Register now for this three-day seminar!

In this three-day custom seminar, we will gain a better understanding and appreciation of the ecological systems that affect the complex and dynamic transitional areas between the bed and shore and become more familiar with the Alberta Government’s Wetlands policy, how this influences our job, and what it takes to be recognized as an authenticating professional of regulatory wetland assessment documents in Alberta.

The direct benefits of taking this course will include gaining a better understanding of:

• The ecological definitions of aquatic, riparian and upland habitats.
• Key ecological indicators of aquatic and riparian habitats.
• The policies and legislation that are relevant to the delineation of water boundaries (Section 17 of Surveys Act, Public Lands Act, Water Act, Provincial Wetland Policy, Municipal Wetland and Riparian Policies), where to find these policies and the gaps or inconsistencies that exist in these policies and regulations.
• How hydrological processes influence plant types and soil around a body of water.
• The type of vegetation species that live in different habitat zones.
• Soils and soil type indicators in and around water bodies.
• How climate change might affect water bodies.
• Professional requirements for wetland reporting in Alberta (classifying, defining permanence, delineating based on the Wetland Identification and Delineation Directive, assessing condition, Water Act permitting).
• The difference between a wetland and a lake and between a natural and manufactured wetland. 
• Desktop tools that support the identification and delineation of wetlands.

The field component of this course will provide a hands-on look at key vegetation and soil indicators that can be used to identify aquatic, wetland, riparian and upland habitats. In the field component of the course, participants will better understand how to:

• Sample vegetation and soil and identify plant species.
• Identify the ecological boundary of a wetland based on soil conditions and vegetation indicators.
• Identify changes in the location of high-water marks based on ecological and hydrological indicators
• Identify key, site-specific, hydrological processes that might affect water levels.

Presenter: 
Fiera Biological Consulting

Dates, Times, and Locations:
Classroom (9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.):
Field (9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.):
Parking and lunch will be provided during the classroom sessions. Participants are responsible for their transportation to and from the field locations and must bring their lunch. Carpooling is encouraged where possible.

Please Bring: 
If possible, bring a laptop on the second day, or have someone at each table bring one. No specific software is required; you need to connect to Wi-Fi. 

Who is Invited: 
ALSs, articled students, your staff and clients, land surveyors from other jurisdictions, Pro-10 members, etc. 
(Please note: Non-ALSA members must pay by credit card to register.)

Cost & Registration:
Advanced Registration – Until May 11, 2025 - $750.00 + GST
General Registration – After May 11, 2025 - $850.00 + GST 

*** Registration will close on May 25, 2025 for Edmonton and close on May 28, 2025, for Calgary. Capacity has been restricted to forty (40) registrants per location *** 

Comments from 2018 Participants: 

• “… the wetlands seminar was very well executed and very relevant to legal survey applications. This is an example of the ALSA being proactive on a significant issue. Well worth the [fee].”
• “Presenters were well prepared and very clear/concise”
• “Obvious that they enjoy teaching and have a lot of experience with both beginner and advanced audiences. Very engaging.”
• “It was especially great that they picked wetlands that weren’t obvious and not the textbook situation… the type of waterbodies I know get mislabeled or sometimes missed entirely on our surveys.”
• “This was an excellent day! A great way to spend time discussing one of the most troubling activities in surveying – identifying correctly natural boundaries of waters and wetlands.”

Single and multiple registrations can be completed on the ALSA website under Events. You must be logged into the website to register. Please contact Kerry Barrett at barrett@alsa.ab.ca if you require assistance.