Pacific Northwest Aquatic Monitoring Partnership

Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers Annual Conference
2025-10-15 09:00 - 14:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Virtual
OFWIM’s 33rd Annual Conference and Business Meeting will be held virtually on October 15, 2025. They are holding a virtual conference this year because they understand not everyone would be able to travel.
Register here.
Abstracts can be submitted here.
OFWIM Innovation Award, Application Form
The Organization of Fish and Wildlife Information Managers (OFWIM) is an international non-profit organization. OFWIM was formally established in 1993 and was granted non-profit status in 1995.
Mission: To promote the management and conservation of natural resources by facilitating technology and information exchange among managers of fish and wildlife information.
Vision: To be a bridge between natural resource and technical disciplines to promote partnering, collaboration, sharing of ideas, and best management practices in order to effectively apply technology to the information and data needs of natural resource management.

PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (October 2025)
2025-10-16 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
Join us at 10:00 am (Pacific) on October 16th for the next meeting of the PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG). During the meeting, we will update participants on current tasks, hear a presentation about innovative fish monitoring, and provide you with opportunities to engage regional managers and experts. These meetings are an opportune time to discuss tasks and get input from members on where they see importance or could use facilitated support.
Tech Talk: WATCH RECORDING
Salmon Research and Monitoring Interest Group – Introduction to RDA and Working Group Development
Presenters: Lara Erikson​ (Program Manager, Pacific States Marine Fisheries Commission) and Tom Bird (Research Scientist, Fisheries and Oceans Canada)
Summary:
The Salmon Research and Monitoring Interest Group (IG) within the Research Data Alliance (RDA) was formed to address the need for better data sharing and standardization in salmon research, building on the synthesis paper Salmon Data Mobilization from the International Year of the Salmon (IYS) closing symposium in 2023. The collaborative efforts from an informal group looking to address the challenges of salmon data mobilization gradually evolved and cohered into a more formal Interest Group within the RDA. Salmon data are broad, multi-disciplinary, and complex, encompassing data on salmon at various life stages (freshwater, sea, spawning), as well as related biological processes (prey, predators) and physical environments (oceans, rivers). A key recommendation from the IYS paper was establishing a peer support network to facilitate collaboration, knowledge sharing, and skill development in the salmon research community. With several collaborators already being members, the RDA was chosen for its global community and existing infrastructure. Aims of the IG include expanding the current three chairs to eight across Atlantic and Pacific regions, serve as a social network to link ideas across time zones, learn from the existing RDA community’s tools and strategies, and develop and share their own tools and processes within open spaces such as Zenodo and GitHub. The IG is a larger overarching group of members and collaborators under which smaller more focused Working Groups (WG) are formed which focus on outputs with clear, short-term and specific goals. Thus far, proposed WG topics include; salmon ontology, salmon data paper synthesis, biochronology of otolith and scale samples, monitoring methods ontology, migration timing data, and long-term monitoring data. The salmon ontology WG in particular has made progress building upon a workshop held at the BC-WA Chapter AFS meeting in March 2025. The IG and the various WGs aim to foster a collaborative environment to tackle the complexities of salmon data for conservation and recovery efforts.
Agenda

10:00 – Welcome and Introductions
10:05 – Task Updates
10:20 – Tech Talk
11:10 – Q&A
11:30 – Adjourn

Click link below to join on October 16th

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Never been to a FMWG meeting? This meeting is a perfect time to learn about the project, join in, and help guide future work.
Missed a previous FMWG meeting? Check out our YouTube page for presentations or task meetings.

The PNAMP Fish Monitoring Work Group (FMWG), meets quarterly to discuss task progress, share expertise through guest presentations, and support collaboration, communication, and coordination among fish monitoring practitioners for effective monitoring and efficient data sharing. The FMWG is also interested in your work; if you would like to present your innovative fish monitoring ideas or any recent publications at a future meeting please contact Meg Dethloff, mdethloff@psmfc.org

2025 Joint Session of the StreamNet Executive Committee and PNAMP Steering Committee
2025-10-22 - 2025-10-23
Join us on Wednesday, October 22 and Thursday, October 23 for the 2025 joint session of the StreamNet Executive Committee and PNAMP Steering Committee. The overlapping work of StreamNet and PNAMP makes this meeting format beneficial for both communities and creates efficiency in participants’ time and travel.
This page will be updated with additional details as the meeting gets closer.

2025 Oregon Lakes Association/Oregon Tech Joint Conference
2025-10-22 12:30 - 2025-11-07 15:00
2025 OLA and Oregon Tech Joint Conference
October 22 -24, 2025
The College Union at Oregon Tech
Klamath Falls, OR
Visit the event page for more information: Oregon Lakes Association – 2025 Joint Conference: OLA and Oregon Tech

Spatial-Stream-Network (SSN) Models Training Workshop
2025-10-27 - 2025-10-29 | Boise, Idaho, Boise, ID, United States
There will be another spatial-statistical-network (SSN) model training workshop in Boise, Idaho this fall October 27–29 and that registration is now open (register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/spatial-modeling-workshop-oct-27-29-2025-tickets-1474764533419?aff=oddtdtcreator).
If you are interested in attending (or have a student that is), they recommend registering ASAP because it usually fills rapidly once registration opens. If you’d like to come to the workshop but the financial arrangements with your employer will take time to set up, please contact Dan Isaak, daniel.isaak@usda.gov, and they’ll try to hold a spot for you.
Spatial-Stream-Network Models training workshop background:
A class of spatial statistical network model for data on stream networks has recently been developed & free software is available for implementing the models. SSNs account for network topology (i.e., flow direction, stream size, tributary confluences) and offer significant improvements over many traditional statistical techniques that were developed originally for terrestrial applications. The SSNs are applicable to common types of stream data (e.g., water quality attributes, biological survey information, genetic metrics, habitat conditions) through application of several distributions (e.g., Gaussian, binomial, Poisson). The models also account for spatial autocorrelation among measurements, which makes them powerful tools for mining information from large datasets aggregated from multiple sources or sampling designs that are clustered and nonrandom. For additional details, please visit the SSN/STARS (https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/projects/spatial-stream-network) and National Stream Internet websites (https://research.fs.usda.gov/rmrs/projects/national-stream-internet).
The 3-day workshop consists of a 1-day short-course & 2 days of working with course instructors to apply SSNs to participant’s datasets. Note that attendance is limited to 20 students to ensure a high-quality experience and sufficient interaction with course instructors. Workshop registration is $700 for students/postdocs and $1,000 for professionals, which does not include lodging or meals.
The workshop does include:
-Sharing of free software tools used to conduct SSN analyses (SSNbler for spatial editing with GIS software (https://pet221.github.io/SSNbler/articles/introduction.html#background) and the SSN2 package (from GitHub: https://usepa.github.io/SSN2/ or CRAN: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/SSN2/index.html) for analysis in R)
-Demonstration of data processing steps necessary to calculate the spatial information needed to fit SSN models
-Demonstration of how the SSN2 package is used for:

Exploratory data analysis
Modelling continuous, presence/absence, and count data using spatial linear, linear mixed-effects, and generalized linear models
Model diagnostics and selection
Prediction (kriging) and block kriging (estimating totals for discrete areas)
Uncertainty estimation
Simulation and spatial visualization techniques for streams data using ggplot2

-Discussions of when spatial statistical techniques are most useful and the many new applications that are possible for stream data;
-Working with instructors to apply the SSNs to your data
*Note that a good working knowledge of statistics and the R statistical program are useful to obtain the greatest benefits from the workshop. Participants at the 3-day workshop must bring a laptop with access to R statistical software and a GIS of your choice (Recommended: ArcGIS Pro with standard or advanced license or QGIS software). For more background on SSN model theory, applications, and software developments, up-to-date bibliographies are maintained at the SSN & NSI websites linked above, as are example datasets and documentation associated with implementing SSN analyses.

Lake Roosevelt Forum 2025 Conference
2025-10-28 - 2025-10-29
Lake Roosevelt Forum 2025 Conference
October 28 & 29, 2025
CenterPlace Regional Event Center • Spokane Valley
Lake Roosevelt Forum
Fall is coming and so is the Lake Roosevelt Forum Conference, set for October 28 & 29 at the CenterPlace in Spokane Valley, WA. The Forum will convene a range of specialists from tribal, federal, state, and local agencies, in addition to community members and property owners.
Registration is open now, an early bird rate available through September 26. The Forum will also have scholarships available for students and community members.
The theme this year is Reconnecting for the Future. That is, coming together again for the first time since COVID to:

showcase and stimulate increased coordination around essential work being done to meet the unique and distinct needs of Lake Roosevelt,
explore policy, technical, and public engagement dynamics taking us into the future,
welcome new faces taking on this important work as the baton is handed from one generation to the next and re-establish dialogue and facilitate the exchange of information with the hope of taking steps towards a collaborative future.

The agenda is currently under development, and we expect to make announcements highlighting featured speakers and sessions soon. In the meantime, participants can expect an energizing two days engaging with each other on local and regional approaches to a broad range of interconnected issues:

Invasive species
Columbia Plateau Regional Aquifer System
Inland lakes management
Agriculture, irrigation, and drought
New developments in recreation, access, and promotion
Water quality
Hydropower
Upper Columbia salmon reintroduction
Toxics and remediation efforts
Fisheries
Transboundary perspectives

Be sure to stay tuned to their electronic news or follow us on social media for updates on the conference and Register Now!
To become a conference sponsor, contact Executive Director Happy Avery at happy.avery@lrf.org.

Updates on the Emerald Ash Borer in the PNW Webinar
2025-10-29 10:00 - 11:00 | Virtual
Updates on the Emerald Ash Borer in the PNW

Date & Time
Oct 29, 2025 10:00 AM
Register here: Webinar Registration – Zoom

The Nature Conservancy and DontMoveFirewood.org is hosting a 2025 Firewood Month Webinar Series! See the registration link above, or head to (https://www.dontmovefirewood.org/firewood-month-2025-webinar-series/) for more details.

Description
Hear from invasive species experts and managers out of both Oregon and Washington as they discuss the most recent findings and management efforts regarding the notorious firewood hitchhiker, emerald ash borer, in the Pacific Northwest. This talk will focus on recent infestation and quarantine updates across Oregon and Washington. Presentation by Wyatt Williams and others with the Oregon Dept. of Forestry as well as staff of the Washington Invasive Species Council.

Questions? Reach out to Laurel Downs, laurel.downs@tnc.org

WaterWatch’s 40th Anniversary Celebration and Annual Auction
2025-11-01 17:00 - 21:00
Unite with WaterWatch’s community of supporters, conservationists, and river-lovers for hors d’oeuvres, dinner, and drinks along with silent and live auctions.
This year’s event will be held at The Castaway Portland on Saturday, November 1st.
Doors open and the silent auction begins at 5:00 pm, so please arrive promptly. Visit the event website to register, explore the auction catalog, and learn more about sponsorship and donation opportunities. There is a reserved, 120 space parking lot one block from the venue between NW Thurman and NW 17th Ave. that is free for attendees. Look for the WaterWatch signage!
Any additional questions? Please email WaterWatch’s Development Director, Jesse Robbins at jesse@waterwatch.org
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Mission: WaterWatch of Oregon’s mission is to protect and restore streamflows in Oregon’s rivers for native fish, wildlife and the people who depend on healthy rivers. We work to fight for free-flowing rivers, remove obsolete dams, advocate for sustainable groundwater management, and secure balanced and equitable water policies and investments in a climate-changed world.

Society for Freshwater Science Pacific Northwest Chapter 2025 Annual Meeting
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-04 | The Riverside Hotel, 2900 W Chinden Blvd, Garden City, Idaho, 83714
The SFS PNW Chapter annual meeting will be held November 3-4, 2025, in Boise, Idaho.
This meeting will be an in-person and hybrid format. If interested, you are also invited to submit an abstract for an individual presentation. Presentations should inform our understanding and management of freshwater aquatic ecosystems including rivers, streams, lakes, and wetlands in the Pacific Northwest. We are currently planning to facilitate sessions on “Big Data,” intermittent streams, and eDNA, but presentations on any other aspect of freshwater ecosystems are welcome. On Monday night we will hold a social at the Barbarian Brewery that will include a poster session. In addition, on Tuesday November 4th there will be a macroinvertebrate identification workshop provided by our good friends at EcoAnalysts.
Conference registration is $50 for non-students and $25 for students. Please register by October 15th. We encourage everyone to pay via card through Eventbrite, however, if you need to pay via check, please contact Oliver Miler (omiler@nwifc.org).
EventBrite 2025 meeting registration link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/sfs-pnw-chapter-annual-meeting-tickets-1414430191779?aff=oddtdtcreator (active July 1-Oct 31, 2025)
Hotel rooms have been blocked out at the Riverside Hotel under group code “PNW SFS” for $167/night + taxes Please call the hotel (208 343-1871) to reserve your room, or book here: Riverside Hotel Reservations. Reservations must be made by 10/21/25 to get the group rate.
Oral presentations are limited to 15 minutes followed by 5 minutes for audience questions and next speaker transition. Please send abstracts to David Wooster (david.wooster@oregonstate.edu) no later than Thursday September 11th. Abstracts should be <500 words and labeled as “[Last name]_[First 5 words of presentation title]”. Please include all authors and their affiliations, with the name of the presenting/corresponding author in bold type. Indicate if it will be an oral or poster presentation and if you plan to present in-person or virtually. Abstracts are to be submitted as an attachment in Word, not in the body of an e-mail. We hope to notify authors by September 20th of the acceptance of their abstract.
We are pleased to offer two student awards to cover hotel lodging (2 nights) and registration. Contact Shannon Claeson for the scholarship form; forms are due to Shannon by September 15th (shannon.claeson@usda.gov).
Our sponsors and your registration fees make scholarships available, thank you! For donations, advertising or sponsorship opportunities at this year’s conference please contact Oliver Miler (Treasurer; omiler@nwifc.org) for more information.
Contact David Wooster (david.wooster@oregonstate.edu) or Shannon Claeson (shannon.claeson@usda.gov) with any concerns or questions.
Pacific Northwest Chapter | Society for Freshwater Science

2025 NAISMA Annual Conference
2025-11-03 - 2025-11-06
The 2025 North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA) Annual Conference is headed to the breathtaking shores of Lake Tahoe! Mark your calendars for November 3–6, 2025, and join them at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe in Stateline, Nevada, for an inspiring and impactful event.

LEARN MORE

Conference Details

Dates: November 3–6, 2025
Location: Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, 15 Hwy 50, Stateline, NV 89449
Special Room Rate: $59 per night (plus resort fees and applicable taxes)

Why Attend?
The NAISMA Annual Conference is your opportunity to connect with leading professionals, discover the latest innovations in invasive species management, and contribute to shaping the future of our field. From engaging keynotes to hands-on workshops, this event offers a rich program for attendees from diverse backgrounds.
Accommodations
The conference itself will take place at Harrah’s Lake Tahoe, where a discounted room block ($59 per night) is available for attendees. Just across the street, the Margaritaville Resort Lake Tahoe will also offer a special group rate, giving you flexibility and convenience no matter your preference. Click here to learn more.
Explore Lake Tahoe
While you’re here, take time to enjoy the beauty of Lake Tahoe. From outdoor adventures to world-class dining, there’s plenty to explore before or after the conference.

Pacific Northwest Tribal Clean Water Act Training
2025-11-17 - 2025-11-20 | Tulalip Resort Casino, 10200 Quil Ceda Blvd., Tulalip, Washington
Tribal water quality and water resource staff are invited to join us and learn how to enhance your program’s capability to implement Clean Water Act (CWA) programs. The training will address CWA programs including Section 106, Section 319, Section 303(d), water quality standards, and wetlands and will be useful to Tribes who work on these programs or are interested in pursuing Treatment in a similar manner as a State (TAS) status for one or more programs. The training workshop will be targeted to Tribes who conduct water quality monitoring, issue water quality certifications, and address water quality issues, nonpoint source pollution, and impaired waters/TMDLs. Tribal staff from across the country are invited, although there will be a focus on examples and applications for Tribes in the Pacific Northwest.
The Pacific Northwest Tribal Clean Water Act Training is being organized by the National Association of Wetland Managers (NAWM) and Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota GeoSpatial Services (SMUMN GSS), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Training Workshop Dates and Location
When: November 17-20, 2025
Where: Tulalip, WA
Venue: Tulalip Resort Casino
10200 Quil Ceda Blvd.
Tulalip, WA 98271
Go here for additional information about the workshop, including how to register.

A Reverence for Rivers: Imagining an Ethic for Running Waters
2025-11-17 10:00 - 11:30 | Virtual
A Reverence for Rivers: Imagining an Ethic for Running Waters by Kurt Fausch, Professor Emeritus at Colorado State University.
Monday, November 17th at 10 am Pacific
A Reverence for Rivers: Imagining an Ethic for Running Waters
Zoom link: Oregon State University Stream Team Seminar Series – Fall 2025
https://oregonstate.zoom.us/j/91524892326?pwd=[REDACTED]
Now available: A Reverence for Rivers: Imagining an Ethic for Running Waters
https://osupress.oregonstate.edu/book/reverence-for-rivers
Book trailer video: https://vimeo.com/wemayfly/areverenceforrivers?share=copy

Grande Ronde Model Watershed - State of the Science 2025
2025-11-18 - 2025-11-19
Please save the dates: November 18-19, 2025 for Grande Ronde Model Watershed – State of the Science 2025.
The Grande Ronde Model Watershed will host a two-day meeting on November 18–19, in La Grande, OR, featuring presentations and discussions focused on restoration science, watershed management, and regional project updates. The agenda includes keynote and technical talks from experts across the basin, a poster session, and opportunities for collaboration and networking, including a social hour at Side A Brewing. While there will not be a virtual attendance option, recordings of the presentations will be made available following the event.
Please reach out to Amanda Coffman after the event if you would like access to the recordings.
Visit the website at: GRMW Home or send an email to Amanda Coffman, amanda@grmw.org.

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting (November 2025)
2025-11-18 - 2025-11-19 | Portland, Oregon
Agenda, meeting time, and other materials will be posted at the NPCC website the week before the meeting here: Council Meeting | Northwest Power and Conservation Council

Knowledge Exchange Workshop Series 2025: Rewetting Our Waterways: Floodplain Restoration in an Occupied Landscape
2025-11-18 09:00 - 15:30 | Virtual
Rewetting Our Waterways: Floodplain Restoration in an Occupied Landscape
November 18th, 2025
9am – 3:30pm PST on Zoom
Agenda below
Floodplains are vital to the health of watersheds and we continue to learn about their role in shaping the habitats and ecosystems that Pacific salmon rely on. With our growing understanding of floodplains has come the emergence of different programs and projects designed to protect and restore floodplains for salmon recovery. Like all emerging practices, floodplain restoration has had successes and failures. Intact floodplains are one of the most endangered habitats in our occupied watersheds and the loss of intact and restorable areas is accelerating.
This virtual workshop, co-hosted by Fisheries and Oceans Canada, Pacific Salmon Foundation and Washington’s Governor Salmon Recovery Office brings together experts to discuss how floodplain function has been altered by human activity and how those changes have led to cascading effects on our river systems. We will explore approaches and opportunities to restore floodplain benefits to Pacific salmon and aquatic ecosystems in modified landscapes and highlight examples where floodplain restoration strategies are succeeding. We hope you will join us!
REGISTER HERE: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_L8oTzHGdS2-vfVOb5TknuQ#/registration
Past workshop recordings and reports: https://psf.ca/knowledge-exchange-workshop-series/
Questions: Laura.Weatherly@dfo-mpo.gc.ca

Connecting the Dots from Forest and Estuary Management to Climate-Resilient Salmon - free webinar
2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:00 | Virtual
Northwest Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change Network

Upcoming Webinar: Connecting the dots from forest and estuary management to climate-resilient salmon

When: Wednesday, November 19, 2025, 11 AM–12 PM (Pacific)
What: In this Northwest RISCC paired researcher-practicioner webinar, Michele Buonanduci will present the findings of recent research into the impacts of forest and estuary management on the climate resilience of salmon in Washington’s Willapa basin, including the impacts of Spartina eradication. Chad Phillips will then provide details about Washington State Department of Agriculture’s Spartina management efforts.
Register here!
Talk descriptions:
“Willapa basin salmon responses to land management in the context of climate change” — Michele Buonanduci
As climate change alters freshwater, estuarine, and marine habitats, Pacific salmon need increasing levels of conservation action to maintain population health. Restoration is implemented within the broad-scale context of changing ocean conditions, yet we lack an understanding of the relative extent to which land-based actions can contribute to the resilience of salmon populations under climate change. We addressed this challenge using an integrated population model of chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) in the Willapa basin (southwest Washington, USA). We evaluated how chum population dynamics have varied with watershed-scale forest management, estuarine invasive species control efforts, and changing ocean conditions from 1984 to 2022. Overall, our findings illustrate the capacity for multiple conservation actions to contribute to salmon population health and suggest that watershed-scale forest management has the potential to bolster the persistence of salmon populations under climate change.
“Washington State’s Invasive Spartina Eradication Effort” — Chad Phillips
Spartina, commonly known as cordgrass, can disrupt the ecosystems of native saltwater estuaries. If left unchecked, Spartina outcompetes native vegetation and converts ecologically healthy mudflats and estuaries into solid Spartina meadows. As a result, important habitat for salmon, forage fish, invertebrates, shorebirds and waterfowl are lost, the threat of flooding is increased, and the state’s shellfish industry is negatively impacted. Since 1995, The Washington State Department of Agriculture has served as the lead state agency facilitating the cooperation of local, state, federal and tribal governments; universities; interested groups; and private landowners. The Spartina eradication effort has been highly effective — reducing infestations from a high of more than 9,000 solid acres in 2003 to 6.7 solid acres in 2024. 76 sites infested with Spartina have been successfully eradicated; however, significant work remains. The remaining infestations are distributed over 126 separate sites, meaning 62 percent of Washington’s 202 infestations are not yet eradicated. An emerging challenge is Spartina quickly spreading into and negatively impacting important salmon restoration projects in the North Puget Sound.

NAISMA Webinar: Harnessing AI for Invasive Species Detection: Smart Traps, Drones, and Machine Learning in Action - FREE
2025-11-19 11:00 - 12:30 | Virtual
*NOTE-this is not a fisheries specific webinar but using AI and remote sensing is a rapidly evolving technique and can be applied across a variety of sciences. This information could help aquatic specialists explore new ways to detect aquatic invaders. The webinars will highlight how emerging technologies are being adapted and applied to meet the challenges of invasive species detection in the field—providing a glimpse into the future of smart conservation.
Join NAISMA this November for a dynamic webinar showcasing how artificial intelligence is transforming invasive species detection and monitoring across ecosystems. Through innovative applications like smart traps, drones, and machine learning, researchers and practitioners are unlocking new tools to manage biological invasions more effectively and efficiently.

REGISTER NOW

Dr. Melissa Miller from the University of Florida will present her work on developing AI-powered smart traps designed to detect and remove invasive tegu lizards—large, fast-moving reptiles that threaten native wildlife and agriculture in the southeastern U.S. Dr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller from the University of Exeter will share his team’s research on using deep learning models to detect invasive hornets in real time, offering critical insights for rapid response and containment. Representing Ducks Unlimited Canada, Matthew Bolding and Mallory Carpenter will discuss their efforts to integrate drone technology and AI to monitor populations of European water chestnut, a fast-spreading aquatic invasive plant impacting wetland biodiversity and water quality.
VespAI: Applying Deep Learning to the Detection of Invasive Hornets presented by Thomas O’Shea-Wheller
The invasive hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax is a rapidly proliferating threat to biodiversity and apiculture in Europe, East Asia, and North America. To date, authorities have struggled to contain the hornets, as colonies must be detected and destroyed early in the invasion curve if establishment is to be prevented. Current monitoring approaches rely primarily upon visual alerts by the public and surveillance trapping, however the former yields less than 0.01% accuracy, while the latter kills substantial numbers of native invertebrates. With the continuing spread of V. velutina, there is thus a pressing need to develop improved monitoring technologies within a limited timeframe. In this talk, I outline VespAI, an automated system for the rapid detection and behavioural quantification of V. velutina, V. crabro, and V. orientalis. VespAI leverages a hardware-assisted AI approach, combining a standardised monitoring station with deep YOLO architecture, trained on a bespoke end-to-end pipeline. This enables the system to detect hornets in real-time—achieving a precision-recall score of ≥0.99—and send associated image alerts via a compact remote processor. I discuss the development, performance, and future deployment of the system, and highlight its potential to enhance the scope and sustainability of invasive hornet surveillance at a global scale.
This webinar will highlight how emerging technologies are being adapted and applied to meet the challenges of invasive species detection in the field—providing a glimpse into the future of smart conservation.

Dr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller, University of Exeter
Dr. Thomas O’Shea-Wheller is interested in the complex interactions that govern collective behavior, ecology, and self-organization within social insects. As a Research Fellow based at the University of Exeter, he works with ants, bees, hornets, and termites to explore colony network dynamics, social plasticity, and behavioral heterogeneity in invasive contexts. His current research includes projects pertaining to honey bee epidemiology, collective decision-making in ants, and the detection of invasive species using artificial intelligence.

2025 Puget Sound Day on the Sound
2025-11-24 13:00 - 15:00
Mark your calendars for this year’s Puget Sound Day on the Sound event, taking place on Monday, November 24, from 1:00pm – 3:00pm at Titlow Lodge, 8425 6th Avenue, Tacoma, WA 98465.
Hosted by the Puget Sound Partnership and the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission, this in-person event will feature a moderated discussion with Puget Sound leaders in Congress.
This is an opportunity to hear directly from your representatives in “the other Washington” about federal efforts to advance Puget Sound recovery, uphold tribal treaty rights, and ensure critical investment reaches priority projects on the ground.
Please register here to attend.
If you have any questions, please contact Ahren Stroming at ahren.stroming@psp.wa.gov.

About the Puget Sound Partnership
The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency formed to lead the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with hundreds of government agencies, Tribes, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits, the Partnership mobilizes partner action around a common agenda, advances Sound investments, and tracks progress to optimize recovery.
For more information, go to www.psp.wa.gov.
About the Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission
The Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission (NWIFC) is a natural resources management support service organization for 20 treaty Indian tribes in western Washington. Headquartered in Olympia, the NWIFC employs approximately 80 people with satellite offices in Burlington and Forks.
For more information, go to https://nwifc.org/.

Oregon Invasive Species Council Business Meeting
2025-12-02
Oregon Invasive Species Council Business Meeting | Location: Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife Classroom – 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR
The calendar link below shows upcoming opportunities to connect with Oregon Invasive Species Council (OISC) partners and advance invasive species efforts in Oregon and around the Pacific Northwest region. Learn about public OISC Council Meetings here.

Our Willamette Waters: Science, Policy, and Stewardship for Our Willamette Waters
2025-12-02 08:00 - 2025-12-03 15:00
Our Willamette Waters: Science, Policy, and Stewardship for Our Willamette Waters
December 2-3, 2025
La Sells Stewart Center, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
Registration

Early Bird Registration (until November 6): $100
Late Bird Registration (after November 6): $150
Scholarships available to college-registered students.
Our Willamette is an annual gathering of people engaged in the study and care of the Willamette River. This symposium will include a mix of speakers, discussion sessions, posters, and general networking. It is a forum for sharing research findings, management lessons, and ideas.
The first day will comprise a series of plenary presentations and an evening poster session related to the topic areas listed below. The morning of the second day will consist of discussion sessions.
This is a call for proposals for discussion sessions (call for poster abstracts coming in November).
Topics that will be addressed during the Symposium include:
Land/water policy and management

Flooding, floodplain management, and land use
Implications of state and federal plans (IWRS, BiOp, SWAP, etc.)

Urban and rural water challenges and opportunities

Drinking water supplies, source water protection, and wastewater discharges
Water quality and quantity (e.g., TMDLs, integrated water resource planning)

People and biota

Habitat restoration
Aquatic biodiversity (native/non-native fish, freshwater mussels, etc.)

Call for Posters
Poster Abstract Submissions Due: Nov. 10, 2025
Include: Title, Authors, Affiliations, Abstract (250 words)
View Poster Submission Flyer
There will be a poster session at the end of Tuesday Dec. 2nd.
This call invites posters on topics such as :

Management and policy updates
Research studies or restoration efforts
Funding programs or opportunities
Organization or program changes

Submit poster abstracts to:
Stan Gregory: stanley.gregory@oregonstate.edu
Ken Bierly: bierlykenneth@gmail.com

Sponsorship Opportunities
Our Willamette Waters is an annual two day gathering of people engaged in the study and care of the Willamette River. It builds on work carried out previously under the Willamette River Initiative and Nesika Wilamut. With a mix of guest speakers, small group round table discussions, and general networking, the gathering serves as a forum for research findings, management lessons learned, and new ideas for collaborative stewardship relevant to the river, its floodplain, and the communities who depend on both. We appreciate sponsorship at the following levels to help defray costs of venue rental and food. Sponsors will receive shout-outs during plenary sessions and will be noted on written materials and website.

Heart of the River: $5,000 (+ 8 admission tickets)
Cottonwood Gallery: $1,500 (+ 4 tickets)
River Keepers: $200 (+1 ticket)

Become an Our Willamette Waters Sponsor
Vendors
There will be space available for your agency or company to have a booth for $1,500 (including 4 tickets).
For more information, contact ourwillamette@gmail.com.
Please note that all funds net of expenses are carried over into the next year’s gathering.

Conference Sponsors
Cottonwood Gallery Circle
Bierly and Associates
Environmental Science Associates (ESA)
SWCA
Stillwater Sciences
Riverkeepers Circle
Zucker Engineering and Design
GSI Water Solutions, Inc.

Conference Organizing Committee
Email: ourwillamette@gmail.com
If you are interested in conference sponsorship, please contact Guillermo.Giannico@oregonstate.edu

Pulling Together to Prevent and Stop Noxious Weeds in Washington - free webinar
2025-12-02 13:00 - 16:00 | Virtual
Washington Invasive Species Council – Pulling Together to Prevent and Stop Noxious Weeds in Washington webinar
Join the fourth annual Pulling Together to Prevent and Stop Noxious Weeds in Washington webinar on December 2 from 1 – 4 p.m. to learn all about noxious weeds, identification, management, and reporting. There are three approved Washington State Department of Agriculture pesticide recertification credits for those who attend the entirety of this free event. For agenda and registration, please visit: https://invasivespecies.wa.gov/event/pulling-together-to-prevent-and-stop-noxious-weeds-in-washington/
Hope to see you there! Please share widely with anyone else who may be interested. Questions can be directed to maria.marlin@rco.wa.gov.

Washington Invasive Species Council Meeting
2025-12-04 09:00 - 15:00
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Meeting information: WISC – Washington Invasive Species Council
Online Zoom Registration
Phone Option: (669)900-6833 – Meeting ID: 891 8302 3304
Physical Location:
Room 172, Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street, SE, Olympia, WA 98501

WA Salmon Recovery Funding Board Meeting
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-10 | Olympia, WA
Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office
Meeting information: Meetings – RCO
Webinar Registration – Zoom
Phone Option: (669)900-6833 – Meeting ID: 849 9510 9483
Physical Location: Room 172, Natural Resources Building, 1111 Washington Street, SE, Olympia, WA 98501

9th Annual Lamprey Information Exchange
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-11 | Portland, Oregon
Join the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative (PLCI) on December 9-11, 2025, in the Portland, Oregon area to explore the science and restoration of Pacific Lamprey and other Pacific West Coast lampreys.
Ecotrust’s Irving Street Studio: 907 NW Irving Street, Portland, Oregon

Registration is now open!

Please register for each event you plan to attend. Register HERE

Draft agenda available! View agenda HERE

Rockstar Award Nominations

Nomination deadline is November 28, 2025. Nomination Form

Tuesday, December 9:
Lamprey 101 Workshop, 8:00am – 11:30am
Cost: Free
About: Learn from national and local researchers about lamprey ecology, restoration, passage, and the Pacific Lamprey Conservation Initiative prior to the Lamprey Symposium.
Virtual or In Person
Field Trip to Willamette Falls, 12:00pm – 5:00pm
Cost: Free
About: Join us for a walking tour of the Portland General Electric (PGE) west side facilities. The tour will provide the opportunity to learn about PGE’s facilities and operations, including the powerhouse, fish ladder, and a view of the falls. Afterwards, we will travel to the West Linn Library for presentations and discussion on traditional ecological knowledge and the cultural significance of the Willamette Falls to the regional tribes’.
In Person, limited to 25 participants
Wednesday, December 10 – Thursday, December 11:
Lamprey Symposium
Cost: $35 for early bird, $45 after November 8
Lunch and an afternoon snack will be provided
Virtual or In Person
Virtual attendees will join the Lamprey 101 Workshop and Lamprey Symposium via the Zoom platform. Log in details will be provided prior to the event.
If you have any questions, would like to request a registration waiver, or need to change your registration, please contact PLCI’s Coordinator, Grace Adams (gadams@nrccorp.com).

Northwest Fish Culture Concepts 74th Annual Meeting
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-11
The 2025 Northwest Fish Culture Concepts Meeting will be held in Pendleton, Oregon, on December 9-11 at the Wildhorse Resort and Casino Rivers Event Center. This meeting is being hosted by the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation and the Nez Perce Tribe and supported by the Fish Culture Section of The American Fisheries Society.
Registration is now open for participants and vendors.
If you have questions about the meeting, please email Mike McLean (MikeMcLean@ctuir.org) or Jen Krajcik (JenKrajcik@ctuir.org).
Vendor information & registration is available here; General meeting & presentation information is available here

2025 Pacific Coast Steelhead Management Meeting
2025-12-09 - 2025-12-11
The 2025 Pacific Coast Steelhead Management Meeting will be held at the Riverside Hotel from December 9-11 in Boise, Idaho.
This is a small conference attended primarily by state Fish & Wildlife and Tribal staff from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Alaska and British Columbia, and is a great opportunity for one-on-one interactions with biologists and managers from around the region.
Focus: The 2025 conference will have sessions focused on collaboration and co-management, freshwater conditions, ocean migration, managing sensitive populations, management tools, and human dimensions in fisheries, as well as an invited papers session and a poster session. They hope to finalize the agenda by the end of October.
Format: Hybrid, both in-person and virtual registration is available. The in-person registration fee is $250 for all 3 days, including meals. Virtual registration is $50.
Hotel Block: $165/night (federal per diem rate) for a limited number of attendees. The block closes November 21.
Reserve a room here.
Agenda questions can be directed to the 2025 Meeting Chair, Stephen Phillips.
Registration questions should be directed to Amy Stark.
See you in Boise!
Meeting materials from previous gatherings.

2nd International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference
2025-12-09 10:00 - 2025-12-10 14:00 | Virtual
THE SECOND INTERNATIONAL INVASIVE SPECIES AND CLIMATE CHANGE CONFERENCE
December 9-10, 2025
10am – 2pm (Pacific)
The second International Invasive Species and Climate Change Conference is being organized by the Regional Invasive Species and Climate Change (RISCC) Network and hosted by the North American Invasive Species Management Association (NAISMA). The 1st IISCCC (January 2024) was a smashing success with nearly 1300 attendees from >20 countries and 6 continents.
This conference is VIRTUAL allowing for more international attendance while reducing our carbon footprint. Please click on the link below to register for both days of this event (a single registration link will be used for the duration of the event).

FREE REGISTRATION

Conference registration is free and features topics including sessions on:

Management success stories
Understanding and managing pathways
Restoring to the future
Early career research
And more!

Because biological invasions and climate change are global issues that know no boundaries, the IISCCC strives to create space to share research and management practices, expand networks, and promote translational experiences.

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting (December 2025)
2025-12-16 - 2025-12-17 | Virtual

Northwest Power and Conservation Council Meeting (January 2026)
2026-01-13 08:00 - 2026-01-15 17:00 | Portland, Oregon

100th Meridian Columbia River Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Team Meeting
2026-01-13 10:00 - 2026-01-14 15:00 | Vancouver, WA
Join the 100th Meridian Columbia River Basin Aquatic Invasive Species Team Meeting in January!
Registration is now open for the next meeting of the 100th Meridian Columbia River Basin (CRB) Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) Team; scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday, January 13 & 14, 2026 at the AC Hotel – Vancouver Waterfront in Vancouver, WA.
Click Here to Register
They anticipate starting at 10am on January 13 and ending ~ 3pm on January 14.
HOTEL – Room Block Link: AC Hotel – Vancouver Waterfront $155/night per diem rate.
Reservation Deadline: December 31, 2025
LUNCH: Lunches will not be provided for this meeting, however there are quite a few restaurants within walking distance of the hotel.
AGENDA: A draft agenda will be on the registration website and also on Westernais.org. Please contact Leah Elwell for agenda questions at: leah@conservationcollaborations.com.
LOGISTICS: This will be a hybrid meeting. Meeting materials such as minutes and presentations will be made available post-meeting.
QUESTIONS: You may contact Amy Stark at (astark@psmfc.org) or call her at (503) 595-3112.
