Proposals are now being accepted for presentations and posters for the 2022 Keystone Coldwater Conference & PA Chapter of American Fisheries Society Joint Conference. The conference will be held on February 25-26, 2022 at the Ramada Inn Conference Center in State College, Pennsylvania. The conference theme is “Learning from the Past, Adapting for the Future.” A primary objective of the conference is to promote collaboration and an exchange of ideas among diverse groups with shared interests in watershed conservation, fisheries, and coldwater resources. Please Note: Your presentation does NOT have to focus strictly on a coldwater conservation topic to be included. We have broadened the scope of the conference this year to include any fisheries or watershed related topics due to our partnership with PA AFS.
Conference Topics: Proposals are welcome on topics related both to today’s challenges to conservation, protection, restoration and stewardship of water resources (especially coldwater ecosystems) and to examples of success in meeting these goals. We welcome presentations that address such challenges as a changing climate, impacts of new and proposed policy changes, threats associated with exotic and invasive species, water quality and habitat impacts associated with development, as well as projects directed at conserving and restoring aquatic species and their watersheds, especially coldwater species and their habitats. We also are interested in proposals about successful, innovative, and non-traditional education and outreach and/or stewardship initiatives for both youth and adults.
We want to hear about: -Current research & scientific findings -Successful on-the-ground projects -Effective monitoring efforts -Community stewardship successes -Outreach and advocacy efforts and outcomes -Unique approaches to watershed/conservation education -Innovative funding sources and partnerships -Measuring and building upon successes
Target Audience: Conference attendees include representatives from the entire spectrum of the conservation community – conservation organizations, academic institutions, government agencies, anglers, businesses, and industry. Upwards of 200 people typically attend the conference.
Sessions and Speaker Information Presentations will vary in length. Presenters have the option of choosing a 1.5-hour workshop-style presentation on Friday, February 25 or a 30-minute or 20-minute lecture-style presentation on Saturday, February 26. These timeframes should include a 5-10 minute question and answer period. One speaker for each presentation will receive a free conference registration.
Poster Session and Student Poster Contest: There will also be a poster session on the evening of February 25th. Trout Unlimited Chapters, watershed organizations, agency staff, students, and any other groups that have research projects to share with the conference participants are invited to present a poster. Only undergraduate students attending a Pennsylvania college or university can participate in the student poster contest.
