Pre-Conference Workshops: Tuesday & Wednesday, Jan 10 and 11

Two-days of skill-building workshops, Jan 10 and 11, will precede the conference. CNPS and other agencies and organizations will offer fifteen workshops on a wide variety of subjects. Two-day, one-day, and half-day workshops will be held at the Town and Country Resort and Conference Center, unless otherwise noted. Workshop pre-registration is required and there are discounts for conference attendees, members, and students. Full details are posted on the website with instructor bios. Note that several workshops are abbreviated samplings of longer workshops given during the year by the providing organization. Please support the workshop programs of all contributing organizations as well the CNPS Plant Science Training program. Follow title links for workshop details and instructor biographies, if available.

Workshop registration is now closed – no exceptions.

Two-day workshops:

1. Jan 10-11 Rare Plants of Western San Diego County
Workshop full (email cnpscnps.org to be added to the waitlist)
Instructors: Fred M. Roberts and Michelle Balk
Workshop provided by CNPS
Course Description: This course will focus on the identification and ecology of sensitive plants of the coast, foothills, and mountains of San Diego County. Emphasis will be placed on endangered, threatened, and CNPS List 1 and 2 species. Key characters used in identifying easily-confused species will be presented, and specific distributions and habitat preferences will be discussed. The course will include an extensive photo presentation and a field trip to local rare plant populations.

2. Jan 10-11 Plant Conservation Genetics
Workshop full (email cnpscnps.org to be added to the waitlist)
Instructors: Mitchell McGlaughlin, Lisa Wallace, and Kaius Helenurm
Course Description: Participants will gain a well-rounded understanding of the role of genetic data in plant conservation, and ecological and evolutionary research. We will cover all aspects of plant conservation genetics from project initiation to interpretation of final results. The emphasis will be on understanding the relevance of genetic data to effective conservation and the long-term persistence of plant species. The workshop is open to all, but is designed especially for land managers who review research permit requests and/or incorporate genetic information into management activities.
Workshop registration and travel funds available with application by Oct 14 - Application: Word | PDF

3. Jan 10-11 Introduction to the 2nd Edition of A Manual of California Vegetation
Instructors: Todd Keeler Wolf, John Sawyer, Julie Evens
Workshop provided by CNPS and CDFG
Course Description: The authors will provide an overview of additions and changes to the second edition of A Manual of California Vegetation, including new vegetation types recognized or redefined across many habitats. We also will discuss the new components of the vegetation descriptions and how you can use this book including conservation and management of vegetation types.

One Day workshops

4. Jan 11 Introduction to Rare Plant Surveys
Workshop full (email cnpscnps.org to be added to the waitlist)
Instructor: Teresa Sholars, Professor College of the Redwoods
Workshop provided by CNPS
Course Description: Participate in an overview of how to plan, conduct and review rare plant surveys. We will cover the legal basis for requiring surveys, the accepted methodologies for conducting surveys, and provide insights on how to review rare plant survey reports. This workshop is intended for botanists, wildlife biologists and land mangers that must conduct, request, or review surveys in the course of their duties.

5. Jan 10, Invasive Plant Management
Instructors: Mike Kelly, Sandy DeSimone, Jodie Holt, David Varner and Phil Roullard
Workshop provided by California Invasive Plant Council (Cal-IPC)
Course Description: This one-day workshop covers basic principles of invasive plant identification, biology, control methods, mapping and revegetation. This broad overview will provide those in the restoration field with a framework for addressing invasive plants in their work. More detailed trainings in these areas are provided in Cal-IPC’s Wildland Weed Field Courses.

6. Jan 11, Vernal Pool Invertebrates
Instructors: Carol Witham and Scott McMillan
Off site -Full day field trip to vernal pools sites. Meet at Town and Country Hotel
Workshop provided by CNPS
Course Description: An introductory-level field course for botanists and wildlife biologists focused on the ecology of California’s vernal pools with emphasis on the aquatic phase and various federally listed species. Participants will learn about: 1) the common and endangered macro fauna that occupy vernal pools during the aquatic phase, plus associated food chains and unusual survival strategies; and 2) the unique morphological and photosynthetic strategies of vernal pool endemic plants during their submerged aquatic phase.

7. Jan 10, Meeting Water Quality Requirements with Native Plants throughout the Landscape
Instructors: Jeremy Haas and Chiara Clemente
Workshop provided by California State Water Control Board
Course Description: The workshop will include classroom presentations from agency staff and private sector professionals structured around current and emerging water quality priorities. Presenters will describe how using non-native plants in projects from pollution prevention to cleanups increases risks to downstream water quality and beneficial uses of recreation, domestic and agricultural water supply, wildlife habitat, and fishing. Presenters will describe ways to evaluate native plants for use in meeting water quality requirements. Workshop participants will receive summary materials.

8. Jan 11, Cultivating Our Future: How to start a native plant restoration nursery
Workshop full (email cnpscnps.org to be added to the waitlist)
Instructors: Betty Young, Brianna Schaefer, and Michele Laskowski
Workshop provided by Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy Native Plant Nursery Program
Course Description: A hands-on, how-to workshop on starting a restoration nursery and producing quality ecologically-appropriate native plants. Participants will learn how to plan and design a native plant nursery and cover the “nuts and bolts” of seed collection and growing. Participants will receive hands-on experience with nursery layout design, seed cleaning, mixing organic potting media, organic fertilizers, and more. The workshop will also cover pest management and sustainable approaches to growing natives. Participants will receive chapters from a nursery manual and many other valuable resources. 

9. Jan 10, The Art of Field Sketching: Drawing Plants
Workshop full (email cnpscnps.org to be added to the waitlist)
Instructor: John (Jack) Muir Laws
Course Description: This will be a full day of sketching and art instruction to jump start you in keeping your own field journal or re-inspire you to pick up your sketchbook again. We will examine tricks and techniques to help you simplify a complex flower shape, draw wildflowers in perspective, and simple ways to add color to your drawings in the field. Bring paper and pencil if you have it, supplies will be provided for those who do not have their own. Participants will receive worksheets and technique pages to supplement their notes.

Half-Day workshops

10. Jan 10, Morning,
CEQA Workshop
Instructor: Keith Wagner
Workshop provided by Lippe Gaffney Wagner LLP & the Planning and Conservation League
Course Description: This half-day workshop will present an overview of the CEQA process, and how local citizens can effectively use the CEQA process to protect native plants and plant communities. This workshop will be lead by CEQA attorney Keith G. Wagner, with the law
firm Lippe Gaffney Wagner LLP, and is co-sponsored by the Planning and Conservation League, a statewide leader in defending and strengthening CEQA's important public participation and environmental protection purposes.

11 . Jan 10, Afternoon,
National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Compliance-
Instructors: Sherry Ashbaugh and others
Workshop provided by the U.S Navy and other Federal agency TBA
Course Description: This seminar will discuss how federal agencies comply with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). We will provide an overview of the Act, what federal agencies are mandated to do to achieve compliance, and how they conduct environmental planning to support their missions. Agency guidelines and policy will be presented to demonstrate how compliance is achieved for daily operations, training missions and research and development activities.

12. Jan 11
Design Workshop for Online Vegetation Maps
This workshop has been cancelled.

13. Jan 11, Two sessions: morning- Citizen Science Level and afternoon- Professional Level
Emerging Botanical Field Methods: using new technologies to identify, map, and explore wild diversity
Instructors: Daniel Gluesenkamp, John Malpas, Andrea Williams, Mike Perlmutter
Workshop provided by California Early Detection Networks, with instructors from Calflora Database, Marin Municipal Water District, and the Bay Area Early Detection Network
Course Description: There has been a burst of innovation in mobile phone apps, web-based tools, and GPS camerasthat gives professional botanists and amateur naturalists the ability to identify plants in the field, precisely map plants, report beautiful or important discoveries, and explore diversity and distribution from desktop, laptop, or mountaintop. However, tools can be duplicative, confusing, and often exaggerate their true utility. This training workshop introduces participants to the diversity of technical tools available for exploring California’s botanical diversity and helps them to understand their various uses.

14. Jan 11, 9:00 am- 2pm, Decrypting Cryptantha
Workshop full (email cnpscnps.org to be added to the waitlist)
Instructor: Dr. Michael G. Simpson
Off site at San Diego State University
Workshop provided by Jepson Herbarium workshops
Course Description: The genus Cryptantha s.l. consists of approximately 204 species with members found in western North America western South America. This workshop will consist of training in the identification of Cryptantha taxa, using the key in The Jepson Manual: Vascular Plants of California, Second Edition. Herbarium specimens and fruit (nutlet) preparations will be available. We will have a microscope video projection system and use computers to access both on-line keys and images from the SDSU Cryptantha website. No materials needed.

15. Jan 11, Afternoon,
Introduction to California Grasslands
Instructor: David Amme
Workshop provided by California Native Grassland Association
Course Description: We will provide an overview of California grasses and grassland diversity. We will cover subjects including ecosystem services, management challenges, restoration and landscaping, and basic grass taxonomy, anatomy and morphology.