Plenary Speakers
Tuesday, April 14, 2026
8:30am-10:00am
"Nebraska and the Great Plains: Whooping Crane Conservation at the Continental Scale"
Moderator
Chad Smith
Headwaters Corporation
Kearney, NE
8:40am–9:00am
Larkin Powell
School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
9:00am–9:50am
Mike Forsberg
School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska Lincoln
Lincoln, NE
Wednesday, April 15, 2026
8:30am-10:00am
"Salmon and Bison as Indicators of Ecosystem Restoration Success (or not?)"
Moderator
Matt Grabau
Bureau of Reclamation, Lower Colorado River, Multi-Species Conservation
Tucson, AZ
8:35am–9:10am
Chris Jordan
Northwest Fisheries Science Center, Mathematical Biology and Systems Monitoring Program, NOAA Fisheries,
Seattle, WA
9:10am–9:45am
Jason Baldes
Wind River Tribal Buffalo Initiative, Central Wyoming College and Wind River Tribal College, Inter-Tribal Buffalo Council, Conservation Lands Fund, National Wildlife Federation Tribal Partnerships Program
Kinnear, WY
Thursday, April 16, 2026
4:30pm-5:00pm
Moderator
Darcy Austin
State Water Contractors
Sacramento, CA
Closing Keynote Presentation
"The Federal Role in Ensuring a Return on Investment in Large-Scale Ecosystem Restoration"
The conference will conclude with a dynamic keynote address offering a high-level federal perspective. This presentation will provide an inside look at federal decision-making and prioritization processes. Attendees will leave energized and empowered with a clear mission: to deliver the science, innovation, and on-the-ground strategies that inform leadership decisions and drive the future of ecosystem restoration.
