2026 Wetland Science Conference
A three-day conference for wetland and water professionals in the Upper Midwest.
February 24 - 26, 2026  ·  Ho-Chunk Hotel & Convention Center, Baraboo, WI

Wisconsin Wetlands Association invites you to the 30th Annual Wetland Science Conference on February 24-26, 2026, in Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells. 

Join other scientists and professionals of the wetland and water community of Wisconsin and the upper Midwest to:

  • Share your wetland research, restoration, management, or outreach program;
  • Learn new identification and assessment approaches and techniques;
  • Hear about approaches to incorporating wetlands into watershed & community planning;
  • Discuss the latest in wetland science, planning, and protection issues;
  • Look ahead to the future of wetland science and practices in Wisconsin and the Midwest.

This 3-day conference, which draws upwards of 350 attendees annually, includes a keynote address, organized symposia, topical oral sessions, a poster session, working groups, workshops, and field trips to area wetlands, all of which provide great networking and learning opportunities.

Key Speakers
Key Speakers

Dr. Holly Dolliver (Department Chair/Professor, UW-River Falls) & Dr. Amanda Little (Professor/Program Director, UW-Stout)
Digging in: Wetland soils of Wisconsin and their role in ecological restoration
Wednesday, February 25, 9:00 am

Steve Ventura, Professor emeritus, UW-Madison, 
Layers for going deeper: Uncovering a wetland’s history, biology, hydrology, and more through digital resources
Thursday, February 26, 8:30 am

Sponsors
Presenters

No records found.

Exhibitors

Baxter & Woodman Natural Resources, LLC

Baxter & Woodman Natural Resources, LLC specializes providing maintenance work within naturalized detention basins, wetland mitigation areas, rain gardens, forest preserves, public park areas, and other native landscaping areas.

GAI Consultants, Inc.

Transforming ideas into reality® since 1958, GAI Consultants is an engineering and planning consulting firm specializing in a diverse range of environmental services for energy and infrastructure projects.

Heartland Ecological Group

We provide our clients with professional ecological solutions. We specialize in the assessment, mapping, restoration, and application of regulatory policies related to wetlands, streams, and other natural resources.

HOBO Data Loggers

HOBO Data Loggers offers monitoring solutions that deliver dependable water level and water quality data, empowering you to assess, plan, and implement effective wetland strategies for a sustainable future.

ISG

Johnson's Nursery

Johnson's Nursery is a wholesale and retail plant nursery that grows local ecotype native plant material, and new to market ornamental material.

Merjent

Merjent is a full-service consulting firm with a long history serving the energy industry. We offer a wide range of environmental, engineering, field, land, and restoration services to our clients.

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance

Southern Wisconsin Bird Alliance (formerly Madison Audubon) works to protect and improve habitat for birds and other wildlife through land acquisition and management, education, and advocacy.

UW Biodiversity Conservation and Management Program

Earn your master’s degree in Biodiversity Conservation and Management or a graduate certificate in biodiversity science, data management, or conservation leadership from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay – 100% online.

Wisconsin Wetlands Association

We help people and communities care for wetlands. Become a member today!

No records found.

Agenda
Tuesday, February 24
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Meet at Ho-Chunk Main Lobby at TBD to depart by bus Leaders: Carl Cotter (Riverside Farms); Peter Ziegler (Wisconsin Waterfowl Association); Steve Swenson, Kate Singer, and Caitlin McWilliams (The Aldo Leopold Foundation) Sponsored by TBD
Meet at Hi-Chunk Main Lobby at TBD to depart by bus Leaders: Arik Duhr, Mitchell Groenhof, Eric Snyder, Gracie Corral, and Emily Johnson (The Aldo Leopold Foundation) Sponsored by TBD
Meet at Ho-Chunk Main Lobby at TBD to depart by bus Leader: Rachael Lewandowski-Sarette (On Site & Accessibility Coordinator, Upham Woods Outdoor Learning Center) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells A Instructor: Nelson Ham (Professor of Geology and Environmental Science, St. Norbert College) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells E Instructors: Patricia Trochlell (The Prairie Enthusiasts) and Steve Eggers (US Army Corps of Engineers - retired) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells D Instructors: Sally Jarosz (Wisconsin DNR); Ken Powell (Minnesota Board of Water & Soil Resources); Allison Willman (Wisconsin DNR); and Tom Pearce Sponsored by TBD
Wednesday, February 25
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom Speakers: Holly Dolliver, Professor Soil Science & Geology, UW–River Falls; Amanda Little, Professor Biology, UW–Stout Digging in: Wetland soils of Wisconsin and their role in ecological restoration Sponsored by TBD
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Location: TBD Swap books you no longer need to offer to another wetland professional/enthusiast! Help make sure the next generation has access to the classics to build their library.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom & Atrium Sponsored by TBD
11:00 AM - 12:20 PM
11:00 AM - 12:20 PM
Location: Lower Dells B Moderator: Erin O'Brien Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells E Facilitators: Meredith Thomsen and Dustin Bronson (USFS)
Location: Lower Dells A Moderator: Anne Lacy (International Crane Foundation) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells F Instructors: Paul Skawinski (Statewide Citizen Lake Monitoring Network Educator) and Madeline Hetland (Program Assistant) (UW-Stevens Point Extension Lakes)
11:00 AM - 3:10 PM
11:00 AM - 3:10 PM
Location: Lower Dells D Moderator: Sally Jarosz (Wisconsin DNR) Sponsored by TBD
12:20 PM - 1:50 PM
12:20 PM - 1:50 PM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom Interact with exhibitors and fellow attendees during the lunch hour. Sponsored by TBD
1:50 PM - 3:10 PM
1:50 PM - 3:10 PM
Location: Lower Dells B Moderator: Josh Brown (Wisconsin DNR) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells E Facilitators: Andy Meier (US Army Corps of Engineers) and Greg Edge Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells F Facilitators: Jessica Jacobson (Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa) and Mike Jones (Stockbridge-Munsee Community Ecology Department)
1:50 PM - 4:40 PM
1:50 PM - 4:40 PM
Location: Lower Dells A Moderator: Mike Mossman (Wisconsin DNR - retired) Sponsored by TBD
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom & Atrium Sponsored by TBD
3:40 PM - 5:00 PM
3:40 PM - 5:00 PM
Location: Lower Dells B Moderator: Travis Olson (UW-Madison Division of Extension) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells D Moderator: Maddy Reick (Stantec) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells E Any conference attendee that currently identifies as a woman is welcome to join Facilitators: Nicole Staskowski (Stantec and WWA Board of Directors) and Sarah Kraszewski (Heartland Ecological Group) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells F Facilitators: Alex Moya and Sylvia Troost (The Pew Charitable Trusts) and Erin O’Brien (Wisconsin Wetlands Association) Sponsored by TBD
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom & Atrium Sponsored by TBD
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
5:00 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: TBD
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
6:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom & Atrium Sponsored by TBD
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom & Atrium
Thursday, February 26
8:30 AM - 10:15 AM
8:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom Steve Ventura, Professor emeritus, Environmental Studies and Soil Science at UW-Madison From Layers for going deeper: Uncovering a wetland’s history, biology, hydrology, and more through digital resources Sponsored by TBD
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
9:30 AM - 10:15 AM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom Moderator: Tracy Hames Sponsored by TBD
10:15 AM - 10:40 AM
10:15 AM - 10:40 AM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom & Atrium Sponsored by TBD
10:40 AM - 12:00 PM
10:40 AM - 12:00 PM
Location: Lower Dells B Moderator: Sarah Kraszewski (Heartland Ecological Group) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells D Facilitators: Tiffany Wagner (Ruekert and Mielke, Inc.); Alice Thompson (Thompson & Assoc. Wetland Services); and Patricia Trochlell (The Prairie Enthusiasts) Sponsored by TBD
10:40 AM - 2:50 PM
10:40 AM - 2:50 PM
Location: Lower Dells A Facilitator: Dreux Watermolen (Wisconsin DNR) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells F Instructors: Peter Levi (The Nature Conservancy); Aaron Marti (Wisconsin DNR); Steve Ventura (UW-Madison-emeritus);Lauren Haydon; and Chris Smith Sponsored by TBD
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
12:00 PM - 1:30 PM
Location: Upper Dells Ballroom Sponsored by TBD
1:30 PM - 2:10 PM
1:30 PM - 2:10 PM
Location: Lower Dells E Facilitators: Tod Highsmith (WWA Board of Directors); Alice Thompson (Thompson & Associates Wetland Services); and Mike Mossman (Wisconsin DNR - retired) Sponsored by TBD
1:30 PM - 2:50 PM
1:30 PM - 2:50 PM
Location: Lower Dells B Moderator: Tally Hamilton (Ducks Unlimited) Sponsored by TBD
Location: Lower Dells D Facilitator: Matthew Knickelbine (Stantec)
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
2:10 PM - 2:50 PM
Location: Lower Dells E Facilitators: Anya Jeninga-Nehls (UW-Madison Division of Extension); Ellen Voss (River Alliance); and Sara Walling (Clean Wisconsin)

The Wetland Science Conference is proudly hosted by the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, a statewide non-profit dedicated to the protection, restoration, and enjoyment of wetlands and associated ecosystems through science-based programs, education, and advocacy. We envision a state where wetlands are healthy and plentiful and support ecological and societal needs, and where citizens care for, appreciate, and interact with these natural resources.

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Wetland Science Conference Cancellation Policy

All sales are final, and no refunds are available.
No refunds will be given for conference registrations, as oral presentation session recordings will be available on demand following the conference. If you are not able to attend the in-person conference and you notify us in writing no later than two weeks prior to the first day of the conference, we will refund the difference between an in-person conference registration and an on-demand-only registration. No refunds of conference fees will be made in the case of non-attendance or less than two weeks’ notice. Substitutions will be accepted. Field trips, workshops, and on-demand registration fees are non-refundable as we have fixed costs for running these sessions (e.g., instructor costs, bus rental) that we cover through the fees we charge for them.

Thank you for understanding our need for this policy. Please call 608-250-9971 if you have any questions.