This training series provides an introduction to the knowledge, skills, and abilities to plan, design, and install Wetland Restorations (CPS 657). Additional training may be needed.
TTCP
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
- 1. Knowledge of wetland hydrology, wetland plant identification and hydric soils
Tech Talk: Wetland ID & Ecology Part 1
This is the first part of the Wetland ID & Ecology Basics series. Join BWSR Wetland Specialists Ben Meyer and David Demmer for this session covering the three wetland parameters and an overview of wetland classification systems.
Webinar 1: Introduction to Wetlands
This first webinar, presented in 5 segments, in ASWM and NRCS’s jointly developed nine-part wetland training webinar series provides an introduction to wetlands. The webinar introduces the primary components of a wetland, moving on to what makes wetlands distinctive from other types of waters and land. Next, the webinar covers the variability of wetlands across the landscape, including across seasons and time and the benefits of wetlands. The training concludes with a discussion of the history of and changes in agriculture policy in relation to wetland losses and gains. By the end of the webinar, participants will be able to describe what a wetland is and be able to explain to others the value of wetlands.
- 2. Ability to identify wetlands using the three factor method (hydrology, vegetation, and soils) and conduct wetland functional assessments
Webinar 3: Wetlands Ecology for Planners - How Wetlands Function
(Time: 1 hour, 56 mins) This is the third webinar, delivered in 5 segments, in ASWM and NRCS’s jointly developed nine-part wetland training webinar series. The first half of the webinar focused on explaining general wetland ecology concepts, including succession, thresholds, disturbance, sensitivity and resilience. The second half of the webinar identified how source waters (surface and groundwater) and soils define the character of a wetland, including an introduction to the Hydrogeomorphic Wetland Classification System (HGM). Participants will come away from the webinar with an increased understanding of how to consider these key concepts as they plan conservation and management activities that include wetlands.
Webinar 4: Wetland Ecology for Planners: Examples of Variation Across the United States
This is the fourth webinar, delivered in 4 segments, in ASWM and NRCS’s jointly developed nine-part wetland training webinar series. The webinar will begin with a presentation on the variability in wetlands across the country, including how specific wetland functions and services vary by wetland type. The webinar will review these functions and services, which include wildlife habitat, flood attenuation, water quality improvement, recreational opportunities and more. The webinar will then move to a second presentation on wetland benefits and their impact on other resources at the watershed scale. This topic will be explored through three cases examining how climatic fluctuation, flooding and water quality are impacted by the presence and/or absence of wetlands (wetland loss/wetland restoration). Participants will come away from the webinar with an increased understanding of variability of wetlands and their associated functions and services nationwide, as well as how wetland loss and wetland restoration can have impacts at the watershed scale.
Part 4.0: Welcome: Jeanne Christie, Association of State Wetland Managers Time: 5:30
Part 4.1: Presenter: Andy Robertson, Executive Director, Geospatial Services, St Mary's University of Minnesota Time: 5:55
Part 4.2: Presenter: Doug Norris, Wetland Program Coordinator, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Time: 28:37
Part 4.3: Presenter: Andy Robertson, Executive Director, Geospatial Services, St Mary's University of Minnesota Time: 32:32
The Association of State Wetland Managers has developed an online training series focused on hydric soils for wetland professionals. This twelve module training series is for wetland field practitioners who need expertise in hydric soils and seek to understand how hydric soils are formed and how to recognize and interpret the information they provide when observed in the field. This can also be used as refresher course for those practitioners who have not had soils training in recent years.
This video is a recording of the morning portion of the 2018-2019 TTCP Basic Hydrology class PowerPoints. It covers the science of hydrology, specifically precipitation, runoff, curve numbers, and peak discharge as covered in the NRCS hydrology modules 101-106 (pdfs online).
The basics of drainage and why it is done, installing drainage, the wetland hydrology technical criterion, the terms “effectively drained” and “lateral effect”, and drainage setback tables. (Time: 15 minutes)
Basic Hydrology is offered regularly as an in person course. If you need additional Basic Hydrology training, be sure to include the Basic Skill - "Basic Hydrology" in your eLINK Individual Development Plan (IDP).
- 3. Knowledge of priority species/habitats as identified in State Wildlife Action Plan or State approved species management plans
- 4. Skills to use Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guide or Habitat Suitability Index
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- 5. Basic knowledge for recognizing potentially special sites and Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species, sufficient to initiate contact with the appropriate specialist
Request Natural Heritage Database training access through your Area Resource Conservationist
- Practice Specific Training
This training will enable field staff involved in project applications, the design, or the construction of wetland restorations to have a solid understanding of the science and methods used. Types of implementation will include mostly basic components such as scrapes, ditch plugs, and small embankments. Vegetation establishment considerations will also be covered. NRCS and SWCD staff that follow up this training with experience on actual projects should be able to pursue Job Approval Authority for the phase(s) they work on.
Introduction to Agronomy Tech Note #31
Agronomy Technical Note #31 (ATN31) is used as a guide for the establishment of native and introduced plantings of herbaceous vegetation for the following practices:
Conservation Cover (327)
Contour Buffer Strips (332)
Critical Area Planting (342)
Filter Strip (393)
Forage and Biomass Planting (512)
Cross Wind Trap Strips (598C)
Restoration of Rare or Declining Natural Communities (643)
Upland Wildlife Habitat Management (645)Wetland Restoration (657)
This course is the first module in the series, and it provides an overview of Agronomy Tech Note 31 and an introduction to introduced, native, and invasive species.
This course is the second module in the ATN 31 series, and it describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.).
Seeding Considerations and Evaluations
This course is the third module in the ATN 31 series, and it covers companion crops, temporary cover, weed control, and fertilizer and lime considerations. This course also outlines the procedures for completing stand evaluations.
This course is the fourth and final module in the ATN 31 series, and it provides instructions on the use of the Seed Calculator Tool for developing seed plans and completing checkouts after plantings.
Tech Talk: Wetland Restoration Seed Mixes
Kelly Voigt, TTCP Training Conservationist, demonstrates how to design and evaluate wetland restoration seed mixes using the latest version of the NRCS seeding and certification calculator.
Minnesota Guidance: Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities (KSAs)
Inventory and Evaluation (I&E) Planning Phase
Job Class I
- 1. Read and understand the Conservation Practice Standard (CPS 657) and Statement of Work (SOW)
- 2. Ability to describe the differences between practice standards Wetland Restoration (657), Wetland Creation (658), Wetland Enhancement (659) and Shallow Water Development (646)
Wetland Creation (CPS 658)
Wetland Enhancement (CPS 659)
Seasonal Water Management for Wildlife (CPS 646)
- 3. Basic knowledge for recognizing potentially special sites and Threatened and Endangered (T&E) species, sufficient to initiate contact with the appropriate specialist
Request Natural Heritage Database training access through your Area Resource Conservationist.
- 4. Knowledge of hydric soils and ability to identify hydric soils using the soil survey
Course Description: This course will cover information to assist users of soils information with accessing and interpreting soils data and information produced by the National Cooperative Soil Survey including a review of the online interface. Objectives:
Access web soil survey
Demonstrate how to download official SSURGO soils
Navigate to and select an area of interest, run interpretive reports, and create and download reports
The Association of State Wetland Managers has developed an online training series focused on hydric soils for wetland professionals. This twelve module training series is for wetland field practitioners who need expertise in hydric soils and seek to understand how hydric soils are formed and how to recognize and interpret the information they provide when observed in the field. This can also be used as refresher course for those practitioners who have not had soils training in recent years.
Job Class II
- 1. Familiar with the “Midwest Regional Supplement” to the US Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation Manual and other wetland identification resources located on the National NRCS website
- 2. Knowledge of wetland hydrology and demonstrated ability to identify hydrology indicators using historical and LiDAR imagery
The basics of drainage and why it is done, installing drainage, the wetland hydrology technical criterion, the terms “effectively drained” and “lateral effect”, and drainage setback tables. (Time: 15 minutes)
Job Class III
- 1. Knowledge of hydric soils - Ability to identity hydric soils in the field by referencing “Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States”
The Association of State Wetland Managers has developed an online training series focused on hydric soils for wetland professionals. This twelve module training series is for wetland field practitioners who need expertise in hydric soils and seek to understand how hydric soils are formed and how to recognize and interpret the information they provide when observed in the field. This can also be used as refresher course for those practitioners who have not had soils training in recent years.
- Topic 4, Module 10: Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States
The module focuses on using the NTCHS Indicators of Hydric Soils (Version 7.0) for onsite decision making about soils in the field. This module shares what resources you will need to use the indicators, how to access the electronic resources (including guides, errata sheets and more). The module will help participants understand the definitions of key terms for this work, as well as show how to combine the use of these resources effectively to aid decision making in the field. This module brings together many of the main concepts from earlier modules (e.g. soil textures, colors, landforms) and helps the participant understand their application in an applied setting. The module will cover important indicator caveats and provide other useful guidance for working with NTCHS Indicators of Hydric Soils in the field. Note: If you are not familiar with the basics of hydric soils, we recommend that you complete the earlier modules in the series prior to participating in Modules 10, 11 and 12 to optimize your learning experience.
- 2. Ability to delineate the boundaries of a degraded wetland using indicators of hydrology and soils
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- 3. Ability to determine if restoring hydrology according to requirements in the practice standard is achievable
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- 4. Knowledge of common wetland drainage techniques such as tiling and surface drainage
The basics of drainage and why it is done, installing drainage, the wetland hydrology technical criterion, the terms “effectively drained” and “lateral effect”, and drainage setback tables. (Time: 15 minutes)
- 5. Knowledge of the Minnesota Wildlife Action Plan located on the Minnesota DNR website
- 6. Ability to design a filter strip according to the Filter Strip (393) practice standard using the Filter Strip Design Tool
Tech Talk Replay: Filter Strip - Part 1
Shannon Carpenter, NRCS Water Quality Specialist St. Paul reviews CPS 393 Filter Strip Practice Standard details, practice design, and Filter Strip Implementation requirements worksheet. This session also covers a brief review of Agronomy Technical Note #31 and how the Filter Strip Standard relates to the Note 31 and use of the Seed mix calculator.
- 7. Awareness of the National Biology Technical Notes located on the NRCS eDirectives website
- 8. Ability to document environmental benefits of wetland restoration
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- 9. As determined by the supervisor, job approval authority for ecological sciences and engineering practices common to wetland restoration in the location the conservation planner serves
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Design and Development Phase
Job Class I
- 1. Demonstrate the ability to write a seeding plan using the Minnesota NRCS Seed Calculator
This course is the fourth and final module in the ATN 31 series, and it provides instructions on the use of the Seed Calculator Tool for developing seed plans and completing checkouts after plantings.
Tech Talk: Seeding Calculator Workbook
Eric Anderson, NRCS Area Resource Conservationist demonstrates how to use the Conservation Seeding Calculator workbook to either develop a seeding plan or complete a checkout on a planting. He also shows new updates that have been made to the workbook including corrections to errors on the 342 Critical Area Planting tab and the new functionality to do seeding checkouts that document whether an applied seeding meets or does not meet practice specifications.
Tech Talk: Seed Calculator Revisions
The new version of the seeding spreadsheet has the ability to do seeding checkouts based on seed tags listing a Pure Live Seed (PLS) applied column. This method streamlines the checkout data entry to just one number per species. The spreadsheet still accommodates doing a checkout with a seed tag using the traditional purity and germination data entries. It also provides for a two step process whereby a seed tag utilizing purity and germ data can be combined with a PLS style tag to get a single efficient printout to document the seeding meets standards and specs. All species included in the calculator can now be brought into a seed mix using a reference number assigned to that species. The reference number will bring in the data used for that species in mix evaluation, such as seeds per pound, bloom period and etc. The use of the reference number will streamline the process of customizing a mix.
- 2. Knowledge of the Minnesota Wetland Restoration Guide
- 3. Ability to use the Minnesota Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Guides
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- 4. Knowledgeable of the recommendations found in Agronomy Technical Note #31
- 5. Knowledge of planting dates for introduced plant species used. Knowledge of planting methods and equipment. Knowledge of site preparation methods
This course is the second module in the ATN 31 series, and it describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.).
- 6. Review National Engineering Handbook, Part 650, Chapter 13 “Wetland Restoration, Enhancement or Creation”
Job Class II, III, and IV
1. Go through Minnesota NRCS Engineering Job Approval Authority
Construction/Installation/Certification Phase
Job Class I
- 1. Ability to conduct wetland functional assessments
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- 2. Knowledge of wetland plant identification and ability to identify common wetland plants to the taxonomic family using references. Ability to recognize wetland plant communities
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- 3. Ability to read seed tags and calculate pure live seed
This course is the second module in the ATN 31 series, and it describes the different methods for seedbed preparation and seeding and covers seeding equipment, seeder calibration, herbicide considerations, and planting dates. This course also discusses the concepts of Pure Live Seed (PLS) and Seeds Per Square Foot (seeds/sq. ft.).
- 4. Knowledge of Minnesota Seed Law and MN Noxious Weed Law
Selling Seed in Minnesota (Seed Law)
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture has put together this video presentation to help retailers understand the requirements for labeling and selling seed in Minnesota. It provides basic information that seed retailers should know regarding the Minnesota seed law, seed inventory management strategies, and seed label requirements. Please contact seed.mda@state.mn.us with any questions or if you would like further information.
- 5. Knowledge of operation and maintenance for introduced vegetative establishment (e.g. mowing & herbicide strategies)
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- 6. Ability to determine if an herbaceous seeding is established based on Agronomy Technical Note #17
Seeding Considerations and Evaluations
This course is the third module in the ATN 31 series, and it covers companion crops, temporary cover, weed control, and fertilizer and lime considerations. This course also outlines the procedures for completing stand evaluations.
Job Class II, III, and IV
1. Go through Minnesota NRCS Engineering Job Approval Authority