2025 Sessions
Resilient Land and Water
in the President's Circle Room
How Does Regenerative Agriculture Protect Our Waterways?
Brian Sayre: Paulins Kill Watershed Assistant, Foodshed Alliance
Christine Dunbar: Paulins Kill Watershed Coordinator, Foodshed Alliance
David de Wit: Paulins Kill Watershed Assistant, Foodshed Alliance
Tess Mullen: SAgE Program Coordinator, Foodshed Alliance
The mission of the Foodshed Alliance is to strengthen sustainable and regenerative farming, increase access to local, healthy food, and safeguard the environment for all members of our communities. By focusing on this intersectionality, they shed light on the confluence that we all exist in – all of our lives depend on healthy farms, healthy food, and healthy waters.
Healthy land management practices that focus on soil health, holistic nutrient management, and integrated pest management, have the power to regenerate the soil, grow higher nutrient dense crops, and ultimately ensure the longevity of farm businesses by safeguarding resources and building climate resilience. Our rivers specifically depend on healthy farm management, in order to prevent soil erosion and other harmful runoff into waterways that can cause harmful algal blooms (HABs).
In this session, the Foodshed Alliance will discuss some of their programs and initiatives like the SAgE Land Access Program, Paulins Kill Watershed Community, and River-Friendly Farms Certification. Participants will learn more about regenerative agriculture and healthy land management, and learn how to get involved with the organization’s wide range of opportunities to get outside and make an impact in our community. Attendees will also get to interact with examples of healthy soils and “degraded dirt” to help demonstrate the difference and importance of the practices discussed.
Monitoring and Managing American Eel Migration in a Dammed Landscape
Benjamin Harris: Watershed Specialist, Raritan Headwaters Association
American eel (Anguilla rostrata) populations are at historic lows due to a range of human-induced impacts, most notably the widespread presence of dams that fragment waterways in regions like Northern New Jersey. These barriers disrupt the species' critical catadromous migration and the broader ecological roles they support. This workshop delves into the life history and ecological significance of American eels, highlighting the threats posed by infrastructure and emphasizing a science-based, community-engaged approach to management. Participants will explore the design, deployment, and monitoring of catch-and-release eel ladders, with a case study from the Raritan region where a manual eel ladder was installed and monitored during the summer and early fall of 2025. The session covers ladder construction, field monitoring techniques, community involvement, and the real-world challenges and successes of eel conservation, while also addressing broader strategies for population recovery and restoring aquatic connectivity in dammed watersheds. Designed for environmental professionals, educators, community scientists, and policy advocates, this workshop provides a unique opportunity to engage with this critically underrepresented species and contribute to more inclusive, effective ecosystem management.
​
State Development and Redevelopment Plan
Walter C. Lane: Acting Executive Director, New Jersey Office of Planning Advocacy
The New Jersey State Planning Commission is currently updating the 2001 New Jersey State Development and Redevelopment Plan (SDRP). As part of this effort, Walter Lane, Acting Executive Director of the Office of Planning Advocacy will present an overview of the proposed SDRP as well as the status of the update process known as “Cross Acceptance”. The draft State Development and Redevelopment Plan is intended to be a guide to inform the public and encourage state agencies, counties, and municipalities to align their land use policies with its vision, the State Plan promotes a balanced and inclusive strategy for managing and guiding growth across the state. It is centered on 10 key priorities, including: economic development; housing; infrastructure; revitalization and re-centering; climate change; natural and water resources; pollution and environmental cleanup; historic and scenic resources; equity; and comprehensive planning.
​
Climate and Habitat Change
in the Board Room
Deer Impacts on Forest Ecology
Joseph Basralian: Special Project Manager, New Jersey Conservation Foundation
Deer play a vital role in forest food chains, but with the absence of natural predators and the continued development and fragmentation of New Jersey forests, greater populations of deer are forced into smaller and smaller areas. The resulting impacts of high-density deer populations on shrinking forest areas has caused a biodiversity crisis in New Jersey Forests. Learn about these impacts and possible solutions on how to balance healthy deer populations, community growth, and forest biodiversity.
​
Reforestation and Proforestation in New Jersey Forests
Leslie Sauer: Founder Emeritus, Andropogon Associates
Robert Aluck: Stewardship Director, Sourlands Conservancy
Forests play in irreplaceable role in providing habitat for New Jersey's diverse plant and wildlife species. Approximately half of New Jersey's land area is forested, with about half of these forests preserved for open space. Yet, despite the state's achievements preserving its forests, they remain under threat by invasive species and misguided forest management activities that do not reflect current science and the needs for forests to mitigate climate change. In this workshop, Robert Aluck will discuss impacts to forests seen throughout New Jersey with a focus on the Sourlands and recognizing the statewide importance of this treasured region. Leslie Sauer will talk about proforestation as a forest management strategy and how to facilitate forest succession for the greatest ecological benefit.
​
State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP)
Gretchen Fowles: Research Scientist, NJ Endangered Species and Nongame Species Program, NJDEP
Kimberly Korth: SWAP Coordinator/Planner, NJDEP
New Jersey’s State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) offers a strategic and cost-effective approach to conserve the state’s wildlife resources for the future. The Plan identifies priority actions that we, as a conservation community, can implement over the next five to ten years to address the myriad threats facing our wildlife populations and their habitats. Proactive management actions are intended to keep wildlife species from becoming threatened or endangered, or to aid in the recovery of those that are already listed.
​
Community Connections
in the Sitnick Theatre
Climate Change Education Inside and Outside the Classroom
Hazel England: Director of Education, Outreach, and Land Stewardship, Great Swamp Watershed Association
Lauren Theis: Director of Education, Raritan Headwaters Association
Did you know New Jersey is a global innovator in climate change education? Learn how environmental education leaders are working with the Department of Education and Higher Ed to facilitate place-based climate education for public school classroom teachers. Three facilitated sample lesson vignettes will be facilitated to help participants see the possibilities for Climate Change education. We will be going outdoors, so please dress accordingly!
​
Opening the Water: Designing Accessible & Engaging River Experiences
Ben Yaskulka: Policy and Outreach Manager, Musconetcong Watershed Association
Captain Bill Sheehan: Executive Director, Hackensack Riverkeeper
This session will delve into the essential strategies for fostering vibrant river recreation, beginning with a deep dive into recreational access — examining proximity to users, site visibility, consistent maintenance, and effective physical access that supports different types of recreation. We'll then explore the crucial importance of interpretation, outreach, and collaboration in connecting communities to their waterways and building a strong stewardship ethic. Finally, learn about the impactful Partnership Wild and Scenic Rivers system as a model for safeguarding our most cherished free-flowing rivers. While not required, insights from our conference field trips will offer real-world examples that underscore these principles. Join Ben Yaskulka, Policy and Outreach Manager for the Musconetcong Watershed Association and Captain Bill Sheehan, Executive Director of Hackensack Riverkeeper for this insightful discussion.
​
Cultural, Spiritual and Aesthetic values of New Jersey's Water Resources
Chief Vincent Mann: Acting Tribal Chief, Ramapough Lenape Nation; Chief, Ramapough Lenape Turtle Clan
Donna Compton: Curator, Compton Galleries
Elliott Ruga: Director of Policy and Communications, New Jersey Highlands Coalition
Clean water advocates are drawn to the cause of water resource protection because of how essential water is to human life. The regulations that protect natural environments and landscapes were implemented primarily to protect water supplies. Often overlooked are the aesthetic and spiritual values of the natural world and those who are drawn to protect those values. The natural beauty of the Highlands was captured by the painters of Hudson River School which continues to inspire artists today. The forests of the Highlands Region has its own origin story by told by the Munsee speaking Ramapough where the turtle, Taxkwax, whose mud on his back grew to form the present day earth.
​
The New Jersey Highlands Coalition hosts an annual Highlands Juried Art Exhibit to bring artists moved by natural beauty into our advocacy ranks. We have developed a close relationship with the Turtle Clan of the Ramapough Lenape Nation, a people who have inhabited the Highlands since the end of the glacial epochs and see the Highlands rocks, trees and fauna as family, to better understand their spiritual relationships with the land.
​
This workshop will explore these relationships and how we might support each other in our common desire to protect the natural and cultural resources of the Highlands.
​