Professional Development at the Environmental Learning Center

Learn strategies for incorporating population ecology into managing invasive plants for the long-term.

Date: Mon. June 14, Tues. June 15 and Thurs. June 17

Time: 8 a.m.-noon

Location: This is a virtual workshop on Zoom, hosted by the Environmental Learning Center at Clackamas Community College. Recordings will be available for two weeks after the session.

Workshop cost: $350

Student cost: $140

Limited scholarships: We have a limited number of scholarship dollars available that reduce the cost of your registration by 30% for those eligible. These dollars are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Apply for Reduced Pricing" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: Invasive plants are here to stay, so what are we going to do about them? For the vast majority of invasive plant species, herbicides and manual removal are not a sustainable long-term solution. The biodiversity of our local plant communities continues to evolve in response to invasive species, and many invaders have already established themselves as integral parts of these systems. What would it look like if we acknowledged the ecological reality of invasive plants in the landscape? This workshop will explore the concept of managing for diversity by maximizing the values of invasive species, while minimizing their negative impacts. It consists of 12 hours of classroom instruction and an optional independent field investigation. All participants will visit the site virtually on the final day of the workshop.

Professional credit: 1.2 CEU or 12 PDH, Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Learning outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Identify resource management considerations that are impacted by invasive plants, such as pollinator support, biodiversity, sustainable forest production and water quality.
• Begin to assess the ecological impacts and benefits of invasive plants.
• Incorporate the fundamentals of population ecology into management thinking, and begin to develop long-term strategies for managing plant communities.
• Evaluate invasive plant population control options through a cost/benefit lens: considering time, expense and negative impacts of controlling weeds vs. their overall ecological effects.
• Make rational and practical management decisions based on consideration of alternative approaches, with an understanding of their predicted outcomes.

Major topics

• Time – the next 10,000 years vs. the past 10,000 years
• Long-term goal setting – what are we trying to achieve?
• Definition of invasive
• Resources for identification of invasive plants
• Population ecology, species boundaries and the normal distribution
• Ecological impacts and benefits of invasive plants
• Impact of climate change on ecology of native and invasive plants
• Co-evolution of invasive and native species
• Strategies for management
• Evaluation of select species

Instructor: George Kral

George Kral, Forester & Project Developer at Ash Creek Forest Management, is a regionally recognized expert in the flora of the northern Willamette Valley and a field forester in the broad sense. He has worked in the field for the past 30 years, managing riparian areas, upland forests, prairies and wetlands throughout northwest Oregon. George and his wife Sara own and manage a 60-acre farm in western Washington County where they grow about two million native plants every year, representing over 126 species. George is currently studying emerging hybrids between native and non-native plant species, such as newly emerging hybrid roses and hybrid water-plantains. He has a Bachelor of Science in Forest Management from Oregon State University, and is midway through a Ph. D. program, where he is investigating landscape genomics of alders in the Willamette Valley.

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This workshop will provide an introduction to the science and protocol of wetland delineation.

Date: Monday-Friday, April 12-16, 2021

Time:

• Monday-Wednesday: 8 a.m.-noon
• Thursday: 8-11 a.m.
• Friday: 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
  

Location: This is a virtual workshop, hosted by the Environmental Learning Center

Cost: $400

Cost for college students: $160

Limited scholarships: We have a limited number of scholarships available that will reduce the cost of registration. These are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Apply for Reduced Pricing" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: This workshop will provide an introduction to the science and protocol of wetland delineation. The intended audience includes environmental professionals who work with wetlands, streams and watershed management. Participants will learn about standard methodology, data sources, wetland indicators and regulations, as well as the practical components of an onsite inspection. Consists of 16 hours of classroom instruction and four hours of virtual field practicum.

Professional Credit: Clackamas Community College, 2 CEU or 20 PDH, certificate of completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Conduct a wetland delineation independently, with or without assistance, in all common situations encountered in the Pacific Northwest, at any time during the annual growing season
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of wetland indicators
• Identify jurisdictional regulations that influence a project
• Access relevant data sources
• Discuss pros and cons of various protocols

Instructor: Phil Quarterman

Phil Quarterman has over 40 years of experience as a wetland scientist, working in local and state government and since 1995 in consulting with WHPacific, Inc. He has worked on many types of projects delineating and assessing wetlands, obtaining state and federal permits, and crafting and implementing wetland mitigation plans. His fieldwork has taken him to diverse wetland types from alkaline wetlands in arid areas of Oregon and Nevada, to Oregon estuaries, to the tundra and boreal forests of Alaska.

He has been teaching Society of Wetland Scientists certified classes on wetland delineation for the past six years in locations from Portland, OR to Walla Walla, Wash. to Anchorage, AK.

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Dates: Thur-Fri and Mon, Oct. 8-9 and 12, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Location: Zoom and Fanno Creek in eastern Washington County

Cost: $240

Cost for college students: $96

Limited scholarships: We have a limited number of scholarship dollars available that reduce the cost of your registration by 30% for those eligible. These dollars are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Apply for Reduced Pricing" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: An understanding of plant ecology coupled with beaver behavior is integral to effective beaver management. Workshop participants will learn to evaluate vegetation based on beaver preferences and potential impacts on water systems, as well as to develop strategies for modifying a site's vegetation with specific beaver outcomes in mind – whether that be to encourage beaver habitation, or to discourage negative impacts at a particular location. Consists of 12 hours of classroom instruction and an independent field investigation of beaver activity and its effects on vegetation and floodplain function. Participants will be guided to identify, observe and document beaver dams and their elements, off-channel habitat, preferential feeding, and primary and secondary plant community responses to beaver activity.

Professional Credit: Clackamas Community College, 1.3 CEU, certificate of completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes: Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Identify native species that will discourage beaver
• Identify native species that are particularly attractive to beaver
• Describe vegetation management strategies for attracting beaver habitation
• Describe vegetation management strategies for discouraging negative beaver impacts

Instructor: George Kral

George Kral, forester and project developer at Ash Creek Forest Management, is a regionally recognized expert in the flora of the northern Willamette Valley and a field forester in the broad sense. He has worked in the field for the past 30 years, managing riparian areas, upland forests, prairies and wetlands throughout northwest Oregon. George and his wife Sara own and manage a 60-acre farm in western Washington County where they grow over two million native plants every year, representing over 126 species. George has pioneered the field of restoring specific vegetation types for beaver management, including large, successful projects on Fanno Creek and Beaverton Creek in Washington County. Due to their restoration efforts, George and Sara now host the largest beaver dam (averaging over 6 feet high and nearly 1000 feet long) in Washington County on their farm. He has a B.S. in forest management from Oregon State University, and has returned to Oregon State to complete a Ph.D. program investigating landscape genomics of the alders of the Willamette Valley.

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Dates and Times:

• Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with half-hour lunch
• Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, 8 a.m.-1:30 p.m., with half-hour lunch
• Thursday, Dec. 3, 2020, 2-5 p.m.

Format: Zoom

Cost: $195 

Description: This workshop will introduce you to swales, rain gardens, and stormwater planters: how they work and how to maintain them to manage runoff for the long term. Participants will learn about regulatory requirements, such as record-keeping and inspections, and how to evaluate and properly maintain the plants and other components. Expected outcomes include being able to: identify needed tasks when you arrive, efficiently maintain the facility, safely manage weeds without harming water quality, troubleshoot and fix problems, and prepare for and complete an inspection. The intended audience includes landscapers, regulatory inspectors and property managers.

Professional Credit: Clackamas Community College, 1.3 CEU or 13 PDH, Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Explain the regulatory background on why these facilities are needed.
• Identify various types of vegetated stormwater facilities and their component parts.
• Identify commonly used plants that are appropriate for use in these facilities.
• Develop strategies for successful & safe weed management.
• Identify problems in a facility and suggest strategies for mitigation.
• Prepare for and complete a successful inspection.

MAJOR TOPICS

Understanding the system:

• How they function
• Operations and management:
  • Reading plans and specs
  • Understanding agency inspections
  • Maintenance overview
  • Rehabilitation
  • Planning for the future

Maintenance:

• Regulations
• Plant ID
• Maintenance
• Site Evaluations
• Safety concerns
• Managing erosion
• Removing debris
• Ponding Water: balance between holding water and drainage
• Weed control
• Pruning
• Keeping plants healthy
• Managing the structures
• Calendar of activities
• Sediment Disposal
• Maintenance logs
• Rehabilitation for contractors
• Common maintenance related problems and their solutions

Site management:

• Managing your site's stormwater
• Brief overview of SWPPP (for commercial/industrial sites)
• Regulations
• Protection during construction
• What to look for when hiring and directing landscape maintenance activities
• Need for keeping records
• Preparing for an inspection
• Common problems found during inspections and how to fix them

Instructors: Todd Blossom and TBD

Todd Blossom has owned and operated "Blossom", a full-service landscaping company, since 1999. He is certified in permaculture design and seeks to promote ecological solutions through his work of integrating food, native plants and stormwater management into the landscape. His experience with swales and raingardens is extensive, having worked closely with the City of Portland's stormwater management program for over 10 years. This involvement includes both installations and maintenance of facilities through the city's private residence retrofit program, and the Green Street, public right of way program.

Todd also has a particular interest in connecting people with place and has found an opportunity to do this through the landscape and outdoor environment. He is actively engaged in local community organizations including: Ecotrust, Audubon Society, Alberta Main Street, and the East Multnomah Soil & Water Conservation District.

His commitment to lecturing and teaching on subjects related to sustainable landscaping, permaculture and stormwater management, is directly related to his desire to better serve the community and the people who live there. As part of that commitment, he has also taken steps to build a sustainable model for training his team to connect with the community where they work. And, he is actively looking to build partnerships, and to enhance the diversity of their workforce, while creating job opportunities.

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This event has been cancelled as part of the college’s efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19. Please check back for details regarding its rescheduling.

Date: Tuesday-Wednesday, May 12-13, 2020

Time: 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Location: Lakeside Hall, Environmental Learning Center, Oregon City campus

Cost: $380 

Cost for college students: $114

Limited scholarships: We have a limited number of scholarships available that will reduce the cost of registration. These are for those with limited resources. If you are interested in applying, please select the "Interested in Reduced Price" ticket and we will follow up with you.

Description: This hands-on course is designed to improve the ability of field staff to identify local species of fish, and to use the resulting data for assessment of waterway health. Participants will learn to identify species commonly encountered in this region, practice using various sampling gear and techniques, and determine best approaches to analyzing the data. Approximately half the time will be spent in the field collecting and identifying fish.

Pre-approved CEUs:

• Clackamas Community College: 1.4 CEU or 14 PDH. Certificate of Completion will be provided.

Learning Outcomes:

Upon completion of this workshop, students should be able to:

• Accurately identify about 45 local fish species by using key morphological characteristics.
• Use standard techniques and equipment to properly collect, identify and count specimens.
• Explain how the goal might influence the approach to sampling fish populations in local waterways.

Instructor: Jonathan Cox

John Cox is the Salmon and Trout Enhancement Program (STEP) biologist for the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife in Clackamas. John grew up in Portland, and he began exploring the outdoors as a kid, hiking, camping and fishing. This led to a fascination with water and fish, and eventually, a career! John has a degree in General Science from the University of Oregon, and a degree in Fisheries and Wildlife Science from Oregon State University. He has worked in fisheries in Oregon since 2011, and his work has taken him all over the state; including previous positions out of Crater Lake National Park, Central Point, Newport, St. Helens, and The Dalles.