BWSR Academy - Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

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Session Schedule: Wednesday, Oct. 21, 2026

Session Descriptions

Wednesday, Oct. 21 - 8:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Fiscal Management Track: General Accounting and Audit Updates

Description: This session will cover accounting topics that include 1099s, Minnesota Paid Leave, payroll reporting (what is subject to FICA or PERA, etc.), fiscal agent responsibility from an accounting perspective, general accounting and audit update if any new rules are to be changed, and internal control weaknesses.

Trainers: Michael Peterson - Peterson Company Ltd, Samantha Hoskins - Peterson Company Ltd

Organizational Capacity Track: Increasing Impacts: Local Government DEIA from Operations to Partnerships

Description: This interactive session will focus on strategies for embedding Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility (DEIA) into the operation, management and programs of local government organizations.

The session will walk participants through a summary of the Capitol Region Watershed District’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan, from development to implementation. Leadership will share successes, lessons learned and future goals. Program staff will share strategies for adapting programs to reduce barriers for participation through case studies. Partnerships and relationship building are fundamental for this work. Staff from Urban Roots, a nonprofit youth development organization serving St. Paul’s East Side community, will share the impacts of partnering with local government partners like Capitol Region Watershed District.

Trainers: Lindsay Schwantes - Capitol Region WD, Matt Lundberg - Capitol Region WD

Outreach Track: Photo and Video: Crash Course in Visual Storytelling

Description: Capture compelling images to clearly communicate your message. We’ll cover the basics, offer some time-savers (including naming conventions) and discuss how you might use the finished product. Gain practice photographing groups. Hear from trainers with experience photographing fields, farmers, farm implements, groups, events and landscapes. Leave with practical skills you can put into practice immediately. 

Participants should bring a smartphone to shoot and share photos via email or text with the group during the session. Be prepared to photograph outside, weather-permitting.

Trainers: Ann Wessel - BWSR, Tyler Grunewald - AgCentric-Minnesota State Northern Agricultural Center of Excellence

Programs Track: I Track, You Track, We All Keep the CWMP on Track!

Description: Is your Comprehensive Watershed Management Plan (CWMP) tracking process chugging along at full steam, or has the plan’s complexity resulted in near derailment? Join us as we discuss the many ways to track progress on your CWMP implementation journey. We will discuss how to navigate the implementation tables in your plan’s engine room, decide which metrics to load into the cars, how to keep your data hitched together and how to report progress to the transit authorities. From measuring conservation outcomes of all types to keeping multiple jurisdictions on the same set of tracks, this session provides you as the conductor of this effort with the tools you will need to keep the CWMP moving towards its final destination.

Trainers: Dan Cibulka - Sherburne SWCD, Kyle Richter - Renville SWCD

Technical Track: Forestry Estimator and Runoff and Nutrients (FERN) Calculator Basics

Description: The Forestry Estimator for Runoff and Nutrients (FERN) was created by Houston Engineering, Inc (HEI) with funding support from the Upper Mississippi-Grand Rapids Watershed partnership planning effort. The purpose of FERN is to estimate water quality benefits from select forestry best management practices. FERN is intended to be a statewide forest implementation decision support tool. This session will cover the basic overview of the FERN tool along with hands-on training to estimate pollution reduction for forestry practices. 

Participants are encouraged to bring a laptop so they can work on the example exercises during the session.

Trainers: Udai Singh - BWSR, Scott Kronholm - Houston Engineering Inc., Matthew Picklo - Itasca SWCD

Wetlands & Soils Track: Wetland Banking for LGUs and SWCDs

Description: Welcome to the world of wetland banking. BWSR staff will present on the basics of the wetland banking program, with an emphasis on the role of the LGUs and SWCDs in the review and approval of wetland banks. The presentation will also introduce the different steps a landowner takes in the banking process, from scoping a site for suitability to the final plan that includes long-term monitoring, performance standards, credit releases and final delineation. We will also discuss the role of the TEP in the review of Local Government Road Wetland Replacement Program review of eligibility.

Trainer: John Overland - BWSR

Workshops: Rooted in Results: Functional Plants for Shorelands - Part 1

Description: This session will walk through how plant selection directly supports conservation practice purposes and meets required practice standards. We’ll connect real-world plant traits to practice criteria — like using sod-forming or rhizomatous species for erosion control, selecting upright, flow-tolerant vegetation for contaminant filtering, and incorporating diverse, season-long blooming species and structure for wildlife habitat. Participants will also explore how to design plantings that meet multiple objectives while adhering to both general and purpose-specific criteria.

Participants are required to bring a laptop.

Trainer: Kelly Voigt - BWSR

Wednesday, Oct. 21 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Fiscal Management Track: Accounting with QuickBooks

Description: This session will focus on QuickBooks training including grant tracking, tracking special revenue funds and QuickBooks online benefits. The session will also cover how to correct payroll liabilities, how payroll items should be set up in QuickBooks and how to use account numbers with chart of accounts.

Trainers: Michael Peterson - Peterson Company Ltd, Samantha Hoskins - Peterson Company Ltd

Organizational Capacity Track: Planning, Zoning and Influence

Description: This introductory session equips local government conservation staff with a practical understanding of county planning and zoning systems. Participants will learn how comprehensive plans, zoning ordinances and land-use decisions are developed, implemented and enforced. The session explores the roles of planning commissions, elected officials and staff, while highlighting where conservation priorities can be integrated into decision-making processes. Through real-world examples, attendees will gain insight into how zoning shapes development patterns, resource management and community outcomes. By the end, participants will be better prepared to engage in planning discussions, identify opportunities for conservation influence and navigate the regulatory landscape effectively.

Trainers: Angie Berg - Stearns County Environmental Services, Amy Kowalzek - Morrison County Land Services

Outreach Track: Civic In-Reach: Let the Community Lead

Description: Everyone knows civic outreach, but what about civic in-reach? While outreach communicates services to the broader community, in-reach flips the perspective: local governments invite the public to actively shape services, delivery and outcomes. Instead of trying to change the community, civic in-reach asks the community to help change us, improving how we serve them. In this session, participants will explore strategies for meaningful community engagement, learn how to gather actionable input and practice approaches that integrate public insight into service design. Attendees will leave ready to implement in-reach initiatives that foster stronger, more responsive and equitable local programs.

Trainer: Jason Weinerman - BWSR

Programs Track: Everything Grants

Description: The session will explore the grant programs available through BWSR and review grant administration procedure and guidance, as described in the Grants Administration Manual (GAM). Attendees will be challenged with trivia questions related to specific grants along with grant administration, gaining a better understanding of the opportunities and expectations with BWSR grants.

Trainers: Adam Beilke - BWSR, James Adkinson - BWSR

Technical Track: Using TMDLs in Local Watershed Management

Description: Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) reports can support watershed managers and technical staff in their work to improve the water quality of lakes and streams. To take full advantage of a TMDL report, you have to know how to navigate through it to find the relevant information! This session will provide an overview of TMDL studies, a walk-through of a report, and a hands-on exercise to apply a TMDL study to water quality measures in planning documents and grant applications.

Trainers: Andrea Plevan - MPCA, Jeff Strom - MPCA

Wetlands & Soils Track: Mastering Soil Health Equipment

Description: Successful conservation implementation depends on the right equipment setup. This training is designed for technicians to gain practical knowledge about the machinery used in no-till, strip-till and other soil health systems. We will explore how conventional equipment is modified for conservation use and discuss what farmers must consider for optimal performance in the field. Build confidence to discuss equipment configurations with producers and understand mechanical realities behind the practices you help them implement every day.

Trainers: Craig Kesteloot - Sterling Equipment & Repair, Jodi DeJong-Hughes - University of Minnesota Extension

Workshops: Rooted in Results: Functional Plants for Shorelands - Part 2

Description: This session will walk through how plant selection directly supports conservation practice purposes and meets required practice standards. We’ll connect real-world plant traits to practice criteria — like using sod-forming or rhizomatous species for erosion control, selecting upright, flow-tolerant vegetation for contaminant filtering and incorporating diverse, season-long blooming species and structure for wildlife habitat. Participants will also explore how to design plantings that meet multiple objectives while adhering to both general and purpose-specific criteria.

Participants are required to bring a laptop.

Trainer: Kelly Voigt - BWSR

Wednesday, Oct. 21 - 1:15 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Fiscal Management Track: NRBG Fiscal Tracking

Description: This training will cover Natural Resource Block Grant (NRBG) management expectations after award, including reporting requirements, timelines and compliance considerations. Real-world examples and common pitfalls will be discussed to help participants strengthen their proposals and effectively manage awarded funds. By the end of the session, attendees will be better equipped to confidently navigate grant responsibilities.

Trainers: Zach Guttormson - BWSR, Gabrielle Holman - BWSR

Organizational Capacity Track: Assembly Required: Building a Positive Workplace Culture

Description: Workplace culture shapes the way people work together to get things done. A healthy culture can help attract and retain employees, increase productivity and encourage teamwork. Conversely, a negative culture can lead to high employee turnover and reduced morale. In this session, participants will learn what it takes to build and maintain a healthy workplace culture, including how to identify and develop core values, establish trust and create an atmosphere of teamwork and collaboration.

Trainers: Jenny Gieseke - BWSR, Mandy Duong - BWSR

Outreach Track: Mapping Your Education Ecosystem

Description: When implementing an education program, it’s tempting to jump straight to planning events and activities – often with disappointing results.

During this session, we’ll talk about how to map your “education ecosystem” in order to develop outreach strategies that are more effective and more likely to translate into behavior change. Using shoreline education as an example, we’ll talk about how to identify your key audiences and learn about their barriers and motivations. After that, we’ll share examples of outreach activities developed to successfully engage several different types of audiences.

Trainers: Angie Hong - East Metro Water Education Program (Washington Conservation District), Barbara Heitkamp - Lower St. Croix Watershed Management Organization (Washington Conservation District)

Programs Track: What's Up with Soil Health Programming

Description: Get a clear picture of how the Soil Health Action Framework is shaping current and future BWSR programming. We will examine recent program milestones, discuss the trajectory of upcoming initiatives and review partner programming and resources. Gain the insights and tools you need to effectively utilize the full spectrum of soil heath resources available through BWSR and partnering organizations.

Trainer: Jared House - BWSR

Technical Track: Watershed Hydrology for Planning and Implementation

Description: This session provides a practical introduction to watershed hydrology for planning and implementation. Participants will gain a foundational understanding of hydrology concepts (“Hydrology 101”), along with an overview of commonly used models and tools. The presentation will focus on how to set clear hydrology goals within watershed plans, identify projects and actions to achieve those goals and develop and evaluate watershed scenarios. Emphasis will be placed on applying these concepts in real-world contexts. Participants will engage in an interactive exercise, working through an example watershed to develop strategies that align hydrologic conditions with planning objectives and implementation priorities. 

Participants should bring a laptop.

Trainer: Henry Van Offelen - BWSR 

Wetlands & Soils Track: WCA 101

Description: In this session BWSR wetland specialists will introduce LGU and SWCD staff to the fundamentals of the Wetland Conservation Act (WCA) rules. Topics will include definitions of wetlands and wetland impacts, LGU and TEP duties, procedures of no loss, exemptions, replacement plans and banking. Attendees should come away from the presentation with a basic understanding of roles and responsibilities that LGU and SWCD staff have in administering the WCA.

Trainers: Dilan Christiansen - BWSR, Devin Ryan - BWSR

Workshops: BWSR Grants: Cradle to Grave - Part 1

Description: Have you ever wondered why BWSR grant programs work the way they do? Our "Grants: Cradle to Grave" training walks through the entire process — from state appropriation and BWSR Board authorization to applications, grant agreements, implementation, reporting and closeout — to explain how each step fits together and why programs are designed the way they are. While some processes are consistent across programs and others differ, each approach has a purpose — and we’ll explain the reasons behind them in "Grants: Cradle to Grave".

Participants are required to bring a laptop.

Trainers: Pete Waller - BWSR, Matt Fischer - BWSR, Brett Arne - BWSR

Wednesday, Oct. 21 - 3:00 p.m. - 4:30p.m.

Fiscal Management Track: Collaborative Watershed Progress Tracking Using GIS

Description: Tracking goal progress is a critical part of Watershed-Based Implementation Funding grant management and the process becomes more complicated as more partner organizations become involved. While the One Watershed, One Plan program has created unprecedented opportunities for collaboration, it has also revealed new challenges. This session dives into how the Pine River Watershed and the Crow Wing River Watershed have created systems to improve partner collaboration, accountability and track real-time progress towards goals. It will also cover the tools needed to make your own system using ArcGIS Online and some common pitfalls to avoid.

Trainers: Jarrett Drileck - Crow Wing SWCD, Ryan Carlson - Cass County SWCD, Marta Springer - Crow Wing SWCD

Organizational Capacity Track: Short-Term Staff, Long-Term Success

Description: This session equips managers with practical strategies for effectively managing seasonal employees and interns. Participants will explore how to recruit, onboard, train and supervise temporary staff in ways that maximize productivity while creating meaningful learning experiences. The session highlights common challenges, such as limited timelines, varying skill levels and high turnover, and offers tools to address them through clear expectations, structured workflows and consistent communication. Attendees will also learn how to align temporary roles with organizational goals and conservation outcomes. By the end, participants will be better prepared to lead temporary teams with confidence, efficiency and purpose.

Trainers: Anna Eleira - Capitol Region WD, Holly Kovarik - Pope SWCD

Outreach Track: Using Social Media to Tell Your Story

Description: Social media can be a powerful tool to help you share your conservation story with people in your community, but it can be hard to know where to start and how to channel your efforts most effectively. During this session, we’ll talk about choosing the right communication platforms, crafting a compelling story and creating a full package. We’ll also answer common questions, such as how to purchase advertising on Meta and YouTube, how to measure your engagement and how to use social media creatively to promote your education and conservation goals.

Trainers: Angie Hong - East Metro Water Education Program (Washington Conservation District), Lauren Hazenson - Ramsey-Washington Metro Watershed District

Programs Track: From Idea to Funding

Description: This session guides participants through the full grant development process, from shaping a strong project concept to submitting a competitive application. Attendees will learn how to align ideas with community needs, assess readiness and match projects to the right funding opportunities by understanding grantor priorities and expectations. The session covers key elements of persuasive proposals, including clear problem statements, measurable outcomes, realistic budgets and compelling narratives. Practical tips and examples will help demystify the process and improve efficiency. By the end, participants will be better equipped to turn ideas into fundable projects and write grants with confidence and clarity.

Trainers: Jason Weinerman - BWSR, Jeff Hrubes - BWSR

Technical Track: Tackling Chloride Pollution

Description: Come join the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) Chloride Reduction staff and friends to learn about the progress we have made and where we still need to go to reduce chloride pollution. We will show accomplishments since the first surface water was listed as impaired by chloride in 1998 (Shingle Creek). Chloride is toxic to freshwater aquatic life and does not break down naturally instead it builds in our water resources making it a tough pollutant to tackle. Many organizations have been working hard on addressing chloride for many years. Come learn who is doing what, how you can help and discuss what still needs to be done to keep our waters fresh!

Trainers: Brooke Asleson - MPCA, Jessica Wilson - City of Edina

Wetlands & Soils Track: Wetlands on the Minnesota Landscape: Classification and Function

Description: This session explores how wetlands are distributed across Minnesota’s diverse landscapes and how landscape position influences wetland type, function and indicators. Participants will gain an understanding of where different wetland types are commonly found — from prairie potholes to forested slopes and peatland systems — and the environmental factors that shape them. The session will also introduce the hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification system, focusing on how wetlands are grouped based on landscape position, water source and hydrodynamics. Emphasis will be placed on recognizing major HGM classes in Minnesota and understanding how these classes relate to wetland function and the regulatory context.

Trainer: David Demmer - BWSR

Workshops: BWSR Grants: Cradle to Grave - Part 2

Description: Have you ever wondered why BWSR grant programs work the way they do? Our "Grants: Cradle to Grave" training walks through the entire process — from state appropriation and BWSR Board authorization to applications, grant agreements, implementation, reporting and closeout — to explain how each step fits together and why programs are designed the way they are. While some processes are consistent across programs and others differ, each approach has a purpose — and we’ll explain the reasons behind them in "Grants: Cradle to Grave".

Participants are required to bring a laptop.

Trainers: Pete Waller - BWSR, Matt Fischer - BWSR, Brett Arne - BWSR