2025 Annual Conference and Tradeshow

The Annual Conference provides Minnesota Watersheds members with opportunities for education and training, peer-to-peer learning, and networking. Members participate in regional caucuses and learn from vendors at the Tradeshow. In addition, members participate in the annual business meeting to adopt a budget and approve resolutions that assist in the development of the annual legislative platform.

Save the Date: December 3-5, 2025 at Grand View Lodge in Nisswa, MN

Call for Abstracts - now open!
Speakers are invited to share their knowledge and findings that strengthen the management, protection, and restoration of the water resources in Minnesota, particularly those under the management of local watershed jurisdictions. Time slots for presentations are 30 minutes and should include time for questions. The deadline is Friday, August 29th and the presentation date is Thursday, December 4th at Grand View Lodge. Click here to submit your work. Selected presenters will be notified in mid-September.

Annual Conference Awards Nominations
Each year, the MW Awards Committee asks for nominations from each watershed organization. After reviewing the nominations, one winner is selected from each category and is recognized at the Awards Program during the Annual Conference.  

The program has two award categories: 

• Capital Improvement Project of the Year and Watershed Program of the Year

• To submit your nomination, please fill out this form.

• The deadline is September 8, 2025. Click here to see the full outline of the program and project nomination timeline.

• The Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR) partners with Minnesota Association of Watershed Administrators (MAWA) to sponsor awards that recognize the important contributions of staff in accomplishing important watershed management objectives:

  ·       The Outstanding Watershed Employee Award (BWSR), and

  ·       The Outstanding Watershed Administrator Award (MAWA).

  These awards, respectively, will recognize the excellence of staff who have made outstanding contributions to the work of local watershed organizations during the past year. The deadline to submit a nomination is October 17, 2025.

• MN DNR will select and announce the Watershed Organization of the Year

Old News
2024 Annual Conference Program

2024 Award Winners

• Outstanding Watershed Employee of the Year, presented by BWSR – Emily Dick, Prior Lake Spring Lake Watershed District

• Outstanding Administrator of the Year, presented by MAWA – James Wisker, Minnehaha Creek Watershed District

• Watershed District of the Year, presented by the DNR - Roseau River Watershed District

• Best Picture of the Year (Night at the Movies)– Riley Purgatory Bluff Creek Watershed District

• Program of the Year – Rice Creek Watershed District Carp Management Program

• Project of the Year - Capitol Region Watershed District Highland Bridge District Stormwater System

Annual Conference Archive