Basic Wetland Plant Identification

2026 dates are forthcoming. | La Crosse, Wisconsin

Prairie Springs Science Center | Room 1008
431 East Avenue N., La Crosse, WI 54601

Join us for a practical and informative two-day workshop focused on the essentials of wetland plant identification. You will gain a solid understanding of taxonomy, plant structure, and the effective use of plant keys for identification through comprehensive classroom lectures. Laboratory work with fresh materials will complement and reinforce classroom learning. This workshop, designed for beginners, provides the opportunity to enhance your skills in a straightforward and engaging environment.

Topics include:

Participants are introduced to the process of identifying wetland and aquatic plants using technical keys. Workshop activities include:

An introduction to plant keys and plant key structure
Basic plant structure and morphology
Woody (trees and shrubs) plant identification
Herbaceous plant identification (with emphasis on rushes, sedges and grasses)

This workshop will meet at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse.

Information is forthcoming.

Basic Wetland Plant Identification Workshop Tentative Agenda
La Crosse, Wisconsin
July 8–9, 2024

Day 1: Monday, July 8, 2024

8–8:30 a.m.	Registration
8:30–8:45 a.m.	Introduction
8:45–10:15 a.m.	Plant Structure and Nomenclature
10:15–10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m.–Noon	Introduction to Plant Keys
12–1 p.m.	Lunch (provided)
1–3 p.m.	Families of Wetland Trees and Shrubs
3–3:15 p.m.	Break
3:15–5 p.m.	Keying Practice (Trees and Shrubs)

Day 2: Tuesday, July 9, 2024

8–10:15 a.m.	Families of Herbaceous Wetland/Aquatic Plants
10:15–10:30 a.m.	Break
10:30 a.m.–Noon	Keying Practice (Herbaceous Plants)
Noon–1 p.m.	Lunch (provided)
1–3 p.m.	Grass, Sedge, and Rush Families (with Keying Practice)
3–3:15 p.m.	Break
3:15–4:30 p.m.	Invasive Species (sight ID)
4:30–5 p.m.	Additional Plant ID Resources, Wrap-up, and Training Evaluation

Notes:

This workshop will include classroom and hands-on components
Lunch is provided both days
Bring a wanter bottle and computer (optional)

Lodging:

A limited block of rooms are available at:

Courtyard La Crosse Downtown/Mississippi Riverfront
500 Front St.
La Crosse, WI
608.782.1000

Reserve your room

Last Day to Book: Thursday, June 6, 2024
Please reserve your overnight accommodations early as there are a limited number of special rates available. Once a room block has filled and/or after room block expiration date, reservations received are subject to space availability and at prevailing room rates.
Refer to: UWL Wetlands Workshop when making reservations.

Room rates, per night: (government per diem rate, may be subject to change)

$107/night (plus sales and room tax)

Please refer to the hotel's website or contact them directly for check-in and check-out times, services and amenities, directions, parking/shuttle service and other hotel information.

Steve Eggers

Steve Eggers is a senior ecologist and Professional Wetland Scientist with the Regulatory Branch of the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He has specialized in Clean Water Act jurisdiction, wetland plantcommunities, wetland delineation, compensatory mitigation, and impact assessment of projects in waters/wetlands. Since 1994, he has served as lead instructor for Regulatory IV (wetland delineation) training sessions in Minnesota and Wisconsin for Tribal, Federal, state and local agency staff. Steve is a member of both the National Advisory Team for Wetland Delineation and the National Technical Committee for Wetland Vegetation. He co-authored Wetland Plants and Plant Communities of Minnesota and Wisconsin (1987, 1997, 2011) now in its third edition.

Adam Schneider

Adam Schneider is an Assistant Professor of Biology at UW-La Crosse. A plant taxonomist and evolutionary biologist by training, he has over ten years of experience teaching courses in general plant biology, taxonomy, and identification. He also maintains the UWL herbarium and has an active research program specializing in parasitic plant systematics and phylogenomics.

Location

Prairie Springs Science Center, Room 1008
University of Wisconsin-La Crosse
431 East Avenue North
La Crosse, WI 54601

Parking

You will receive a confirmation email with parking information approximately 2 weeks prior to the event. You must register your vehicle using the instructions in your confirmation email.

UW-La Crosse Campus Map