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COURSE INFO PROVIDER: Northern Kentucky University Research and Education Field Station
COURSE TITLE: Wetland Rapid Assessment, Invasive Plant, & Project Monitoring

INSTRUCTORS Jacob Bartley

COURSE DESCRIPTION The NKU REFS Wetland Rapid Assessment, Invasive Plant, & Project Monitoring training course covers fundamental training derived from the Kentucky Wetland Rapid Assessment Method (KY-WRAM) and the Ohio Wetland Rapid Assessment Method (ORAM). The principals of the 1987 Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Manual and the Eastern Mountains and Piedmont (EMP) / Midwest Regional Supplements are additionally reinforced/reviewed. The Wetland Delineation Training course is a prerequisite to the NKU REFS Wetland Rapid Assessment, Invasive Plant, & Project Monitoring training.

This course exposes participants to wetlands of different ecological quality and different hydrogeomorphic class which include depression, hillslope /seep, lacustrine fringe, and mineral soil flat types. Additionally, participants are exposed to different vegetative modifiers including emergent, scrub-shrub, and forested wetlands.

The course focuses on quantifying and determining the ecological quality of a wetland site based on human activity, impairments, and/or manipulation of both the wetland footprint and surrounding land use. Participants learn to analyze distinct human impairments of wetland sites and then conclude how to provide ecological uplift to the wetland site of concern. Participants conduct mock KY-WRAM and ORAM determinations of different wetland sites in order to obtain a baseline of existing conditions. Once the baseline of a site is determined, participants and the instructor discuss how to achieve ecological uplift of the wetland site of concern.

Additionally, in this course participants learn methods of obtaining the vegetative baseline of a site through baseline vegetation monitoring methods. The identification and management of invasive non-native plant species are covered in depth for the EMP and Midwest ecoregions.

This course ultimately focuses on the ecological baseline conditions of wetland sites and how to achieve ecological uplift of wetland sites through preservation, enhancement, and restoration.

An experienced Restoration Ecologist/Wetland Scientist/Instructor accompanies and participants with students in all parts of this course. All field guides, manuals, Regional Supplements, NWPLs, Munsell Soil Color Charts, measuring tapes, flagging, and auger/spades are provided by NKU-REFS for fieldwork. It is optional if participants want to use their personal equipment.

Course Duration: 24
Credit Points: 1.6

SYLLABUS/TOPICAL OUTLINE See attached syllabus
View or download the outline here: NKURAEFSMK88-197_SecV_59608.pdf

COURSE CONTACT

NKU Research and Education Field Station (REFS)
99 Harrison Ct., Melbourne, KY 41059
refs@nku.edu
P: 8595726637
F:

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