UPPER DELAWARE RIVER RENDEZVOUS

2026 SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

DAY 1 - WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2026

MORNING PROGRAM

8:00 Registration & Continental Breakfast

8:50 Welcome & Opening Remarks

Opening Plenary: State of the Watershed - East Room

A fast-paced series of brief presentations highlighting current research, monitoring efforts, conservation initiatives, fisheries, habitat restoration, invasive species management, watershed planning, and emerging challenges throughout the Upper Delaware River watershed.

10:45 Break

11:00 Keynote Address - East Room

Bernd Blossey, Cornell University

Invasive Species in the Upper Delaware River Watershed; an overview of the impact of invasive species and deer on individual species, conservation and land management.

12:00 Lunch

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION 1

The Endangered Species Act and the Threatened and Endangered Species of the Upper Delaware River Basin - East Room

Philip Mathias, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

The Endangered Species Act of 1973 (ESA) provides the primary federal framework for the conservation of species at risk of extinction and the ecosystems upon which they depend. Within the Upper Delaware River watershed, implementation of the ESA may intersect with a broad range of activities, including aquatic and terrestrial habitat restoration, infrastructure and transportation projects, water-resource management, forestry, recreation, and other land- and water-management actions. This presentation will provide a high-level overview of the provisions of the ESA most pertinent to watershed practitioners, including the listing process, interagency consultation, prohibited take, critical habitat where applicable, and mechanisms for project review and authorization. Federally listed and proposed species known from, or potentially relevant to, the Upper Delaware River watershed will then be examined across terrestrial, wetland, and aquatic habitats, with emphasis on their distribution, habitat associations, conservation concerns, and potential interactions with activities occurring within the watershed. The respective roles of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NOAA Fisheries will also be discussed, along with opportunities to incorporate species conservation into project planning and implementation.

Coffee with the Chief - West Room 1

Steve Hurst, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation

An informal conversation with NYSDEC fisheries leadership. Attendees will have an opportunity to hear current updates and participate in an open discussion about fisheries management, conservation priorities, and issues affecting the Upper Delaware.

Conservation Science & Regional Watershed Discussion - West Room 2
Joy Damon, Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

Session description forthcoming.

SESSION 2

• Climate Change, Fisheries & Stream Function

• Fisheries Management & Stocking Strategies

• Geology of the Upper Delaware Watershed

Networking Break & Refreshments

SESSION 3

• Reptile Conservation & Endangered Species

• Upper Delaware Trout Management

• Wild & Hatchery Trout Genetics

SESSION 4

• Wastewater & Water Quality in the Upper Delaware

• Pennsylvania Watershed Conservation Initiatives

• Thermal Sensing & Coldwater Habitat Mapping

NETWORKING & EVENING PROGRAM

Networking Happy Hour

• Partner Organization Tables

• Informal Networking

Dinner and Keynote Speaker

Inaugural Upper Delaware River Community Awards!

• Conservation & Stewardship Award

• Community Leadership & Partnership Award

Program closing

Night time entertainment provided by Villa Roma

MORNING

Breakfast and Welcome Back & Day Two Opening

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

SESSION 1

• Stream Science & Monitoring

• Flexible Flow Management Program Research Updates

• Watershed Monitoring & Priority Watershed Initiatives

SESSION 2

• Knotweed Management: Regional Successes, Partnerships & Lessons Learned

• Flexible Flow Management Program: Current Priorities & Future Directions

CLOSING SESSION

• Looking Ahead

• Key Takeaways

• Partner Updates

• Field Trip Instructions

• Closing Remarks

ATERNOON

Lunch & Optional Field Trips

Participants depart for guided field experiences throughout the Upper Delaware River watershed.