2024 Wetland Assessment Course

Tannas Conservation Services Ltd. is pleased to offer a 2024 Wetland Assessment Course. This course focuses on the techniques and knowledge required to assess wetlands under the recently released Alberta Wetland Policy and the Alberta Wetland Classification. The course also discusses other wetland assessment techniques including: Riparian Health Assessment and Stewart and Kantrud Classification. The course will include a classroom as well as a field component.

Day 1 – Alberta Wetland Policy and the ABWRET-A

Classroom: Review of the Alberta Wetland Policy and assessment requirements including Alberta Wetland Classification System, a brief introduction to the AWRET-A Form, reporting requirements, challenges and things you need to know to successfully complete a wetland report.

Day 2 –Permanency Assessment and Delineation

Classroom: Focus on assessment of permanency, required reporting for permanency assessments and we will work through wetland delineation using imagery as per the requirements for wetland assessments.

Day 3 –Ecosystem Function, Indicator Species, and Field Assessment Techniques

Classroom/Field: Review assessing ecosystem function and the tools available, as well as indicator species to help classify wetland according to the Alberta Wetland Classification System. The afternoon will start the field work discussed under Day 4.

Day 4 –Field Assessment: Delineation, Soil, Vegetation, and ABWRET-A

Field: The final day of the course will focus on plant identification, soil classification, and putting into practice each assessment technique. Instructors will act as coaches to help everyone complete their own assessments.

Schedule:

May 13-14:

Location: Cochrane Alliance Church, 902 Glenbow Dr, Cochrane

8:30 - 9am - Registration (you only need to register on the first day, the rest of the time you'll start at 9am)

9am - 12ish - Morning classroom session

12-1 - Lunch

1-:4:30ish - Afternoon classroom session

May 15:

Location: Location: Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds (for directions type "Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds" into Google Maps") About 25 min north of Cochrane

9-12am - Morning classroom session

12-1pm - Lunch

1-:4:30 - Afternoon field session

May 16:

Location: Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds (for directions type "Eastern Slopes Rangeland Seeds" into Google Maps") About 25 min north of Cochrane

9-12am - Morning field session

12-1pm - Lunch

1-:4:30 - Afternoon field session

What to bring:

- For the classroom days please bring a laptop

- Please bring your own lunch. On May 13-14 you will be able to go for lunch in town. On May 15-16 please bring a lunch as you will be in the field.

- Notebook, pens etc for note taking

- For the field days bring plant ID books if you have them

- For field days wear/bring weather appropriate clothing and sufficient water

- Please do not bring any pets