Thank you to our speakers, exhibitors, attendees and sponsor All-Points Technology!
See you in MA in winter 2027
Recent SWCS Southern New England Chapter (SNEC) conferences have focused on wetland restoration, water quality and solar energy. At SNEC’s 2026 Conference, the spotlight will be on soil and sediment – surficial or subaqueous, intact or disturbed, contaminated or pristine.
S O I L M A T T E R S
University of Connecticut, Storrs Campus
Information Technology Engineering Building
Thursday July 30, 2026 | 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Program Information
Healthy soils and soil-smart practices are integral to nature-based solutions, successful wetland restorations and productive fields & gardens. SOIL MATTERS, SNEC’s 2026 conference, features several presentations of research findings by University of Connecticut’s College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources staff and students, as well as a pair of hands-on workshops on soil microscopy and soil classification (which includes a tour of the labs at UConn’s new George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center).
Certificates of Attendance will be provided that include the program on the back to document professional development content.
Pre-approved for 6 PDH by EnviroCert International – applicable to CPSWQ, CPESC, CESSWI, CPMSM, CPISM, NGICP, QSM
SOIL MATTERS AGENDA
Sign-in, coffee and the lunch buffet will be on the First Floor of the Information Technology Engineering (ITE) Building.
All program elements will be at ITE except for the soil classification workshops to be held at the Plant and Soil Health Center (PSHC).
All attendees will gather for the Opening Session in the Lecture Hall on the lower level of the ITE Building.
The Rainfall Simulator will on display in the lower-level lobby leading to the lecture hall. The first demonstration will occur at the start of the morning break; it will be repeated during breaks and lunch.
The morning and afternoon sessions of the Soil Texture and Color in the Field workshop will be held across campus. A shuttle (included) will transport participants; an intern will lead the way from a designated meeting location at ITE to the shuttle stop.
· A.M. workshop participants will leave ITE during the break after the Opening Session.
· P.M. workshop participants will leave ITE after lunch and return for Closing Remarks.
The 90-minute Soil Health 3-Ways workshop and the four (4) 15-minute Innovative Landscape Construction Materials modules will begin after the morning break in upstairs ITE classrooms, and will run concurrent to presentations in the lecture hall.
Afternoon presentations will run concurrently at ITE
15-minute Poster Presentations will occur during breaks and lunch, and will be timed to ensure that PSHC-workshop participants have an opportunity to see them. These and other posters will be on display throughout the day.
Hands-On Workshops!
Soil Classification – A.M. and P.M. sessions (P.M. workshop is full)
Soil Texture and Color in the Field (space is limited)
Hosted by Dr. Avishesh Neupane, Assistant Extension Professor for UConn Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture. This workshop will be held at the new George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center and includes a lab tour. PSHC brings together several existing and physically separated specialized service centers already established at UConn (Home and Garden Education Center, Plant Diagnostic Center, Soil Nutrient Analysis Lab and the Turf Diagnostics Lab).
Soil Microscopy – A.M. session only
Soil Health 3-Ways – An Overview (space is limited)
Hosted by Monique Bosch, Soil Health Program Manager for the Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut (CT NOFA). Attendees are invited to bring your own samples to make slides for viewing!
Workshops are INCLUDED in the cost of registration.
Round-trip shuttle to PSHC is also included.
To sign up, simply choose Yes when asked in the course of registering for your selected ticket category. Space permitting, you may also request to sign up via e-mail keara@swcssnec.org or at check-in on July 30th.
Speaker Bios and Program Elements
Hands-On Workshops and Lab Tour
Monique Bosch
Northeast Organic Farming Association of Connecticut
Bio:
Monique works as Soil Health Lead for CT NOFA, and runs a worm composting business with her son Justin; Wiggle Room. She also teaches Soil Health for Brooklyn Botanic Garden and Berkshire Botanical Garden. In the last 20 years she has worked with volunteers and students to build over 40 edible school and community gardens, and a two-acre urban farm in Bridgeport. She studied ‘The Soil Food Web’ under Dr. Elaine Ingham, and teaches microscopy, soil health and composting to farmers and organizations. Through microscopy and test trials, Monique explores the relationship between living soil and healthy, nutritious food.
ctnofa.org
Soil Health 3-Ways – An Overview
Dr. Avishesh Neupane
Assistant Extension Professor, UConn Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Bio:
Avishesh Neupane, Ph.D. is an Assistant Extension Professor of Soil Science at UConn and Director of the Soil Nutrient Analysis Laboratory. His Extension work focuses on practical soil health and translating lab results into clear, science-based recommendations for Connecticut and New England growers and gardeners, with an emphasis on nutrient stewardship to protect local waterways. His research on how carbon and nutrients move through working soils informs these recommendations and keeps them grounded in current science. His outreach programs cover soil fertility, compost, fertilizer management, and crop, pasture, and lawn amendments. Dr. Neupane holds an M.E.Sc. from Yale and a Ph.D. from UCLA.
Workshop:
Soil Texture and Color in the Field
Lab Tour:
Dr. Neupane will lead attendees on a tour of the newly relocated George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center
https://plantsoilcenter.cahnr.uconn.edu/
Dr. Nick Goltz
Plant Pathologist & Assistant Extension Educator, UConn Department of Plant Science & Landscape Architecture
Bio:
Dr. Nick Goltz is the Associate Director of the George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center, the Director of the UConn Plant Diagnostic Laboratory and Home Garden Education Office, and the IPM Coordinator for the state of Connecticut.
Lab Tour:
Dr. Nick Goltz will be helping lead the tour of the George Leigh Minor Plant and Soil Health Center with Dr. Neupane and give background on programming.
https://plantsoilcenter.cahnr.uconn.edu/
Tony Will
Director of Marketing & New product Development, Read Custom Soils
Bio:
Tony earned his undergraduate degree in Business
Management at UNH and his MBA from Northeastern University. He has spent his 45+ year career in the landscape construction materials industry as the owner/manager of A. A. Will Sand & Gravel and, later, Read Custom Soils. He sold Read to the A.D. Makepeace Company in 2011 and has stayed
on with the new ownership. He is a self-taught soil expert and is available for Lunch & Learn presentations throughout New England.
Open-Door Workshop
Innovative Landscape Construction Materials
https://readcustomsoils.com
Presentations
Jamie Durand
Associate Principal, GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc.
Bio:
Jamie Durand is Assistant Principal at GZA GeoEnvironmental, Inc. Mr. Durand is the Group Leader for Ecological Services in the Metro-Boston Region. Jamie is a Professional Wetland Scientist (PWS), New Hampshire Certified Wetland Scientist, Professional Soil Scientist, and Certified Associate Wildlife Biologist. Jamie manages complex multidisciplinary projects in the New England Region for energy, utility, and renewable energy projects. Jamie has performed environmental studies for electric transmission, renewable energy/ offshore wind, and natural gas pipeline projects throughout the Northeast.
https://www.gza.com/
Denise Savageau
President, CT Association of Conservation Districts
Bio:
Denise Savageau is an environmental planner with over 35 years working in Connecticut. She started her career working for the Hartford County Soil and Water Conservation District and then served as the Conservation Director for the Town of Greenwich for 20 years. Now “retired,” she is an active volunteer at the local, state, and national level on soil and water conservation, where she serves as Chair of the Connecticut River Coastal Conservation Districts and is currently President of the Connecticut Association of Conservation Districts (CACD) and Chair of Connecticut’s Council on Soil and Water Conservation. She represents Connecticut on the National Association of Conservation Districts and is the NACD Northeast Region Chair. Her focus is on soil health, watershed management, wetlands protection, drinking water supply protection, local food systems, nature-based solutions that address climate change and biodiversity loss, and the intersection of housing and environmental justice policy. She lives in Old Lyme with her husband, a professional wetland scientist and avid birder, who shares her passion for the environment.
Presentation
Nature-based Solutions and Soil Health
https://www.conservect.org/
Download Presentation (PDF)
Healthy Soils and Nature Based Solutions
Dr. Amelia Magistrali
Associate Extension Educator: Soil Health, UConn Extension
Bio:
Dr. Amelia Magistrali is the Associate Extension Educator in Soil Health with UConn Extension, focusing on regenerative and agroecological farming systems that enhance soil health and ecosystem services. Since joining UConn in 2024, she has developed statewide programs supporting climate-resilient soil management for diverse growers. Dr. Magistrali holds a PhD from Newcastle University and brings over a decade of experience working with farmer networks to advance sustainable agriculture.
agriculture.extension.uconn.edu/soil-health
Download Presentation (PDF)
Tabletop Rainfall Simulator and Soil Health
Dr. Jin Ho Lee
Postdoctoral Researcher, Massachusetts Geological Survey, UMass Amherst
Bio:
Jin Ho Lee earned his PhD from Michigan State University, and his MS and BS from Gyeongsang National Unveristy, South Korea. His work has focused on understanding the mechanisms of soil carbon processing and sequestration using spatial approaches (X-ray µCT 3D imaging, zymography, root scanning) and isotopic tracing techniques in crop and grassland ecosystems. He currently leads a research project exploring statewide soil carbon pools in Massachusetts forests.
Presentation:
Factors affecting soil carbon accumulation in Massachusetts forests
www.umass.edu/geological-survey/homepage
Download Presentation (PDF)
Factors affecting soil carbon accumulation in Massachusetts forests
Alex Patterson, CERP
Senior Ecologist, EA Engineering, Science, Technology, Inc., PBC
Bio:
Alex is an ecologist with over 15 years of multi-disciplinary experience in the planning, design, permitting, and oversight of ecological restoration and habitat management projects in estuarine, freshwater, and terrestrial systems. He has served as project manager and senior ecologist for scores of projects, primarily in the Northeastern United States, including salt marsh habitat restoration, tidal restoration and other coastal resilience improvements, cranberry bog and other freshwater wetland restorations, dam removals, stream bank restorations, coastal and freshwater dredging, and habitat management projects, among others.
eaest.com
Download Presentation (PDF)
Salt Marsh Restoration through Sediment Nourishment in Massachusetts
Dr. Eureka Joshi
Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies, Southwestern University
Bio:
Dr. Eureka Joshi is an Assistant Professor of Environmental Studies at Southwestern University. She holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Science from the University of Idaho. For her doctoral research, she assembled a network of collaborators in northern Idaho, including five regional wastewater reuse facilities, Native American tribes, state and federal agencies, and adjacent landowners to conduct research on forest responses to municipal reclaimed water. She addressed questions about the impacts of reclaimed water on forest growth and vegetation diversity, drainage and soil nutrient leaching potential, and soil biological responses. As a postdoctoral fellow at Trinity College, Hartford, she collaborated with a regional wastewater treatment facility and a local farm in New Hampshire to study the impacts of biosolids land application on soil nitrogen and phosphorus cycling. Currently, she continues to explore how biosolids and reclaimed water land application affect soil health in Texas agroecosystems.
www.southwestern.edu/environmental-studies
Download Presentation (PDF)
Biosolids Land Application and Phosphorus Cycling
Ginny Patsun
Soil Conservation Specialist, North Central Conservation District
Bio:
Ginny is a soil conservation specialist with the North Central Conservation District, and is a CT licensed arborist. Ginny found her passion in agroforestry while serving in the United States Peace Corps in Zambia, and is now practicing and promoting temperate agroforestry practices in Connecticut.
https://conservect.org/northcentral/
Dr. Mia Maltz
Assistant Professor, UConn, Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department
Bio:
Mia Maltz is an Assistant Professor at the University of Connecticut in the Plant Science and Landscape Architecture Department. Mia is a mycologist and soil microbial ecologist working at the interface of community ecology, biogeography, and mycology. Her work broadly focuses on community responses to soil disturbance, which feedback to influence plant and fungal community structure and ecosystem functioning.
https://plant-landscape.uconn.edu/
Download Presentation (PDF)
Ashes to Ashes: Fungal Communities and Ecosystem Functioning
Mike Everhart, CPESC, QSM
Erosion Control & Stormwater Specialist, EJ Prescott, Inc.
Bio:
Mike Everhart has been a dedicated member of EJ Prescott, Inc. since 2009, currently serving as the Erosion Control & Stormwater Specialist. Mike earned the CPESC and QSM certifications, further solidifying his credentials in the field. His insights have been featured in Stormwater Solutions Magazine in 2019, 2022, and 2023. Mike is actively involved in the industry, serving as a Vice President of the NE-IECA Chapter and participating in several professional associations. With a diploma in Architectural and Civil Technologies and over 25 years of experience in grading, drainage, and erosion control design and consulting, Mike brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to his role.
https://www.ejprescott.com/
Download Presentation (PDF)
Protecting Watersheds through Erosion Control Methods
Morgan McKee
Resource Soil Scientist, USDA-NRCS
Bio:
Morgan McKee is a certified professional soil scientist who has been working as a soil scientist with NRCS since early 2023. Prior to being a soil scientist, she spent 7 years in NRCS field offices in Rhode Island, Massachusetts, Vermont, and Maryland as a soil conservationist, working with farmers and forest landowners to improve their land. She currently works to provide soil science training and technical guidance to NRCS staff, customers, and partners as well as completing wetland determinations and on-site soil assessments. Prior to working for the agency, Morgan worked as a consultant, collecting wetland inventory data throughout coastal Louisiana.
Presentation:
Describing Hydric Soils and Applying Hydric Soil Indicators
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/
Jennifer West
Training & Engagement Coordinator, Narragansett Bay Research Reserve
Bio:
Jennifer West has been the Training and Engagement Coordinator with the Narragansett Bay Research Reserve since 2005. In this position, she develops and delivers training events and technical assistance programs for local decision-maker audiences on topics related to water quality, habitat protection, and climate change. Jennifer has expertise in program design, management, and evaluation; communicating science to diverse audiences; meeting facilitation; and planning and implementing collaborative methods for engaging stakeholders in successfully addressing environmental issues. She provides facilitation assistance to a variety of groups, from municipal advisory committees vetting and adopting new zoning ordinances to strategic planning for conservation groups. Jennifer has a MS in Environmental Sciences from the University of Rhode Island and a BS in Environmental Biology from the State University of New York College at Oneonta.
https://nbnerr.org/
Download Presentation (PDF)
A Guide to Collaborative Tidal Wetland Migration Pathway Protection
Posters
Gabriella DiNardi
Soil Health Intern, UConn Extension
Bio:
Ella is the Summer Soil Health Intern working with UConn Extension directly under Dr. Amelia Magistrali. This summer she has been planting cover crops at the UConn Research Farm to determine the benefits of cover cropping on soil health. Ella is in her final year of Environmental Science undergraduate studies at UConn, and hoping to move onto graduate school to pursue the field in a more specialized lens.
Poster:
Demonstrating Summer Cover Crop Soil Health Benefits
https://cahnr.uconn.edu/extension/
Dr. Yakai Wang
Postdoctoral Researcher, UConn, Department of Natural Resources and the Environment
Bio:
Dr. Yakai Wang is a postdoctoral researcher specializing in agroecosystem modeling, climate change, and land–atmosphere interactions. His research integrates process-based ecosystem models, remote sensing, solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence, and machine learning to investigate crop productivity, carbon and water cycling, and agricultural resilience to climate extremes. He has extensive experience in regional and global environmental data analysis, model development, and climate-smart agricultural assessment.
Posters:
Biochar for Climate Mitigation in U.S. Midwest Cropping Systems: A Case Study and Adaptive Strategies for Reducing Yield-Scaled Nitrate Leaching in the U.S. Midwest.
https://nre.uconn.edu/
Christine A. Odiaga
Assistant Project Manager, Friends of Herring River, Wellfleet/Truro, Inc.
Bio:
Christine is living her dream, “washed ashore” for good and working a super-cool job on Cape Cod. Prior experience includes ten years of outreach and education as a MassDEP Wetlands Circuit Rider, three years as a municipal Conservation Agent/Stormwater Coordinator and six years of construction site sampling and monitoring on the Central Artery/Tunnel Project (fascinating!!). She took advantage of the Cooperative Education Program at Northeastern University and considers that experience as important as classes. She joined SWCS in 2013 and served as RI Director, then worked for two years as Executive Director before assuming her current role as Treasurer.
Poster:
Herring River Tidal Restoration Project
https://herringriver.org/
Josenia Lopez
Undergraduate Research Assistant, UConn, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
Bio:
Josenia Lopez is an undergraduate student at the University of Connecticut majoring in Plant Science with a concentration in Soil Science. She is an undergraduate research assistant in Dr. Mia Maltz’s Mycology Lab, where she studies soil and fungal ecology. Josenia is also an Earth Team volunteer with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). Her interests include soil health, soil remediation, and sustainable agriculture.
Poster:
Fertility Management in High Organic Matter Systems
https://plant-landscape.uconn.edu/
Paulette Goyes
Ph.D. Student, UConn, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture
Bio:
Paulette Goyes obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and Applied Ecology and a Master’s in Microbiology by the Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Ecuador. Her studies have involved the search and selection of fungal strains for plastic degradation, cigarette filters remediation, and the creation of materials for the filtration of contaminants. She is now a Ph.D. student at the University of Connecticut, and under the advice of Dr. Mia Maltz, she is studying fungi and their interactions with pollutants in soils.
Poster:
Soils under treatment: Evaluating the influence of fungal biomass on the recovery of a long-term contaminated soil from New England
https://plant-landscape.uconn.edu/
QUESTIONS regarding the program? Please contact Keara McAuliffe at keara@swcssnec.org.
Registration
Soil Matters! 2026 Registration Rates
The SNEC Board of Directors decided to retain the same conference registration rates as we’ve used since we resumed in-person events post-pandemic.
As always, discounted rates are offered to SNEC Members and to Students.
New for 2026: we reduced the number for Group registration to a minimum of 3 attendees who register together. (See notes under Required Questions)
Register online TODAY using your credit/debit card, PayPal or Google Pay.
Space permitting, workshops are included.
–> 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! Simply select the Blue Light Special option when you register – we’ll handle the SWCS membership paperwork. For more information about benefits of membership (including a subscription to the Journal of Soil and Water Conservation). This offer is for first-time SWCS members only.
–> GROUP DISCOUNTS <–
25% off General & Student General Admission
when Groups of 3 or More Register Together!
Group General Admission: $93.75
Group Student: $37.50
-> EXHIBIT TABLES AVAILABLE <-
SWCS Southern New England Chapter’s mission is promote, educate and advance the science of soil, water and related resources conservation. We seek vendors of products and services that can help deliver solutions during all phases of the project
- Exhibitor Registration: $500
- Non-profit Exhibitor Registration: $250
Includes one 6-foot table with drape and registration for one (1) person
- Additional Exhibit Staff: $75
Limit: 2 additional staff per table
For more information or to register as an Exhibitor, contact Keara McAuliffe at keara@swcssnec.org or call Christine Odiaga at 508-945-3282
To get a sense of the PROSPECTIVE AUDIENCE, see lists of attendees at past in-person SNEC winter conferences:
SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!
Through the educational events we host, the Southern New England Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society has developed partnerships with like-minded organizations and government agencies working in resource protection and conservation. These public sector partnerships have been instrumental in delivery of high caliber workshops and conferences to the community we serve, and we’re grateful for their contributions of time and expertise.
But the SNEC needs financial support from the private sector to defray the cost of other efforts to support the conservation community, such as:
- expanding outreach to students,
- increasing member engagement,
- developing educational and training programs to support future generations of conservationists.
The Southern New England Chapter invites you to join us in our mission to promote, educate, and advance all phases of the science of conservation of soil, water and related resources.
SNEC sponsors may request specific trainings and submit job postings or event notices for our social media platforms (pending approval of content). Sponsors get promotional exposure at events, in newsletters and via social media.
Interested? Please reach out to Keara McAuliffe at keara@swcssnec.org or Christine Odiaga at (508) 945-3283 for more information.
Thank you to Soil Matters sponsor
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