Wetlands are a critical ecosystem, abating flooding and regulating waterways. The Northern Kentucky University (NKU) Wetlands Management Professional Micro-credential will provide professionals, students, and the public with skills to identify wetland plants, assess wetlands biodiversity, delineate wetlands and monitoring invasives in these critical habitats. These professional short courses will cover criteria and reporting for the Eastern Mountain Piedmont region as well as the Midwest region, and are listed in the Society of Wetland Scientists Certification Program. Our courses are conducted at the NKU Research and Education Field Station (REFS) and nearby wetlands natural areas.
SLOS: After completing the Wetlands Management micro-credential, students will have:
· Learned species identification from live and preserved specimens
· Learned field techniques in flagging, mapping and establishing wetlands boundaries; survey techniques using GPS equipment and GIS software; and how to identify hydrology, vegetative, and hydric soil indicators
· Learned standard site survey and habitat quality evaluations (elective)
· Learned both long-term trap station and rapid assessment methods of monitoring amphibians; amphibian species identification from live and preserved specimens and from anuran vocalization; anuran species reproductive phenology assessment using an audiospectrogram program with digital sound files (elective)
· Learned to field-identify non-native invasive species and how to properly control and eradicate these invasive species for habitat management (elective)
· Learned mitigation planning and design, aquatic and wetlands permitting and field techniques in habitat restoration (elective)
· Wetland Plant Identification (req)
· Wetland Delineation (req)
· One elective
Plant identification tied into wetland assessment using ORAM and KYRAM protocols under winter conditions when plants are dormant can increase your ability to evaluate the quality of wetlands or delineate wetlands during the winter months.
Learn both long term trap station and rapid assessment (AmphIBI) methods of monitoring amphibians, - learn amphibian species identification from live and preserved specimens and from anuran vocalization, - learn to assess anuran species reproductive phenology using an audiospectrogram program with digital sound files.
Date: May 14-16, 2025 Location: NKU REFS
Cost: $800* professional, up to 50% off student rate Registration (coming soon)
Learn species identification from live and preserved specimens of wetland plants. Accurate plant identifications are required for wetland determinations, wetland quality assessments, and project monitoring.
Date: June 18-20, 2025 Location: NKU REFS
Cost: $800* professional, up to 50% off student rate Registration (coming soon)
Learn field techniques in flagging, mapping, and establishing wetlands boundaries according to the 1987 USACE Delineation Manual and current Regional Supplements. Survey techniques will use GPS equipment and GIS software; and how to identify hydrology, vegetative, and hydric soil indicators will be covered.
Date: July 7-10, 2025 or July 21-24, 2025 Location: NKU REFS
Cost: $1100* professional, up to 50% off student rate Registration (coming soon)
Learn to field identify invasive species. Training on how to properly control and eradicate invasive species for habitat management.
Date: August 6-8, 2025 Location: NKU REFS
Cost: $800* professional, up to 50% off student rate Registration (coming soon)
* If paying with credit card, processing fees apply.
For more information or inquiries send a message to refs@nku.edu.
