The Reserve's initially offered Coastal Decision Maker (CDM) Workshops evolved into the present Coastal Training Program (CTP) initiative as a means of providing up-to-date, scientific or technically oriented information for elected officials, land-use planners, regulators, natural resource managers and private citizens who wish and need to make informed decisions about the nation's coasts and estuaries. Each reserve develops workshops that specifically address priority coastal resource issues and target relevant audiences.

These CTP workshops are developed in a variety of formats, ranging from seminars, hands-on skill training and participatory workshops to lectures and technology demonstrations. Topical areas relate to coastal habitat conversion and restoration, biodiversity, water quality and sustainable resource management.

Wetlands Plant Identification Course

August 14-16, 2002

For more information, call Bill Roberts at (804) 684-7395

Wetland Identification and Delineation Course

September 17-20, 2002

A four day class composed of 32 hours of classroom instruction and field experiences based on the USACE Regulatory IV Wetlands Identification and Delineation Manual. The course is designed to provide wetland delineators, wetland consulting engineers and regulators with sufficient technical background, field indicators and recommended methods in order to determine jurisdictional wetlands using the three criteria of vegetation, hydrology and soils.

Class will be held on the campus of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia from September 17-20, 2002. Classes will begin each day at 8:00AM and end around 5:00PM. Field clothing will be necessary. Course materials will be provided as part of the fee.

To register, please send your name, address, affiliation, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address to Bill Roberts. Registration fee is $400 (please make checks payable to "VIMS"). Class size is limited, so register early!

For more information, call Bill Roberts at (804) 684-7395

Winter Botany Course

December 11-13, 2002

Attention all Wetland Board members, regulators, wetland delineators, local, state and federal resource managers and private citizens: For 4 to 5 months each year the trees and shrubs in Virginia are in a leafless condition, making identification using leaf shape, size and characteristics impossible.

For those wetland delineators and regulators, or anyone else, who need to be able to identify trees and shrubs all year round, this is a valuable course in woody plant identification using only those characteristics present during the winter months.

This three-day course will familiarize the participant with the various characteristics used in winter plant identification. Using a botanical key provided as part of the course, participants will learn to identify tree and shrub specimens in their leafless condition.

Class will be held in Waterman's Hall on the campus of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia from December 11-13, 2002. Classes will begin each day at 8:00AM and end around 5:00PM. Dress for the lectures will be casual. Course materials including lecture notes, hand magnifier and taxonomic key will be provided.

To register, please send your name, address, affiliation, phone and fax numbers, and e-mail address to Dawn Fleming . Registration fee is $300 (please make checks payable to "VIMS"). Class size is limited to approximately 25 participants, so register as early as possible! We prefer prepayment since this is a limited class. If this presents a problem or you have any questions, please call Dr. Bill Roberts at 804 684-7395 or Dawn Fleming at 804 684-7380