SNEC 2023 Winter Conference
Winter Conferences
SWCS SNEC 2023 Winter Conference “Water Quality in Southern New England: The Latest Research, Practice, and Policy”
Thursday MARCH 30, 2023
University of Massachusetts Amherst Campus Center
Amherst and Hadley Rooms (10th floor)
8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Join us for our first in-person winter conference since 2019! Our program will delve into current issues in water quality and explore solutions for reversing damage to our precious natural resources. Speakers will discuss the latest water quality research, practice, policy affecting Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.
We look forward to seeing you there!
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Program Information
CLICK HERE for Speaker Information
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Registration
Online Registration Only | No Checks
General Admission $125
SNEC Member $75
Full Time Student $50
SWCS Student Chapter Member $25
Exhibitor $400
–> BLUE LIGHT SPECIAL $190 <–
Join the Soil & Water Conservation Society now at the $115 Conservationist level and benefit immediately by registering at the $75 SNEC Member rate! Select the Blue Light Special option and we’ll handle the SWCS membership paperwork.
Note: this offer is available only to first-time SWCS members.
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- Rain or Shine | No Refunds | Transfer Allowed
- Lunch and coffee will be provided.
- Your registration includes presentations and access to exhibits.
- Parking is available at the Parking Garage at the conference rate of $6.50.
- UMass Amherst is a Smoke Free campus.
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Additional information will be provided via e-mail prior to the event. This will include the agenda, links for handouts if any are provided by speakers, and parking information.
If any COVID-19 precautions will be required by UMass, that information will also be provided. There are no restrictions in place at this time (19 Jan 2023). Current Guidance for Campus Events is posted at
https://www.umass.edu/coronavirus/news/current-guidance-fall-2021-events.
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Exhibitor Information
SWCS Southern New England Chapter’s mission is promote, educate and advance the science of soil, water and related resources conservation. We seek subject matter experts that can help deliver solutions.
To get a sense of the prospective audience, see lists of attendees at past SNEC Winter Conferences:
We have use of the entire 10th floor of the Campus Center. To see a floor plan, go to https://www.umasshospitality.com/locations-capacities and click on 10th Floor Campus Center. Presentations will be in the Amherst Room. Exhibits, coffee and the lunch buffet will be in the Hadley Room and foyer.
Exhibitor Registration $400
includes one 6-foot table with paper drape and registration for one (1) person.
Additional Exhibit Staff $75
Register online via credit card.
–> For more information, contact events@swcssnec.org.
Speaker Bios
“Microplastics in the Environment”
Baoshan Xing
Professor and Director of Stockbridge School of Agriculture, University of Massachusetts Amherst
Baoshan Xing is Professor (Environmental & Soil Chemistry) and Director of Stockbridge School of Agriculture at University of Massachusetts Amherst. His current research includes agricultural application of engineered nanomaterials, environmental processes of microplastics, use of biochar for soil improvement and remediation, and food safety. He is a “Most Cited Scientist” every year since 2014 when this analytics started, indicating the impact and significance of his research. His h-index is currently at 135 and the total citation on his research is over 75,000 (Google Scholar). Dr. Xing is currently an Editor of Environmental Pollution, Biochar, and Carbon Research. He received numerous national and international awards/honors. His research program is recognized nationally and internationally.
“Through the River and Over the Woods: Global PFAS Exposure and Implications for Ecosystem Health”
Lisa McIntosh
Senior Technical Manager, Woodard & Curran
Lisa McIntosh is a senior technical manager and principal at Woodard & Curran, with an academic background in environmental toxicology and over 25 years of experience in environmental consulting. Ms. McIntosh is certified as a general toxicologist by the American Board of Toxicology. During her career, Lisa has focused primarily on environmental risk assessment to support cleanup of contaminated sites, with special interest in risk communication and emerging contaminants. Her interests and background in ecology have also allowed her to dabble in the fields of wetlands and ecological restoration. She is actively involved in the scientific and regulatory community, including the Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, Society for Women Environmental Professionals and the Interstate Technology and Regulatory Council PFAS workgroup. In her free time, she spends as much time as she can either at home in the garden or out in the woods hiking and camping.
“Improving Water Quality One Field at a Time: NRCS Practices for Producers”
Nancy Ferlow
Connecticut Natural Resources Conservation Service
Nancy Ferlow is the State Resource Conservations for USDA-NRCS in Connecticut. She has been with the agency for 30 years. Nancy’s current responsibilities include Agency compliance with the Endangered Species Act, Highly Erodible and Wetlands compliance, conservation planning tools, quality assurance and staff training. Her education is in Biology, Geology and Forestry.
“MassDEP’s Environmental Justice Initiatives to Improve Water Quality”
Dr. Padmini Das
Chief, Nonpoint Source Management Program, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
Dr. Padmini Das oversees MassDEP’s Nonpoint Source Management Program as the NPS Section Chief in the Watershed Planning Program. Her responsibilities include the development and implementation of the NPS Management Program Plan through Clean Water Act Section 604(b) Water Quality Management Planning Grants, and Section 319 NPS Competitive Grant Program. Dr. Das was previously the Chair of the Department of Biology at Nazareth College of Rochester, where she was also an Associate Professor, Director of the Environmental Science and Sustainability Program, and Director of the Environmental Quality and Remediation Research Group. She has research expertise in soil and water quality assessment and the design and implementation of sustainable best management practices to remediate a wide array of soil and water contaminants, notably lead, arsenic, plastic degradants, nutrients, TNT, RDX, PCBs, and emerging contaminants. Through these community-driven environmental projects, she has worked for the benefit of disadvantaged communities, engaging community youth as an integral part of these projects. Dr. Das has a Ph.D. in Environmental Management from Montclair State University, two Master of Science degrees in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio and the University of Pune (India), and a Bachelor of Science degree in Microbiology from the University of Pune.
“Implementing the Single Standards Act to Increase State Protection of Buffers for Freshwater Wetlands in Rhode Island”
Chuck Horbert
Deputy Administrator, Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Office of Water Resources
After graduating in 1989 from the University of Rhode Island with a degree in Wildlife Biology and Management, Chuck was hired as a biologist by RIDEM in their Division of Freshwater Wetlands. Three years later, he became a Supervisor for that Program, where he spent most of his career to date until his promotion to Deputy Administrator in the Office of Water Resources in 2019, where he primarily oversees stormwater permitting and the Water Quality Certification Program but still gets his hands on the Freshwater Wetlands Program from time to time. When he isn’t at work, he is often found in a canoe somewhere on the waters of New England or the Adirondacks.
“Quality of Massachusetts Waters: Regulation, Improvement and Challenges”
David Wong
Environmental Analyst, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
David Wong is an Environmental Analyst overseeing the 401 Water Quality Certification Program/WM 04 Chemical Application Program within Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. He holds a PhD in Marine Ecology, a MS and BSc in Fisheries/Aquaculture. David’s interests and experience include Water Quality Monitoring, Biological Invasions, Risk Assessment, Eutrophication Management, Ecological Restoration, and the Clean Water Act.
“Wetlands and the MA Contingency Plan”
Mia McDonald
Circuit Rider, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Central Regional Office
Mia McDonald is the Wetlands Circuit Rider for the Central Regional Office. Mia comes to MassDEP from her position as the Agent for the Towns of Northborough and Paxton. She also served on the Worcester Conservation Commission for approximately nine years. Mia graduated from WPI with a degree in environmental science which focused on environmental engineering and planning. She spent over a decade of her career in the private sector working on design, permitting and construction of drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
-> Sponsorship Opportunities Available <-
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Date and time
Thu, March 30, 2023
8:00 AM – 4:30 PM EDT -
Location
Campus Center
10th floor
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003
42.39179515,-72.52701959187556
2023 SWCS Southern New England Chapter Winter Conference
Campus Center
10th floor
1 Campus Center Way
Amherst, MA 01003
Online Registration Only | No Checks
General Admission
$125
SNEC Member
$75
Full Time Student
$50
SWCS Student Chapter Member
$25
Exhibitor
$400
Additional Exhibit Staff
$75
-> Blue Light Special <-
$190
Join the Soil & Water Conservation Society now at the $115 Conservationist level and benefit immediately by registering at the $75 SNEC Member rate! Select the Blue Light Special option and we’ll handle the SWCS membership paperwork.
Note: this offer is available only to first-time SWCS members.
General Admission
$125
SNEC Member
$75
Full Time Student
$50
SWCS Student Chapter Member
$25
Exhibitor
$400
Additional Exhibit Staff
$75
-> Blue Light Special <-
$190
Join the Soil & Water Conservation Society now at the $115 Conservationist level and benefit immediately by registering at the $75 SNEC Member rate! Select the Blue Light Special option and we’ll handle the SWCS membership paperwork.
Note: this offer is available only to first-time SWCS members.
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- Cover crops and no-till planting pay off, says AGree
