Wetland Plant Identification Course
There are still places available for Day 2 and 3 of the course. See dates below.
Fantastic introduction to wetland vegetation and ecology.
If I can do the course and identify plants afterwards, anyone can!
Greg Fletcher, Wimmera Catchment Management Authority.
For anyone interested in wetland plant identification and ecology.
Day One: Grasses, Sedges and Rushes (this day has already been run for 2017)
Day 2 focusses on Aquatic Plant Identification (receive a colour field guide on Aquatic Plants)
Day 3 focusses on Mudflat Species Identification (receive a colour field guide on Mudflat Plants)
Each day will focus on a different wetland habitat and be timed so as to follow the wetting and drying of the stunning Reedy Lagoon at Gunbower Island or nearby wetland.
COURSE DATES
There are two sessions to choose from. Each session is 3 days, 9.00am – 4.30pm:
| Course One Dates: | Course Two Dates: |
| Day 1: completed | Day 1: completed |
| Day 2: Wed 6 Dec 2017 – Aquatic Plants |
Day 2: Thurs 7 Dec 2017 – Aquatic Plants |
| Day 3: Wed 7 March 2018 – Mudflats |
Day 3: Thurs 8 March 2018 – Mudflats |
COURSE CONTENT (see detailed Session outline 2017)
 |  |  |
| Day 1: October (Spring) Water edge/shallow marsh – identifying grasses, sedges and rushes | Day 2: December (Summer) Deep Marsh/Floating and submerged aquatics | Day 3: March (Autumn) Mud Flat specialists |
Participants will be provided with a colour wetland plant Identification field guide designed to assist with easy identification of the most common wetland plants.
 |  |  |
- At least 60% of the course will be run in the field identifying plants and discussing ecological drivers.
- Practice using floral keys.
- Examine different wetland vegetation zones, the plant types that grow within them and what influences them (hydrology, soil type, water chemistry etc).
- Observe the same site as it transitions through the hydrological phases of; full, draw-down and drying.
- Briefly relate how wetland plant ecology links to fauna, wetland connectivity, temporal variability (seasonal and annual) and nutrient cycling.
COURSE PRESENTERS
Damien Cook is one of Victoria’s leading wetland experts and SERA Restoration Excellence Award winner November 2016. Damien provides wetland expertise in the form of plant surveys, wetland condition assessments and wetland management planning for state government agencies across Victoria. Damien has been instrumental in planning and delivering some of the largest and most complex ecological restoration projects to date in Australia.
COURSE PRESENTER AND FACILITATOR
Elaine Bayes has been working as an environmental researcher, scientist and educator since 1994.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Each day is divided into: field trip using the coloured field guide to identify wetland plants and class time for presentations, discussion and practice using floral keys. Lunch, morning and afternoon tea provided.
COST
Cost per day = $290 plus GST ($319.00)
Reduced Price for all 3 days = $800 plus GST ($880)
Student Discount available – Please contact us
COURSE LOCATION
Treetops, Spencer’s Bridge Road (off Cohuna-Koondrook Rd), Cohuna, Victoria which is located on the banks of Gunbower Creek. Field work will be conducted at Reedy Lagoon or nearby wetland and timed to follow environmental water delivery to ensure wetland plants are at their peak.
HOW TO REGISTER
Book quick there are only 20 places for each session.
If you need to request an invoice or direct debit payment, or for any more information on course content or other training needs, contact us and we will reply as soon as possible.
Environmental ethics
All notes are printed on post consumer waste (Rakali office) or sugar cane paper (Castlemaine Copy Centre, supporting people with a disability).
Food for the course is mostly organic, locally gleaned, vegetarian and gluten free.
Find out more about Rakali ethical policies.
Wetland Plant Identification Course Flyer 2017
Session outline
Feedback/Evaluation from previous participants
Photographs of course
Articles/Video Clips on the Course.