Somerset County Environmental Education Center - Lord Stirling Park
Wetland plants, also known as hydrophytes or hydrophytic vegetation, have adaptations that enable them to grow and reproduce with their roots in water or saturated soil for at least part of the year. In contrast, plants that cannot survive in saturated conditions are commonly referred to as upland plants.
Along with hydric soils and hydrology, the presence of wetland plants is one of the primary factors involved in the identification of wetland areas and the delineation of wetland boundaries. Therefore, the ability to identify wetland plants and and distinguish between upland and wetland plant species is an essential step in the wetland delineation process.
This two-day course gives you the opportunity to increase your wetland expertise by learning to identify vegetation during the winter months! Through a combination of classroom and field training, nationally recognized wetland expert Ralph Tiner will give you the tools to gain a competitive edge in the field of wetland delineation all year long. By examining criteria such as bark, twigs, and other leafless characteristics, you'll learn how to positively identify wetland plants even when winter conditions eliminate leaves as a distinguishing feature.
This is a field-based course, so please dress accordingly for the outdoors!
NOTE: This course is NOT part of the Wetland Delineation Certificate Series. If you wish to earn the certificate, you must take Vegetation Identification North or South. This course is eligible for continuing education credits toward the Society of Wetland Scientists' Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS) Certificate Program.