WHAT'S NEW

NCC HOST 2009 SWS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE
updated 07.28.2008



The North Central Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists is pleased to be hosting the Society's 30th annual meeting in Madison, WI with partners the Wisconsin Wetlands Association and the Wetland Biogeochemistry Symposium. To be held June 21-26, 2009 at the Monona Terrace Community & Convention Center, the conference will follow successful formats used previously including plenary sessions, symposia, contributed oral presentations, poster sessions, exhibitor booths, a silent auction, chapter and society business meetings, social functions and field trips.

Visit the meeting website for more information.
http://www.sws.org/2009_meeting/

To volunteer contact one of the local planning team chairs:
* Joy Zedler (jbzedler@wisc.edu)
* Becky Abel (becky.abel@wisconsinwetlands.org)
* Pat Megonigal (megonigalp@si.edu)


SWAMPFEST AT OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY WETLANDS
updated 07.29.2008

OSU's Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, 352 W.Dodridge Street, is celebrating its designation as a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance with SWAMPFEST on Thursday 25 September 2008, 5 to 10 pm,
with Picnic at the Swamp, outdoor lecture on Wetlands of the World, and bluegrass and rock bands all evening.

Cosponsored by Olentangy River Wetland Research Park, Jerry and Lenora Pausch Foundation, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Science, College of Engineering, College of Math and Physical Sciences, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Environmental Science Graduate Program, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Geodetic Science Department, and Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology Department. The public is invited. Go to http://swamp.osu.edu or email
mccarthy.211@osu.edu for more details.

(See attached file: swampfest08sml.pdf)


REGIONAL MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT:
updated 07.29.2008

NEIGHBORHOOD WATERSHEDS Rain: Wetland: River: Ocean
August 14, 2008 Conference in Coralville, IA
North Ridge Pavilion, 2250 Holiday Road, Coralville, IA

See http://www.earthviewenvironmental.com/2008_conference.html for the meeting agenda and registration information.

CONFERENCE PURPOSE AND THEME

New federal clean water mandates are already influencing development throughout the Mississippi River watershed, in response to the expanding dead zone around the Gulf of Mexico. Within that continental watershed lie smaller watersheds, each contributing their share of sediment, lawn and agricultural chemicals, heavy metals, solvents, and irreducible pollutants. This conference will provide information on water quality issues on small lots, in open areas and neighborhoods, and between the smaller watersheds that are linked within the Mississippi River Basin.

The Iowa River Watershed Conference Committee is a group of professionals from varying disciplines. We have teamed up with the North Central Chapter of the Society of Wetlands Scientists to bring this one-day conference about watersheds to a broad audience. Our goal is to sharpen the focus of attendees, and make them familiar with existing opportunities to improve water quality within their local watersheds.

We will combine speakers and field visits to introduce attendees to the functions and values of the individual natural areas that exist within a watershed. Our speakers will address watershed management; stream bank vegetation; floating islands in ponds and storm water detention basins; ways to increase the amount of time we (and in particular, our children) spend outdoors; how wetlands and streams can be brought back into our communities; how new ideas in landscaping can restore the native environment and improve water quality; Johnson County Conservation Board’s land management within the watershed of the lake at Kent Park, and their restoration of native plant communities within the Iowa and Cedar River watersheds; local financing for the installation of rain gardens and other storm water management techniques. Our field trips will focus on successful wetland restoration projects that combine storm water treatment, ecological preservation, and recreation.

Fall 2009: EARLY ANNOUNCEMENT FOR ILLINOIS RIVER MITIGATION BANK FIELD TRIP

Please consider joining us for a two-day field trip tour of large-scale wetland mitigation bank and restoration projects along the central Illinois River valley. After convening in historic Peoria, Illinois, trip participants will travel to several wetland restoration projects located within 1-2 hours of Peoria to compare and contrast restoration goals and strategies being actively employed at large-river wetland restoration sites.

Sites scheduled to be visited include: The Nature Conservancy’s preserves at Emiquon and Spunky Bottoms, The Wetland Initiative’s Hennepin & Hopper Lakes restoration project, and the Illinois Department of Transportation’s federally recognized LaGrange Wetland Mitigation Bank. In addition to visiting these unique sites, we also hope to have presentations on related research topics, such as nutrient farming, riverine sedimentation, and nutrient cycling, as well as field demonstrations of techniques used to monitor wetland hydrology at such sites. We may even get to see rare plants and wildlife along the way, including the federally threatened Boltonia decurrens and the recently delisted bald eagle.

In addition to field sites, overnight accommodations and evening activities will be available at locations throughout downtown Peoria. Tentative dates for the trip are currently being explored for late September (9/24-9/25) or early October of 2009. Additional information will be posted as it becomes available, but please feel free to contact any of the following trip organizers with any questions:

IDOT’s LaGrange Wetland Mitigation Bank:

We hope to see you there!
Trip Organizers:

Keith Carr, M.S.,
Associate Geologist, Wetlands Geology Section, Illinois State Geological Survey
217-265-0267

Eric Plankell, P.G.
Assistant Geologist, Wetlands Geology Section, Illinois State Geological Survey
217-265-8029

Blaine Watson, P.G.
SWS NCC Secretary-Treasurer, Project Manager, Bodine Environmental Services, Inc.
800-637-2379


SOLICITATION FOR PROPOSAL ASSISTANCE
updated 03.14.2008

Plan a wetlands conference, workshop, or field trip in your area and the North Central Chapter will provide support to local member committees in the form of publicity, announcements, planning advice and upfront reimbursable expenses. Go to the Proposal Solicitation link to learn more about this new service to members of the NCC.
Proposal Solicitation form.
Click here to find out more information.



STUDENT TRAVEL GRANTS
updated 02.23.2008

The Society of Wetland Scientist, North Central Chapter, announces the availability of the Student Travel Grant. The purpose of the student grants is to provide selected students financial support to attend professional meetings. Click here for more information regarding the Student Travel Grant or contact the Educational Outreach Chair, David A Mifsud, PWS.


NORTH CENTRAL CHAPTER MEMBERSHIP MAP
updated 10.08.2007
The following map displays locations of current members within the North Central Chapter:
NCC Membership Map:............................................................................................Map (.PDF). [918KB].


CONTINUED AT: NEWS ARCHIVES SECTION

04.06.2005
North Central Chapter Nominations


 


- Click on the map to see wetland-related links for each states -