The Swamp School, LLC training

The process for identifying Jurisdictional Wetlands and Waters of the US (WOTUS)has undergone major changes the last several years. We have gone from a 1986 WOTUS rule, updated to a 2015 Clean Water Rule and then back to a 2019 WOTUS rule reminiscent of the 1986 rule. Finally, concluding with the latest the Navigable Waters Protection Rule in 2020. All of this has led to a lot of confusion over what is and what is not jurisdictional under the Clean Water Act. The old rules and guidance are out. Just because the Corps may have regulated a wetland or waterbody in the past does not mean that it is regulated today.

With the Swamp School Wetland Delineation training online, you can earn your certification in 16 weeks or less. The workshop covers basic wetland training and includes the 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Wetlands Manual, and you can choose any or all of the 10 Regional Supplements to get trained on. We cover the conceptual framework of the wetland indicators as well as the regulatory context, court decisions and related laws. Students can complete the 12 modules at their own pace and can coordinate the field work with their instructor. The class concludes with a review of your field work and a final exam. Upon successful completion of the class and a grade of 80% or higher, a certificate is issued for demonstrated education experience in the Professional Wetland Scientist Certification Program, which is offered by the Society of Wetland Scientists.

The Swamp School has put together an on-demand online virtual classroom workshop that will bring you up to speed on: Regulations, wetland soils, wetland hydrology, and wetland vegetation, plus. Everything you need to know about the USACOE Regional Supplement updates.

Learning the skills to be a successful wetland delineator is an ongoing process. It is more than taking a one–week class. It requires keeping updated with the latest regulation changes, technical updates and advances in wetland science. The field skills are perishable and without frequent practice they are lost. Over the years we have heard from students about the challenges of taking a wetland delineation class, working for a few weeks in wetlands and then not having another wetland project for a couple of months. When they start the new project, they have lost their edge and feel like they are starting over. It is a lot like going to the gym for the first time. Hop on an elliptical for 15 minutes and you feel great. A few hours later the pain comes. You work through the pain and go back to the gym. After a couple of days, you have no more pain. But, if you take some time off from the gym it is as if you never been there before and the pain returns.

It may have been a few months or years since you have taken a Basic Training Wetland Delineation Class. Now you need to get up to speed on what is new and what has changed since your last class. We have developed a Wetland Refresher and Mastery Program just for you. First you will start off with our Wetland Delineation Refresher Workshop. This is a 4-week program designed to reawaken what you had learned during your basic training. This class includes all of the latest USACOE wetland delineation technique updates and regulatory changes.

The new Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Regional Supplements are published and many of them are being used for permit decisions. Even if you are an experienced wetland delineator, you need this class. Each Regional Supplement presents unique challenges that warrant training to fully understand. The Swamp School has developed a customized learning program for each of these regions. The classes are offered in local provinces based on socio-economic as well as ecological characteristics. Each province has unique features that include several wetland manuals. Most states require the use of more than one regional supplement.

Do you need to keep up with the latest changes and developments in wetland science?  Have you completed a wetland delineation class recently?  If so then our Master Wetlands Skills is the perfect way to keep your newly acquired skills sharp.