Project Leads

Project Leads training currently occurs twice a year (January and October) and is held virtually.  This three-day course is open to current and potential BLM, DOI Project Leads, as well as currently-contracted Data Specialists. 

January Project Leads Virtual Training 2026

Date: January 13, 14, and 15 for 2026. 

Second Project Leads Virtual Training 2026

Date: January 26, 27, and 28 for 2026

Register through DOI Talent here Project Leads Registration

Terrestrial Core Methods Trainings

These annual field courses are designed to train all AIM data collectors in the Terrestrial Core Methods used to gather data in the field. Trainings include protocol instruction, supervised practice, and calibration. They also provide an opportunity to practice with an electronic data capture device. 

Training Requirements:

All Terrestrial AIM training attendees must complete the required online training materials before attending the field methods training.

Seasonal BLM data collectors or contractor/agreement staff responsible for Terrestrial AIM data collection must have successfully completed Terrestrial AIM Core methods training during the year in which data will be collected.

• In rare circumstances, staff responsible for Terrestrial AIM data collection will be hired after all of the trainings have been concluded. All data collectors must be trained before collecting and submitting Terrestrial AIM data. Contract/agreement managers, or BLM supervisors for BLM seasonals, must communicate all staff changes throughout the field season with the appropriate State Monitoring Coordinator and the National Terrestrial AIM team so that contingent training options can be identified. 

Contractor/agreement staff not collecting Terrestrial AIM data directly, but responsible for Terrestrial AIM crew management and data QA & data QC should attend training at minimum every other year.

BLM staff collecting Terrestrial AIM data should have successfully completed a Terrestrial AIM Core Methods or Train the Trainer training within the last three years.

Trainings Registration: 

Training consists of a VIRTUAL instructor led portion and an IN-PERSON Field Methods portion. Dates listed on DOI Talent are for the In-Person Field Methods section. Each Core Methods Training will have ~ 8 hours of Virtual Instructor lead training prior to the In-Person Field Training. 

Internal DOI registration link: https://doitalent.ibc.doi.gov/course/view.php?id=18212
External registration link: https://edoiu.doi.gov/course/view.php?id=159

Pre-Course Work (Pre-requirement through DOI Talent registration in order to register)

Participants of the Terrestrial AIM Core Methods Training are required to complete ~3 hours of pre-coursework before they will be allowed to register for training. This pre-coursework is a prerequisite in DOI Talent to enroll in the AIM Terrestrial Core Methods. You must complete this before DOI Talent allows you to select a Core Methods training location. 

Training Dates and Locations

Virtual Trainings will be ~ 8 hours (4 hours/day) and will be held in a virtual classroom via Zoom or Microsoft Teams. Attendance is required at both the virtual and in-person training portions to receive credit for attendance. DOI Talent Registration dates apply to the In-Person training only. Registrants for the In-Person training will be enrolled in the virtual portion as well. Please reach out to your AIM State Lead to confirm enrollment. 

Terrestrial Trainings for 2025 have been concluded the table below reflects previous years training. Updated 2026 training dates will begin populating in the start of 2026.  

Pre-course work (DO THROUGH DOI TALENT IF YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR THE COURSE) 

• First, read and review the Monitoring Manual for Grassland, Shrubland, and Savanna Ecosystems SECOND EDITION. 
• Second, watch the following videos on the Landscape Toolbox YouTube channel. (90 minutes total)
• Third, after viewing the videos below, please complete the pre-course quiz on the methods found here

1. Intro (3:28 min)
2. Ecological Site Identification (12:30 min)
3. Photo Points (6:40 min)
4. Establishing a Transect (6:01 min)
5. Line-Point Intercept Method (18:50 min)
6. Vegetation Height (8:06 min)
7. Canopy Gap Intercept Method (15:35 min)
8. Plant Species Inventory (4:02 min)
9. Soil Stability (16:18 min) 

Keep in mind that these methods are used in a variety of different rangeland monitoring programs and in research across the world, so some details might be different than those of the AIM program (for example plot layout, subsurface soil stability samples etc.). Be proactive in your understanding of the protocol by watching the videos in conjunction with reading/reviewing the manual, and maintaining active communication with your project lead or other relevant point of contact (POC). 

Terrestrial Core Methods Training Presentation Videos (Please Note some links are in progress of being updated and will be unavailable): 

• Intro to AIM Part 1
• Intro to AIM Part 2
• Implementing an AIM Sample Design
• Quality Assurance and Quality Control in Monitoring
• Calibration
• Intro to Plot Characterization and Ecological Sites Part 1
• Intro to Plot Characterization and Ecological Sites Part 2
• Safety 

Terrestrial Train the Trainer

This training is directed towards state and regional core methods instructors. This training provides specialists in different regions the skills that they need to be able to host locally adapted regional core methods field courses. Topics include a field protocol refresher, calibration, and discussion of successful training approaches. As the number of AIM monitoring efforts increase, so does the number of BLM staff and field technicians required to collect data. It is crucial to have people from different regions qualified to host crew trainings (in conjunction with the NOC, the Jornada, and NAMC). 

Terrestrial Core Methods Instructor Training — Virtual: February 19-20, In-Person February 23-27, 2026. 

• This training is composed of two parts, an ~8-hour virtual classroom section (~4 hours/day) and an in-person field methods section.
• Dates:
  • Virtual Training February February 19 and 20
  • In-Person Training February 23-27
• Location:  Field Section: Las Cruces, NM, near the university.
• Registration: Registration is currently OPEN. Please contact Erick Yokomizo ([email protected]) after getting approval from your BLM Supervisor and/or AIM State Lead/Monitoring Coordinator
• Certification Reminder:  Please attend at a minimum every 3 years in order to keep your status as a trainer current 

Lotic Field Methods Training

Lotic AIM is a standardized approach for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to quantitatively monitor and assess the condition and trend of wadeable streams and rivers (i.e., lotic systems) on BLM-administered public lands.

The objectives of lotic AIM field methods training are for participants to become proficient in the collection of core, contingent, and covariate field methods outlined in the Lotic Field Protocol for Wadeable Systems – 1735-2. Trainings include protocol instruction, supervised practice, and calibration. They also provide an opportunity to practice electronic data collection with an iPad. 

Training Requirements:

• All lotic AIM training attendees must complete the required online training materials before attending the field methods training.
• Contractor staff, agreement staff, and seasonal BLM data collectors responsible for lotic AIM data collection must successfully complete the entire training every year.
• Data collectors should attend the training in the state/region they are collecting data unless otherwise discussed with the NOC.
• Permanent BLM staff collecting lotic AIM data must successfully complete training every three years and must review protocol updates and training materials every year as a refresher.
• BLM Project Leads overseeing lotic AIM data collection only need to attend the first 3.5 days of training.
• Folks interested in attending a training but not involved in an AIM project are encouraged to register but may be asked to attend a different location or attend in a future year if capacity is full.
• For the NOC to accept data into the National Database all associated trainings and protocols must be followed. 

Training Specifics & Registration:

Lotic AIM field methods training is six days long, with 6-8 hours of online pre-training exercises. All attendees with BLM credentials must register for training through DOI Talent (course registration: Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring Lotic Core Methods Training). External attendees, or those without BLM credentials, must register through eDOIU (https://edoiu.doi.gov/). 

2026 Dates

Registration for 2026 Field Methods Training will be via DOI Talent for attendees with BLM credentials and via eDOIU for attendees without BLM credentials.

Lotic AIM Field Training Tutorials (COMPLETE IN DOI TALENT/eDOIU IF YOU ARE REGISTERING FOR THE COURSE)

Playlist 1: General Introduction to the Lotic  Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Framework 

This playlist gives an introduction to the Bureau of Land Management Lotic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Framework and is intended for anyone interested in the Lotic AIM program, staff hiring and in charge of field crews, and field crew members. 

Playlist 2:  Technical Training for the Lotic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Program 

This playlist provides a more technical discussion of Sample Reaches and Site Evaluation. This course is intended for anyone interested in Lotic AIM, staff hiring and in charge of field crews, and field crew members, however it mainly focuses on skills that field technicians should be familiar with prior to entering the field. 

Playlist 3: Lotic Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring Data and Design Management 

This playlist provides a more technical discussion of Lotic AIM Sample Design and how data is collected electronically and its quality ensured. This course is intended for anyone interested in Lotic AIM, staff hiring and in charge of field crews, and field crew members, however it mainly focuses on skills that field technicians and project managers should be familiar with. 

Lotic AIM QAQC Tutorials

This playlist provides technical tutorials to assist Lotic AIM Project Leads, data collector managers, and data collectors in using the Webmap and dashboards to review data as part of the quality control process.  

Lotic Train the Trainer 

This training is directed towards state and regional field methods instructors. This training provides specialists in different regions the skills that they need to be able to host locally adapted regional field methods field courses.  Topics include a field protocol refresher, calibration, and discussion of successful training approaches. As the number of AIM monitoring efforts increase, so too do the number of BLM staff and field technicians required to collect data. It is crucial to have people from different regions qualified to host crew trainings (in conjunction with the NOC and NAMC). 

Dates:  March 30-April 3, 2026 

Location:  Grand Junction, CO  

Registration: Registration is currently OPEN. Please contact Meghan Krott after getting approval from your BLM Supervisor and/or AIM State Lead/Monitoring Coordinator. 

Certification Reminder:  Please attend at a minimum every 3 years in order to keep your status as a trainer current. 

Riparian & Wetland Field Methods Training

Riparian & Wetland (R&W) AIM provides a standardized approach for the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to quantitatively monitor and assess the condition and trend of riparian and wetland areas on BLM-administered public lands. 

The objectives of R&W AIM field methods training are for participants to become proficient in the collection of core, contingent, and covariate field methods outlined in the Field Protocol for Lentic Riparian and Wetland Systems. Trainings include protocol instruction, supervised practice, and calibration. They also provide an opportunity to practice electronic data collection with an iPad. Participants learn to:

• Apply both random and targeted sample designs for riparian and wetland resources
• Collect all field methods outlined in the official protocol, with emphasis on vegetation, soils, and hydrology
• Use electronic data capture tools, including Field Maps and Survey123
• Conduct field and post-field quality control 

Training Requirements:

• All R&W AIM training attendees must complete the required online training materials before attending the field methods training.
• Contractor staff, agreement staff, and seasonal BLM data collectors responsible for R&W AIM data collection must successfully complete the entire training every year.
• Data collectors should attend the training in the state/region they are collecting data unless otherwise discussed with the NOC.
• Permanent BLM staff collecting R&W AIM data must successfully complete training every three years and must review protocol updates and training materials every year as a refresher.
• BLM Project Leads overseeing R&W AIM data collection only need to attend the first 4 days of training.
• Anyone interested in attending a training but not involved in an AIM project are encouraged to register but may be asked to attend a different location or attend in a future year if capacity is full.
• For the NOC to accept data into the National Database all associated trainings and protocols must be followed.

Training Specifics & Registration:

Riparian & Wetland AIM field methods training is a six-day, in-person course supported by 6-8 hours of required online pre-training exercises. Participants with BLM or DOI credentials must register through DOI Talent under the course title Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring Riparian & Wetland Core Methods Training. External participants, or anyone without BLM or DOI credentials, must register through eDOIU at https://edoiu.doi.gov/.

2026 Training Dates

Pre-Training Coursework

All attendees must complete required online coursework before participating in the in-person portion of the field methods training. This includes reviewing the Field Protocol for Lentic Riparian and Wetland Systems and completing assigned online training materials accessed through DOI Talent or eDOIU upon registration.

A series of pre-training video playlists is also available for participants who want a refresher on R&W AIM field methods. These videos can be viewed at any time.

Pre-Training Video Playlists:

1. R&W AIM Introduction
2. Populations and Plot Layout
3. Covariates
4. Core Methods
5. Contingent Methods
6. Technology
7. Training Technology Set Up