Our newest Associate Planner, Grace Coffey, spent three days in the field learning how to perform wetland delineations. There was a lot of digging soil pits, learning plant identification and Latin names, and getting muddy!

Winterbrook has experts in delineations, our wetland scientists Anita Smyth and Phil Quarterman. This course gives Grace the tools to assist their work in the field and better understand how wetlands delineations interact with regulatory frameworks and Winterbrook Planning’s work with Department of State Lands (DSL). 

PSU’s Basic Wetland Delineation course (EPP 716) is a comprehensive training course designed for professionals and students involved in wetland delineation, restoration, or related work.

Led by experienced practitioners in the field, the course offers a blend of lectures and hands-on fieldwork over a 5-day period. Participants gain a thorough understanding of wetland identification and delineation techniques following US Army Corps of Engineers standards, focusing on regional supplements for the Western Mountains, Valleys, Coast, and the Arid West. Specific topics covered include wetland parameters such as hydrology, hydrophytic vegetation, and hydric soils, as well as field indicators, technical criteria, and recognizing problem areas. The course also addresses soil genesis, wetland hydrology indicators, and field delineation methods.

Participants engage in field exercises, data review, and exams to solidify their knowledge. While nationally applicable, the course concentrates on wetlands of the Pacific Northwest.