50th Annual Meeting and Conference
You are invited to attend the 2026 annual meeting of the Wisconsin Section of the American Water Resources Association (WI AWRA). The 2026 WI AWRA meeting is a major milestone: the 50th anniversary of our organization! The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel in Brookfield, April 9-10, 2026. We are planning plenary and oral and poster sessions addressing both surface water and groundwater issues in Wisconsin. A preliminary program and registration materials will be available in February 2026. Please check this page for more details and subscribe to our email list for the most up-to-date information!
Program Highlights
.The theme of this year’s conference, AWRA-WI at 50: Honoring Our Past, Shaping our Future, celebrates a major milestone for our organization. We will reflect on our history, recognize individuals who have supported the organization, and discuss the future of water resources in Wisconsin. We have another excellent year of talks and posters from industry professionals, state and federal agencies, educators and students sharing case studies, regional groundwater and surface water trends, water regulations, and cutting-edge research on groundwater and surface water interactions, water quality, impacts from agriculture and urban land uses, and much more. This year’s technical program also has a special focus on water resources of the Milwaukee area, with three sessions organized by the Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District and the U.S. Geological Survey.
Full Program Available Here!
Program Short Summary Available Here!
Full Program Available Here!
Program Short Summary Available Here!
Registration
REGISTRATION INFORMATION
Until March 13 After March 13
General $200 $250
Student $110 $150
Until March 13 After March 13
General $200 $250
Student $110 $150
Registration includes lunch and dinner on Thursday, refreshment breaks on both days, program abstract book, and AWRA Section dues.
For registration or program information contact chapter president Matt Diebel at [email protected].
For registration or program information contact chapter president Matt Diebel at [email protected].
Lodging
The meeting will be held at the Sheraton Milwaukee Brookfield Hotel in Brookfield. Rooms at the hotel can be reserved until March 26, 2026 at the AWRA conference rate ($103 for a single room and $139 for a double room). You must indicate that you are attending the AWRA meeting (Group Code AWR) to receive these rates. Please call 262-364-1100 to make your room reservation. Rooms are tax exempt with proper identification.
Book your group rate for WI AWRA 2026 Annual Meeting
Book your group rate for WI AWRA 2026 Annual Meeting
Plenary Sessions
This year’s lunch plenary session will feature a panel discussion on coordination across various water organizations in the state. We expect the discussion to contribute to the “shaping the future” component of the conference theme. For the evening plenary, Shaili Pfeiffer of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources will share an overview of the Great Lakes Compact and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, two complementary and collaborative efforts to protect the Great Lakes.
Looking For Student Assistants
Four student assistants are needed to help with conference setup, run the projectors, and do other tasks at the annual meeting. If you are interested, please select that option on the registration form. Student assistants will need to arrive at the conference venue by 9:30 a.m. on Thursday, April 9, and are required to attend and assist with both days of the conference. In exchange, they will receive a refund on their registration fees. A board member will follow up with interested volunteers to fill the four positions.
Student Career Workshop
Students are invited to participate in a career workshop on Friday April 10 from 12:30 to 2:00 p.m. The workshop will include Q&A and a discussion of job opportunities by a panel representing a range of career choices for water resources professionals. The workshop is free and includes lunch. Students can sign up during registration. Spots are limited, so sign up early!
Officer Elections
Elections for the following board officers will be held at the business meeting during lunch at the conference: vice president, secretary, and two general board officers for technical program and student engagement. The vice president position requires a prior term on the board; all other positions have no pre-requisites and are open to anyone who is excited and willing to help with the WI AWRA Chapter. If you are interested in serving in one of these positions, contact Matt Diebel at mdiebel@usgs.gov.
Help us get the word out!
Our organization relies on all of you to help grow the Wisconsin Chapter of AWRA. Please share this Call for Papers widely with your professional networks. We love welcoming new and familiar faces to our conference each year.
Key Documents and Links
The Wisconsin AWRA annual meeting is proudly sponsored by the Freshwater Collaborative of Wisconsin
