Tuesday, October 13
Concurrent Session #1
Mississippi River Gorge in Minneapolis-St. Paul: Impact of Alterations and Plans for Restoration
The Mississippi River flows through a limestone and sandstone confined valley or gorge cutting through the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. For centuries the gorge has been a place of reverence, transport, sustenance, and transformation. In this special session, we’ve gathered a broad range of presenters to share history, perspectives, technical understanding, and possible futures for the Mississippi River gorge. We’ll leave time for question and discussion between attendees and presenters.
Presenter: Jeff Marr, University of Minnesota
Concurrent Session #2
Investing in the Future Water Workforce: Addressing Gaps in Training, Recruitment, and Career Advancement
In this session, attendees will hear from panelists who are studying the water workforce in Minnesota, developing plans to address needs, and collaborating on strategies to encourage workforce growth and diversity. The session will draw on insights from watershed districts, utilities, NGOs, academic institutions, and trade associations. Learn how your organization can benefit from this network and support the future workforce through investments in technical training programs, career fairs, and other opportunities.
- Michelle Stockness | Executive Director at Freshwater
- Adesewa Adesiji I Workforce Strategy Consultant at Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
- Bonnie Keeler I Director of the Water Resources Center at the University of Minnesota
- Plus other cross-sector panelists from the Minnesota water sector
Concurrent Session #3
Long-range Planning for Minnesota’s Water Resources: Developing Future Water Scenarios for 2100
This session addresses the challenge of navigating uncertainty. Water resource planning typically occurs on decadal cycles and focuses on specific sectors or topics. The State’s Long-Range Planning team will engage attendees in piloting methods for creating scenarios for Minnesota water quality and quantity in 2100. These plausible futures account for drivers like climate change, economic development, land-use, and demographic shifts, with the goal of informing actionable insights for state agencies, local communities, and partners.
Presenters:
- Carrie Christensen, Planning Program Manager, Minnesota Management & Budget Long-Range Planning
- Helen Schnoes, Implementation Strategist & Long-Term Water Project Manager, Minnesota Management & Budget Long-Range Planning
- Karin Berkholtz, Statewide Planner, Minnesota Management & Budget Long-Range Planning
Wednesday, October 14
Concurrent Session #4
The Water is Getting Saltier. How Do We Take on Chloride Pollution at Scale?
Chloride from winter de-icing chemicals poses a permanent threat to Minnesota’s freshwater. Although public road authorities have made noteworthy reductions in salt use without compromising safety, additional voluntary approaches have not produced meaningful reductions, and conditions continue to worsen. This session will highlight new analyses of contributions by land use and owner, present a menu of policy recommendations assembled by the Clean Water Council, and invite participants to engage in advancing high impact recommendations.
Presenters:
- Greg Wilson, Senior Water Resources Engineer, Barr Engineering Company
- Jen Kader, Administrator, Clean Water Council
- Jessica Wilson, Water Resources Manager, City of Edina
Concurrent Session #5
An Altered Hydrology: Storage and Drainage in the Minnesota River Basin
The Minnesota River Basin is one of Minnesota's most degraded watersheds. This special session brings together multiple perspectives to look at difficult issues around drainage and storage projects in the basin, and what sorts of scales and types of change are needed to improve the health of the river system. This interactive session will include small group discussions, with the intent to to build consensus on progressive watershed management priorities in southern Minnesota.
Presenters:
- Rita Weaver, MN BWSR "Minnesota River Basin: Environmental Concerns and History"
- Henry Van Offelen, MN BWSR "Upland Storage: Scale and Prioritization"
- Jon Lore, MN DNR "Channels and Floodplains: Prioritization and Multiple Benefits"
- Andrew Hillman, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy "Thinking Outside the Box: Innovative Policy Solutions for Downstream Effects of Public Drainage"
Concurrent Session #6
Envisioning a Minnesota Flood Center: Interactive Workshop
Increasing flood risk in Minnesota threatens infrastructure, water quality, and community safety and welfare. Innovations in forecasting, preparedness, and coordination across agencies can reduce flood risk. This session will engage stakeholders in setting the course for a proposed Minnesota Flood Center that would improve flood forecasting, strengthen collaboration, and provide consistent information during emergencies. Presenters will engage participants to shape a strategic plan and identify stakeholders that could support or benefit from a statewide center.
Presenters:
- Kristy Dellwo, State Hazard Mitigation Officer, State of MN HSEM
- Megan McGuire, Regional Technical Specialist for Environmental Planning, St. Paul District Army Corps of Engineers
- Rachel Pichelmann, Hydraulic Resiliency Engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Nick Olson, State Hydraulic Engineer, Minnesota Department of Transportation
- Ceil Strauss, Minnesota State Floodplain Manager, Minnesota DNR