Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol (ORWAP) - 2025

• Note: Attendees will be expected to watch a 1-hour ORWAP Training Video prior to class on Monday, May 5th.

• *Rain Date: Tuesday May 20: Field Day: 9:00 - 4:00 and Wednesday May 21: Follow up with Q&A: 12:00 - 3:00
  The Field Day class will meet in light rain. If the weather forecast three days prior to field date is determined to hinder instruction, class will be rescheduled.
  Safety is a priority; there is a small chance that class will be cancelled after the three-day time window if developing weather conditions are deemed in anyway dangerous.

Clackamas Community College, 1.4 CEU (14 PDH), Award of Completion will be provided.

Learn to assess the functions and values of wetland sites using the Oregon Rapid Wetland Assessment Protocol (ORWAP) Version 3.2. ORWAP provides a standardized, rapid, function-based assessment method that can be used for the majority of wetlands found across Oregon. This method furthers federal and state regulatory objectives by informing compensatory mitigation planning. Use of ORWAP is required for removal-fill Individual Permits as of July 1, 2019.

Designed and led by Oregon Department of State Lands staff, this training will provide participants with an in-depth understanding of how ORWAP was developed and how to apply the method. The training includes two virtual classroom sessions and one field day in Salem.

The training team is comprised of DSL staff members who participated in the development of the ORWAP assessment methods, and/or review ORWAP assessments submitted to DSL. All are involved with providing expertise input and comments used to continually improve ORWAP. USACE staff will participate as instructors as their schedules allow.

Attendees are required to watch an ORWAP Training Video prior to class on Monday, May 5th via the Moodle platform. Details available after registration.

Please Note: Class on May 5 will not review the topics covered in the video. However, there will be time for questions about information provided in the video, so please make a note of any questions you may have.

The virtual session will cover a brief overview of the background and principles used to develop ORWAP, context for understanding ORWAP value and function scores, guidance on filling out the office form, a tour of information available on Oregon Explorer including how to create and use an ORWAP report, and an overview of answering field component questions.

You will spend most of the day in the field, getting hands-on experience answering ORWAP field questions. Field groups will be made of 8-9 participants, with each group led by 2 trainers. Note: We will have access to restrooms in a nearby building. The later part of the day will be in a nearby classroom to go over ‘Stressor’ questions, recap what was covered in the field, and answer any questions.

We find a short gap between the field day component and the follow-up Q & A is useful. This provides time for attendees to synthesize the material and formulate questions.

*Rain Date: Tuesday May 20: Field Day: 9:00 - 4:00 and Wednesday May 21: Follow up with Q&A: 12:00 - 3:30
The Field Day class will meet in light rain. If the weather forecast three days prior to field date is determined to hinder instruction, class will be rescheduled.
Safety is a priority; there is a small chance that class will be cancelled after the three-day time window if developing weather conditions are deemed in anyway dangerous.

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

• Explain the guiding principles and processes used to develop ORWAP.
• Understand the various aspects of an ORWAP assessment: background information that can help inform field answers; general idea of time required to complete an assessment; documents needed for field.
• Describe how the method works.
• Determine office related ORWAP measurements and complete the ORWAP Calculator’s Office Form using the online ORWAP Map Viewer.
• Accurately answer questions on the ORWAP Field Form.
• Confidently complete an ORWAP in the field.

• ORWAP and Compensatory Wetland Mitigation
• Oregon Explorer ‘ORWAP and SFAM Viewer’
• ORWAP Office Forms
• ORWAP Field Forms
• ORWAP Stressor Forms
• Field Practicum

Cost: $780

Registration is Open: January 1, 2025 - April 18, 2025
Registration will close on April 18th or when class reaches maximum of 36 attendees.

This course is expected to fill up quickly. If you are interested in future a future ORWAP or SFAM course, please add your name to our wait list, and we will notify you when future classes open up.

Cancellations are allowed up to 1-day prior to the start of class, however, refund amounts vary based on when you notify us of your cancellation.

• >14 days prior to event: Full refund, excluding Eventbrite fees

• 1-14 days prior to event: 50% refund

Please contact [email protected] if the cancellation is due to illness or family emergency. We will work with you on a case by case basis, and may be able to apply your registration fee toward a future workshop.

Photo Credit: The Wetlands Conservancy staff

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Fairview Wetlands Scenic Trail, 4272-4298 27th Court Southeast, Salem, United States