North Carolina Wetland Assessment Method (NC WAM) and Training Course
September 10 – 13, 2019
Class Location:
Class taught at New Hope Center, 4101 Capital Boulevard, Conference Room 436, Raleigh, NC 27604
919-522-6364 (Dorney cell)
Registration Fee (Before 8/30/19):
$835 for NCAEP members or $860 for non-NCAEP members
Conducted by:
NC Association of Environmental Professionals
Taught by:
John Dorney, Sandy Smith, and LeiLani Paugh
Introduction: This 4-day lecture and field course will focus on the North Carolina Wetland Assessment Method (Version 5.1) (NC WAM) that was implemented by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Wilmington District (USACE) in a public notice dated April 21, 2015. The USACE intends to utilize NC WAM for internal reviews of permit applications, including decisions regarding the amount and type of compensatory mitigation, avoidance and minimization of impacts, or other decisions pertaining to aquatic resource quality and functions. Environmental consultants, federal and state agency personnel, and local government staff members who deal with regulatory programs related to wetlands are encouraged to attend. Emphasis will be on identification of North Carolina general wetland types, determination of evaluation areas, discussion of evaluation concepts and functional assessment metrics, experience using the computer rating calculator, and field exercises in both undisturbed and disturbed wetlands and wetland complexes. The course will conclude with a written test, and successful students will be presented with a Certificate of Training. Though the method is specific to North Carolina, this course may also be useful for professionals who work in neighboring states. Continuing education credits have been requested and approved for Foresters (SAF), Engineers (NCBELS), Landscape Architects (NCBOLA), Erosion & Sediment Control (CPESC), and Storm Water Quality (CPSWQ). In addition, others can be sought upon request. In addition, others can be sought upon request. Applicants who are interested in continuing education credits must notify us by e-mail so appropriate arrangements can be made.
Instructors:
John Dorney: Senior Environmental Scientist, Moffatt & Nichol for the past five years and retired from N.C. Division of Water Quality, Wetlands and Stormwater Branch. Mr. Dorney worked with the Division of Water Quality for over 28 years, was actively involved in the development of NC WAM, as well as the N.C. Stream Assessment Method, and has taught courses in these methods for more than 10 years, and has co-authored several papers on the method. He is an expert in wetland and stream functional assessment, isolated wetlands, as well as wetland and stream permitting.
Sandy Smith: Senior Project Manager, Axiom Environmental, Inc. Mr. Smith has worked as a private environmental consultant in North Carolina for 31 years, was actively involved in the development of NC WAM, and has co-authored several papers on the method, and has taught courses in the method for more than 10 years. He is an expert in wetland delineation, functional assessment, and permitting.
LeiLani Paugh: Mitigation and Modeling Group Leader, N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT), Technical Service, Environmental Analysis Unit. Ms. Paugh has worked for NCDOT for 20 years, was actively involved in the development of NC WAM, as well as the N.C. Stream Assessment Method, and has taught courses in these methods for more than 10 years. Her background is in wetland delineation and modeling, functional assessment, mitigation, and permitting.
Logistics: The lecture portion of the course will be conducted in a classroom setting each morning, while field exercises will be conducted at various locations on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. All field trips will depart from the classroom site, and vans will be provided for transportation. Field trips are conducted in all weather conditions except unsafe weather. If field trips cannot be conducted due to weather, the class or a portion thereof will be rescheduled. Knee boots or hiking boots will be adequate for the field trips.
The registration fee includes the NC WAM User Manual, class paper supplies, lunches (three), and field trip transportation, as well as field snacks and drinking waters. Liability waivers must be signed upon your arrival to class.
Registration: Class enrollment is set at a minimum of 17 registrants and a maximum of 30 registrants. All checks will be held until we are certain that the minimum number of students is achieved for the class. Registration fees must be received by NCAEP no later than August 30, 2019. Registrations after September 2 will be charged an additional $100.00.
Registrants cancelling their registration two (2) weeks or more prior to the event (August 27, 2019) will receive a refund of the registration fee, less a (3%) administrative fee. Registrants canceling between two (2) and one (1) week(s) prior to the event (September 3, 2019) will receive a refund, less a (5%) administrative fee. No refunds will be given for cancellations less than seven (7) days prior to the event. Registrants may transfer their registration to another attendee with the same membership status (e.g. regular member, government employee member, non-member) at any time. Only one transfer per registration is permitted.
