http://www.facebook.com/events/2012266395528359/

What is a bog? Are there bogs in Washington State? Like many common names for ecosystems, the term ‘bog’ has a varied history of use and meaning in both a scientific and nontechnical context. This results in miscommunication about conservation values, hydrological settings, management issues, and regulatory guidance.
In this presentation, the distinctions between bog and other peatland types will be explored along with a discussion of the regional factors controlling peatland distribution and the ecological drivers affecting the composition and structure of vascular and nonvascular species. The role human use and management has played in the development of Washington’s peatlands will be briefly explored. The Washington Natural Heritage Program utilized this information as the foundation for classifying Washington’s peatland types.

A primary objective of the classification is to develop a standardized terminology to characterize Washington’s peatland types and thus provide clarity to wetland regulatory definitions, more resolution to peatland conservation priorities, and ecologically informed restoration and management guidance. We will review the classification approach and discuss the various peatland types found across Washington State, with emphasis on those peatlands found in the Puget lowlands.

Joe Rocchio is the Senior Vegetation Ecologist for Washington Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program (WNHP). His primary responsibilities are to maintain a statewide ecosystem classification, develop and implement methods to assess ecological integrity, and identify ecosystem conservation priorities. Although he works with all of Washington’s ecosystems, wetlands (especially peatlands) are his expertise. His passion for peatlands began during his undergraduate schooling, when Joe had an opportunity to visit Pinhook Bog at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. He was fascinated by the bog’s unique flora and stunned that something so ancient still existed within his childhood landscape of northwest Indiana. This interest led Joe to the University of Washington, where his graduate research focused on peatland restoration in western Washington. He then spent nine years as the Colorado Natural Heritage Program’s Wetland Ecologist where he conducted inventories for rare and high-quality wetlands, with an emphasis on fens. Since joining WNHP in 2007, a significant portion of his work has focused on Washington’s peatlands. He developed a statewide classification of Washington’s bogs and fens, conducted statewide inventories of high-quality peatlands, and recently initiated research to study the effects of surrounding land use on the vegetation, hydrological regime, and water chemistry of western Washington bogs. Joe has a B.S. in Environmental Science from Indiana University and M.S. in Ecosystem Analysis from the University of Washington.

Doors open at 6:00 PM for the Native Plant Identification Workshop; Program
begins at 7:00 PM.

Refreshments, Public Invited, Admission is free.
Donations are appreciated!