy of Lecture Notes for you to review before your course. This course does not include online or in-person lectures. Successful completion of course requires participation at one 16-contact-hour field session.
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Discussion: Welcome and Introduce Yourself Here (BWD-2025)
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Discussion: I have questions or comments (BWD-2025)
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 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 has 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.