Conference - Water Management Association of Ohio

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Water Rich? Ohio's Wealth in Water

Ohio has traditionally been considered a water rich state; however, new challenges in water resource management have prompted a need to reevaluate what it means to be "water rich." Historic droughts and increased water usage due to economic growth and the introduction of new technologies have highlighted questions regarding water availability in Ohio. This year, we will explore these impacts to Ohio's water availability and how the state is preparing for these dynamic times.

2026 WMAO Conference Agenda Draft

Registration Information

Members and returning non-members, please remember to login or search for your contact information prior to signing up. Members do not pay credit card convenience charges once logged in. Non-members can avoid credit card convenience charges by printing an invoice and forwarding with check payment to Water Management Association of Ohio.

Ready to Register?

Hotel Accommodations

Ready to book your stay at the Marriott Columbus Northwest?

We have negotiated a rate of $131.00 per night if you book by Monday, October 26, 2026.

Book the group rate for WMAO Fall Conference November 2026

(Conference registration does not include overnight accommodations.)

Oral Presentations

Thank you to everyone who submitted abstracts for this year's conference!

Accepted abstracts are posted on the WMAO website as part of the conference agenda. Abstracts not selected for oral presentations may be offered the opportunity to present a poster.

Submission period has ended

Call for Abstracts: Student Posters

Abstracts are being sought for posters featuring student research projects.

WMAO Recognition Prizes
1st Place: $250 | 2nd Place: $100
for the student posters that best capture and explain the research project.

Submission Deadline

Friday, October 16, 2026

Submit Poster Abstract

Submission Verification Note: If you submitted an abstract on or before June 24, 2026 using the previous WMAO.org website and did not receive an automated confirmation email, please contact Sarah Saylor at wmaohio@gmail.org to verify that your submission was successfully received.

Sponsor & Exhibitor Information

We invite you to partner with us as a sponsor or exhibitor at the upcoming conference where you can raise your organization's visibility and connect directly with water management professionals throughout Ohio and beyond.

Our sponsors and exhibitors help make our conference possible, and our success depends on your support. The sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities for this year's conference are outlined below.

Exclusive Tier Notice: We limit our exclusive Resource Champion and Resource Protector sponsorships to one organization/company each. Select the contribution level that best aligns with your goals and register early to reserve your space.

Ready to join us?

Sponsorship & Exhibitor Opportunities

Attending & Exhibiting

Resource Champion — $2,000
2 registrations • Program ad included
Premier booth (8' table or open space)
5-minute Awards Luncheon announcement & luncheon signage

Resource Protector — $1,750
2 registrations • Program ad included
Premier booth (8' table or open space)
5-minute Annual Meeting announcement & meeting signage

Premier Exhibitor — $1,500
2 registrations • Program ad included
Premier booth (8' table or open space)
Full event sponsor recognition

Conference Exhibitor — $1,000
1 registration • No program ad
Standard booth (8' table or open space)
Standard exhibitor benefits

Supporting Remotely

Event Sponsor — $500
No conference registration
No exhibit space
Recognition with your logo on conference signage and in the conference program.

Silent Auction to Benefit WMAO Scholarships

We invite you to participate in our Annual Silent Auction at our conference again this year! All proceeds benefit our WMAO Scholarships. Contact Dennis Clement at dennis.clement@ohio.epa.gov to donate an item.

Nominations for WMAO Recognition Awards

WMAO awards recognize individuals for distinguished service or demonstrating leadership in the management, use, or enjoyment of Ohio’s water resources. Nominations are being accepted for the following awards: Ohio Water Hall of Fame, Distinguished Service Award, Technician of the Year, Wayne S. Nichols Award, and the R. Livingston Ireland Award.

Click here for Award Descriptions and Past Award Winners

Awards Nominations were due by September 15, 2026.

Conference Planning Committee

Please reach out to the committee members below with any questions regarding conference planning, programming, or operations.

Greg Nageotte (Chair)
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)
greg.nageotte@agri.ohio.gov

Ben Eaton (Co-chair)
Ohio Department of Agriculture (ODA)
benjamin.eaton@agri.ohio.gov

Cindy Brookes
Great Lakes Community Action Partnership (GLCAP)
treasurer@wmao.org

Dennis Clement
Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA)
dennis.clement@ohio.epa.gov

McKenna Cimperman
SEPRO Scientific

Alex Covert
United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Eugene Braig
The Ohio State University

Shannon Pace
United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Sarah Saylor
Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO)
wmaohio@gmail.com

Kim Shaffer
United States Geological Survey (USGS)

Max Wright
United States Geological Survey (USGS)