Key speakers
We are pleased to feature several key speakers at this year’s conference. Additional 2026 speakers will be announced once their confirmation details are finalized.
Steve Ventura
Professor emeritus, Environmental Studies and Soil Science at UW-Madison
Layers for going deeper: Uncovering a wetland’s history, biology, hydrology, and more through digital resources
Numerous data sets and maps provide information about land use history, current conditions, hydrology, soils, land tenure and other factors relevant to wetlands restoration and protection. However, this information is scattered across numerous sources and come in different forms and formats, at different scales and currency. This presentation will provide an overview of information that could be used in site-specific and regional wetlands projects, including sourcing, integration, interpretation, and limitations. This information includes wetland inventories, hydrology, floodplains, soils, current and historical aerial photography, satellite imagery, digital elevation models, zoning and other legal records, land tenure, drainage district records, and historic maps and photos. Examples will be drawn from Wisconsin, though equivalent sources are available in most states.
Steve Ventura is professor emeritus of Environmental Studies and Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over four decades of research, outreach, and service, he worked with public agencies at all levels of government: non-governmental organizations including environmental groups, land trusts, professional associations, and service organizations; tribal governments and colleges; farmers, urban growers, and food industry workers; foreign agencies and institutions. Expertise in remote sensing and GIS led him into many application domains, including natural resource management, environmental protection, land tenure, community and regional food systems, water quality and quantity, and endangered resources. He is a long-time member of Wisconsin Wetlands Association.
Steve Ventura will speak on the morning of Thursday, February 26th.
About Steve Ventura
Steve Ventura is professor emeritus of Environmental Studies and Soil Science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Over four decades of research, outreach, and service, he worked with public agencies at all levels of government: non-governmental organizations including environmental groups, land trusts, professional associations, and service organizations; tribal governments and colleges; farmers, urban growers, and food industry workers; foreign agencies and institutions. Expertise in remote sensing and GIS led him into many application domains, including natural resource management, environmental protection, land tenure, community and regional food systems, water quality and quantity, and endangered resources. He is a long-time member of Wisconsin Wetlands Association.