Tuesday agenda: October 13, 2026

Welcome: 8 - 8:30 a.m.

Morning Plenary: 8:30 - 9:30 a.m.

Mississippi River Panel

Break/Refreshments: 9:30 - 10 a.m.

Concurrent Session #1 (10 - 11:30 a.m.)

Track 1: PFAS and CECs

Phosphorylated Flame Retardants in Minnesota’s Surface Water and Ground Water
Mark Ferrey, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency 

More Than Just PFAS: Using Innovative Chemistry to Uncover Organofluorine Pollution
Katharine Faber, University of Minnesota

Tracking the Fluorine: Non-target Analysis Illuminates Atmospheric PFAS Deposition and its Implications for the Great Lakes
Quinn Whiting, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota

PFAS Removal From Compost Contact Water via Adsorption Coupled with Coagulation Pre-treatment
Bridget Ulrich, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota

Track 2: Stormwater and GS

Urban Trees Influence Stormwater quantity and Quality From Site to Watershed Scales
Diana Karwan, University of Minnesota

Designing a Greener Hennepin Avenue: Balancing Complete Streets, Tree Preservation, and Stormwater Management
Heather Spencer, Rani Engineering

Establishing Permanent Vegetation in Urban Green Infrastructure: Lessons Learned Through Five Years in Minneapolis
Marla Brown, Emmons & Olivier Resources, Inc. 

Lessons Learned in Bioretention
John S. Gulliver, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory, University of Minnesota

Track 3: Special Session

Mississippi River Gorge in Minneapolis-St. Paul: Impact of Alterations and Plans for Restoration

Jeff Marr, University of Minnesota

Track 4: Remote Sensing

Warming Waters, Changing Lakes: Remote Sensing Insights into Minnesota’s Aquatic Past, Present, and Future
Leif Olmanson, University of Minnesota

Updates on NASA's SWOT Mission-- 4 Years in
Ross Mullen, Hazen and Sawyer

LiDAR Analysis Targets Near Channel Sediment Sources Results in Prescriptive BMP Implementation
Melissa Bokman Ermer, Scott Watershed Management Organization 

Quantifying the Cropland Ponding Impacts of Drainage Ditch Improvement Projects Using Satellite Imagery
Eric Henning, ISG

Track 5: Algae

Evaluating Synthetic Clay Technology for Harmful Algal Bloom Mitigation
Yuan Li, University of Minnesota

Evaluating Cyanobacterial Bloom and Toxin Dynamics in Southeastern Minnesota Lakes: A Pilot Monitoring Study
Kristen Dieterman, MN Pollution Control Agency

Knowing Your Limits: Single and Multiple Nutrient Limitation in Aquatic Systems
Catherine Polik, University of Minnesota

Evaluation of Nanobubble Treatment for Internal Load and Algae Control in Tri Lakes, WI
Anne Wilkinson, EOR, Inc

Lunch: 11:30 - 12:15 p.m.

Awards Lunch: 12:15 - 12:30 p.m.

Poster Session: 12:30 - 1:10 p.m.

Break/Refreshments: 1 - 1:15 p.m.

Concurrent Session #2 (1:15-2:45 p.m.)

Track 1: Resilience Rising: Preparing for Tomorrow Together

Crossing into the Future: Flood Resilience at Three Minnesota River Transportation Corridors
Rachel Pichelmann, MnDOT

MnDOT Metro Region Flood Resiliency Phase 2: Prioritizing Watersheds for Coordinated Flood Resilience in Highway Systems
Paul Hudalla, MSA Professional Services 

Beyond the Flood Map: Transforming Local Knowledge and Model Results into Emergency Response Actions
Travis McStraw, AE2S 

Future-Ready Mobility: Applying MnDOT’s Flood Risk Assessment Tool in a Changing Climate
Rachel Pichelmann, MnDOT 

Track 2: Iron Enhanced Sand Filters

Impacts of Iron on Lead (Pb) Capture in Urban Stormwater Catchment Ponds and Implications of Sediment Iron Speciation
Christof Zweifel, University of Minnesota

Ironing Out the Details: Monitoring, Maintenance, and the Future of Iron Enhanced Sand Filters
Kendra Sommerfeld, Rice Creek Watershed District

Trace Organic Contaminants in Urban Stormwater and Removal by Iron-Enhanced Sand and Biochar Filters
Sarah Elliott, USGS

A Simple Approach for Tracking Iron-Enhanced Sand Filter Performance
Justine Dauphinais, Coon Creek Watershed District 

Track 3: Special Session

Investing in the Future Water Workforce: Addressing Gaps in Training, Recruitment, and Career Advancement

Michelle Stockness, Freshwater

Track 4: Water Connections and Community Stories

On the Path Together: Lessons in Tribal-University Collaboration from Manoomin/Psiŋ (Wild Rice)
Hannah Jo King, University of Minnesota

Visitor Water Quality Perceptions Across 17 Urban and Peri-urban Lakes in the Greater Twin Cities Metro
Gaston Small, University of St. Thomas

The Sound of Water: Engineering Stream Restorations to Bring the Auditory Back to the Landscape
Rebecca Carlson, Resilience Resources 

Creatively Imagining Our Shared Water Futures: Art + Policy
Henry McCarthy, Metropolitan Council

Track 5: Groundwater Recharge, Residence Time and Withdrawl

A 3D Model of Groundwater Residence Time for the Root River Watershed
Julia Steenberg, Minnesota Geological Survey

Enhancing Floodplain Aquifer Recharge Through Engineered Wetland Systems in Drought and Flood Prone Rural Iowa
Julie Blackburn, ISG, Inc. 

Pilot Water Withdrawal Management Framework
Harsh Anurag, Geosyntec Consultants Inc.

Mapping Evapotranspiration, Water Stress, and Yield in Central Minnesota Using SEBAL and Yield Disaggregation
Rozita Pourmansouri, University of Minnesota

Break/Refreshments: 2:45 - 3:15 p.m.

Concurrent Session #3 (3:15 - 4:45 p.m.)

Track 1: Unique Contaminants

Identifying a Chemical Fingerprint for Use in Routine Monitoring to track Tire-derived Pollution
Stephanie Eytcheson, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota

A Novel Integrative Approach to Evaluate Comprehensive Contaminant Burdens in Waterways: A Case Study on the Mississippi River
Ian Mundy, Natural Resources Research Institute, University of Minnesota Duluth

Statewide Microbiological Water Quality Monitoring and High-Throughput Source Tracking Across Minnesota Watersheds
Janet Sanchez, University of Minnesota

Chronic Wasting Disease in Minnesota Watersheds: A Framework for Interdisciplinary Research and Management
Anu Li, University of Minnesota

Track 2: Chloride

Simulation of Groundwater Chloride Transport to Creeks in the Coon Creek Watershed District, Anoka County, MN
Andrew Leaf, U.S. Geological Survey Upper Midwest Water Science Center 

GIS Water Quality Modeling of Chloride for TMDL Compliance
Greg Wilson, Barr Engineering Co.

Smart Salting with Salty Dawg: Chloride Education at Dakota County Library
Lindsey Albright, Dakota County SWCD

From Salt to Strategy: A Watershed Approach to Chloride Reduction
Tyler Olsen, Barr Engineering Co.

Track 3: Special Session

Long-range Planning for Minnesota’s Water Resources: Developing Future Water Scenarios for 2100

Helen Schnoes, Minnesota Management and Budget
 

Track 4: Innovations in Precipitation and Flood Frequency Analyses

Big Storms, Better Language: Replacing Recurrence with Risk
Noah Gallagher, St. Anthony Falls Laboratory

Current State of Precipitation Forecasting Skill in Minnesota
Karen Ryberg, Barr Engineering Co.

The Evolution and Application of Stochastic Storm Transposition in Regional Flood Frequency Analysis
Erica Schmitz, Stantec

Methods and Outcomes for Flow Frequency on the Lower Minnesota River
Helen Walz, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, St. Paul District

Track 5: Private Wells and Groundwater

Bridging Private Wells and Wellness: Collaborative Solutions for Rural Drinking Water Safety
Kate Henke, University of Minnesota

Social Determinants of Well Owners' Engagement in Water Protection
Amit Pradhananga, University of Minnesota

Geogenic Contaminant Occurrence in Groundwater Across Three Decades: Trends Across the United States and Minnesota
Sarah Elliott, USGS

Pesticides of Concern in the Pineland Sands Region, Minnesota: Current and Historical Concentrations Above Ecological and Human-Health Screening Benchmarks 
Brady Hartmann, University of Minnesota

Reception and Poster Session: 4:45 - 5:45 p.m.