Fish Habitat Restoration — Instream Techniques
Each NRTG course includes free, lifetime admission. Enrol once – come back anytime.
Description
The Fish Habitat Restoration (FHR) – Instream Techniques course will provide skills and knowledge to successfully conduct and manage an instream restoration project specific to low-gradient stream environments. This course will provide skills and knowledge to successfully conduct site selection, habitat assessment, construction techniques and other key considerations for a variety of in-stream restoration projects, including riffle and groyne design (Newbury Riffle design principles), aeration, bank stabilization, creation of spawning/rearing habitat and opportunities for rehabilitation in salt lakes (unique to the Canadian prairies).
This course is approved for 10 Continuing Education Credits (CECs) under the Society for Ecological Restoration’s (SER) Certified Ecological Restoration Practitioner (CERP) Program. Participants are responsible for uploading their certificates at ser.submittable.com to receive CECs.
Program Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
- Identify types of instream fish habitat restoration techniques and methods.
- Identify and apply stream hydrology and river engineering principle.
- Conduct a preliminary reconnaissance for a potential instream FHR project.
- Identify key biological factors to consider and incorporate into FHR planning.
- Identify and contrast physical design considerations and project selection criteria for in-channel restoration techniques, and in-stream habitat offset and compensation/mitigation projects.
- Evaluate the functionality of rehabilitation projects.
- Identify sources of funding.
- Identify key scheduling considerations for an FHR project.
Certification
To successfully complete the in-person Fish Habitat Restoration – Instream Techniques course, participants must attend at least 50% of the scheduled time and actively participate in class discussions.
To successfully complete the online self-paced Fish Habitat Restoration – Instream Techniques course participants must complete all online modules.
Prerequisites
There are no formal prerequisites. However, a basic knowledge of statistics would be an asset. Previous experience with Fish Habitat Assessment or completion of NRTG’s Fish Habitat Assessment course is recommended.
FHR – Instream Techniques is one in a series of NRTG Fish Habitat Assessment and Restoration training programs currently offered, including Fish Habitat Restoration – Prescription Development, and Fish Habitat Assessment. Each program focuses on a specific area of assessment and restoration and is designed to complement our other Fish Habitat training programs.
Who attends?
Course participants may include technicians, biologists and other professionals required to conduct, design, and manage fish habitat restoration projects.
How do I attend?
This course is available for individual registration via our website schedule, or by contract to community groups or organizations as a private delivery. To schedule a private delivery, please contact us well in advance of your preferred start date.
What should I bring or supply?
You will need:
- Computer
- Stable internet access
- Pen and paper
Course Formats
This course is offered in two formats: 1) a self-paced online program with optional instructor support, and 2) an online program with in-person instruction. Contact us if you are interested in a contract delivery of this program.
Instructor Profile
Jeff Sereda, PhD.
Manager, Ecological and Habitat Assessment, Owner Sereda Environmental
Jeff holds a PhD. in Limnology and an Aquaculture Technician Diploma. He served as manager of a commercial salmonid hatchery for 4 years, lectured at the University of Saskatchewan on topics of fish physiology, taxonomy, ecology, conservation, and aquaculture. Currently, Jeff is a Manager of Ecological and Habitat Assessment, and formally an Adjunct Professor at the University of Saskatchewan.
Jeff’s research has encompassed topics such as assessing the risk of aquatic ecosystems to anthropogenic eutrophication, macrophyte management, fish habitat restoration, and the impacts of water management on species as risk (Bigmouth Buffalo, Chestnut Lamprey, Plains Sucker, and Lake Sturgeon). Jeff’s research has been presented at over 60 national and international conferences and resulted in 20 peer reviewed publications.