Agenda

Webinar instructions will be emailed before the date of the webinar.

Please log into the webinar 15 – 30 minutes before start time.

Monday, November 27, 2023
9:00 am – 4:30 pm CST


Wetlands Science
Presented by: L. Herrera

  • Defining wetlands
  • Evolving understanding of the value of wetlands
  • From wetlands destruction to wetlands preservation

Understanding Federal Wetlands Laws and Enforcement                            
Presented by B. Schroeder

  •  The Federal Clean Water Act 
  • National Food Security Act of 1985
  • Implementing/enforcing agencies 
    • S. Army Corps of Engineers 
    • S. Environmental Protection Agency 
    • S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 
    • State natural resources/environmental departments

Wetlands Law in Practice: Cases and Case Studies                                           
Presented by: B. Schroeder

  • Cases interpreting federal wetlands law 
  • Case studies of wetlands destruction and preservation

Identifying Wetlands                                                                                                   
Presented by: K. Morgan  

  •  How can wetlands be identified?
  • What are the three signs of wetlands?
  • What are the primary indicators of wetlands?
  • How do you identify wetland soil?

Wetland Preservation, Restoration, Creation and Enhancement           
   Presented by: M. Becker

  • Understanding the importance of wetlands
    • Flood storage and conveyance
    • Pollution control and carbon storage
    • Erosion control
    • Wildlife habitat
    • Recreation
  •  Wetland preservation strategies and techniques
  • Wetland restoration 
    • Preference for onsite and in-kind restoration 
    • Hydrological considerations 
    • Restoration techniques
  • Wetland creation: methods, benefits and drawbacks
  • Wetland enhancement: purposes and techniques

 

Webinar Instructions

All attendees must log-on through their own email – attendees may not watch together if they wish to earn continuing education credit. HalfMoon Education Inc. must be able to prove attendance if either the attendee or HalfMoon Education Inc. is audited.

Certificates of completion can be downloaded in PDF form upon passing a short quiz. A link to the quiz will be sent to each qualifying attendee immediately after the webinar. The certificate can be downloaded from the Results page of the quiz upon scoring 80% or higher.

Webinars are presented via GoToWebinar, an easy-to-use application that can be run on most systems and tablets. Instructions and login information will be provided in an email sent close to the date of the webinar. It is highly recommended that you download, install and test the application before the webinar begins by clicking on the link in the email.

GoToWebinar App requirements:
Windows 7 – 10 or Mac OSX Mavericks (10.9) – macOS Catalina (10.15)

Web Browser:
The two most recent version of the following browsers:
Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Apple Safari, Microsoft Edge
Internet Explorer v11 (or later) with Flash enabled

Internet connection: Minimum of 1Mbps       Hardware: 2GB RAM or more

For more information, visit the Support section at www.gotowebinar.com

Credits

Professional Engineers:
6.5 PDHs

Architects:
6.5 HSW CE Hours
6.5 AIA LU|HSW

Landscape Architects:
6.5 HSW CE Hours
6.5 LA CES HSW PDHs

Floodplain Managers:
6.5 ASFPM CECs

Certified Planners:
CM|6.5

Attorneys:
6.5 CLE Hours
(in Qualifying States)

 

Continuing Education Credit Information

This webinar is open to the public and is designed to qualify for 6.5 PDHs for professional engineers, 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for licensed architects, and 6.5 HSW continuing education hours for landscape architects in most states that allow this learning method. Please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.

HalfMoon Education is an approved continuing education sponsor for engineers in Florida (Provider No. 0004647), Indiana (License No. CE21700059), Maryland, New Jersey (Approval No. 24GP00000700) and North Carolina (S-0130). HalfMoon Education is deemed an approved continuing education sponsor for New York engineers and architects via its registration with the American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System (Regulations of the Commissioner §68.14(i)(2) and §69.6(i)(2)). Other states do not preapprove continuing education providers or courses.

The American Institute of Architects Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW LUs (Sponsor No. J885). Only full participation is reportable to the AIA/CES.

The Landscape Architecture Continuing Education System has approved this course for 6.5 HSW PDHs. Only full participation is reportable to the LA CES.

This webinar has been approved by the Association of State Floodplain Managers for 6.5 CECs for floodplain managers.

HalfMoon Education is an approved CM provider with the American Planning Association. This course is registered for CM|6.5 for certified planners.

HalfMoon Education in an approved MCLE Multiple Activity Provider for California attorneys (No. 8370); this webinar is designed to qualify for 6.5 CLE hours to California attorneys. HalfMoon Education is an approved CLE provider for Vermont attorneys. This webinar is designed to offer 6.5 CLE credits to attorneys in Arizona, Connecticut and New Hampshire where CLE providers and courses are not subject to preapproval. Attorneys in other states may be able to claim the hours earned at this webinar through state-specific application processes; please refer to specific state rules to determine eligibility.

Attendance will be monitored, and attendance certificates will be available after the webinar for those who attend the entire course and score a minimum 80% on the quiz that follows the course (multiple attempts allowed).

On-Demand Credits

The preceding credit information only applies to the live presentation. This course in an on-demand format may not be eligible for the same credits as the live presentation; please consult your licensing board(s) to ensure that a structured, asynchronous learning format is appropriate. The following pre-approvals may be available for the on-demand format upon request:

6.5 HSW LUs (AIA)
6.5 HSW PDHs (LA CES)
6.5 ASFPM CECs

Speakers

Mike Becker

Mr. Becker was born and raised in Minnesota. He grew up in Minneapolis until he graduated high school. He was always an outdoor enthusiast growing up. He moved to northern Minnesota to Itasca Community College where he earned an associate degree in forestry, then transferred to University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point for a bachelor’s degree in wildlife management. He has worked for more than 15 years in the area of wetland management throughout Minnesota. Mr. Becker has four years of wetland restoration experience and 11 years working on delineation and enforcement of wetland regulations in both the public and private sector. He works tirelessly to help ensure that wetlands are properly managed in Morrison County. He lives in Little Falls, Minnesota with his wife and four kids. He enjoys tinkering in his shop and messing about in boats.

Larissa Herrera

Senior Biologist with Holland Engineering

Ms. Herrera is an aquatic biologist with over eight years of experience in natural resource assessment, including wetland delineations, environmental permitting, stream assessments, mussel/macroinvertebrate surveys and identification, and threatened and endangered species surveys. She graduated with a B.S. degree in Biology and Program in the Environment (PitE) from the University of Michigan and an M.S. degree in Water Resource Science from the University of Minnesota Duluth. Ms. Herrera recently moved back to the mitten to work for Holland Engineering’s Environmental Group. She holds a USFWS permit to survey and handle federally listed mussel species. Her favorite mussels are the spectaclecase and snuffbox.

Katie Morgan

Ms. Morgan, is an experienced and knowledgeable Professional Wetland Scientist located in New Orleans, Louisiana. She has performed various natural resources and environmental consulting services for the public and private sectors nationwide, such as: Wetland Determinations, Wetland Delineations, Wetland Functional Assessments, Wetlands and Jurisdictional Surface Water Boundary Agency Verification, Section 404 and Section 401 Permitting, Permit Violation Resolution, Threatened and Endangered Species Surveys, Biological Assessments, Wetlands and Floodplains 8-Step Analysis, National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) assessments, Environmental Site Assessments (ESA), Phase II Environmental Site Assessments, risk-based assessments, and remediation. Ms. Morgan has been responsible for all aspects of project management, project setup, field investigations, development of sampling plans, analytical data interpretation, regulatory interaction, report preparation, and Geographical Information System (GIS) map production.

Brianna Schroeder

Ms. Schroeder focuses her legal practice on litigating complex environmental matters, drafting contracts for agribusinesses and farms, and assisting agricultural clients with regulatory compliance and land use issues. Her experience ranges from defending dairy farms against nuisance suits to negotiating solar leases and advising farmers on wetlands compliance. Ms. Schroeder has also litigated environmental insurance coverage, environmental liability, county zoning, and other complex litigation matters throughout Illinois and Indiana, representing a wide variety of clients from large corporations to municipalities to private individuals.

AIA Info

AIA Provider Statement:

HalfMoon Education Inc. is a registered provider of AIA-approved continuing education under Provider Number J885. All registered AIA/CES Providers must comply with the AIA Standards for Continuing Education Programs. Any questions or concerns about this provider of learning program may be sent to AIA/CES (cesupport@aia.org or (800) AIA 3837, Option 3).

This learning program is registered with AIA/CES for continuing professional education. As such, it does not include content that may be deemed or construed to be an approval or endorsement by the AIA of any material of construction or any method or manner of handling, using, distributing, or dealing in any material or product.

AIA continuing education credit has been reviewed and approved by AIA/CES. Learners must complete the entire learning program to receive continuing education credit. AIA continuing education Learning Units earned upon completion of this course will be reported to AIA/CES for AIA members. Certificates of Completion for both AIA members and non-AIA members are available upon request.

Course Title: Federal Wetlands Science, Law and Compliance

Delivery Method: Live Online

Course Description: This 6.5-hour course examines federal wetlands science, law, and enforcement, as well as wetland identification, preservation, restoration, enhancement, and benefits. The course concludes with case studies related to wetland destruction and preservation.

Learning Objectives:

Learning Objective 1:
Learners will be able to reference and discuss federal wetlands laws and be able to identify implementing and enforcement entities.

Learning Objective 2:
Learners will be able to identify wetlands by the soils, vegetation and hydrology, and describe the benefits they provide to the environment and people.

Learning Objective 3:
Learners will be able to adopt strategies and techniques for wetland preservation, restoration, and enhancement, and discuss the methods, benefits and drawbacks to wetland creation.

Learning Objective 4:
Learners will be able to discuss onsite and in-kind restoration techniques and the related hydrological considerations.

LUs: 6.5                                                                                              LU Type: LU|HSWs.

Prerequisites: Experience with site development

Advance Preparation: None

Program Level: Intermediate

Course Expiration Date: 10/02/2026

Complaint Resolution Policy:

Complaints regarding this course can be emailed to fchapman@halfmoonseminars.org or by calling (715) 835-5900. A HalfMoon Education representative will respond within 72 hours to resolve the complaint, which will include, but not limited to, access to another CE activity at no or reduced cost or a full or partial refund. Each instance will be resolved on a case-by-case situation.