Description:

This two-day workshop will provide an introduction to the science of applied hydrology specifically to strengthen job skills for today’s environmental professionals, consultants, and researchers. Attendees will take part in practical analyses and field exercises, focusing on surface water and ground water subjects found in everyday work assignments, particularly interdisciplinary studies of ecology.

After attending this course, participants will have an understanding of several areas of expertise that are in high demand by natural resource management agencies, environmental groups, consulting companies, and others looking for expertise in water rights, instream flows, environmental regulations, and hydrogeology.

Day 1 will be spent in the classroom and Day 2 will be spent in the field. This format provides attendees with real-world experience applying the concepts discussed in the classroom. The combination of classroom lecture, field demonstration, and participation exercises increases learning effectiveness, which will immediately improve or upgrade attendee’s job skills and knowledge. *

After completing this course, participants will be able to:

·      Review proposals for developing new water supplies and outline studies for determining water availability, potential impacts of new withdrawals, and mitigation options.

·      Present and discuss important considerations of sediment and wood transport for fish and wildlife habitat projects, flood plain management issues, and riverine ecology.

·      Provide important hydrological criteria for ecologically defined high water marks for regulatory purposes and ecological protection.

·      Participate in interdisciplinary development of high flow recommendations for preserving and restoring stream dynamics based on magnitude, duration, and frequency criteria.

·      Apply basic principles of groundwater and surface water storage and movement needed for understanding why wetlands are wet, how hydroperiods affect wetland processes, and how variations in saturated conditions affect wetland boundaries.

*Note: Attendees should dress appropriately for northwest weather conditions and bring footwear and clothing appropriate for outdoor work on the field day. Hiking boots or strong rubber boots are recommended, although we will not be wading in rivers or deep water. We will be walking on floodplain and riverbank trails with moderate grades for relatively short distances. Lunch will be provided on the day of the field trip.

California Department of Public Health, CDPH, Approved for contact hours

*Reduced tuition is available for Native American tribes, government employees, nonprofits, students and AFS, NAEP, NEBC, TAEP members.

You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274. Online registration is strongly encouraged.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.

Intended Audience:

The class material is designed for those new to field work in applied sciences and to enhance on-the-job knowledge of graduate hydrologists, engineers, biologists, and others interested in practical water resources management.

Continuing Education Units: 1.30 CEUs

More Information

Course Topics

 

Day 1 will be spent in the classroom. Attendees will learn how to study and solve problems in areas of:

·      Ground water availability, including water rights

·      Sediment and wood transport in rivers

·      Ordinary high water marks on rivers and lakes

·      High flows and instream flows for fish and wildlife, and

·      Wetlands hydrology for delineation and impact studies.

 

Day 2 will be spent in the field and include

·      On-the-ground exercises in data collection

·      Measurement of important parameters

·      Preliminary reporting

·      Cooperative exercises to improve study results

About the Instructor

Alan Wald

Mr. Wald has 30 years of experience as a hydrologist and hydrogeologist with extensive project work on streams, rivers, wetlands, and shorelands. He brings a background in both groundwater and surface water processes, floodplains and high flows, ordinary high water mark delineation, channel morphology, and other elements of applied hydrology. Before joining The Watershed Company, Alan was senior hydrologist with the Department of Ecology, WSDOT, and Department of Fish and Wildlife. He also taught in professional certification programs for Wetlands Hydrology and Delineation of Ordinary High Water Marks.

Mr. Wald recently authored "High Flows for Fish and Wildlife in Washington" and was a co-author of "Integrated Approaches to Riverine Resource Stewardship", a discussion of instream flow recommendations  with case histories of flow preservation and restoration on streams and rivers across North America.

What to Bring

Pen or pencil to take notes. On the classroom day, lunch will be on your own but drinks and snacks will be provided. A box lunch will be provided on the field day.

Billing Information

In order to guarantee a space in a course, the tuition must be paid in full TWO WEEKS before the first day of the course by either check or credit card. State and government agencies paying with a purchase order are allowed payment under the two-week time frame if a copy of the purchase order is received by NWETC.

If You Need to Cancel

Cancellations*

• With 31 or more days notice, we will offer a 100% refund or credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With 30-8 days notice, we will offer a course credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With fewer than 8 days notice, there is no course credit available

*Please note that attendee replacement is welcome at any time

Disability Accommodations

Disability Accommodations:

To request disability accommodations, please contact us at info@nwetc.org or 425-270-3274 at least 30 days prior to the event.