2026 Annual Ag, Forest and Water Conference
About this Event
2026 Annual Ag, Forest and Water Conference
Get ready to dive into the latest trends and innovations in agriculture, forestry, and water management at this year’s must-attend event! Join fellow enthusiasts and experts in person to share ideas, network, and explore new opportunities in these vital fields.
Whether you're passionate about sustainable practices or cutting-edge tech, this conference has something for you. Don't miss out on a fantastic chance to connect and learn!
Thank you to our sponsors for the 2026 Conference!
Featured Sponsors:
Beaver Water District
Conway Corp
Crafton Tull
Freese and Nichols, Inc
Hawkins-Weir
Metrohm USA
Prism Design Studio
U of A Division of Agriculture Research & Extension - NWA Stormwater Education
Premier Sponsors:
Analytik-Jena
ISG
Nativ State
Olsson
Day 1 Agenda
🕑: 09:00 AM
Welcome
🕑: 09:00 AM - 09:15 AM
PFAS in our NWA waters, karst springs to rivers and a recreational lake
Host: Brian Haggard, Arkansas Water Resources Center.
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 09:15 AM - 09:30 AM
Detection of PFAS & oxidizable precursors near former fire-training area in AR
Host: Sarah Webb, Arkansas State University
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:45 AM
Development of modified fly ash as a low-cost adsorbent for PFAS removal
Host: Chidambaram Thamaraiselvan, University of Arkansas
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 09:45 AM - 10:00 AM
PFAS removal strategies: sorbent design,molecular interactions,&micellization
Host: Annie Lobitz, University of Arkansas
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:15 AM
Degradation of Glyphosate by atmospheric cold plasma in an aqueous system
Host: Muhammad Islam, University of Arkansas
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 10:15 AM - 10:45 AM
Water quality & macroinvertebrates as indicators of wetland function
Host: Jennif er Bouldin, Arkansas State University
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Stoichiometric traits framework applied to AR stream macroinvertebrate comm.
Host: Hal Halvorson, University of Central Arkansas
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Interactive visualization of vertical profiles in Arkansas lakes
Host: Tanner Senti, AR Dept. of Energy & Environment
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 11:15 AM - 11:30 AM
Verifying primary contact recreation in small watersheds
Host: Connor Tolly, AR Dept. of Energy & Environment
Info: A presentation part of the Water Quality from PFAS to the Bugs in Our Waters Session.
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Poster Session
🕑: 01:30 PM - 01:50 PM
Modeling groundwater in MS Alluvial Plain & MS Embayment Regional Aquifer Sys.
Host: Leslie Duncan, Lower-MS Gulf Water Science Center, USGS
Info: A presentation part of the Understanding Groundwater in Arkansas: Historic Trends, Current Status, and Future Availability Session.
🕑: 01:50 PM - 02:10 PM
Reducing GW model variance via geophysically-enhanced hydrogeologic refinement
Host: John Richins, Lower-MS Gulf Water Science Center, USGS
Info: A presentation part of the Understanding Groundwater in Arkansas: Historic Trends, Current Status, and Future Availability Session.
🕑: 02:10 PM - 02:30 PM
Future water availability scenarios in the MRVA: Cache and Grand Prairie, AR
Host: Jonathon Traylor, USGS and USDA ARS
Info: A presentation part of the Understanding Groundwater in Arkansas: Historic Trends, Current Status, and Future Availability Session.
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:50 PM
Geochemical evolution of GW along flowpaths in the MRVA and Embayment aquifers
Host: Laura Ruhl-Whittle, Lower-MS Gulf Water Science Center,
Info: A presentation part of the Understanding Groundwater in Arkansas: Historic Trends, Current Status, and Future Availability Session.
🕑: 02:50 PM - 03:20 PM
Break
🕑: 03:20 PM - 03:40 PM
OpenET: field-scale ET data to inform sustainable irrigation & water conser.
Host: Sara Larsen, OpenET Inc. and NASA
Info: A presentation part of the Groundwater, Evapotranspiration, and Water Conservation, Session
🕑: 03:40 PM - 04:00 PM
Groundwater Accounting Platform and OpenET for tracking GW use and management
Host: James Schneider, Olsson
Info: A presentation part of the Groundwater, Evapotranspiration, and Water Conservation, Session
🕑: 04:00 PM - 04:20 PM
From models to management: leveraging GET for science-based GW mgmt. in AR
Host: Samantha Wacaster, Olsson
Info: A presentation part of the Groundwater, Evapotranspiration, and Water Conservation, Session
🕑: 04:20 PM - 04:40 PM
Questions and Discussion
🕑: 04:40 PM
Conference wrap up. Dinner on your own
Day 2 Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:10 AM
Welcome
Host: Tim Conklin, Dir. NWA Regional Planning Commission
🕑: 08:10 AM - 08:30 AM
Planning for Growth: A Regional Wastewater Strategy for Future Development
Host: Aaron Benzing, Hawkins–Weir Engineers
Info: A presentation part of the Northwest Arkansas Regional Planning Commission Session
🕑: 08:30 AM - 09:30 AM
Roundtable:What Are the Next Best Steps for Onsite Wastewater Treatment in AR
Info: Moderators, Holly Wren, Environmental Scientist, BWD and Sarah Lewis, Director, Edgewater Coaching and Consulting
🕑: 09:30 AM - 09:50 AM
Break
🕑: 09:50 AM - 10:10 AM
Flood hazards and socioeconomic vulnerability across Arkansas
Host: Brad Peter, University of Arkansas
Info: A presentation part of the Practical Strategies for Source Water Protection and Land Conservation Session
🕑: 10:10 AM - 10:30 AM
Accelerating watershed protection through strategic conservation easements
Host: Evan Johnson and Ben Speight, NWA Land Trust
Info: A presentation part of the Practical Strategies for Source Water Protection and Land Conservation Session
🕑: 10:30 AM - 10:50 AM
Farms in transition: farmland protection and new pathways to farm ownership
Host: Pam Nelson, NWA Farms Fund
Info: A presentation part of the Practical Strategies for Source Water Protection and Land Conservation Session
🕑: 10:50 AM - 11:10 AM
Integrating restoration and community uplift
Host: TJ Hein, Savanna Springs LLC
Info: A presentation part of the Practical Strategies for Source Water Protection and Land Conservation Session
🕑: 11:10 AM - 11:30 AM
Communications that drive conservation
Host: Morgan Keeling, IRWP
Info: A presentation part of the Practical Strategies for Source Water Protection and Land Conservation Session
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM
Lunch
🕑: 12:30 PM - 01:30 PM
Poster Session
🕑: 01:30 PM - 01:50 PM
The Long Game: How Regional Flood Management Pays Off Over Decades
Host: David Skuodas, Mile High Flood District
Info: A presentation part of the Stormwater and Growth: Why Regional Stormwater Management Matters Session
🕑: 01:50 PM - 02:30 PM
Panel: Stormwater &NWA growth – regionalized approaches, what’s working & not?
Info: Joe Rexwinkle, Deputy Director of Planning, City of Rogers;
Larry Oelrich, former Prairie Grove Director of Public Works and Administrative Services;
McKenzie Taake, Project Engineer, Olsson
🕑: 02:30 PM - 02:50 PM
Break
🕑: 02:50 PM - 03:10 PM
Planned floodplain zoning standards & current protection standards in Rogers
Host: Garrett Lampson, Stormwater & Stream Corridor Engineer
Info: A presentation part of the Innovative Approaches to Stormwater Quality and Quantity Management Session
🕑: 03:10 PM - 03:30 PM
Promoting water quality via site development drainage criteria
Host: Greg Simmons, Freese and Nichols, Inc.
Info: A presentation part of the Innovative Approaches to Stormwater Quality and Quantity Management Session
🕑: 03:30 PM - 03:50 PM
Upper Trinity River Transportation and Stormwater Infrastructure Project
Host: Susan Alvarez, Dir. Env. & Development, NCTCOG
Info: A presentation part of the Innovative Approaches to Stormwater Quality and Quantity Management Session
🕑: 03:50 PM - 04:10 PM
City of Fayetteville stormwater utility implementation
Host: Alan Pugh, Stormwater Engineer, City of Fayetteville
🕑: 04:10 PM
Questions, Discussion, and Shift to Walking Tour
🕑: 05:00 PM - 06:00 PM
Green infrastructure and native vegetation in urban stormwater - walking tour
Host: Annie Sales, IRWP
Info: Walking tour of downtown Fayetteville
🕑: 06:30 PM
Conference Social, Marley’s Pizzeria
Info: 609 W Dickson St Ste 103, Fayetteville, AR 72701
Day 3 Agenda
🕑: 08:00 AM - 08:05 AM
Welcome
Host: Tate Wentz, Chief of Water Strat.&Conserv. AR Dept.of Ag
🕑: 08:05 AM - 08:10 AM
Arkansas’s 319 Program Updates and Success Stories
Host: Blake Forrest, AR Dept.of Ag, Nat. Res. Division
🕑: 08:10 AM - 08:30 AM
Green Infrastructure and LID Reduce Pathogens in Clear Creek
Host: Leif Kindberg, IRWP
🕑: 08:30 AM - 08:50 AM
Stream and Riparian Restoration Inspires Farmers to Form a Drainage District
Host: Larkin Creek, Pat Perry, St. Francis Conserv. District
🕑: 08:50 AM - 09:10 AM
Nonpoint Source Pollution Cost-Share Program, Incentivizing Local Farmers
Host: Kenny Crawford & Justin Dunavant Fulton Co. Conserv. Dis
🕑: 09:10 AM - 09:30 AM
GI Improves WQ & Changes Public Opinion in Stone Dam Creek Tributary
Host: Kurt Jones, City of Conway
🕑: 09:30 AM - 10:00 AM
Break
🕑: 10:00 AM - 10:20 AM
Addressing litter with trash nets in Springfield, Missouri
Host: Saki Urushidani, PE, City of Springfield, MO
Info: A presentation part of the Shifting Our Thoughts to the Convergence of Science, Policy, and Capacity Session
🕑: 10:20 AM - 10:40 AM
The heart of the deal: interjurisdictional agreements on waterway management
Host: Jessica Norris, Biohabitats
Info: A presentation part of the Shifting Our Thoughts to the Convergence of Science, Policy, and Capacity Session
🕑: 10:40 AM - 11:00 AM
Increasing watershed management capacity in Arkansas,
Host: John Pennington, UARK Cooperative Extension Service
Info: A presentation part of the Shifting Our Thoughts to the Convergence of Science, Policy, and Capacity Session
🕑: 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM
Bridging the gap, prescribed burns: the benefits, limitations, and education
Host: Thomas Baldridge, AR Prescribed Burn Program
Info: A presentation part of the Shifting Our Thoughts to the Convergence of Science, Policy, and Capacity Session
🕑: 11:30 AM - 12:00 PM
Conference Concludes, Conference Committee Remarks
🕑: 12:00 PM - 01:00 PM
AWRC Technical Advisory Luncheon, INVITATION ONLY
Where is it happening?
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
USD 50.00 to USD 1200.00
