All times EST.
Program subject to change.
Workshop fees are separate from conference registration.
Conference registration is not required to attend a workshop.
Workshops are offered in person only.
Updated 2 June 2025
All workshops are scheduled for Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Algae and Cyanobacteria Blooms: Track, Identify and Predict
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Applications of R for Aquatic Plant Data
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Aquatic Plant Ecology and Identification
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Ecology and Life of Cyanobacteria
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Ecology of Cyanobacteria
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Identification, Ecology, and Control of Algae
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $275 – Register Now
Internal Phosphorus Loading and Cyanobacteria
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Introduction to R for Aquatic Research
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Lake and NOW FISH MAPPING with Consumer Sonar and BioBase: Features, Methods, and Field Demo
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
The Role of Aeration and Oxygenation in Lake and Reservoir Management
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Sediment Phosphorus Inactivation in Lakes and Ponds
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Stormwater Management for Lake Managers
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Cyanobacteria have the potential to produce harmful toxins which can cause adverse health effects in humans and animals. Monitoring tools are needed to assess environmental conditions and stop blooms in their nascent stages. This workshop will provide a comprehensive introduction to integrated harmful algal bloom (HAB) monitoring, from the reservoir to the lab. Participants will gain practical skills in the use of three early-detection HAB screening systems that provide different and complementary information: an online multi-parameter measuring & reporting system, an automated flow imaging microscope and a quantitative PCR assay. The workshop will begin with introductions and a brief power point overview of each technology. If possible, we will include a 30-minute presentation from a guest speaker using all three technologies – this is somewhat location and budget dependent. Next, we’ll turn to the instruments and provide a hands-on demonstration using live samples (where possible) so that attendees can compare the information provided by each method.
Samples of cyanobacteria in various concentrations will be analyzed to illustrate the hardware and software of the AlgaeTracker. Participants will learn how to calibrate field data to lab results and verify the accuracy of live readings obtained from samples. Throughout the workshop, attention will be given to potential challenges of fluorescence-based readings, with discussion focusing on potential and actual solutions. Tips for easy field deployment, maintenance, and data sharing will be discussed with group participation encouraged.
We will discuss variables like sampling methodology, preservation, location, and settings on FlowCam imagery and data. We will use the instruments software to identify dominant organisms in the sample and create libraries and filters. Participants will be encouraged to ask questions regarding the technology’s benefits and limitations. Throughout the workshop, we’ll point out similarities and differences between flow-through imaging and traditional microscopy, as well as basic plankton identification using semi-automated techniques.
Using the same technology for testing for Covid, workshop attendees will learn how to run a quantitative PCR test. The Phytoxigene™ CyanoDTec is a molecular (DNA) based technology (Real Time PCR) that detects and quantifies the presence of Cyanobacteria, blue green algae, and their toxin producing genes in aquatic environments. Not all Cyanobacteria species produce toxins, therefore the presence of an algal bloom does not immediately defer a risk of toxins being present. The Phytoxigene™ test quantitates both the amount of overall Cyanobacteria present in a water sample along with the number of genes that are responsible for the production of the toxins, including microcystin, cylindrospermopsin, saxitoxin, anatoxin* and guanotoxin* (*new assay in 2023)
Instructors
Polly Barrowman (Yokogawa Fluid Imaging Technology): works closely with freshwater researchers and drinking water utilities worldwide, helping them to implement FlowCam technology into their phytoplankton research and monitoring programs. Polly has a Masters in Environmental Microbiology from the University of Aberdeen in Scotland.
Christopher Lee (Aqua Real Time): co-founder and CEO of AquaRealTime. Chris has a PhD in Electrical Engineering and 15 years of experience developing new monitoring products in the water and algae monitoring space.
Greg Ford, (Phytoxigene): Director of Development for Phytoxigene. Greg works with customers in Canada and the USA in this capacity since 2016. He started in the field of Aquatic Toxicology before working in biotech and diagnostics before joining Phytoxigene.
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
This workshop will build on techniques introduced in Introduction to R for Aquatic Research to demonstrate a couple of in-depth applications. We will explore more advanced data management techniques, some common statistical tools, plotting, and spatial data through hands-on examples using aquatic plant data from point-intercept surveys. Those less familiar with R should attend the Introduction to R for Aquatic Research, but those who have some experience using R should be able to work through the examples without attending the former.
Instructors
Anna Haws is the Aquatic Invasive Species Research Specialist with the NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University. She holds a PhD in Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Anna often uses R for data visualization and analysis in her work on invasive species, some examples include fisheries life history analysis, wildlife disease modelling, and summarizing big data associated with New York’s Watercraft Inspection Steward Program.
Dan Stich is an Associate Professor and Biological Field Station Researcher at SUNY Oneonta, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in biometry, lake management, and ichthyology. He works extensively with R in research and teaching, and maintains multiple R packages as well as his very own, poorly written, unpublished OER textbook, The Worst Stats Text eveR.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Join three aquatic biologists with over 50 years of combined experience conducting aquatic plant surveys throughout the Northeast. This full-day workshop will include Classroom-style Presentations on Aquatic Plant Taxonomy, Identification and Ecology and Aquatic Plant Mapping Techniques. In between presentations there will be several sessions to view over 70+ (planned) live and preserved specimens on display, collected throughout 2025 specifically for this workshop. During these viewing sessions attendees will get a chance to closely examine specimens, compare similar species, and (optionally) photograph the extensive specimen collection. All three presenters will be on hand for one-on-one interactions during the viewing sessions, to discuss the tips and tricks to identify aquatic plants in the field or in the laboratory.
The Classroom Sessions will include:
Taxonomy 1: Aquatic Invasive Species and Their Look-Alikes
Taxonomy 2: Water Milfoils and Friends (Bladderworts, Hornworts and Naiads)
Taxonomy 3: Pondweeds
Taxonomy 4: Floating-leaf Plants and the Isle of Misfit Plants
Aquatic Plant Survey Techniques with a Focus on Point Intercept Methods
The last session of the workshop is the Aquatic Plant Quiz. Test your knowledge with 15 unlabeled specimens pulled from the collection on hand. All attendees will receive visual guide to the aquatic plants covered during this workshop.
Instructors
Chris Doyle has 30+ years experience as an aquatic biologist, and currently is a consultant for Naiad Consultants. Mr. Doyle has been a NALMS member since 2005, a CLM since 2008, and is a past BOD member (Region 3) and currently serves on several committees. He has previously led hands-on aquatic plant workshops for NALMS (2019), NYSFOLA, the Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society (including plant camp in 2022 and 2024), and New York State DEC.
Emily Mayer is a Research Scientist at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), where she is responsible for the identification and enumeration of phytoplankton, algal toxin analysis, and comprehensive data management. She has 15 years of experience as an aquatic biologist, specializing in lake macrophyte mapping, water quality analysis, and project management. Emily earned her B.S. degree in Biology from Centenary University and her M.S. in Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences the University of Florida.
Kendra Kilson has been a NALMS member since 2017 and is currently a certified LMA. She has a B.S. in Natural Resources and received her M.S. in Lake Management from SUNY Oneonta. She began working at Northeast Aquatic Research, LLC in 2019. She regularly attends conferences including NALMS, Connecticut Federation of Lakes, Northeast Aquatic Plant Management Society, and New York State Federation of Lake Associations.
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Cyanobacteria, a group of ancient bacteria responsible for oxygenating the Earth 2.4 billion years ago, play a vital role in shaping our planet’s ecosystems. Despite their importance, cyanobacteria are often misunderstood and underappreciated. This workshop aims to provide a comprehensive introduction to the ecology of cyanobacteria, focusing on their lifecycle, taxonomy, and diversity. We will delve into the evolutionary adaptations that have enabled cyanobacteria to exploit their surrounding environments and form overgrowths known as “harmful algal blooms,” which can significantly impact aquatic ecosystems.
This workshop will present an overview of the diversity of the morphological, physiological, and metabolic characteristics that have made cyanobacteria incredibly successful as both primary producers and nuisance pests.
Additionally, the workshop will cover various management techniques used to prevent and control cyanobacteria. By the end of the workshop, participants will gain a deeper understanding and appreciation of cyanobacteria and their ecological significance.
Instructor
Rob Newby, Ph.D., is a Research Microbiologist with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Rob has served on the ITRC Harmful Cyanobacteria Bloom (HCB) Guidance Document 1 and 2 workgroups, numerous state and federal panels for HABs/HCBs. He serves as one of the state’s subject matter experts for algal ecology and remediation.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
This workshop, its 6th iteration, demystifies cyanobacteria and the blooms they form. It’s a technical examination of how a handful of cyanobacteria use unique adaptations to take full advantage of structure of lakes so to be a co-conspirator in the eutrophication process, inevitably leading to formation of surface blooms. The workshop begins by briefly outlining the three different groups of cyanobacteria explaining how the specific adaptation of buoyancy regulation separates them from all phytoplankton that instead depend on less effective strategies to avoid sinking (form resistance, density alteration, surface area/volume, flagella, and vital sinking). Buoyancy will be covered in detail including the initial discovery and subsequent experimentation leading to our understanding of vacuoles, vesicles, formation triggers, and collapse curves.
Lake structure is explored next through the lens of a lake as an environment for phytoplankton and the specific aspects of thermal dynamics that cyanobacteria take advantage of. This section begins with a review of properties of water, density, viscosity, redox, pH, light, oxygen and dissolved gases, and carbonate magic. The unique properties of water that make lakes what they are and how the fate of heat and light are the pivotal structural aspects that regulate distribution and succession of all plankton. The density anomaly is considered specifically to show it manifests into the master variable that regulates distribution of just about everything in lakes. The distribution of heat in lakes will be discussed including convection, turbulent flow, and density gradients to illustrate how wind and light stratify a lake by establishing an epilimnion. This section concludes with a review of community phytoplankton ecology including, law of the minimum, paradox of the plankton, competitive exclusion principal, Reynolds numbers, niche space, photosynthetic efficiency, r- vs K- selection, nutrient uptake rates, and predation.
The final section of the workshop will return to buoyancy and how cyanobacteria can use it to regulate their position in the water column to maximize uptake of nutrients and light by taking advantage of the stratified lake. Through the use of buoyancy cyanobacteria can turn increased phosphorus of cultural eutrophication into what we know of as a eutrophic lake. This section of the workshop will present theoretical models for both the seasonal succession of phytoplankton in lakes, and the theoretical bloom space models for predicting habitats suitable for cyanobacteria dominance. The different types of blooms will be discussed and how shore scum is inevitable, and how global warming is making it certain that there will be more blooms, that will last longer.
The workshop ends with a brief discussion on lake management alternatives used to mitigate cyanobacteria blooms. Concepts behind methods such as Alum, aeration, circulation, and algaecides will be discussed in context to short circuiting cyanobacteria growth.
Instructor
George W. Knoecklein stated his limnological education at Unity College in Unity Maine, where he took part in one of the first studies of Unity Pond. George continued his education at Michigan State University where he earned a Master of Science in limnology while working on US EPA Clean Lakes projects at Lake Lansing, Michigan, and Skinner Lake, Indiana. George moved back to Connecticut in 1985 to pursue a career in lake management working for Ecosystem Consulting Service until earning a PhD in limnology from Peter Rich at the University of Connecticut. That year he founded Northeast Aquatic Research, a consulting firm that works specializing in assisting lake stakeholders understand and manage the threats of invasive aquatic plants and cyanobacteria.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $275 – Register Now
Algae are an important part of a properly functioning natural aquatic system, but when algae become abundant, water uses and habitat are often impaired. Abundance of cyanobacteria and possible related toxicity has become a “hot button” issue, and other water quality implications and aesthetic considerations remain prominent issues. All algae are not created equal, however, and proper collection and identification are essential to selecting a management strategy. This workshop is intended to provide information on how to collect and recognize common genera within major groups of algae, understanding which algae tend to form blooms and why, what toxins can be formed and the risks they pose, and how to control algae to maximize waterbody compliance with state and federal regulations. The workshop touches on material that could be the subject of a semester course in a single day, so we can only introduce participants to methods, taxonomy, toxicity, ecology and control options, but additional resources will be provided to help participants advance their understanding. We spend a substantial amount of time looking at specimens under the microscope including a projection system that allows participants to see what we see when we analyze samples and get a feel for the identification process.
Instructors
The workshop is taught by Dr. Ken Wagner of WRS Inc., Dr. Barry Rosen of Florida Gulf Coast University, Mr. Andrew Chapman of Greenwater Labs in Florida and Mr. Kam Truhn of PhycoTech, experienced algal taxonomists and ecologists working in applied fields. Collectively they have many years of experience assessing algal problems, evaluating impacts and causes of algal nuisances, and developing algal management programs.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Cyanobacteria (“bluegreen algae”) often proliferate at the same time and under similar conditions that are favourable for internal phosphorus (P) loading from lake bottom sediments. Internal loading as P released from anoxic sediment surfaces often represents the main summer P load to lakes. Because of its high biological availability, the lack of dilution, and the timing, it can have an immense effect on summer-fall water quality of a lake, reservoir, or pond.
In this workshop correlations and coincidences, as well as limnological reasoning is provided in support of the hypothesis that cyanobacteria blooms (in general and for the recently increased frequency), are related to increases in internal P loading. Both, internal P loading basics and cyanobacteria background are provided and possible links between sediment released P and cyanobacteria blooms explored.
Ways of quantifying internal load in polymictic and stratified lakes are presented, sometimes in a step-wise fashion, where missing data may be predicted by subsidiary models. Applications regarding lake quality assessment and trophic state, and an introduction into the theory of lake restoration will be provided. Each workshop topic will include a description of the theory and presentation of case studies covering US, Canadian, and European lake assessment and restoration projects listed at http://www.fwr.ca. Much of this WS is based on the recent book: Nürnberg, G.K., 2025. Lake Functioning: Internal Phosphorus Loading, Cyanobacteria, and Climate Change. CRC Press, 298 p. https://www.routledge.com/9781032294407
Instructor
Gertrud K. Nürnberg, Ph.D. (McGill, Quebec) is the principal of Freshwater Research, a limnological company focusing on restoration and modeling of eutrophic lakes and reservoirs. She is specialized in internal processes in eutrophic lakes such as internal phosphorus loading and hypoxia and has more than 40 years of experience working with lake associations, governmental agencies, engineering companies and the private sector in the US, Canada, and Europe. She won several of NALMS’ prestigious awards and published more than 70 peer-reviewed papers and one book.
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
This workshop will be an introduction to the R programming language. It will cover R syntax (e.g., how to read and write R code), types of variables and objects, functions, basic data management (e.g., loading, referencing, manipulation, transformation, and subsets), basic descriptive statistics, and working with R packages like those included in the “tidyverse” for data summary and plotting. This session will use long-term limnological data for demonstrations and hands-on examples.
Instructors
Anna Haws is the Aquatic Invasive Species Research Specialist with the NYS Water Resources Institute at Cornell University. She holds a PhD in Fish and Wildlife Biology and Management from the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry. Anna often uses R for data visualization and analysis in her work on invasive species, some examples include fisheries life history analysis, wildlife disease modelling, and summarizing big data associated with New York’s Watercraft Inspection Steward Program.
Dan Stich is an Associate Professor and Biological Field Station Researcher at SUNY Oneonta, where he teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in biometry, lake management, and ichthyology. He works extensively with R in research and teaching, and maintains multiple R packages as well as his very own, poorly written, unpublished OER textbook, The Worst Stats Text eveR.
8:00 am – 12:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
The automated cloud mapping platform BioBase (biobasemaps.com) is used by Lake Management researchers, professionals, and citizen scientists across the globe for a broad range of mapping needs ranging from storm water storage volume, to tracking invasive aquatic plant growth and management, to mapping fisheries habitat. In May 2025, in partnership with Echoview Software, BioBase released a fish mapping layer called EcoFishTM. This workshop will cover a demonstration and “How To” for all major features in BioBase but be primarily focused on the major features and how to use BioBase for sampling/mapping fish in lakes and ponds. Fortuitously, the conference center is within walking distance of a couple modest-sized ponds that we can use for a field demo and will have a couple of boats available with the help of the Lake Doctors South Carolina branch. We’ll record some sonar data and the BioBase team will have the maps processed and available for users to review at their exhibitor booth during the conference. The field workshop requires a separate sign up and it will depend on the fickle November weather. Let’s hope for calm and sunshine!
Instructor
Ray Valley, President and Aquatic Biologist BioBase LLC. Ray spent the first half of his career as an Aquatic Ecologist and Fisheries Biologist with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Passionate about lakes, aquatic plants, and technology, he led the development of biobasemaps.com, making aquatic measurement easy. Now, under independent investors, Ray heads a small team dedicated to maintaining and enhancing BioBase for water resource conservation.
Sean Fleming, Aquatic Consultant Lake Doctors, President Society of Lake Management Professionals. With a strong background in Biology and Chemistry, my goal was to incorporate the passion I have for the environment and serving my community. I have spent 16 years working hard in the field, and loving every minute, working to find green solutions to aquatic management. I brought the idea of running fountains with windmills to my company as well improved on many other green solutions such as fish and aquatic plants.
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm |$125 – Register Now
The addition of air or oxygen is frequently used as a lake management option for lakes suffering from oxygen depletion. When used properly, aeration/oxygenation can increase oxygen concentrations in the water column, decrease sediment nutrient release, minimize iron and manganese concentrations, and prevent fish kills. In some cases, aeration/oxygenation can also reduce the severity of algal and cyanobacterial blooms. These systems can be designed to provide complete mixing throughout the water column, to increase oxygen concentrations in the hypolimnion without mixing the lake, or to aerate surface waters and provide aesthetic appeal. Improperly designed or installed aeration systems can increase algal growth and lead to decreased water clarity. The workshop will discuss the pros and cons of aeration systems, describe factors that must be considered to properly design aeration/oxygenation systems, and present case studies for both successful and unsuccessful applications.
Instructors
Chris Holdren is a life member of NALMS and has over 50 years of experience with lake and watershed management projects. He has worked on a number of aeration projects, some successful and others not for various reasons.
Alex Horne, Emeritus Professor, University of California-Berkeley has worked on over 600 water-related projects throughout the world. Many of Dr. Horne’s projects included additions of oxygen or air to meet various objectives.
Kevin Bierlein is an engineer with Hydros Consulting. Dr. Bierlein has over a decade working with various types of oxygenation and mixing systems.
Ed Molesky is the President of Aqua Link and Hydro Logic Products. Aqua Link a consulting firm specializing in pond and lake management and restoration and Hydro Logic Products manufactures its own line of pond and lake aeration equipment.
Reservoir Environmental Management, Inc. (REMI) specializes in the development and application of river and reservoir models to aeration/oxygenation projects in hydropower reservoirs.
8:00 am – 5:00 pm | $225 – Register Now
Internal phosphorus (P) loading because of sediment P release is widely recognized as a critical source of P that must be reduced to meet water quality goals and reduce nuisance, and sometimes harmful, algae blooms in lakes and ponds. One of the more common approaches for controlling sediment P release is the application of metal salts to bind the sediment P, minimizing its recycling potential. Some of the more common metal salts include aluminum, lanthanum, iron and calcium which can be applied in many forms using various strategies to accomplish P reduction goals. The successful use of these inactivation agents requires a thorough knowledge of sediment chemistry and P release dynamics, dosing, and application strategies. However, all of these materials share similar data requirements and calculation approaches to develop an effective approach to minimize sediment P release. The purpose of this workshop is to develop an understanding of data requirements, dosing methods, and application strategies to develop a successful sediment P inactivation project. While the workshop will cover dosing and application strategies for the most commonly used sediment P activation agents, the use of aluminum sulfate will be the focus since it is historically the most widely used approach in the US.
This workshop provides a systematic overview of planning, diagnosis, monitoring, dosing and application technologies for using alum (and other inactivation agents) for P control. Application strategies for deep and shallow lakes include a) water column P stripping, b) P interception, c) maintenance dosing, d) sediment P inactivation and e) P control in ponds. We provide overviews of the history of sediment phosphorus inactivation, long-term efficacy, inactivation chemistry, diagnostic and modeling tools, dosing calculations, application technologies and monitoring requirements. While the use of aluminum is the focus of the workshop, we will also briefly cover other inactivation agents where possible. Guest speakers will be included in the program as available to provide broader context for phosphorus inactivation projects. Numerous case studies will be presented, and participants are invited to present their lakes’ concerns. The workshop is interactive and there is ample time for discussion.
Instructors
Shannon Brattebo is an environmental engineer. Shannon’s work has focused on lake and reservoir water quality, restoration, and management both in the Pacific Northwest and across the nation. Shannon has been a member of NALMS since 2001, served as NALMS Region 10 Director and is currently the NALMS Treasurer. Joe Bischoff is a limnologist with Barr Engineering, Inc. whose work focuses on phosphorus cycling in deep and shallow lakes, reservoirs and ponds. Joe has competed over 30 successful sediment phosphorus inactivation projects and analyzed sediments from hundreds of lakes. Joe is currently President of the newly formed Minnesota Lake Management Association. John Holz is a limnologist who leads SOLitude Lake Management’s nutrient remediation efforts, specializing in both small and large-scale alum applications. John is a longtime NALMS member and has served on the NALMS board of directors.
1:00 pm – 5:00 pm | $125 – Register Now
Lake eutrophication is directly a function of elevated productivity linked to the influx of excessive amounts of nitrogen, phosphorus and sediment. In the vast majority of cases nationwide, inadequate or improper stormwater management is the root cause of this non-point source pollutant loading. Although lake communities and lake managers understand this relationship, they are often at a lost understanding how to quantify this loading and identify, select and implement the correct stormwater management options needed to address and minimize this loading. This is especially true when it comes to discerning how and where to implement green infrastructure stormwater management practices.
This ½ day class begins with a basic an overview to the hydrologic and hydraulic principles of stormwater runoff and management to meet quantity, rate and quality control goals. Participants will then be instructed on how to make use of some relatively easy to use, public domain models and tools that lake managers can use to compute runoff pollutant loads and runoff volumes. The class will then be provided with examples, backed by case-studies, of the application of green infrastructure stormwater management practices suited for lake communities. These will range from small-scale (single lot) applications to large, community-based regional applications. Basic design and construction specifications, as well as maintenance requirements will be presented and discussed for each of the more commonly implemented green infrastructure stormwater management techniques used in lake communities.
Instructor
Dr. Stephen J. Souza is the Owner of Clean Waters Consulting. The Founding Partner of Princeton Hydro, LLC, he served as the company’s president from its inception in 1998 until his retirement in 2019. Dr. Souza is a past president of the NALMS and PALMS, and the recipient NYSFOLA’s Lake Tear of the Clouds Award (2018). He is one of the co-authors of New Jersey’s Harmful Algal Bloom Lake Management Guidance Manual (2024).