Webinars & Trainings
Dates: September 16-18, 2025
Location: Denver, CO
Who should attend: The focus of the training is on integrating programs to improve interagency planning and implementation of co-beneficial projects that reduce flood risk and improve water quality, among other benefits. To embed this focus on program integration, states, local community, and Tribal participants will be asked to attend in pairs. Each pair should consist of one individual who works on programs related to Clean Water Act requirements and one individual who works on programs related to natural hazard mitigation. States will participate in the training to deepen their relationship with any communities or Tribes in attendance from their state. Following the two-day workshop, NAWM and ASFPM will continue to work with each cohort to facilitate integration efforts via quarterly calls and webinars. The 2025 training will focus on states, Tribes, and local communities specifically in Western states (AK, AZ, CA, CO, HI, ID, MT, NM, NV, OR, UT, WA, WY).
If you are interested in having your community participate in an upcoming training, please see sign-up information!
Return to Integrated Watershed Management
Upcoming Webinars
Hot Topics Webinar:
NWCA: Federal and State Perspectives on the 3rd Collaborative Survey of Wetlands in the U.S.
Tuesday, March 25, 2025 - 3:00 p.m. EST
Members Webinar
Invasive Plant Management at Restoration Sites
Wednesday, March 19, 2025 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
Uncovering the Past and Planning for the Future: Washington, D.C.’s Underground & Piped Stream Mapping Project
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 - 3:00 p.m. EDT
For a full list of all available webinar recordings with links, can be found here.
Please Note: NAWM is not a professional certification authority or institution. However, Certificates of Attendance to be used toward Continuing Education Credits are available for all live NAWM Webinars. Certificates are free to NAWM members and $25.00 per certificate for non-members. All Certificates must be claimed no later than 60 days from the live presentation. More information is available here.
The National Association of Wetland Managers (formerly the Association of State Wetland Managers) developed this online training series focusing on hydric soils for wetland professionals. This training series has returned to its original format as a four module training series. It was designed 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. These can also be used as refresher courses for those practitioners who have not had soils training in recent years.
Target Audience
Wetland professionals, specifically state and tribal wetland field staff (plus state/tribal wetland managers, local municipal officials, conservation commissions, boards of health and others).
Information about the Hydric Soils Training Modules (4 modules)
The training series spans four module topics - Basics of Hydric Soils, Hydric Soil Processes, Landforms and Landscapes, and Using Field Observations of Soils Onsite in Decision Making. Each module contains three training presentations.
Optional Module Quiz and Certificate of Completion for Use in Applying for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
Each online module in the Hydric Soils Training Series is accompanied by an optional knowledge assessment quiz available through ClassMarker. The quiz assesses understanding of the key take-away points of the training. See the ClassMarker tabs below for more information.
NAWM Members - as a benefit of membership, you may view the learning modules on your NAWM Member Portal and download a free Certificate of Completion for each module quiz that you pass. Log In to the membership portal to access the learning modules and quizzes.
Non-Members - each module is available to purchase for $50.00 USD. Your module purchase provides access to view the learning module in Member365 and access the knowledge assessment quiz on ClassMarker. Secure payment is made through BAMBORA.
Module 01: Basics of Hydric Soils Trainer: Dr. W. Lee Daniels, Virginia Tech1 This training covers both the five factors of formation and horizonation vs. simple processes. The training begins with a review of redox reactions and redoximorphic features. Reduction and concurrent oxidation (redox) are the dominant chemical processes taking place in wetland soils. There are abiological and biological driven redox reactions in wetland soils. The session focuses on reactions driven by microbial breakdown of organic matter in soils under saturated conditions that lead to unique anaerobic conditions that meet the hydric soil definition of USDA. These redox reactions lead to mobilization of soluble Fe and Mn (depletion zones and surfaces) and subsequent reoxidation (concentration zones and surfaces), collectively called redoximorphic features. Redox feature types are identified through images. Description of the features is briefly reviewed, in preparation for use as components of field indicators of hydric soils 1B. Soil Texture and Structure Trainer: Dr. Ann Rossi, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1C. Describing Soil Color for Hydric Soils Determination Trainer: Lenore Vasilas, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service This training focuses on describing soil color. Soil color and the color patterns in soil can tell you a lot about the soil. It is an especially good indicator of soil wetness and hydric soils. The primary components that give a soil its color are soil organic matter, iron, and the color of soil particles. The Munsell Soil Color System is the standard we use to document soil color. When documenting soil color, it is important to note matrix color, mottle colors, and type, location, and abundance of mottles. Module 02: Hydric Soil Processes 2A. Redox Reactions and Redoximorphic Features Trainer: Dr. John Galbraith, Viginia Tech This training begins with a review of redox reactions and redoximorphic features. Reduction and concurrent oxidation (redox) are the dominant chemical processes taking place in wetland soils. There are abiological and biological driven redox reactions in wetland soils. The training will focus on the reactions driven by microbial breakdown of organic matter in soils under saturated conditions that lead to unique anaerobic conditions that meet the hydric soil definition of USDA. The redox reactions lead to mobilization of soluble Fe and Mn (depletion zones and surfaces) and subsequent reoxidation (concentration zones and surfaces), collectively called redoximorphic features. Redox feature types are identified through images. Description of the features will be briefly reviewed, in preparation for use as components of field indicators of hydric soils. 2B. Hydric Soils Functions Trainer: Bruce Vasilas, University of Delaware This training focuses on wetland functions attributed directly to hydric soils. Functions are the biological, chemical, and physical processes that occur in wetlands. Hydric soils play a direct role in the wetland functions of water retention (short term and long term), sedimentation, carbon sequestration and biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. Due to their capacity to become anaerobic close to the surface, hydric soils support unique plant communities and wildlife habitat unlikely to be found in uplands. Functional capacity is influenced by landscape position, hydrologic characteristics, and soil characteristics. Soil characteristics that affect wetland functions include porosity, permeability, drainage class/hydroperiod, organic matter content, slope, micro-topography, and chemical properties. 2C. The Hydric Soil Technical Standard Trainer: Lenore Vasilas, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service This training focuses on the Hydric Soil Technical Standard. The Hydric Soil Technical Standard (HSTS) provides a quantitative method of determining if a soil meets the definition of a hydric soil. The HSTS can be used to: 1) Identify a soils forming as hydric soils when a field indicator may not be present (e.g. wetland creation sites, problematic hydric soils); 2) Evaluate the current functional status of a hydric soil (e.g. change to hydrology); and 3) Propose changes to hydric soil indicators (e.g. expanding jurisdictional extent of an indicator, revising an existing indicator, adding a newly developed indicator). The HSTS requires quantitative measurements showing the soil becomes saturated and anaerobic in the upper part during normal precipitation years. Module 03: Landforms and Landscapes 3A. Landscapes and Hydric Soils Trainer: Dr. Bruce Vasilas, University of Delaware The training focuses on typical hydric soil morphologies associated with major wetland types-tidal marshes, peat bogs, perennially-inundated swamps, mineral soil flats, floodplains, depressions, and slope wetlands. The roles of landscape position, hydroperiod, and hydrodynamics on soil morphology will be emphasized. Soil morphology is impacted by the duration of inundation, and the seasonal vertical fluctuations in water tables. Water collecting surfaces such as closed depressions facilitate ponding; water shedding surfaces on slopes promote rapid movement of surface water through the wetland. Peat bogs are hydrologically isolated and permanently saturated; floodplains receive hydrologic inputs from overbank flow and groundwater discharge and exhibit short-term inundation. Therefore, because of differences in landscape position and associated hydrologic characteristics different types of wetlands produce distinctive hydric soils. 3B. Problematic Landscapes and Parent Materials (former mod 8) Trainer: Lenore Vasilas, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service The training focuses on problematic landscapes and parent materials. Most hydric soils exhibit certain common morphological characteristics that allow you to identify them as a soil that meets the hydric soil definition. Problem soils are hydric soils that do not exhibit these common hydric soil morphologies. The lack of a morphological indicator despite the soil developing anaerobic conditions in the upper part can be caused by many things including problematic parent material, certain environmental conditions, and the replenishment of iron oxides or new sediments in the upper part of the soil. For some problem soils, alternate morphologies that can only be used in specific problematic situations have been developed. For those problematic situations where an indicator has not been identified, alternative methods of identifying the soil as hydric must be employed. These techniques are outlined in chapter 5 of the Corps of Engineers Regional Supplements. 3C. HGM and Hydric Soils (former mod 9) Trainer: Richard Weber, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service The module focuses on the Hydrogeomorphic (HGM) system and hydric soils. The classification of wetlands in the HGM system is based on landscape position, dominant water source, and hydrodynamics – the magnitude and direction of water inflow and outflow. Information on these parameters is contained in soils information, which is housed in the Web Soil Survey and the soils database. While HGM interpretations are not provided directly, knowledge of soils attributes can be readily applied to make HGM class and sub-class designations. These attributes can be used to aggregate soil map units into HGM site concepts. A site concept is valid when all map units have similar water budgets, are in the same watershed position, and have the same water movement vectors. The HGM system also requires the definition of a Reference Domain, within which HGM classifications are valid. Since soil map unit concepts are generally consistent within a Major Land Resource Area, this boundary is the first selection for the Reference Domain. Since landscape position is more meaningfully defined as watershed position, the HUC-12 watershed scale is useful for heads-up testing of map unit aggregations. Since map units often need to be either aggregated, or disaggregated into components, the use of Digital Elevation Data is useful for performing these “lumping” or “splitting” operations. The final result should be a HGM sub-class with associated map units, or components, which can be mapped across the MLRA extent, and which is useful for land managers and conservation planners. Module 04: Using Field Observations of Soils Onsite for Decision Making 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 Module 4 to optimize your learning experience. 4A. Using the NTCHS Indicators of Hydric Soils (Version 7.0) aka Field Indicators of Hydric Soils in the United States Trainer: John Galbraith, Virginia Tech This training 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. 4B. Using Soil Science Principles for Wetland Mitigation, Voluntary Restoration and Creation Trainer: W. Lee Daniels, Virginia Tech The training focuses on how wetland professionals can use soil science principles in onsite decision making for work in the areas of wetland mitigation, voluntary wetland restoration and wetland creation. The training identifies common fallacies about wetland creation and reviews wetland soil reconstruction guidance protocols. The training includes a review of learning from 20 years of collaborative research on the limitations of created wetland soils. 4C. Using Field Indicators to Assess Long-term Hydrology Trainer: Dr. Bruce Vasilas, University of Delaware The training focuses on potential uses of Field Indicators of Hydric Soils to assess hydrologic characteristics of individual wetlands. This training does not teach about the Field Indicators themselves, but rather the benefits of hydrologic characterization and considerations for the use of the Field Indicators in onsite decision making. Notes: It is not the objective of this training presentation to provide training on the field Indicators themselves. Training on field indicators is available in Dr. Galbraith’s presentation earlier in this training. If you are not familiar with the basics of hydric soils, we recommend that you complete the earlier trainings in the series prior to participating in Training 4 to optimize your learning experience.
Module 1
1A. The Five Factors of Soil Formation and Horizonation vs. Simple Processes
This training focuses on two physical soil properties --- texture and structure. Soil texture describes the relative proportions of sand, silt, and clay in a mineral soil. In soils where organic matter contents are high (such as hydric soils) organic textural classes or modifiers may be used to describe the soil texture instead. Soil structure describes the naturally occurring arrangement of soil particles into peds or aggregates. The combination of soil texture and structure influences how water is stored and moves through the soil, as well as other soil processes. This training covers how these properties are characterized, as well as how they influence hydric soil processes.
Module 2
Module 3
Module 4
ClassMarker
Class Marker Information
Each module includes an optional 15-question randomized quiz hosted in the ClassMarker system. Successful completion of the quiz provides the opportunity to earn a Certificate of Completion for use in applying for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs).
Optional Module Quiz and Certificate of Completion for Use in Applying for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
To receive a Certificate of Completion for the selected online module, participants must certify that they viewed the online training and complete the quiz with a minimum score of eighty percent (80%) for the knowledge-based questions. Participants scoring less than eighty percent of the knowledge-based questions correctly will be provided with one additional opportunity to pass the quiz (total of two attempts).
ClassMarker Quiz Registration
To receive your certificate, you must BOTH:
You will be prompted to download your Certificate of Completion from ClassMarker after you complete the quiz. Once you download your certificate, you can then submit the certificate to the accrediting organization of your choice to potentially receive continuing education units/credits.
If you did not answer at least 80% of the quiz questions correct on your first attempt, you can re-take the test one more time (total of two attempts). Return to the NAWM module page and START the test again.
You must use the same email, password and Access Code for the second quiz attempt for the same module. ClassMarker will recognize your email for the specific training module and will not charge you for the second attempt. If you do not achieve at least 80% of the quiz questions correct on your second attempt, you will not be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion.
If you have any questions, please contact Laura Burchill at the NAWM office at (207) 892-3399.
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Implementing an Ecological Approach for Reviewing Compensatory Stream Mitigation Projects by the National Association of Wetland Managers, and the University of Georgia – Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems |
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NAWM Implementing an Ecological Approach for Reviewing Compensatory Stream Mitigation Projects Online Training Series
The National Association of Wetland Managers and the University of Georgia – Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems are pleased to present this compensatory stream mitigation review Online training series; funded through a cooperative agreement with U.S. EPA Region 4. This training series consists of 3 Modules which have been developed as a companion to an EPA document titled “An Ecological Approach for Reviewing CWA Section 404 Compensatory Mitigation Projects in EPA Region 4” that has broad applicability and has utility for reviewing proposed stream mitigation projects in a variety of ecotones. The online training modules are available on-demand to assist in training new staff and to provide a refresher for more experienced water quality and aquatic resource managers.
Target Audience:
The target audience for these training modules is aquatic resources staff whose duties include the review and comment on stream mitigation proposals; other interested parties may include water quality/resource professionals at state agencies, local municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and private consulting companies.
List of Compensatory Stream Mitigation Review Training Modules:
"Implementing an Ecological Approach for Reviewing Compensatory Stream Mitigation Projects"
Module 1: Compensatory Stream Mitigation Review
Module 2: Reviewing Hydrology & Geomorphology
Module 3: Reviewing Stream Designs
Optional Module Quiz and Certificate of Completion for Use in Applying for Continuing Education Credits (CEUs)
Each online module in the Implementing an Ecological Approach for Reviewing Compensatory Stream Mitigation Projects Training Series is accompanied by an optional knowledge assessment quiz available through ClassMarker. The quiz assesses understanding of the key take-away points of the training module.
To receive a Certificate of Completion for the selected online module, participants must certify that they viewed the online training and complete the quiz with a minimum score of eighty percent (80%) for the knowledge-based questions. Participants scoring less than eighty percent of the knowledge-based questions correctly will be provided one additional opportunity to pass the quiz (total of two attempts).
NAWM Members - as a benefit of membership, you will have the opportunity to download a free Certificate of Completion for each module quiz that you pass. Log In to the membership portal to access the learning modules and quizzes.
Non-Members - you have free access to view the training modules. There is a $25.00 USD fee per module to take the online quiz towards achieving a Certificate of Completion. Secure payment is made through PayPal, either with a PayPal account or with the guest option, using a credit card. If you are not a NAWM member and are interested in taking a module quiz to earn a certificate, please contact Laura Burchill at the NAWM office at (207) 892-3399 or via email at laura@nawm.org.
"Implementing an Ecological Approach for Reviewing Compensatory Stream Mitigation Projects"
Module 1: Compensatory Stream Mitigation Review
MODULE DESCRIPTION
This training module will address how to effectively evaluate stream project proposal for sustainable ecological potential; account for sediment transport processes, channel evolution, stressors & constraints; provide an introduction to stream restoration approaches beyond Natural Channel Design
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By taking part in this online training, participants should be able to:
1. Get an introduction to a new compensatory stream mitigation document.
2. Develop an understanding of the differences between equilibrium designs and process-based restoration.
3. Become familiar with risk assessment tools for planning. And-
4. Recognize the significance of stream channel evolution.
TRAINERS
- Dr. Holly Yaryan Hall, Senior Engineer and RDE Labs Director, Robinson Design Engineers
- Dr. Brian Bledsoe, Director, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia
Module 1: Part 1: Moderator: Jeff Lapp, National Association of Wetland Managers Module 1: Part 2: Moderator: Jeff Lapp, National Association of Wetland Managers
Trainer: Holly Yaryan Hall, PhD, PE, Robinson Design Engineers
Trainer: Brian Bledsoe, PhD, PE, University of Georgia
To Take the Quiz and Receive a Certificate of Completion for this Module
If you are a current NAWM Member, Log In here. If you are not an NAWM Member, there is a $25.00 USD fee per module quiz. To proceed with payment and access the module quiz, select the Module 1 Quiz button to transfer to the ClassMarker system. Upon successful completion of the module quiz, you will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion for 1.5 hours of training.
Module 2: Reviewing Hydrology & Geomorphology
MODULE DESCRIPTION
This training covers hydrologic and geomorphologic conditions influencing stream restoration design and long-term success. The role reference reach determination plays in project success criteria and determining variability of project analysis as determined by stream type.
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By taking part in this online training, participants should be able to:
1. Understand the concepts of flow and floodplain inundation regimes.
2. Recognize the importance of all flows in shaping channel form.
3. Understand basic geomorphologic principles of sediment transport.
4. Improved familiarity with appropriate use of reference and analog reaches.
5. Recognize how design tools and necessary depth of design analysis vary among stream types.
TRAINERS
- Dr. Holly Yaryan Hall, Senior Engineer and RDE Labs Director, Robinson Design Engineers
- Dr. Brian Bledsoe, Director, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia
Module 2: Part 1: Moderator: Jeff Lapp, National Association of Wetland Managers Trainer: Holly Yaryan Hall, PhD, PE Robinson Design Engineers
Module 2: Part 2: Moderator: Jeff Lapp, National Association of Wetland Managers Trainer: Brian Bledsoe, PhD, PE, University of Georgia
To Take the Quiz and Receive a Certificate of Completion for this ModuleIf you are a current NAWM Member, Log In here. If you are not an NAWM Member, there is a $25.00 USD fee per module quiz. To proceed with payment and access the module quiz, select the Module 2 Quiz button to transfer to the ClassMarker system. Upon successful completion of the module quiz, you will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion for 1.5 hours of training.
Module 3: Reviewing Stream Designs
MODULE DESCRIPTION
This training will introduce novel approaches to stream design, integration of restoration strategies, the use of beaver or beaver analogs as a restorative technique, and project monitoring and management.
MODULE LEARNING OBJECTIVES
By taking part in this online training, participants should be able to:
1. Be introduced to a variety of innovative stream restoration strategies.
2. Understand how an ecological approach to stream mitigation may include beaver.
3. How design strategies can be integrated.
4. Resources for monitoring and adaptive management
TRAINERS
- Dr. Holly Yaryan Hall, Senior Engineer and RDE Labs Director, Robinson Design Engineers
- Dr. Brian Bledsoe, Director, Institute for Resilient Infrastructure Systems, University of Georgia
Module 3: Part 1: Moderator: Jeff Lapp, National Association of Wetland Managers Trainer: Holly Yaryan Hall, PhD, PE Robinson Design Engineers Module 3: Part 2: Moderator: Jeff Lapp, National Association of Wetland Managers; Trainer: Brian Bledsoe, PhD, PE, University of Georgia
To Take the Quiz and Receive a Certificate of Completion for this Module
If you are a current NAWM Member, Log In here. If you are not an NAWM Member, there is a $25.00 USD fee per module quiz. To proceed with payment and access the module quiz, select the Module 3 Quiz button to transfer to the ClassMarker system. Upon successful completion of the module quiz, you will be eligible for a Certificate of Completion for 1 hour of training.
You will need to develop username and password in ClassMarker for each online quiz. Once you click on the quiz link, you will be prompted again to provide your name and email address. This will be used to process your certificate. Participants who both view the module presentation and successfully complete the module quiz are eligible for an NAWM Certificate of Completion for 1.5 hours of training for each module.
To receive your certificate, you must BOTH:
1. Certify that you completed viewing the Implementing an Ecological Approach for Reviewing Compensatory Stream Mitigation Projects online training module video presentation. Answering “no” will result in no certificate being issued.
2. Complete all knowledge quiz questions with the required minimum of eighty percent (80%) of the questions answered correctly. You will have two attempts to take the quiz for the module. If at the end of your second attempt you have not been able to achieve a minimum score of eighty percent, you will not be eligible to receive a certificate.
You will be prompted to download your Certificate of Completion from ClassMarker after you complete the quiz. Once you download your certificate, you can then submit the certificate to the accrediting organization of your choice to potentially receive continuing education units/credits.
If you did not answer at least 80% of the quiz questions correct on your first attempt, you can re-take the test one more time (total of two attempts). Return to the NAWM module page and START the test again (vs Resume).
You must use the same email, username and password for the second quiz attempt for this same module. ClassMarker will recognize your email for the specific training module and will not charge you for the second attempt. If you do not achieve at least 80% of the quiz questions correct on your second attempt, you will not be eligible to receive a Certificate of Completion.
We encourage you to go to the NAWM.org website and become a member so that you can receive Certificates of Completion (trainings) and Certificates of Participation (live webinars) at no charge for the next 12 months.
If you have any questions, please contact Laura Burchill at laura@nawm.org or contact the NAWM office at (207) 892-3399.