Field Trips & Workshops

Field Trips and Workshops are now closed for registration. Day-of registration is not permitted.

Field Trips

Full- and half-day field trips will take place on Tuesday, June 27 and will be guided, include transportation, park fees, water, and snacks. Box lunches will be provided for full day field trips. Registration is limited. The following field trips are being offered:
 

Saltese Flats Wetland Area
Organizer: Nicki Feiten, Spokane County

The Saltese Flats Wetland Area covers nearly 600 acres of previously farmed property. Water Control Structures were added to the property in 2018 to control the flow of water into, and out of the system. Vegetation restoration began with 100’s of acres of Reed Canary Grass being removed to make way for native vegetation. Saltese Flats exhibits approximately 5 miles of trails (1.5 miles in elevated pathway), various interpretive signs, 2 ponds and diverse pockets of ecosystems. We'll begin at The Doris Morrison Learning Center.

Length: Half Day (12:15pm - 5:00pm)
Max Capacity: 50
Includes: Transportation, Water, Snacks
Attire: Long pants and boots for walking preferred

Cost: $125

SOLD OUT Northeast Washington Aquatic, Floodplain, and Wetland Restoration Site Visits
Organizers: Kris Lepine, Seattle City Light and Ray Entz, Kalispel Tribe

On this field trip, we will first visit Seattle City Light (SCL) project sites along Sullivan Creek to learn about restoration objectives and large wood restoration techniques including machine-built engineered long jams (ELJs), helicopter-placed large wood, and riparian tipping of trees. Next we will visit the nearby Mill Pond dam removal and restoration project site to discuss riverine and riparian restoration objectives, monitoring results, and revegetation adaptive management efforts. Then, we will travel about an hour south to the Kalispel Tribe's Tacoma Creek wetland restoration site to discuss objectives, methods, and outcomes including replanting efforts and fire treatments to improve aspen stands and grasslands. Finally, we will visit the nearby Cusick Meadows site to compare different types of restoration conducted and long-term management.

Length: Full Day (8:15am - 5:30pm)
Max Capacity: 25
Includes: Transportation, Box Lunches, Water, Snacks
Attire: Dress for inclement weather and adequate walking shoes

Cost: $175

SOLD OUT Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge
Organizer: Kelly Moroney, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge encompasses over 20,000 acres in eastern Washington on the edge of the Columbia River Basin. The powerful forces of volcanism, glaciation and the largest floods in geological history have combined to forge a distinct environment. The combination of basalt outcrops, flood eroded channels, and ponderosa pine forests infused in a diverse landscape of over 130 marshes, wetlands and lakes, create an environment of aesthetic beauty as well as high-quality wildlife habitat. The Channeled Scablands ecosystem that predominates the Refuge is unique within the National Wildlife Refuge System and has characteristics that distinguish it from the natural reserves worldwide. Ponderosa pine, wetlands, meadow steppe and riparian habitat dominate the landscape. The refuge has several short hiking trails and 3 accessible trails are available to visit to see the assemblage of bird and other species that frequent this unique area. Refuge staff will provide a summary of how they manage wetlands, riparian/aspen stands, and Ponderosa pine forests via integrated land management practices.

Length: Half Day (8:15am - 12:00pm)
Max Capacity: 30
Includes: Transportation, Water, Snacks
Attire: Dress for inclement weather and adequate walking shoes

Cost: $125

Schlepp Farms and Gray's Meadow Site Visits
Organizer: Elise Brown, US Fish & Wildlife Service

This visit to Schlepp Farms wetland restoration project site is located in the Coeur d’Alene River corridor in Idaho. It is nearly 400 acres of privately-owned farmland that has been remediated and then transformed into wetlands to provide a cleaner waterfowl feeding ground in the midst of an area contaminated from historic mining operations. The Gray’s Meadow Restoration project area is located on the Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) Coeur d’Alene River Wildlife Management Area within the floodplain of the Coeur d’Alene River near Black Lake in Kootenai County. Wetlands in the Coeur d’Alene River floodplain are affected by a legacy of mine waste contamination, including metals that are harmful to waterfowl and other wildlife. Wetland habitats have also been altered with installations of ditches and drains for agricultural development. Identifying, conserving, and restoring sites with strong potential for high-quality wetland habitat is needed for waterfowl, especially areas where birds can feed without experiencing lead poisoning. The Gray’s Meadow Restoration property was previously used for hay production and horse and cattle pastures

Length: Half Day (8:30am - 1:45pm)
Max Capacity: 25
Includes: Transportation, Water, Snacks
Attire: Dress for wetland saturated soil conditions and inclement weather

Cost: $125

Palisades Park Rim to Riverside Hike
Organizer: Eastern Washington University

Palisades Park is a Spokane City Park of 700+ acres located on the western basalt bluffs with scenic views overlooking the City of Spokane. Recently the park was expanded with a 114 acre “Rimrock to Riverside” parcel purchased through the Conservation Futures program, which connects Palisades Park to Riverside State Park. Two wetlands on the parcel were restored and expanded in the past two years. The park is an excellent example of Channeled Scablands habitat formed by the Pleistocene Missoula Floods. It includes numerous vernal pools with camas and wild onion, more permanent wetlands bordered by aspen and bull rush, Mima mound prairies, basalt outcrops, cliff base plant communities, ponderosa pine and Douglas fir woodlands. Wildlife commonly seen at the park includes moose, deer, coyotes, and waterfowl; occasionally elk and cougar pass through. On this field trip we will visit restored and natural wetlands as part of a 4-mile loop hike through the park.

Length: Half Day (9:00am - 12:30pm)
Max Capacity: 20
Includes: Transportation, Water, Snacks
Attire: Dress for inclement weather and adequate walking shoes

Cost: $125

Workshops

Dive into current topics and trends with our pre-conference workshops on Tuesday, June 27, where participants will dig deeper into areas of specialization, learn and apply new methodologies, and discover ideas that pique your curiousity during your time in Spokane. Registration is limited. Box lunches, snacks, and water will be provided. The following workshops are being offered:

Applied Technology: Field & Geospatial Applications and Tools for More Efficient Wetland Assessments, Monitoring, and Delineations
Organizers: Chris Fleming and Olivia Haney, Ecobot

Join this half-day workshop focused on the demonstration and hands-on utilization of Ecobot and ESRI desktop and mobile application tools that allow for more efficient wetland assessments, monitoring, and delineations.

All participants will need a mobile device and a laptop with Wifi access. The workshop will include a casual walk outdoors to illustrate field usage.

Length: Half Day (8:00am - 12:00pm)
Max Capacity: 30

Cost: $75

SOLD OUT Recent Advances in Wetland Delineation – Tools, Techniques, and Technologies Workshop
Organizers: Jacob F. Berkowitz, PhD, CPSS, PWS and Kyle B. Gordon

Approaches to wetland delineation have evolved over time based upon improvements in wetland science and associated advances made by practitioners. This workshop will communicate and demonstrate the application of multiple new tools, techniques, and technologies designed to improve the accuracy and efficiency of wetland delineations and assessments via a 1/2 day classroom and 1/2 day field session*.

Specifically, we will 1) address the identification of anaerobic conditions in hydric soils using Indicator of Reduction in Soils (IRIS) devices and alpha-alpha dipyridyl test strips, 2) demonstrate application of publicly available automated data sheets for wetland delineation, 3) use the antecedent precipitation tool (APT) to determine rainfall normality under various scenarios, 4) and discuss recently released guidance for the development, modification, and improvement of wetland functional assessment methodologies.

Transportation from the conference center to field sites and all field and instructional materials will be provided in addition to lunch, drinks, and snacks. Attendees must wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the field session. This workshop is appropriate for students, practitioners, and natural resource managers of all levels of experience. Please join us to improve your ability to identify and delineate wetlands, see some of the beautiful wetlands of the Pacific Northwest region, have fun, make connections, and get your hands a little dirty. The workshop will be submitted to the SWS Professional Certification program for consideration as a source of Professional Development Credits.

*The field session portion of this workshop will be held at the Saltese Flats Wetlands Area and transportation will be shared with those attending the Saltese Flats Field Trip.

Length: Full Day (8:00am - 5:00pm)
Max Capacity: 25
Includes: Transportation, box lunch, drinks, and snacks
Attire: Attendees must wear appropriate clothing and footwear for the field session.

Cost: $200