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1~Jctla~ eiir~ea~~rs ss~cis~ifl~ ~. ;, ~ I The WetlandDelineators ,, i ,,_ ~f ~'' Association (WDA) is a new ~'~ ~ ; /i ~ ~`%~ organization founded by envi- , ,,~1 ~ :: ~ ~ ,' ronmental professionals in both ~~~ ~ ~„ ~ ~ ~ ~: i ,~ ~~ the private and public sectors. The ~ .,' :~ Hennepin Conservation District ~ ''-1 ~~ (HCD) is very much involved with and in support of this organization. Wetlandassessmentandconformiryamong_ wetland delineators are the main objectives of this organi- zationasstatedinthedraftbylaws. Someofthepreliminary bylaws read as follows; 1) develop and promote the scientific foundation of wetland delineation, 2) establish education and training standards for delineation issues, 3) provide a forum for the exchange of wetland delineation issues, and4) establishandpromote acertificationprogram for wetland delineators. The intention of this organization is to establish consistency and standardizationin wetland assessments. It is also the hope of this organization that its input wi31 have an impact on policy and regulations in the future. Support has been shown by regulatory agencies of wetland law in Minnesota including the Minnesota Board of Water and Soil Resources and the United States Army Corps of Engineers. Another goal of the WDA is to promote the organi- zation of local chapters throughout different regions of Minnesota and surrounding states.. The first fonun meeting of the association was held December 6, 1995, at the Brooklyn Park Community Activity Center in Brooklyn Park, MN. The. topic was Guidelines for Wetland Delineation Reports. The next forum was conducted on January 17,1996, atthe Ciry Hall Council chambers in Bloomington. The topic there was Delineation Certification Programs. Future forums will include topics such as IndicarorStatus orlnvasive Plcrr~ts and Hydrologic Monitoring -How Much is Enough? If you are interested in receiving infomlarion on the next fonun meeting of the Wetland Delineators Associa- tion or onbecoming amember ofthe Wetland Delineators Association, please contact David Thill (HCD) at ~~?~-- 8572,Shane Missaghi (City of Plymouth) at X09-~~ 27, or Anne Ludvik (Svoboda Ecological Resources) at 474- 0500. ~ ~~~ ~~i~l~~?5$ ~~ ~i~i~~s0~3 Screening ~a~n~ni~~ec l~~ets Fir Tie ~ ~9~ Sign-Up The sign-up period for the Reinvest in Minnesota (RIM) and Permanent Wetland Preserves (PWP) pro- grams for 1995 resulted in two quality applications containing parcels of land with restorable wetlands. A flowage easement application allowing the restoration of a key wetland within the Diamond Lake watershed in Dayton was also submitted. The Hennepin County Screening committee met to determine and set priority ratings for the three qualifying applicants. Due to funding limitations in the two. proroQrams. it is~often only the top prioritry ease~llent application that will have anychance of netting funded. The screening committee members that make the priority,., determinations- in; Hennepin County are di- verse in. then professions and include members from the Department ofl~Iatural Resources (DN~R), the Min- nesota Pollution: Control Agency (MPCA), the Hennepin County-~xtension;Szrvice; the Natural Re- sources Conservation. Service (NRCS), the United States Fish and WiIdlifeService (USFWS), Hennepin Parks,. the Hennepin County Commissioners office, the Consolidated Farm Services Agency (CFSA) and the Hennepin Conservation District (HCD). Once a prioritization determination is made by the Screening Committee the recommendations are passed on to the HCD Board of Supervisors for approval: After being approved by the HCD Board of Supervisors the appli- cations are submitted to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (B WSR) for final prioritization and funding consideration. Anyone interested in or needing additional infor- mation regarding the Hennepin County Rh~I Screen- ing Committee and/or the two easement programs should contact David Thill at 544-857?. ~~ Hennepin Conservation District ~