Role of Wetland Soils Short Courses In Post Graduate Training.

Short courses lasting 2 to 4 days have become an essential way for working professionals to stay current in their profession.  Training in hydric soils has been popular over the last 15 years, and our two shortcourses on hydric soils have filled each year.  Reasons for the success of hydric soils classes are two-fold: there is a need for training and the audience is large. Wetland laws were enacted nationwide to require wetlands be delineated before they can be altered or impacted.  These laws have established the need for wetland professionals to identify and describe wetland soils.  A major part of wetland delineation is that the edge of the wetland soils, or hydric soils, with the uplands must be drawn on maps.  Most wetland delineators were trained in biology, and have very little soils training.  As a result, the second reason for the success of hydric soils shortcourses is that the large number of biologists needing training have created a large audience.  Shortcourses are the major way wetland professionals can stay current in their field.  Our shortcourse combines both lecture and field training on the same day during a 4-day course.  Lectures provide the background information on soil chemistry, hydrology, soil morphology, and hydric soil features.  Describing hydric soils in the field is a skill that can only be learned with practice.  Field training must be included in an effective shortcourse if the students are going to be able to apply the information immediately after the class.  Learning the basics of wetland soil identification and description is best taught in the shortcourse format because much field training can be completed in a short time.