Annual Conference

Join us for the 34^thAnnual Conference in Richland!

October 20-22, 2021

“It Takes a Village”

WALPA is returning to the east side in 2021 to host its 34^th annual conference in Richland from October 20-22. Please join us at the newly remodeled Holiday Inn Richland on the Columbia River. This year’s theme, “It Takes a Village,” was chosen to highlight collaborative efforts to understand, protect, and restore our lakes.

Conference Registration is OPEN!

Click HERE to register for the conference. Ealry bird registration (full event $165) is available until August 31st.

The basic agenda will be as follows:

Wednesday (Oct 20) – Afternoon Workshops, cost included in conference registration
Thursday (Oct 21) – Full day of sessions and evening social event
Friday (Oct 22) – Morning sessions

Wednesday Workshops

Lake Management: 3-5 PM (2 hours)

This workshop will be focused on nutrient management, with specific topics to include -successful approaches to lake management, impacts of phosphorus on water quality, determining external vs. internal phosphorus sources and cost-effect solutions.

Invasive Species: Plant and Animal: 12:30 – 5 PM (4 hours)

This workshop will be a hands-on exercise designed to help participants learn how to identify aquatic invasive plant and animal species. Participants will work with specimens to identify the distinguishing characteristics. This workshop includes an outdoor boat and trailer decontamination demonstration.

Abstract Submission – DEADLINE EXTENDED to AUG 31st!

Abstracts may be submitted online for either presentations and/or posters. Potential session topics include, but are not limited to the following:

Stakeholder collaboration
Lake management
Nutrient management
Harmful algal blooms (HABs)
Invasive aquatic species
Volunteer monitoring/citizen science
Fish ecology
Student research
Climate change
Projects in the Columbia River region
Lake Coeur d’Alene

Hotel Reservations

The conference will be held at the Holiday Inn Richland on the Columbia River. You can make reservations now by through their online booking link or by calling (509) 946-7611 and reference group code LPA. Reserve your room before September 29th to receive the conference group rate of $105 +tax (for single occupancy).

SPACE

Corporate Sponsorship Opportunities

Bronze Sponsor ($500 contribution)

Basic package which includes company logo with link on conference webpage, company name and logo printed in conference program, reserved conference location for company and vendor 10’x10′ display space. Conference registration for one person is included.

Silver Sponsor ($750 contribution)

Mid level package which includes Bronze level benefits plus story page advertising space in four editions of WALPA’s quarterly newsletter “Waterline” , reserved company banner display space near main podium.

Gold Sponsor ($1,000 contribution)

Premium sponsor package includes Silver level benefits plus premier main page ad space in four editions of WALPA’s quarterly newsletter, inclusion of company bio or article in one “Waterline” edition and inclusion of company promotional items in the conference registration packet.

Click HERE to become a corporate sponsor.

SPACE

Donate a Scholarship!

This year we are also offering tax-deductable donations to our Student Scholarships, to continue to fund our future lake managers. Student scholarships are awarded annually to further our understanding of the limnology, hydrology, ecology, management and/or restoration of lakes and watersheds in Washington or Idaho. Scholarship options include:

WALPA Undergraduate Scholarship for $500
Dave Lamb Memorial Scholarship for a M.Sc. graduate student for $1,000
Nancy Weller Memorial Scholarship for a Ph.D. graduate student for $1,250

SPACE

WALPA is planning the 2021 conference as our first chance to get back to in-person meetings. We understand, however, that some may experience travel restrictions or limitations due to financial constraints. If you would like to attend the 2021 WALPA conference but have such restrictions and limitations or other financial hardships, please reach out to WALPA President-Elect, Jen Oden (jen.oden@snoco.org), for potential assistance.