Header Photo Credit: Allie Hoeft
Workshops
We’re pleased to offer the following high-quality pre-conference workshops on Sunday, January 28, 2024. Thank you to the workshop organizers for their efforts to provide these additional educational opportunities with an emphasis on a specific skill, technique, or process.
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.
Pre-registration and additional fees are required for participation. Sign up will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis via the online registration form.
W-01: Department of Energy Tools and Resources for FERC Hydropower Licensing
Fee to attend: $20; includes lunch
Sunday, 9AM – 5PM
Overview:
The U.S. is in the midst of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydropower licensing boom that includes relicenses and first-time FERC hydropower licenses for turbines being retrofit to non-powered dams and new construction of pumped storage hydropower facilities. State, federal, and tribal fish, wildlife, and water quality agency staff are commonly tasked with design and implementation of environmental studies and mitigations for FERC hydropower licenses, often with limited budgets for conducting this work. The U.S. Department of Energy Waterpower Technologies Office has helped to create a suite of free tools and resources designed to facilitate understanding of relevant environmental procedures, policies, and impacts relevant to FERC licensing and relicensing. This full-day workshop will introduce participants to several of these recently developed tools, including: the Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop (RAPID) Toolkit for identifying state and federal permitting and procedural information for hydropower and other energy development; the Environmental Decision Support Toolkit that helps users inventory natural resource impacts of a hydropower project and prioritize environmental studies and mitigations; and, the Energy Flexibility-Environment Tradeoff Toolkit that provides users with optimized operational or environmental flows based on aerial habitat availability and electric generation revenue. The morning portion of this workshop will provide an overview of the FERC licensing process, data and other resources, and the RAPID and Environmental Decision Support Toolkits. The afternoon portion of this workshop will focus on providing information on when and how to use the Energy Flexibility-Environment Toolkit, stepping users through examples of how it can be used. While this workshop is designed for agency staff preparing to participate in FERC hydropower licensing proceedings, the DOE resources introduced in this workshop may also be useful for university researchers, nongovernmental organizations and citizen groups, and applications beyond FERC hydropower licensing.
Intended Audience: Professionals, especially agency staff and students who hope to become agency staff. Content level is beginner to intermediate—the afternoon portion is more technically advanced than morning
Contact: Brenda Pracheil, brenda.pracheil@pnnl.gov
Fee to attend: $20; includes lunch
Sunday, 9AM – 5PM
Overview:
The U.S. is in the midst of a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) hydropower licensing boom that includes relicenses and first-time FERC hydropower licenses for turbines being retrofit to non-powered dams and new construction of pumped storage hydropower facilities. State, federal, and tribal fish, wildlife, and water quality agency staff are commonly tasked with design and implementation of environmental studies and mitigations for FERC hydropower licenses, often with limited budgets for conducting this work. The U.S. Department of Energy Waterpower Technologies Office has helped to create a suite of free tools and resources designed to facilitate understanding of relevant environmental procedures, policies, and impacts relevant to FERC licensing and relicensing. This full-day workshop will introduce participants to several of these recently developed tools, including: the Regulatory and Permitting Information Desktop (RAPID) Toolkit for identifying state and federal permitting and procedural information for hydropower and other energy development; the Environmental Decision Support Toolkit that helps users inventory natural resource impacts of a hydropower project and prioritize environmental studies and mitigations; and, the Energy Flexibility-Environment Tradeoff Toolkit that provides users with optimized operational or environmental flows based on aerial habitat availability and electric generation revenue. The morning portion of this workshop will provide an overview of the FERC licensing process, data and other resources, and the RAPID and Environmental Decision Support Toolkits. The afternoon portion of this workshop will focus on providing information on when and how to use the Energy Flexibility-Environment Toolkit, stepping users through examples of how it can be used. While this workshop is designed for agency staff preparing to participate in FERC hydropower licensing proceedings, the DOE resources introduced in this workshop may also be useful for university researchers, nongovernmental organizations and citizen groups, and applications beyond FERC hydropower licensing.
Intended Audience: Professionals, especially agency staff and students who hope to become agency staff. Content level is beginner to intermediate—the afternoon portion is more technically advanced than morning
Contact: Brenda Pracheil, brenda.pracheil@pnnl.gov
W-02: Wildlife Capture Techniques
Fee to attend: $25 professionals/ $10 Student
Sunday, 9AM -12PM
Overview:
The workshop would cover varies wildlife techniques from capturing waterfowl, pheasants, trumpeter swans, otters, bobcats, gray fox, sandhill cranes and whitetail deer. It would cover past and proven techniques as well as some new out of the box ideas to spark new innovative ideas. Techniques from bait traps, to leg snares, to camera traps and everything in between.
Intended Audience: Intended for both students and professionals. Beginner to advanced levels covered
Contact: Dave Hoffman, Iowa DNR, David.Hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov
Fee to attend: $25 professionals/ $10 Student
Sunday, 9AM -12PM
Overview:
The workshop would cover varies wildlife techniques from capturing waterfowl, pheasants, trumpeter swans, otters, bobcats, gray fox, sandhill cranes and whitetail deer. It would cover past and proven techniques as well as some new out of the box ideas to spark new innovative ideas. Techniques from bait traps, to leg snares, to camera traps and everything in between.
Intended Audience: Intended for both students and professionals. Beginner to advanced levels covered
Contact: Dave Hoffman, Iowa DNR, David.Hoffman@dnr.iowa.gov
W-03: Futurecasting — An AFS-wide Adaptive Planning Framework for a Successful Future
NOTE: For AFS-NCD members only; no charge to attend; sponsored by AFS-NCD
Sunday, 1PM – 5PM
Overview:
WHY: The future is uncertain and cannot be predicted, but future outcomes can be shaped by guiding actions through adaptive planning. The Futurecasting framework helps identify strategic goals, guides decisions, and ensures actions progress towards targets, while also adjusting to unforeseen challenges. The Strategic Positioning Committee of AFS has adopted Futurecasting to help align unit activities at all levels with the AFS strategic vision and improve communication within AFS.
Futurecasting complements traditional SWOT analysis by emphasizing future targets as drivers, promoting long-term proactive perspectives over short-term reactive efforts, and relying on adaptive planning to optimize decisions and action plans.
WHAT: This 4-hr workshop will first cover a short introduction to Futurecasting. Participants then will apply Futurecasting in small break-out groups to identify (1) specific goals for North Central Division units that align with the AFS vision, (2) resources needed, and (3) strategic actions for NCD AFS units to succeed. Ideas from each group will be discussed and summarized to share with AFS leadership, NCD AFS leadership, units, and members.
HOW: The workshop is based on active-learning principles, with participants absorbing preparatory materials pre-workshop (~1 h), minimizing lecture time. Emphasis is on experiential learning during small-group activities, followed by whole-group interactive discussions to share and synthesize ideas.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Participants will learn how to (1) adaptively plan to deal with uncertainty, (2) confidently articulate ideas, (3) be receptive to diverse opinions and needs, and (4) effectively communicate visionary goals and strategic actions.
The workshop also will serve as a ‘train-the-trainers’ event, helping leaders to conduct similar Futurecasting visioning exercises for their units.
Intended Audience: NCD AFS members at any career stage, from students to chapter officers, are invited. Broad participation is essential to ensure diverse perspectives and creative solutions. The workshop is organized by the AFS Strategic Positioning Committee to introduce the Futurecasting framework to all units and to train unit leaders at all levels in adaptive planning.
Contact: Jeff Kopaska, jeff.kopaska@dnr.iowa.gov
NOTE: For AFS-NCD members only; no charge to attend; sponsored by AFS-NCD
Sunday, 1PM – 5PM
Overview:
WHY: The future is uncertain and cannot be predicted, but future outcomes can be shaped by guiding actions through adaptive planning. The Futurecasting framework helps identify strategic goals, guides decisions, and ensures actions progress towards targets, while also adjusting to unforeseen challenges. The Strategic Positioning Committee of AFS has adopted Futurecasting to help align unit activities at all levels with the AFS strategic vision and improve communication within AFS.
Futurecasting complements traditional SWOT analysis by emphasizing future targets as drivers, promoting long-term proactive perspectives over short-term reactive efforts, and relying on adaptive planning to optimize decisions and action plans.
WHAT: This 4-hr workshop will first cover a short introduction to Futurecasting. Participants then will apply Futurecasting in small break-out groups to identify (1) specific goals for North Central Division units that align with the AFS vision, (2) resources needed, and (3) strategic actions for NCD AFS units to succeed. Ideas from each group will be discussed and summarized to share with AFS leadership, NCD AFS leadership, units, and members.
HOW: The workshop is based on active-learning principles, with participants absorbing preparatory materials pre-workshop (~1 h), minimizing lecture time. Emphasis is on experiential learning during small-group activities, followed by whole-group interactive discussions to share and synthesize ideas.
LEARNING OUTCOMES: Participants will learn how to (1) adaptively plan to deal with uncertainty, (2) confidently articulate ideas, (3) be receptive to diverse opinions and needs, and (4) effectively communicate visionary goals and strategic actions.
The workshop also will serve as a ‘train-the-trainers’ event, helping leaders to conduct similar Futurecasting visioning exercises for their units.
Intended Audience: NCD AFS members at any career stage, from students to chapter officers, are invited. Broad participation is essential to ensure diverse perspectives and creative solutions. The workshop is organized by the AFS Strategic Positioning Committee to introduce the Futurecasting framework to all units and to train unit leaders at all levels in adaptive planning.
Contact: Jeff Kopaska, jeff.kopaska@dnr.iowa.gov
W-04: Co-Stewardship Agreements with Indian Tribes relating to the management of Federal Lands, Waters and Wildlife.
Fee to attend: $25
Sunday, 1PM-5PM
Overview:
On November 15, 2021 a Secretary’s Order was issued by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior (Secretaries) to ensure that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior (Departments) and their component Bureaus and Offices are managing Federal lands and waters in a manner that seeks to protect the treaty, religious, subsistence, and cultural interests of federally recognized Indian Tribes; that such management is consistent with the nation-to-nation relationship between the United States and federally recognized Indian Tribes; and, that such management fulfills the United States’ unique trust obligation to federally recognized Indian Tribes and their citizens. Specifically the order says "Make agreements with Indian Tribes to collaborate in the co-stewardship of Federal lands and waters under the Departments’ jurisdiction, including for wildlife and its habitat."
It has now been nearly 3 years since this order was issued. The purpose of this workshop is to explore with both federal agencies and tribes the shared experiences that they have had implementing this Secretarial order. There have been challenges and opportunities presented by this order and we can learn from each other by sharing these experiences.
Intended Audience: The discussions will benefit both students and professionals. The content will be intermediate.
Contact: Gary Potts (NCS TWS) & Jonathan Gilbert, Ph.D. (GLIFWC), gary.potts@sbcglobal.net jgilbert@glifwc.org
Fee to attend: $25
Sunday, 1PM-5PM
Overview:
On November 15, 2021 a Secretary’s Order was issued by the Secretary of Agriculture and the Secretary of the Interior (Secretaries) to ensure that the Department of Agriculture and the Department of the Interior (Departments) and their component Bureaus and Offices are managing Federal lands and waters in a manner that seeks to protect the treaty, religious, subsistence, and cultural interests of federally recognized Indian Tribes; that such management is consistent with the nation-to-nation relationship between the United States and federally recognized Indian Tribes; and, that such management fulfills the United States’ unique trust obligation to federally recognized Indian Tribes and their citizens. Specifically the order says "Make agreements with Indian Tribes to collaborate in the co-stewardship of Federal lands and waters under the Departments’ jurisdiction, including for wildlife and its habitat."
It has now been nearly 3 years since this order was issued. The purpose of this workshop is to explore with both federal agencies and tribes the shared experiences that they have had implementing this Secretarial order. There have been challenges and opportunities presented by this order and we can learn from each other by sharing these experiences.
Intended Audience: The discussions will benefit both students and professionals. The content will be intermediate.
Contact: Gary Potts (NCS TWS) & Jonathan Gilbert, Ph.D. (GLIFWC), gary.potts@sbcglobal.net jgilbert@glifwc.org
W-05: Connecting Riverscapes and Managers: Establishing a community-of-practice for aquatic organism passage in the Midwest
Fee to attend: $25
Sunday 1PM -5PM
Overview:
Stream fragmentation is a major cause of declining aquatic biodiversity globally. Streams fragmented by dams, road crossings, or diversions can separate required habitats and limit survival, growth, and/or reproduction for stream fish populations. Small barriers such as perched culverts, low head dams, and earthen dams are particularly numerous within river networks making them difficult to inventory and assess for possibility. To effectively mitigate barriers to aquatic organisms passage, managers require assessments of possibility for potential barriers and a process for prioritizing fish passage projects. Several states in Midwest have programs focused on Aquatic connectivity and fish passage, but there is a need for cross agency collaboration where managers and researchers can effectively collaborate and share their experiences. In this workshop we will provide a brief overview of the survey protocols, tips and tricks for planning and prioritizing survey efforts, techniques for prioritizing barrier removal or mitigation projects, and provide an overview of fish passage activities across the Midwest. The workshop will conclude with the establishment of community-of-practice in the Midwest and support cross agency collaboration for staff and university faculty.
Intended Audience: State and federal agencies and universities employees
Contact: Christopher Cheek, Christopher.cheek@sdstate.edu
Fee to attend: $25
Sunday 1PM -5PM
Overview:
Stream fragmentation is a major cause of declining aquatic biodiversity globally. Streams fragmented by dams, road crossings, or diversions can separate required habitats and limit survival, growth, and/or reproduction for stream fish populations. Small barriers such as perched culverts, low head dams, and earthen dams are particularly numerous within river networks making them difficult to inventory and assess for possibility. To effectively mitigate barriers to aquatic organisms passage, managers require assessments of possibility for potential barriers and a process for prioritizing fish passage projects. Several states in Midwest have programs focused on Aquatic connectivity and fish passage, but there is a need for cross agency collaboration where managers and researchers can effectively collaborate and share their experiences. In this workshop we will provide a brief overview of the survey protocols, tips and tricks for planning and prioritizing survey efforts, techniques for prioritizing barrier removal or mitigation projects, and provide an overview of fish passage activities across the Midwest. The workshop will conclude with the establishment of community-of-practice in the Midwest and support cross agency collaboration for staff and university faculty.
Intended Audience: State and federal agencies and universities employees
Contact: Christopher Cheek, Christopher.cheek@sdstate.edu