Immediately following the National Association of Environmental Professionals 2017 Conference

Provided by: NCAEP, John Dorney (Moffatt & Nichol) and Sandy Smith (Axiom Environmental)

The NC Wetland Assessment Method (NC WAM) and NC Stream Assessment Method (NC SAM) are newly developed methods that have been recently and formally adopted by the US Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) to rapidly assess the quality of wetlands and streams in NC. (Public Notice on April 21, 2015  -  available at: http://www.saw.usace.army.mil/Missions/RegulatoryPermitProgram/RegulatoryNews/tabid/11189/Article/585633/wilmington-district-implementation-of-the-north-carolina-stream-assessment-meth.aspx) These methods were developed using a multi-year, interagency process.  Four-day training classes have been and continue to be offered for field staff to understand and utilize the methods properly. The manuals and accompanying materials for these classes can be found on NCAEP’s website (http://ncaep.org/links) and at the Corps’ RIBBITS site for the Wilmington District, under “Assessment Tools.”

Interest has been expressed for a one-day overview course that summarizes these methods. The purpose of this overview is to ensure that interested parties from within and beyond North Carolina understand the complexities and goals of these two methods. Two of the four-day course’s main instructors (John Dorney with Moffatt & Nichol, and Sandy Smith with Axiom Environmental) will be teaching the one-day overview class, immediately following  the 2017 National Association of Environmental Professionals Conference in Durham, NC.  In addition to the morning lecture sessions, an optional afternoon field trip to a nearby wetland and stream complex will be provided, along with a box lunch.  Attendees will observe and participate in the completion of several NC WAM and NC SAM field forms and results of the field exercise will be discussed upon completion of the forms.  Since this is an overview class, manuals will not be provided but can be downloaded from the websites cited above. Field forms and other related documentation will be provided for students.

Registration includes the morning lecture session and the optional afternoon field session, including a box lunch. NCAEP and the instructors have contacted various crediting groups (including the NC Board of Engineers and Surveyors).  Certificates of completion that document 6 PDH credits will be provided to all participants. Students must provide their own transportation to the field sites, or reserve a space in the instructors’ vehicles. A minimum of 20 registrants is required.  The maximum class size is 25.   Upon registration of 20 students, registrants will receive a course confirmation (via email). Should fewer than 20 students register, all registrants will be notified on 24 March that the course has been canceled and NCAEP will provide full registration refunds.    

Please note that this one-day class is not a substitute for the four-day class, which provides in-depth training for field practitioners. 

DATE: 31 March 2017

          
LOCATION: Moffatt & Nichol

                   4700 Falls of Neuse Rd., Suite 300
                   Raleigh, NC 27609