Ecology of Wetlands

A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that is inundated by water, either permanently or seasonally, where oxygen-free processes prevail. The course will discuss freshwater wetlands typical of this region, their role in water purification and their characteristic vegetation.

The instructor will describe the development and execution of the plan to restore the 40 acre wetland  on the Volkswagen Chattanooga campus, creating a biodiverse environment, including 167 species of birds that migrate through the property or have made it home. The last part of the course will be a tour of the now 88-acre wetland, with a discussion of how the plant communities have changed since the original restoration.  The hike will be easy, but wet - please come prepared.

Instructor: Bill Phillips, PhD.  Bill Phillips has 40+ years of experience performing ecological and biological projects, including threatened & endangered species, stream determination and channel restoration and design, stream banking, stream ecology, wetland delineation, wetland banking, wetland mitigation, and stream mitigation. Projects include relocating/restoring more than 35,000 feet of streams, and 300 acres of wetlands, including VW-Chattanooga, Amazon.com Chattanooga and Charleston, TN; Whirlpool, Cleveland, TN, and many others. He provided environmental permitting services to Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer golf course developments, and to a host of residential developments. He is a Tennessee Qualified Hydrological Professional and holds certifications for stormwater erosion control and monitoring.

This course is an elective course and provides 4 credits toward the completion of the Certificate in Native Plants program.

Registration Policy:  As with all Certificate in Native Plants classes, class size is limited.  To give everyone the best opportunity to participate, there is a non-refundable cancellation fee of $10, with the balance refunded if you cancel at least 7 calendar days before the class will be held.  If the class is cancelled by the instructor or the CNP program, registrants will get a full refund.  

If you do not pay online, you will need to mail your check to Wild Ones-Tennessee Valley Chapter, 124 N. Forrest Avenue, Lookout Mountain, TN 37350.  Please put the date of the program in the memo line as well as the last name of the person you are registering.  You will not be registered until your payment is received.