Statewide water conference spotlights river protection victories
Statewide water conference spotlights river protection victories
This year’s Lakes and Rivers Convention in Stevens Point April 15-17 includes a stream of River Talks we think will inspire and inform river and clean water advocates.
The Lakes and Rivers Convention is ideal for folks who do conservation work, who are vocal advocates for waterways, who are involved in restoration efforts and local groups. The conference is a time to learn about the big picture of conservation, to connect with government/industry leaders and boots-on-the-ground conservation efforts, and who are leaders of lake districts.
River Alliance is involved because all waters are connected. Understanding the interconnections of the work of lake districts, river groups, the DNR, and clean water researchers is fundamental to making progress in conservation, balancing water use needs, fighting invasive species and pollution, and forming solid relationships with each other.
River Talks on Thursday
The conference has a very deep bench of fantastic experts sharing their knowledge. Explore the full agenda on the Water Week website. One track of topics will be River Talks that focus on the art, science and history of protecting rivers. These highlights will also be a part of the convention’s virtual program.
Writers on Rivers: A Sharing of Some of the Best Essays from Rivers as Large as the Mississippi to as Small as Childhood Creeks
Speaker: John Bates, author
From Mark Twain and Henry David Thoreau to Aldo Leopold to Ann Zwinger, Terry Tempest Williams, and Barry Lopez, writers have waxed eloquent about their love of rivers. Come sit back and let your imagination flow along the waters our finest writers have so brilliantly written about.
Regulation Works ; 50 years of water quality progress in the Wisconsin River Watershed
Speaker: Bob Martini, retired Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Beginning in 1976, we identified and addressed the main water quality problems in the Wis River Basin, including pollution from paper mills and cities, acid rain impacts on lakes, groundwater pollution in the Central Sands, and the impacts of dams on the “Hardest Working River in America”. We learned that properly designed regulation restores the environment, protects the public interest, AND can actually enhance local economies while avoiding the myth of economic disaster caused by environmental regulation.
Integrating Multi-Benefit Floodplain Restoration and Nutrient Management: A Decision-Support Framework for River Systems
Floodplain restoration offers a nature-based solution to address biodiversity loss, flood risk, and water quality degradation in Wisconsin’s river systems. This work presents an integrated framework using EcoFIP and NutriSink tools to identify and prioritize multi-benefit rehabilitation projects. Case studies from the Wabash River demonstrate that optimal restoration sites are not always downstream, emphasizing the need for spatially nuanced planning. Together, these tools provide a scalable approach for watershed managers in Wisconsin to target interventions that maximize ecological and water quality benefits, supporting efforts to mitigate nutrient pollution and restore riverine function.
What Is a River?
Speaker: Timothy Bauer of Miles Paddled
Most of us know what rivers do — they flow from one place to another, transporting sediment and reshaping landscapes along the way. They provide fresh drinking water and power dams to generate electricity. Historically, rivers allowed for navigational travel, commercial trade, and borders to boundaries. But what is a river? Are rivers natural resources to serve our convenience and contrivances, or do rivers have sovereignty? Like lakes, rivers are living systems, but are they alive like butterflies and grizzly bears — are they alive like you and me? Come join author and paddler, Timothy Bauer, on a playful but provocative exploration of the metaphysics and mischief of what a river is, and maybe offer your own observation, favorite song, or metaphor along the way!
Protecting Paradise in the Driftless: How the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Came to Be
Speaker: Marcy West, author and Director of the Kickapoo Valley Reserve
In the heart of Wisconsin’s beautiful Driftless Area lies an 8,600-acre National Natural Landmark—The Kickapoo Valley Reserve. Its steep ravines, rich forests, and crooked river are enjoyed by thousands of outdoor enthusiasts each year. “Protecting Paradise in the Driftless: How the Kickapoo Valley Reserve Came to Be”, published in 2024, chronicles why the Kickapoo River still runs free through the Driftless. Author Marcy West will highlight key components from the story, including the innovative preservation and ecological journey from grassroots activism to a unique Memorandum of Understanding between the State of Wisconsin and the Ho-Chunk Nation. West will offer your audience an insider’s perspective on the Reserve’s founding, entertain with anecdotes as an unconventional bureaucrat, and provide real world examples of how to earn community support for whichever lake or river conference attendees consider their piece of Paradise.
Other river-centered highlights
Wednesday
Getting to Know Your Dam: The Who, What, When and How about Dams and Their Waterway Interests
Speakers: Uriah Monday, WDNR; Ellen Voss, River Alliance of Wisconsin; Peter Jensen, Eagle Spring Lake Management District; Keifer Sroka, Adams County Land & Water Department
This workshop is designed for dam owners/operators and those with riparian interests/stakeholders on waterways controlled or impounded by a dam. Key topics discussed will include the responsibilities and liabilities of owning or operating a dam; understanding the basic laws and regulations involving water control structures; and a review of reference tools and training relating to dams.
Thursday
Introduction to Lake River and Watershed Associations
Speakers: Sara Windjue, Extension Lakes, UW-Stevens Point; Laura MacFarland, WI Department of Natural Resources; Johnson Bridgwater, River Alliance of Wisconsin; and Dave Quady, Sand Lake Association
Are you a new board member of a lake, river or watershed association? Do you have questions about what it means to be a qualified lake association? Join us for an introduction to non-profit associations and learn about board structure, voting, membership, Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and advocacy.
Friday
Confluence luncheon
Speaker: Luke Zahm
Luke Zahm, host of the PBS Emmy® Award-winning TV series, Wisconsin Foodie, and co-owner and chef at Viroqua’s Driftless Cafe will lead this full-group session and help us think about how our food and water resources are connected. Just like a home-cooked meal, this session is a time to slow down, share experiences, and find commonality. ***virtual access available
The 2026 Lakes & Rivers Convention is made possible by the statewide Wisconsin Lakes and Rivers Partnership which joins science, education, and citizens to empower people to work together to care for our waters. Since its genesis in the early 1970s, this partnership has been recognized as a national model of collaboration. Explore the Water Week website.
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Blog - River Alliance of WI
https://wisconsinrivers.org/lakes-and-rivers-convention-2026/
As the water levels continued to fall in response to prolonged drought, all along the Lower Wisconsin Riverway, tens of thousands of mussels were left stranded and drying in the hot sun. In response, volunteers heeded the call and took to the riverway to physically pick up and move thousands of stranded mussels to deeper water. 
At a presentation at Canoecopia, you’ll learn all about the role dams and drought play in this ecosystem, how native mussels are impacted by our changing climate, and what paddlers can do to aid in rescue efforts. Lisie Kitchel with the Wisconsin DNR will cover the wild world of mussel reproduction and the crucial role these organisms play in keeping the river clean. Ellen Voss with River Alliance of Wisconsin will discuss the impacts dams and droughts have on river life. And Timm Zumm with Friends of the Lower Wisconsin Riverway will discuss the creation of the mussel rescue squad and how paddlers can safely rescue mussels from their canoes and kayaks.