UF/IFAS Water Quality Concepts,
Sampling, and Analysis Training Course

April 14-18, 2008

South Florida (Miami -and- Homestead)

Course Overview

The objective of this course is to introduce water regulations, monitoring and sampling techniques, Best Management Practices (BMP’s) program initiatives, and laboratory methods related to water quality of surface and ground waters. The training will focus on basic concepts of water chemistry and hydrology related to water sampling and analysis, instrumentation, water quality data analysis, and evaluation and reporting. The training will be a combination of lectures, hands-on field and lab activities, and field and agency tours.

The short course will include lectures addressing water quality regulations, hydrology, related internet resources, water quality monitoring technology, South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), US Geological Survey (USGS), University of Florida (UF), and National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) water quality programs, and the Florida Best Management Practices program. The attendees will tour University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) research facilities and be exposed to current water quality activities in south Florida. The course will include visits to the Everglades National Park (ENP), NOAA facility, UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC), South Florida Water Management pump station, a fish farm with alterative use of waste water, a waste water treatment plant, and wetlands via an airboat. At each location, the attendees will collect water samples using appropriate techniques as directed by trained staff. These samples will then be analyzed in the state-of-the-art water quality laboratory at the UF/IFAS TREC.

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Who Should Attend?

Anyone who is interested in water quality. There are no prerequisite water quality skills or knowledge required. Those employed or studying in water sciences or hydrology would greatly benefit by participating in this course, including:

• Water Managers

• Extension Agents

• Teachers

• City and County Government Officials and Decision Makers

• Scientists

• Chemists

• Biologists

• Consultants

• Ecologists

• College Students

• Environmental Consultants

• Environmental Engineers

• Environmental Health Officials

• Environmental Regulators

• Environmental Scientists

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10 Ways to Benefit

1. Review of water regulations and the development of BMPs in the state of Florida

2. Experience hands-on water quality sampling from surface water, ground water, soil water, and wetlands and practical issues related to sampling and interpreting the results

3. Experience hands-on water quality analysis

4. Exposure to state-of-the-art water quality laboratory equipment and expertise

5. See and learn from leading scientists at National Parks, Federal Laboratories, University Centers, and Regional Water Management Districts

6. Interaction with professionals in the field of water quality

7. Update on the latest research being conducting in South Florida

8. Understand how human actions shape water quality with related discussions

9. Explore land use issues from a water quality perspective

10. Explore your new knowledge by working through selected water quality problems facing southern Florida

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Course Instructors

Yuncong Li is an Associate Professor of Soil and Water Science at the Tropical Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida. His expertise includes water chemistry, water quality monitoring, laboratory analysis, soil science, and ecosystem restoration.

Kati Migliacco is an Assistant Professor of Hydrology and Water Resources at the Tropical Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida. Her expertise includes GIS and watershed modeling, water conservation, water quality, and irrigation.

Teresa Olczyk is a UF/IFAS Extension agent IV in the Miami-Dade County Extension Office. Her expertise include: water and nutrient management, and small farms issues.

Ed Hanlon is a Professor of Soil and Water Science at the Southwest Florida Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida. His expertise includes water management, and water-related issues dealing with soil filtration, nutrient movement, and water re-use.

Qingren Wang is a Postdoctoral Research Associate in the Soil and Water Science Department at the Tropical Research and Education Center, Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), University of Florida. His expertise includes water quality monitoring, laboratory analysis, water science, and ecosystem restoration.

Pamela Fletcher is South Florida Marine Ecosystem Outreach Coordinator, University of Florida, Florida Sea Grant and NOAA. Her expertise includes water quality policy, coastal restoration, and coral reef ecology.

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Training Course Site

This course will be held on the campus of the University of Florida at the UF/IFAS Tropical Research and Education Center (TREC) in Homestead (Miami-Dade County) and field trips will be in the Miami area. Field clothes are recommended. Water and refreshments for field visits will be provided. A map with detailed directions to UF/IFAS TREC in Homestead teaching classroom and to the field sites will be emailed to you upon receipt of your registration.
 

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Training Course Agenda

Monday, April 14, 2008

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Friday, April 18, 2008

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Registration Information
 

Enrollment in this course is limited to the first thirty (30) participants, and registrations will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the course is full. Advance Registration is required. Participants are strongly encouraged to register by March 10; however, the final deadline is March 24, 2008.
 

What Does the Fee Include? The registration fee includes registration materials, a 3-ring binder with handouts, Certificates of Attendance, local transportation, a field trip to the Everglades National Park, an airboat ride, a field trip to NOAA to collect seawater samples onboard a research vessel, 4 lunches, 3 dinners, morning coffee and refreshments, and supplies for sampling and chemical analysis.

Note: Your registration is not valid until you have successfully completed the online registration process, payment has been received and you have received a printable confirmation page and an email confirmation. This is the only registration receipt you will receive so make sure to keep a copy for registration verification. 
 

Refund Policy: Requests for registration refunds will be honored if a written notification of cancellation is received by the Office of Conferences & Institutes by March 17, 2008. A $100.00 processing fee will be deducted from each registration refund. Sorry, no refunds will be honored for cancellations after March 17, 2008.
 

Special Needs: Participants with special needs can be reasonably accommodated by contacting Teresa Olczyk at least 10 working days prior to the conference. She can be reached by phone at 1-305-248-3311, x232, or by calling 1-800-955-8771 (TDD), within the state of Florida. 

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Hotel Accommodations 

A small block of guest rooms is being held at the Comfort Inn Hotel in Florida City, Florida located at 333 S.E. 1st Avenue, Florida City, FL 33034; Phone: (305) 248-4009 • Fax: (305) 248-7935
 

The Comfort Inn hotel is offering participants of the UF/IFAS Water Quality Extension Training Course a very special rate of $69.99 per night, single or double occupancy (plus 13% tax per night). All hotel reservations must be made by Monday, March 31, 2008. After this date, availability of guest rooms at the Comfort Inn hotel will not be guaranteed.

To Make Reservations, please contact the hotel directly by phone: (305) 248-4009 and be sure to identify yourself as a participant of the Water Quality Extension Training Course.

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Area Information

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Related Sites of Interest

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Contact Information

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Last modified: 02/20/09