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Register online here!
Go HERE for the tentative schedule, Sept 19 and 20.
Banquet and social evening with live band, The Billy Goats, starts @ 6 PM on Wednesday, Sept 19!
Field Trip and Workshop Descriptions are below.
The field trips and workshops are offered at additional cost above registration for the conference, and all occur on Friday, Sept 21. Full day offerings include lunch; half day items do not.
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FT1: Marshes, Floodplains, and Alkaline Wetlands of Southwest Idaho—Exploring Idaho Fish and Game Wildlife Management Areas
Led by: Chris Murphy
Cost: $40
Time: 8 AM - 3 PM (full day)
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Wetlands in arid southwest Idaho? Yes there are, and the marshes, riparian zones, alkaline wetlands, and meadows of Idaho Fish and Game’s Wildlife Management Areas are vitally important islands of habitat in a highly developed landscape of irrigated agriculture and urban development. They are not only breeding and foraging habitat for waterfowl, marsh birds, colonial nesters, songbirds, amphibians, and mammals, but also stopover sites for thousands of migrating waterfowl and other birds each spring and fall. Join us on a tour of four of these wetland complexes to learn about how wetlands have been created, enhanced, and restored in the Boise and Payette River valleys by IDFG using creative and complex systems to manage irrigation and groundwater for the benefit of all wetland species. IDFG managers, the experts who know these wetlands like nobody else, will be on hand to explain their management techniques and the many challenges, such as non-native species control and serving the sometimes conflicting needs of neighbors, hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers, and recreationists. We will visit Montour and Payette River WMAs in the Payette Valley, and Fort Boise and Roswell Marsh WMAs in the Boise River Treasure Valley (http://fishandgame.idaho.gov/public/wildlife/wma/). Each site supports a unique combination of riverine floodplain, dense riparian vegetation, marshes and ponds, meadows with moist soil management, areas of wildlife food cultivation, and alkaline areas. The pleasant temperatures, sunshine, quietness, and minimal biting insects of early fall make it a wonderful time to visit these unique wetlands. |
FT2. Wetland Reserve Program for the Pacific Northwest
Led by Kevin Traylor
Cost: $40
Time: 9 AM - 5 PM (full day) |
Kevin Traylor with Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will provide an overview of the NRCS Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) and tour two perpetual easement sites. The discussion will include WRP land and landowner eligibility requirements, ranking process, selection for enrollment, restoration practices, compliance, compatible use authorizations, and monitoring. |
FT3. Indian Creek Restoration Project
Led by Rob Tiedemann
Cost: $30
Time: 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM (half day) |
Observing plant communities, gathering data, and discussing results. Please bring with you: (1) boots; (2) sunscreen; (3) snacks; (4) paper, pencil, and clipboard; and (4) LOTS of water.
The plant community growing along Indian Creek in southwest Idaho, like many in agricultural areas in the Intermountain West, is dominated by nuisance and noxious weeds including poison hemlock (Conium maculatum), whitetop (Lepidium draba), and purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria). The ubiquitous presence of reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea) further complicated efforts to revegetate the riparian flanks of creeks such as this one with an array of native and naturalized species of plants. In the spring of 2011 work began to restore the wide flanks of Indian Creek. This field trip will show participants the means and methods of this unusual riparian restoration project along Indian Creek and allow them to participate in gathering data to demonstrate, that repair and restoration of marginal riparian environments remains possible.
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Workshops: |
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W1 (A). Streamflow Duration/Macro Invert ID. Sec. A is morning only.
Led by Tracie Nadeau (USEPA Region 10); and Jess Jordan (USACE Seattle District)
Cost: $35
Time: 8:30 AM - 11:30 AM |
Overview of PNW Streamflow Duration Method (half day, in classroom)
SDAM development, validation, application, overview of associated macro-invertebrate field guide.
The Streamflow Duration Assessment Method (SDAM) is a scientific tool developed to provide a rapid assessment framework to distinguish between ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streams. This information helps determine whether a stream may be subject to jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Additional uses for methods to assess streamflow duration include informing implementation of state and local mandates and ordinances (e.g., stream buffer requirements) and prioritization of restoration and protection efforts.
Regulators, consultants and natural resource specialists are encouraged to use the method. It provides information the USACE needs to make more timely and predictable jurisdictional determinations, and may also inform compensatory mitigation decisions. |
W1 (B) . Streamflow Duration/Macro Invert ID. Led by: Tracie Nadeau and Jess Jordan
Cost: $35
Time: 12:15 PM - 4:30 PM |
Field component involving method application, macro-invertebrate identification training (half day, in field).
The Streamflow Duration Assessment Method (SDAM) is a scientific tool developed to provide a rapid assessment framework to distinguish between ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streams. This information helps determine whether a stream may be subject to jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Additional uses for methods to assess streamflow duration include informing implementation of state and local mandates and ordinances (e.g., stream buffer requirements) and prioritization of restoration and protection efforts.
Regulators, consultants and natural resource specialists are encouraged to use the method. It provides information the USACE needs to make more timely and predictable jurisdictional determinations, and may also inform compensatory mitigation decisions. |
W2. Streamflow Duration/Macro Invert ID - FULL DAY, combines classroom & in field components
Led by: Tracie Nadeau and Jess Jordan
Cost: $50
Time: 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
Combination of the two workshops above (W1A & W1B).
The Streamflow Duration Assessment Method (SDAM) is a scientific tool developed to provide a rapid assessment framework to distinguish between ephemeral, intermittent and perennial streams. This information helps determine whether a stream may be subject to jurisdiction under Section 404 of the Clean Water Act. Additional uses for methods to assess streamflow duration include informing implementation of state and local mandates and ordinances (e.g., stream buffer requirements) and prioritization of restoration and protection efforts.
Regulators, consultants and natural resource specialists are encouraged to use the method. It provides information the USACE needs to make more timely and predictable jurisdictional determinations, and may also inform compensatory mitigation decisions. |
W3. Ordinary High Water Mark Delineation
Led by John Gartner
Cost: $40
Time: 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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The Ordinary High Water Mark (OHWM) is an approach for identifying the lateral limits of non-wetland waters. However, determining whether any non-wetland water is a jurisdictional “Water of the United States” (WoUS) involves further assessment in accordance with the regulations, case law, and clarifying guidance. In the Arid West region of the U.S., the most problematic Ordinary High Water (OHW) delineations are associated with the ephemeral/intermittent channel forms that dominate the Arid West landscape.
The climate of the region drastically influences the hydrology, channel-forming processes, and distribution of OHWM indicators such that delineations can be inconsistent (over space and time) and problematic. Based on recent research and testing, coupled with years of observations and data gathering, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has developed a method for delineating non-wetland waters in the Arid West. This workshop presents a method for delineating the lateral extent of the non-wetland waters in the Arid West using stream geomorphology and vegetation response to the dominant stream discharge. Regulators, consultants and natural resource specialists are encouraged to use the method. It provides information the USACE needs to make more timely and predictable jurisdictional determinations. Canceled Sept 6. Please consider another item.
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W4. Native, naturalized, and exotic plant species of the Intermountain West: Plant communities in the high desert environment
Led by Rob Teidemann
Cost: $50
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Happy Valley Dairy Field tour and workshop regarding pros and cons of wetland plant selection for restoration, construction techniques for riparian rehabilitation in high desert. Includes: applied unique treatments of soil, sub-soil, and biotic surface to promote the establishment and growth of native riparian grasses, forbs, shrubs, and trees. Full day, with tour component and classroom discussion to follow. Canceled (see FT3 to be led by Rob Tiedemann instead). |
W5. Hydric Soils & Groundwater Monitoring
Led by Lisa Palazzi
Cost: $65
Time: 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
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Hydric soils identification and groundwater well installation techniques.
Class limited to 25 people. Mostly in-doors, but may be able to incorporate some out-of doors activities.
This workshop is targeted towards consultants, regulators and agency staff. The class is designed as a refresher course for those with some wetland delineation experience, but is a good introduction to those with minimal background. The first part of the workshop provides a basic introduction to using and interpreting National Hydric Soil Indicators. The second half will focus on those regional Hydric Soil Indicators that are most common in WA, OR and ID wetlands. The workshop will include: Intro to Soil Science and Morphology; Soil Physical and Chemical Properties; Defining Hydric Soils; Current Standards; Describing Hydric Soil Features; Regional NRCS Field Indicators; and in-class exercise using indicators. If we have time, we may also cover some monitoring processes and issues, such as use of AADipyridil; installing groundwater monitoring wells; IRIS tubes. Bring your favorite questions! |
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