We are excited to gather in Harrisonburg, Virginia, May 19-21, for the 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference! Below find the agenda for the conference.

This agenda is not final! Stay tuned as we will add new pieces in the coming weeks. Last updated March 12.

If you have any questions, please contact Drew Robinson at RobinsonAQ@nwf.org.

Agenda Overview

Monday, May 19

1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference Kickoff
5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Networking Reception

Tuesday, May 20

8:00 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast open
9:00 a.m. Opening plenary session
10:00 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Breakout session round one
11:45 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Lunch and plenary
1:15 p.m.-2:00 p.m. Breakout session round two
2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. Field Trips
6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. Reception & Dinner, On Sunny Slope Farm

Wednesday, May 21

8:00 a.m. Registration and continental breakfast open
9:00 a.m. Opening plenary session
10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. Lightning rounds
11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. Breakout session round three
1:00 p.m.-2:15 p.m. Lunch and plenary
2:15 p.m. Conference End

Monday, May 19

1:30 p.m.-5:00 p.m. Conference Kickoff

It’s Not in the Cloud: Confronting the Rise of Data Centers in the Chesapeake Bay Region

Few issues present a greater threat to clean water in the Chesapeake Bay region than the widespread proliferation of data centers. Voracious consumers of both land and energy, data centers present unique challenges, particularly in the Commonwealth of Virginia which has the highest concentration of data centers in the world. Forecasts predict the demand for data centers will only rise as artificial intelligence expands at a rapid scale.

Join us for an afternoon seminar as we explore the state of data centers in the Chesapeake Bay region, the issues they present in our work for clean water, and the actions we can take to stem the unchecked expansion of data centers. Featuring well-respected speakers and targeted breakout groups, we will collaborate to develop an action plan that protects ratepayers, serves healthy communities, and safeguards our precious waterways.

The fee to participate in the Conference Kickoff is $25, but the first 150 people who register will have their fees waived—so register today!

Stay tuned for a more detailed agenda of the Conference Kickoff.

5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m. Networking Reception

Stick around following our Conference Kickoff and connect with fellow clean water advocates

Tuesday, May 20

8:00-9:00 Breakfast and Registration Opens

9:00-9:45 Welcome and Opening Plenary

Welcome to the 2025 Choose Clean Water Conference!

Kristin Reilly, Choose Clean Water Coalition
KEYNOTE: Stefanie Taillon, Acting Secretary, Virginia Department of Natural and Historic Resources

Workshops and Sessions

Fixing Floods and Building Bridges: Collaborative Solutions for Stormwater Issues
Shayna Carter, City of Harrisonburg Public Works
While Harrisonburg is fortunate to possess a diverse community, certain neighborhoods suffer from inadequate stormwater infrastructure. These issues are interconnected, as many communities lacking proper stormwater systems are older and more affordable. Stormwater and flooding concerns are intersectional with environmental justice initiatives. The Northeast Neighborhood, in particular, experienced Urban Renewal in the 1960s, and its residents continue to confront flooding challenges due to insufficient infrastructure. Join this session to learn how the City's Drainage Improvement Program is working to mitigate flooding concerns while also developing effective communication strategies to engage with communities that may have legitimate distrust of government initiatives.

Rooted in Resilience: Agriculture's Role in the Climate Crisis
Priscilla Ruilova, Pasa Sustainable Agriculture
A changing climate is escalating the impact and damage from storms, floods, and drought in our region. And while farming can contribute to climate change, it can also be part of the solution. There are farming practices that can help mitigate the impacts of climate change at a relatively low cost. Join us to hear about recommendations for how farms can play a greater role in reducing climate-related losses and damages related to flooding through developing healthier soils, diversified (and woody) crops, land set-asides, and other means.

Sun and Soil: The Promise of Agrivoltaics in the Chesapeake Bay Region
Ashish Kapoor, Piedmont Environmental Council
Teddy Pitsiokos, Piedmont Environmental Council
With increased demand for energy and the decreased cost of solar, solar development is projected to stretch into hundreds of thousands of acres in Virginia and throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. While this presents significant challenges, it also offers intriguing opportunities. Join this session to learn about an agrivoltaics (solar plus crop-based agriculture) pilot project underway at the Piedmont Environmental Council farm at Roundabout Meadows in Loudoun County. In addition to the nuts and bolts of the project, the presentation will include discussion of the water and land use benefits of agrivoltaics in the Commonwealth and include an organic discussion of policy considerations to encourage agrivoltaics projects in our region.

Going With the Flow: Engineering Solutions for Stream Resilience
Mary Beth Berkes, GAI Consultants, Inc.
As frequent high-intensity storms become an ever-present reality, we must develop adaptable engineering solutions. This presentation will highlight how changing weather patterns and evolving surroundings have resulted in streambank erosion and channel migration. Case studies across different landscapes typical to the Chesapeake Bay watershed will be presented with respective restoration techniques, made relatable through comparisons and high-level design concepts. We will also discuss construction and permitting challenges faced by this ever-evolving science as we seek to achieve habitat and water quality improvements through creation of stable, natural channels that function structurally and biologically like undisturbed streams.

Jargonbusting: Everyday Language and Storytelling to Reach People
Kenny Fletcher, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
How can your priorities resonate beyond people already working on Bay restoration? Join this session to get practical tips to reach reporters, advocates, legislators, donors, and more. Jargon is technical, complex language specific to a certain group or field. When we use it, we inadvertently exclude people who don't speak Bay wonk. We're climbing a new hill in 2025 as we update the Bay Agreement and confront a new presidential administration. With our audiences facing an information overload every time they check their device, it's a challenge to cut through the distractions. Join us to go back to basics and make our issues interesting and accessible to everyone.

What's Mine is Yours: Community Engagement and Abandoned Mine Drainage
Bobby Hughes, Eastern PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (EPCAMR)
Anne Daymut, Western PA Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation (WPCAMR)
Every day, Pennsylvania's rivers and streams are harmed by abandoned mine drainage (AMD) from abandoned coal mines littered throughout the Commonwealth. But for several decades, Community-based Watershed Organizations (CWOs) have worked to restore local watersheds. And we have now entered a new era with the development of Pennsylvania's AML/AMD Grant program funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act. The new program presents opportunities for growth for PA's watershed movement. This presentation will preview some recommendations highlighted in an upcoming report from the PA Organization of Watersheds and Rivers and the PA Environmental Council that aims to enable and advance meaningful, practical, and sustainable participation of community partners in the accelerated remediation and restoration of AMD-impaired waterways and land in need of reclamation in the Keystone State.

State of Creation Care: Faith Communities Leading Change
Jobilynn Curran, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake
Natalie Johnson, Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake
Throughout the Chesapeake Bay region, thousands of faith communities desire to effectively steward the environment. But where should they start? Join this session to learn how Interfaith Partners for the Chesapeake fosters environmental stewardship within the faith community and their upcoming State of Creation Report which will highlight the diverse actions of congregations in Maryland and Lancaster County Pennsylvania. With faith communities owning a significant amount of land in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, this report will showcase their role in environmental care through data, storytelling, and testimonials and serve as a call to action for government agencies, policymakers, and faith communities.

Preparing the Next Generation of Clean Water Stewards
Lindsey Walker, National Wildlife Federation
Candace Lutzow-Felling, Blandy Experimental Farm
The Chesapeake Bay Agreement is not just about the TMDL—it's also about MWEEs! The cornerstone of the Bay Program's Environmental Literacy goal, MWEEs, or 'Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences,' engage students in building knowledge and meaning through outdoor, hands-on experiences. Join us as we use maps and other resources to explore how MWEEs address local environmental issues. Participants will learn more about the Environmental Literacy goal and the exciting network weaving underway to build an environmental literacy ecosystem that can develop the next generation of watershed stewards.

Rebutting Armchair Experts Through Effective Storytelling
Rosa Hance, Choose Clean Water Coalition
Robin Glazer, Delaware Nature Society
In an age of misinformation and growing skepticism, storytelling has become one of the most powerful tools for advocating clean water and renewable energy. This dynamic workshop dives into the art and science of storytelling – why it matters, how to craft narratives that captivate and inspire, and how to help bridge divides. Through hands-on activities like crafting your own stories, spotting fake news, and dissecting the strategies behind successful campaigns, you'll learn how to turn debates into opportunities. Whether you're addressing skeptics or rallying allies, you'll leave with fresh, creative approaches to build trust, counter misinformation, and spark meaningful change.

Toxic Fertilizer? Unpacking the PFAS Problem in Biosolids
Brent Walls, Potomac Riverkeeper Network
Betsy Nicholas, Potomac Riverkeeper Network
David Flores, Potomac Riverkeeper Network
As PFAS continues to foul our waterways, state and federal agencies are wrestling with how to research PFAS pollution sources and implement regulations and risk assessments. And an emerging issue is the use of biosolids, nutrient-rich material made from sewage sludge, as a fertilizer for our farms. A common practice for many years, regulations exist requiring limits on various pollutants. But what about PFAS in biosolids? This workshop will walk you through the pollution concerns of PFAS chemicals in biosolids and the risk it poses to our food systems, water resources, and human health. We will also discuss the approach Potomac Riverkeeper Network has taken in Maryland to assess and limit PFAS pollution in biosolids.

12:00-1:00 Lunch and Midday Plenary

Details forthcoming

2:30-5:30 Field Trips

Bugs, Bioreactors, and Data: Streamside Monitoring in Action
Jimmy Webber, US Geological Survey
Get outside and see water-quality monitoring in action! Join us to learn how we're addressing water quality issues in the Shenandoah Valley and throughout the Chesapeake Bay region by using monitoring data and innovative conservation practices. Participants will visit a local stream where water-quality data and benthic macroinvertebrates are sampled and where a denitrifying bioreactor is in operation. This trip will include demonstrations of water-quality sampling, real-time water-quality instruments, and benthic macroinvertebrate collections. Participants will learn how monitoring data are being used to evaluate water-quality conditions and guide conservation strategies throughout the Chesapeake Bay watershed. Participants will also learn how bioreactors are being used to reduce legacy nitrogen in groundwater.

The Private Land Puzzle: Overcoming Barriers to Stormwater Conservation
Shayna Carter, City of Harrisonburg Public Works
With stormwater the fastest growing source of pollution in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, this field trip will highlight the importance of partnerships and collaboration to install stormwater best management practices on private property. Attendees will hear from City staff, Soil and Water Conservation District staff, and members of a local faith organization as we tour stormwater projects and discuss some of the hills and valleys with implementing conservation practices on private land.

Utility Scale Solar: Up Close and Personal
Kim Woodwell, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
Kate Wofford, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
With energy demand projected to soar in the coming years, large-scale solar fields will become more ubiquitous. But what does this mean for local rivers and streams? Join Alliance staff and local county planning and engineering staff to visit an active solar installation and discuss the siting, mitigation, and operation of these sites.

Engineering for Nature
Cory Guilliams, US Department of Agriculture – Natural Resources Conservation Service
Seth Coffman, Trout Unlimited
When implemented properly, stream restoration is an effective tool to combat erosion, improve water quality, and create habitats for aquatic life using natural engineering solutions. Join this field trip to visit a stream restoration site and see a bioreactor, a trench filled with organic material like wood chips, designed to remove nitrates from agricultural runoff through microbial activity. This is a unique opportunity to learn about sustainable practices, ecosystem health, and innovative approaches to solving environmental challenges firsthand.

Fearless in Nature: Bridging the Gap
Wuill Urvina, Choose Clean Water Coalition
Maya Alexander, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
Join us for an inspiring field trip designed to connect Young Professionals of Color participants and BIPOC environmental professionals in a shared outdoor experience. Set in the scenic backdrop of Harrisonburg, Virginia, this trip focuses on building community, fostering resilience, and addressing the challenges of accessing historically white outdoor spaces. Through interactive activities, including icebreakers and obstacle-based challenges, we'll spark meaningful discussions about overcoming fears and barriers to outdoor spaces. Together, we'll explore themes of connection, adversity, and empowerment, creating a supportive space to celebrate our shared love for nature and commitment to making the outdoors accessible to all.

Shenandoah Valley from the Sky
Laura Early, SouthWings
With SouthWings, general aviation aircraft become flying classrooms. This field trip offers an educational flight excursion to uniquely illuminate the cumulative factors that either contribute to or undermine the health of the Shenandoah Valley. A local resource expert will accompany each aircraft to lead discussions and lend expertise.

Cover Crops and Cows: Conservation Practices on the Farm
Alston Horn, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Doug Horn, Virginia No-Till Alliance
Visit two farms in Mount Solon that are using best management practices to improve their operations. We'll start by touring Big Rock Dairy, where they are using cover crops and animal welfare practices to improve conditions for the milking herd. The second site is at the Fifer's Family Farm, which will highlight soil health practices that have improved the cropping system and improved financial return by lowering inputs. Join us as we highlight practices such as planting green with a roller crimper, planting legumes in cover crops, planting cover crops early with the use of a drone, and crop rotations.

Hike Massanutten's Western Slope
Kyle Lawrence, Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition
Erin Burch, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
The Massanutten Western Slope offers 32 incredible miles of trails on more than 800 mountainous acres. Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition builds and maintains the trail system on land owned by Great Eastern (Massanutten) Resort. This unique and powerful twenty-plus-year partnership offers accessible outdoor access to Valley residents on trails ranging from beginner to advanced. Participants in this hike should wear comfortable shoes and expect to hike about 2-5 miles on uneven rocky terrain.

Battlefields—Where History Meets Nature: Tour of Cross Keys and Port Republic Battlefields
Keven Walker, Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation
An immersive tour of the Cross Keys and Port Republic battlefields, where participants will visit, walk, and hike across portions of the thousands of acres of preserved land in the Shenandoah Valley. This unique experience allows you to step back in time and explore the very grounds where pivotal Civil War battles took place. As you traverse the historic terrain, you'll gain insights into the strategies and events that shaped these battles. Additionally, the tour emphasizes the importance of natural resource protection and water quality, highlighting the ongoing efforts to preserve these historic sites and their surrounding ecosystems. Wear comfortable walking shoes and be prepared for an enriching journey through history and nature.

6:00-10:00 Evening Reception

Join the Coalition at On Sunny Slope Farm for our evening reception as we reconvene for the best clean water networking event of the year! The reception will feature delicious local fare from Crossroads Cafe and Catering and beer donated from Old Bust Head Brewery.

Wednesday, May 21

8:00-9:00 Breakfast and Registration Opens

9:00-9:45 Morning Plenary

Choose Your Own Adventure: Jeopardy, Networking, and Open Forum

Chesapeake Bay Watershed Jeopardy
Test your clean water knowledge! Jeopardy contestants will divide into geographical teams and the Coalition’s own Alex Trebek Peter Marx will lead participants through a fun board of Bay watershed-related trivia.

Networking Bingo
Get to know your fellow conference-attendees and play a special version of Bingo diving into our work for clean water.

Open Forum
Not up for a game? The ballroom will remain open for attendees to connect.

Lightning Rounds

Building Environmental Literacy Capacity Through Community Science
Amy Wyant, Otsego County Conservation Association Inc.
Join us for a look at the results of a grassroots introduction of NOAA's educational framework and how it has set the stage for environmental literacy programs that integrate community science into our work. We will explore the dos and don'ts, what we have learned throughout the process, and how we plan to continue this work in the future. This lighting round is for anyone who is interested in building or expanding environmental literacy resources and/or integrating community science to build capacity in your community.

Water Has No Enemy: Art as a Tool in the Fight for Clean Water
Leonina Arismendi, Young, Gifted and Green
In this lighting round, Environmental Justice Artivist Leonina Arismendi will explore the transformative power of art and activism in the fight for clean water. Through engaging case studies, impactful anecdotes, and practical tools, this session will showcase how creative storytelling and public art can compel conservation efforts, shift public narratives, and empower communities to take action. Participants will leave inspired and equipped with innovative ideas for authentic engagement in their own clean water journeys.

Building Resilience: Green Cities, Equitable Solutions
Alex Nwosu, Morgan State University
This presentation explores the role of green buildings and green infrastructure (GI) in enhancing urban climate resilience, with case studies from Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. It highlights key findings from four studies: a comparative analysis of LEED-certified green buildings, the quantification of GI adoption in Washington, D.C., a case study of American University's East Campus, and an equity-focused analysis of GI and affordable housing in Baltimore's underserved communities. The research emphasizes the transformative potential of sustainable design and equitable distribution of benefits in fostering resilient and inclusive urban environments.

Boosting Buffers: Clearing a Path to Plant More Trees
Patti Nylander, Virginia Department of Forestry
Everyone loves trees, and perhaps nowhere do trees have a greater impact than near waterways. But while Virginian landowners have multiple financial incentives to plant riparian forest buffers, buffer establishment programs have mixed results as the sign-up process is often confusing and not all landowners qualify. Join this lightning round to hear how the Virginia Department of Forestry established a statewide zero-cost riparian buffer establishment program with an easy sign-up process to offer more opportunities for establishing new riparian forest buffers.

Driven by Data: Using Science and Partnerships to Guide Conservation
Jimmy Webber, US Geological Survey
Water-quality monitoring is a critical component to guide effective conservation and collaborative partnerships are critical to success. Join this lightning round to learn of findings from recent monitoring studies in the Shenandoah Valley and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This presentation will also highlight a new monitoring study being led by the USGS in a small Shenandoah Valley stream and how to get involved in the effort.

Barking Up the Wrong Trees
Brent Finnegan, Harrisonburg Planning Commission
We're losing trees in urban environments at alarming rates. Despite legislative efforts in Virginia to address the loss of urban tree canopy cover on sites under development, the majority of tree loss is occurring on private property that is not under development. This presentation will cover state and local solutions to address this, with a goal of growing tree canopy cover in Virginia cities.

Soar to New Heights by Jumping on Trends
Haley Epping, Potomac Conservancy
The top communications advice is usually to follow the latest trends. But how do you actually do that? With not all trends created equally, this lightning round will explore how to tell if a trend is worth your time and how to incorporate your mission into the trends on social media and other communications. We'll also discuss the balance of funny content and direct mission-based work.

Shenandoah Networks: Building Capacity in the Shenandoah Valley
Maya Alexander, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
In our work for clean water, we're all struggling with limited capacity. But we can accomplish so much more working together. Learn about a local capacity building initiative in the Shenandoah Valley and how a network of networks is collaborating at the intersection of community health and watershed health.

Taking the Plunge: Steps to Building a New Outdoor Program
Jean Lea Gazin, Rivanna Conservation Alliance
Ever have a great idea for a new program and wonder how you can make it happen? Walk through the steps of program implementation in this lightning talk about the process of bringing river snorkeling from being more than just a great idea to getting some faces in the water! From researching similar programs, to pitching it, seeking funding, recruiting participants, and then getting some publicity for your new program, here's an example of how one small nonprofit is pioneering a program that will offer a new view into the underwater world.

The Art of Deeper Dialogue–Asking Engaging Questions
Joy Jackson, Institute for Conservation Leadership
In conservation and environmental work, our greatest challenges require collaboration across disciplines, communities, and worldviews. Yet meaningful dialogue between stakeholders – from local communities to policymakers, funders to practitioners, – remains challenging. In a time when meaningful dialogue is increasingly challenging, the ability to facilitate rich discussions has become a crucial skill. This lighting talk will explore techniques for elevating conversations from surface-level exchanges to deeper engagements that build understanding and foster connection.

Workshops and Sessions

Choosing Clean Water as an Economic Development Strategy
Kate Wofford, Alliance for the Shenandoah Valley
Dwayne Jones, City of Waynesboro
Jay Langston, Shenandoah Valley Partnership
While often viewed as adversaries, clean water and economic development are two sides of the same coin. Join this session to hear from Shenandoah Valley leaders on how to frame clean water and outdoor recreation as key economic drivers. We will discuss how economic development now prioritizes quality of life, including natural amenities like healthy rivers, parks, and trails, to attract talent and businesses. As a case study, we will describe Waynesboro, Virginia's transition from an industrial, manufacturing-based economic strategy to one that centers its natural resources, such as fishing for wild trout in the South River, serving as the gateway to Shenandoah National Park and the Blue Ridge Parkway, and miles of new greenways and vibrant city parks.

Cultivating Impact: Building a Stronger Organizational Culture
Isabel Hardesty, ShoreRivers
Kate Fritz, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
Our work is only as good as its individual members; how well nonprofits achieve their mission is dependent on how we foster collaboration and inspire, inform, and energize our staff. Learn from two leaders as they share lessons learned on how to cultivate great work culture to better achieve their missions. We'll discuss the qualities of a great workplace and share specific strategies to cultivate effective, supportive, inclusive, and joyful work environments. Attendees will receive tools and ideas they can immediately apply.
*This session is designed for directors/CEOs/presidents and team members with decision-making authority.

Not Your Mama's Advocacy: Navigating Environmental Intersectionality
Lydia Lawrence, Nature Forward
Jamoni Overby, Nature Forward
Renee Grebe, Nature Forward
Angie McCarthy, Nature Forward
Our work for clean water touches a myriad of issues. Join Nature Forward's Conservation Team for a workshop on framing 'nontraditional' environmental issues as environmental issues via several interactive activities. The advocates will highlight their work and strategies for community outreach programs and advocacy campaigns, before diving into activities to troubleshoot the audience's issues. Workshop participants are asked to come prepared with mission statement misalignment frustrations, 'nontraditional' environmental issues, or questions on how to engage and connect and expand your organization's mission with partners and diverse communities. Example issues covered in this session include data centers, flooding, affordable housing, and bottle and bag bans.

Fields to Bay: Nutrient Management Planning for Clean Water
Annie Richards, ShoreRivers
Evan Isaacson, Chesapeake Legal Alliance
Matt Stegman, Chesapeake Bay Foundation
Matt Pluta, Choptank Riverkeeper
Are Nutrient Management Plans achieving their initial intent to limit the amount of nutrients entering the Bay? Or have they become economic tools for operators to maximize investment in their crops for maximum yield? Is a big change needed? Join ShoreRivers, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, and Chesapeake Legal Alliance, to discuss agricultural challenges facing our waterways and how the clean water community envisions a shift in nutrient management plans in Maryland and across Chesapeake watershed states to accelerate our restoration progress beyond 2025, while providing viable benefits to farmers and communities across the Bay watershed.

1:00-2:15 Lunch and Midday Plenary

Details forthcoming