WHAT'S
NEW
VOTE NOW!
updated 11.18.2008
The nominations
period for the special election of a Secretary-Treasurer has passed,
and now is the time to vote. We are pleased to present David Mushet
(currently Regional Contact for North Dakota) as an unopposed candidate.
Please take a few minutes to submit your vote to Kurt Kowalski via email ( kkowalski@usgs.gov; subject line "NCC Vote") or snail mail (Kurt Kowalski, 1451 Green Road, Ann Arbor, MI 48105). For your vote to be counted, you need to have an active membership. Votes will be accepted from November 19, 2008 through December 19, 2008. Results will be announced after the votes are counted.
Position: Secretary-Treasurer:
David Mushet
I am a Wildlife Biologist at the U.S. Geological Survey's Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center in Jamestown ND where I am actively involved with wetland ecology research including the Center's long-term monitoring effort at the Cottonwood Lake wetland complex. Additional information on my work at Northern Prairie as well as a listing of publications can be viewed at www.npwrc.usgs.gov/staff/mushet.htm. I have been an active member in the Society of Wetland Scientists since 1994 and currently serve as the North Dakota contact for the North Central Chapter. I am greatly appreciative of the exceptional service that Blaine Watson has performed as the Chapter's Secretary/Treasurer, especially as chairman of the Membership Committee, and would consider it an honor to follow in his footsteps. I see Blain's departure as not only a loss but also as an opportunity for me to become much more active in the North Central Chapter of the Society of Wetland Scientists and would appreciate your support as I seek election to the office of Secretary/Treasurer.
SPECIAL ELECTION FOR THE NORTH CENTRAL CHAPTER!
updated 10.08.2008
After nearly eight years, Blaine Watson is stepping down as the Secretary-Treasurer. We thank Blaine for his exceptional service to the Chapter and wish him well in his new job located in New Mexico. Rather than allow the position to remain vacant until the next scheduled election in May/June 2009, the Chapter Board decided to hold a special election this Fall/Winter. The new Secretary-Treasurer will work with Blaine and the rest of the Board to get up to speed on things before our Chapter hosts the 2009 SWS Annual Meeting in Madison, June 22-26, 2009.
Therefore, the Chapter is seeking nominations for the Secretary-Treasurer position. The Secretary-Treasurer position also serves as the chairperson for the Membership Committee. The individual elected for this position will serve from January 1, 2009 through June, 2009 before beginning a 2-year term ending approximately June 2011. Kurt Kowalski, the chapter Nominations Committee Chair, will be accepting names via email (kkowalski@usgs.gov) from October 6, 2008 through October 31, 2008. All members in good standing (i.e., have an active 2008 membership) are invited to submit nominations for this election planned for November 17 through December 19, 2008. You may nominate others and yourself. The candidates for election will be advertised on the web site and via email on November 10, 2008, and voting will occur via email and snail mail. Votes will be accepted from November 17, 2008 through December 19, 2008. Results will be announced via email and posted on the Chapter web site. Position duties are described in the Chapter bylaws http://www.sws.org/regional/northcentral/Bylaws.htm.
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 -
