Workshop Updates

It's that time of year again where we start to plan next year's IEP workshop. The workshop is scheduled for March 2-4, 2027 at the California Natural Resources Agency headquarters in Sacramento.

What are we looking for?

We are looking for volunteers to help us plan the workshop program and activities. We need volunteers for the following:

• Develop the program during the planning process
• Moderate program sessions during the workshop
• Organize and host the Mentor Luncheon during the workshop
• Organize and run the Poster Session during the workshop
• Organize and manage the Early Career Awards during the workshop
• Organize and coordinate volunteers during the workshop

There will be 8, 2-hour planning meetings between September to January for discussing and developing the workshop program. All meetings will be virtual.

How to participate?

Our first meeting is Thursday, September 3, 2026 from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. The Workshop Organizing Chair (Adam Nanninga) and his co-organizer (Tim Malinich) will discuss the planning process, roles and responsibilities, and timelines. We will also get started on planning the call for abstracts.

If you are interested in volunteering, send an email to iep@wildlife.ca.gov and adam_nanninga@fws.gov. If you cannot make the first meeting, but want to participate send us an email asking to be added to the participant list.

Who can participate?

• IEP member agencies, IEP partner organizations (including students from partnering academic institutions), and IEP stakeholders.
• Early career staff are encouraged to participate with approval of their supervisor.
• Career staff are also encouraged to participate.

Background materials

• 2027 Workshop Planning Calendar (PDF)
• Workshop Principles (PDF)
• Workshop Planning Committee Roles & Responsibilities (PDF)

Please share this invitation with others who may be interested!

This announcement is being shared widely among multiple listservs, so apologies for cross postings.

Greetings IEP Community Members,

Thank you to all who were able to attend the workshop in person or remotely. It was nice seeing and meeting so many of you. As we close out the 2026 workshop, we wanted to share the winners of the Early Career Awards, the location of the workshop recordings, and ask for your feedback on the 2026 workshop.

Early Career Award Winners

Best Oral Presentation Winners

• Elsie Platzer (UC Davis) - "Quantifying Primary Production Exports from Tidal Wetlands in the San Francisco Estuary"
• Kimberly Evans (UC Davis) - "Into the Sloughs of Suisun: The 2025 Annual Trends in Species Composition and Abiotic Variables"
• Nicholas Framsted (USGS) - "Assessing Drivers of Phytoplankton Blooms in the South Delta

Each of these talks were recorded and are included in the video recordings. Make sure to check them out!

Best Poster Presentation Winners

• Pachia Lee (DWR) - "Cold, Quick, and CRISPR-Clear: Freezing SHERLOCK for Faster Genetic Detection"
• Lalayna Hablutzel (CDFW) - "Phenology of Longfin Smelt (Spirinchus thaleichthys)"
• Andres Mendoza (USFWS) - "Catch Me If You Can: An Exploration of Specific-Specific Net Avoidance for Kodiak Trawl Efforts"

The posters for Pachia Lee and Lalayna Hablutzel along with others that provided their poster images will be showcased on the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page in a new (coming soon) online widget being developed for posters. If you want to see the poster for an author who did not share their poster image, you can peruse the Abstract Booklet (PDF) to read the abstract and obtain the poster author's email.

Workshop Recordings

• All the IEP recordings can be found on the IEP Master Playlist, which is hosted on the California Department of Fish and Wildlife's YouTube channel.
• If you only want to see the 3 recordings of the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop, you can find them on the 2026 IEP Playlist.
• Note: The Poetry Slam hosted on Monday, March 16, 2026 was not recorded. However, Levi Lewis did provide the lyrics to his "Purple Fish in Flow"(PDF) rap.

Workshop Feedback - Due May 1

• If you have not already filled out the 2026 IEP Workshop Feedback survey (Form), please do so by May 1, 2026.

2026 Workshop Materials

• The workshop program, abstract booklet, award announcement, and link to the workshop recordings will remain available in the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page.
• Posters will be showcased in a new online widget that can be accessed from the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page.

Workshop 2027

We hope you enjoyed participating and attending the 2026 workshop. We look forward to seeing you again in early March 2027. Remember to subscribe to the IEP Annual Workshop email list to receive future announcements!

If you are interested in being on the 2027 planning committee or shadowing Adam Nanninga in 2027 to be the 2028 Workshop Organizer, please send an email to Adam_Nanninga@fws.gov and iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

See you next year!

Adam Nanninga (2026 Workshop Organizer)

Christine Joab (IEP Program Facilitator)

Greetings IEP Community Members,

Don't forget that registration is open for the Interagency Ecological Program Annual Workshop. We have a limited number of tickets remaining for in person attendance for each of the 3 days — March 16-18, 2026.

Registration for in person attendance ends March 6 or once tickets are sold out, whichever comes first. Registration for attending remotely will remain open through the workshop.

Registration

Registration links, workshop program, abstract booklet, area guide, and FAQ can be found on the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page.

Judges Needed

We need judges to evaluate early career candidates for best presentation and poster.

• In-person attendees can register inside the EventBrite ticket platform.
• Remote attendees should contact Ted Flynn (Ted.Flynn@water.ca.gov).

After Hours Event

There will be an after hours event held on Tuesday, March 17 from 4:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.

View the After Hours Flyer (PDF) for more information.

• Come Climb the Walls with Us at Sacramento Pipeworks!
• Brag Over Brews Afterwards at PintWorks Restaurant & Brewery

Contact Peter Nelson (Peter.Nelson@water.ca.gov) for after hours event questions.

Questions?

General questions related to the workshop should be directed to iep@wildlife.ca.gov.

UPDATE:

Hello IEP Community members,

It has come to our attention that the Volunteer signup link in the original email was incorrect. We have corrected the link on the 2026 Workshop page and in this email below.

Don't forget workshop registration opens on February 2, 2026. See information below for in-person and remote registration.

We look forward to seeing everyone (in-person and remotely) at the event.

IEP Program Support

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Greetings IEP Community Members,

The 2026 IEP Annual Workshop is coming to the California Natural Resources Agency (CNRA) Headquarters (715 P Street, Sacramento) on March 16-18, 2026. Live presentations will be held in the auditorium and posters will be showcased on the 2nd floor (Rooms 2-221 B+C). The event is FREE and will be hybrid (in-person and remote). Registration for both in-person attendance and remote attendance opens February 2, 2026 (8:00 a.m.).

Signups are currently open for participants interested in the Early Career Mentor Luncheon, volunteers to help during the workshop, and judges to help us evaluate oral talks and posters from early career participants. See below for a quick overview on workshop registration, a summary overview of the workshop program, signups for the mentor luncheon, volunteers, and judges. This information along with registration information is now posted on the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page.

Share this email with colleagues, managers, early career staff and others interested in the workshop, and make sure to subscribe to the workshop email list to receive future updates!

Workshop Registration

Registration to attend the workshop (in-person or remotely) opens February 2, 2026!

The Workshop Program and Abstract Booklet is currently being finalized and will be available on the 2026 IEP Annual Workshop page when registration opens. For now, please peruse the summary overview of the program and discuss with managers, supervisors, and staff on which days you are interested in attending. Review the Area Guide, Workshop FAQ, and a flyer for an after-hours climbing event at Sacramento Pipeworks and PintWorks Restaurant and Brewery.

• Summary Overview of 2026 IEP Workshop (PDF)
• Area Guide (PDF)
• Workshop FAQ (PDF)
• After-Hours Climbing Event Flyer (PDF)

Mentor Luncheon

Are you interested in attending the Early Career Mentor Luncheon as a mentee or mentor? Registration is still open for Mentors and Mentees. Seating is limited so make sure to register before the end of January. The Mentor Luncheon connects new and early career scientists and students with career researchers, managers, and practitioners in the San Francisco Bay-Delta community.

• Luncheon Date: Monday, March 16, 2026 (12:12 p.m. - 1:42 p.m.)
• Registration: Early Career Luncheon Registration Form (registration end January 27)
• Contact Kristi Arend or Brian Schreier for questions.

Workshop Volunteers Needed!

The IEP Workshop needs volunteers for the program to run efficiently and smoothly. We need mic runners, timekeepers, overflow room monitor, and backup volunteers. Volunteers get automatic registration for the day they volunteer. Volunteer slots are 1/2 day minimum.

• Volunteer Signup Form (signup closes February 23)
• Contact the Volunteer Chair Tim Malinich for questions.

Early Career Award Judges

Judges are needed to evaluate the presentation and posters of participating early career candidates. If you are interested in being a judge, a signup will be included in the EventBrite in-person workshop registration (registration opens February 2). If you want to signup now or if you have questions, contact the Awards Chair, Ted Flynn.

Workshop Questions?

Contact the workshop organizing chair, Adam Nanninga, and IEP Program Support.

Are you relatively new to the San Francisco Bay-Delta’s science, management, and conservation community?

Would you like to learn more about the key issues and career pathways?

Or are you willing to share your experiences and advice with newer members of the community?

If so, then the IEP Workshop’s Early Career Luncheon is a great place to start!

The Early Career Luncheon connects new and early career students and professionals with researchers, managers, and practitioners who are more familiar with the issues, priorities, and educational and professional opportunities within the Bay-Delta.

Registration

If you are interested in participating as a mentor or mentee, check out the details below and use the link to register by January 16, 2026!

• Where: IEP Workshop, California Natural Resources Building, 715 P Street, Sacramento
• When: Monday, March 16, 12:20 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
• Who: about 30 (total) mentees and mentors
• Registration (both prospective mentors and mentees): IEP Workshop Early Career Luncheon

Questions

Please direct any questions to Kristi Arend or Brian Schreier (Luncheon Co-chairs) at kristin_arend@fws.gov or brian.schreier@water.ca.gov.