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Conference

2024 Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference

Event Date
July 29-August 1, 2024
Time
See Agenda (below)
Location
Bridgewater and Plymouth, MA
Topics
A New England Cape house with soil layers beneath and ocean and forest in the background.

Join us for the 2024 Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference!

22
Jul
Deadline

Registration

Conference registration is closed.

Regular Registration – $300

Student Registration – $120

Virtual – $120

By attending this conference, you agree to be photographed or video recorded, which may be used for NCSS and USDA publications, websites, and social media.

Join us in Bridgewater and Plymouth, Massachusetts, for the 2024 Northeast Cooperative Soil Survey Conference from July 29th through August 1st. Connect with fellow soil scientists, get caught up on activities of the National Cooperative Soil Survey, and learn about the dynamic soils of southern New England at wetland restoration sites, cranberry bogs, and coastal beaches and marshes. The theme for this year’s conference is “Dynamic Soils and Climate Resiliency – Looking to the Past to Guide the Future.”

Call for Abstracts

Northeast Call for Abstracts

Committees

Northeast NCSS Committees

Lodging

Hotel 1620 (book by 7/10)
180 Water Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 747-4900
Mention USDA 2024 group block to receive the $113/night rate

John Carver Inn (book by 6/28)
25 Summer Street
Plymouth, MA 02360
(508) 746-7100
Northeast National Cooperative Soil Survey Conference group block

Transportation

The drive time between Hotel 1620 in Plymouth and Bridgewater State University (West Campus Lot map) is about 35 minutes. For those of you staying in Plymouth without a car, we can arrange transportation between Hotel 1620 and Bridgewater State University on Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday.

Check-In and Registration

We will have a table set up at Hotel 1620 on Sunday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 PM. There will also be check-in available in the mornings at Bridgewater. 

Co-Hosts

Maggie Payne
State Soil Scientist
NRCS Massachusetts
(p) 774-678-7231
(e) maggie.payne@usda.gov

Dr. Darcy Boellstorff
Professor and Chairperson of Geography
Bridgewater State University
(e) dboellstorff@bridgew.edu

Liaison

Luis Hernandez
Northeast Soil Survey Regional Director
USDA-NRCS
(p) 413-253-4370
(e) luis.hernandez2@usda.gov

 

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Check out the 2024 NCSS Awardees!

Visit the National Cooperative Soil Survey page.


Agenda (subject to change)

Sunday, July 28

6:00 pm
Early Registration and Check-In (until 8:00 PM)

Hotel 1620 Plymouth Harbor Lobby
180 Water Street Plymouth, MA 02360

Monday, July 29

7:00 am
Registration and Networking (coffee and light breakfast included)

Dana Mohler-Faria Science (DMF) and Mathematics Center Atrium
Parking at the West Campus Lot, Bridgewater State University
Enter from Plymouth St or Park Ave

8:00 am
Welcome and Remarks from Leadership

Morning Moderator: Maggie Payne

Bridgewater State University

Daniel Wright, State Conservationist for Massachusetts, USDA NRCS

Terron Hillsman, Deputy Chief for Soil Science and Resource Assessment

David Kingsbury, Associate Director for Soil Services and Information, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA NRCS

Neil Dominy, Director, NRCS National Soil Survey Center (presenting virtually)

9:00 am
Tomaquag Museum

Silvermoon LaRose, Assistant Director, Tomaquaq Museum

10:00 am
Break
10:15 am
NCSS Partner Updates

East Region Forest Service Update (presenting virtually)
Jim Gries, Assistant Director of Air, Water, Lands, Soils, and Minerals, Forest Service

Soils Breakdown Silos
Tatiana Morin, Director, Urban Soil Institute

National Cooperative Soil Survey: Transitioning Progress Reporting from Acres to Milestones
Debbie Surabian, National Leader for Standards, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA NRCS

USFS NRCS Soil Water Balance – National Partnership
Stephanie Connolly, Soil Scientist, Forest Service, Northern Research Station

USFS Northern Research Station
Keith Nislow, Soil Scientist, Forest Service, Northern Research Station

12:00 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:00 pm
Soil Taxonomy

Afternoon Moderator: David Zimmermann

Coupling the Current Use and Application of Soil Survey Information with Soil Taxonomy
Mark Stolt, Professor, University of Rhode Island, Department of Natural Resources Science

Consequences of Northeast Taxonomy Proposals on New Mexico Taxa
H. Curtis Monger, Professor Emeritus, New Mexico State University, Department of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Improved Procedures for Amending Soil Taxonomy
Brian Needelman, University of Maryland, College Park

2:05 pm
Coastal and Salt Marsh Soils

Soil Carbon Stocks in Atlantic Coast Marshes
Marty Rabenhorst, Professor, University of Maryland

What Do Colonial Salt Hay Farming Practices Have to Do with Salt Marsh Restoration in 21st Century?
Susan Adamowicz, Salt Marsh LMRD Biologist, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge

2:55 pm
Break (refreshments provided)
3:10 pm
Coastal and Salt Marsh Soils (cont.)

Sediment Budgets and Blue Carbon Sequestration Across the Northeast US Based on Process-based Geospatial Models
Brian Yellen, Research Professor, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Coastal Zone Soil Survey of Long Island Sound 
Donald Parizek, Soil and Plant Science Division, Special Projects Region, USDA NRCS 

Subaqueous Landform Mapping Along the Coast of Connecticut Using Geospatial and Geomorphometric Analysis of Topobathymetric LiDAR and Derivative Products
Preston Senderoff, University of Connecticut

4:05 pm
Lightning Talks and Poster Introductions

Variability in Blue Carbon Stocks of Long Island Sound Soils
Joe Manetta, Research Associate, University of Rhode Island

Showcasing Variability of Urban Soils Within the 2023 Soil Survey Update in Delaware County, PA
Benjamin Marshall, Major Land Resource Area Project Leader, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA NRCS 

Measuring Methane Emissions from Tidal Marsh Soils Along an Estuarine Gradient
Mike Norton, University of Rhode Island

Carbon and Color: Linking Soil Carbon Properties, Ecosystem Functions, and Color Requirements for Soil Classification and Taxonomy
Angela Possinger, Virginia Tech, School of Plant and Environmental Sciences

Early Growing Season Performance of IRIS Films for Wetland Restoration 
Grace M. Bodine, University of Maryland, Environmental Science and Technology

4:30 pm
Move to Dunn Conference Suite
5:00 pm
Poster Session and Social Hour

5:00: Presentation of Awards

5:00-6:30: Poster Session

(cash bar and hors d’oeuvres included)

Tuesday, July 30

7:00 am
Registration and Networking (coffee and light breakfast included)

Dana Mohler-Faria Science (DMF) and Mathematics Center Atrium

8:00 am
Welcome

Morning Moderator: Brian Yellen

8:05 am
Current Research

Leaching of Lead, Arsenic, and Lead Arsenate Through Cajun Prairie Soils in Louisiana
Domingo Jariel, Louisiana State University at Eunice

Understanding Microtopography as a Driver of Benthic Macroinvertebrate Community Structure in Restored Wetlands
Matt Potvin, Bridgewater State University

Comparison of Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity Estimations from Pedotransfer
Monique Michaud, Department of Plant Science and Landscape Architecture, University of Connecticut

Seasonal Dynamics of Nitrogen Mineralization in Cranberry Farm Soils
Molly Welsh, Agricultural Research Service, USDA

Soil Bulk Density Estimation for Carbon and Nutrient Stock (Mass/Area) Inventory and Monitoring: Is There a Better Way?
Tony Jenkins, State Soil Scientist and State Resource Conservationist for Maine, USDA NRCS

9:20 am
Break
9:35 am
Special Project Updates

Dynamic Soil Properties: Understanding Our Past, Informing Our Future
Sharon Perrone, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA NRCS

Soil Landscapes of the United States (SOLUS) Soil Property Maps: Overview, Feedback, and Future Directions
Jessica Philippe, UDSA NRCS Soil and Plant Science Division

Technical Soil Services Handbook Update (presented virtually)
Dee Pederson, Assistant State Soil Scientist for Georgia, USDA NRCS

10:20 am
Soils and Geology of Plymouth County, Massachusetts

Jim Turenne – Assistant State Soil Scientist for Rhode Island

10:50 am
Introduction to the Field Tour
11:00 am
Break (split to Committee Meetings)
11:10 am
Committee Meeting Block 1

Standards (DMF 340)

Bylaws (DMF 342)

Taxonomy (DMF 260)

Coastal Zone (DMF 240)

Technologies (DMF 259)

12:00 pm
Lunch (provided)
1:00 pm
Committee Meeting Block 2

Soil and Ecosystem Dynamics (DMF 340)

Interpretations (DMF 240)

Hydric Soils (DMF 260)

Research Priorities (DMF 342)

Urban (DMF 259)

1:50 pm
Break and Transfer Committee Meetings
2:00 pm
Committee Meeting Block 3

Standards (DMF 340)

Interpretations (DMF 240)

Taxonomy (DMF 260)

Research Priorities (DMF 342)

Technologies (DMF 259)

2:50 pm
Break and Transfer Committee Meetings (refreshments available)
3:00 pm
Committee Meeting Block 4

Soil and Ecosystem Dynamics (DMF 340)

Bylaws (DMF 342)

Hydric Soils (DMF 260)

Coastal Zone (DMF 240)

Urban (DMF 259)

4:00 pm
Meetings

Cooperator’s Meeting (DMF 260)

State Soil Scientist Meeting (DMF 259)

5:00 pm
Dinner (on your own)

Wednesday, July 31

7:15 am
Convene outside of Hotel 1620 and board buses
7:30 am
Field Tour (lunch and dinner provided)
4:30 pm
Dinner Social (cash bar and dinner provided)
8:00 pm
Buses return to Hotel 1620

Thursday, August 1

7:00 am
Registration and Networking (coffee and light breakfast included)

Dana Mohler-Faria Science (DMF) and Mathematics Center Atrium

8:00 am
Welcome

Moderator: Donald Parizek

8:05 am
Committee Reports

Standards

Bylaws

Taxonomy

Coastal Zone

Technologies

Soil and Ecosystem Dynamics

Interpretations

Hydric Soils

Research Priorities

Urban

Cooperator’s Report

10:00 am
Break
10:15 am
125 years of Soil Survey – The Past and the Future

125th Anniversary of Soil Survey (virtual presentation)
Jennifer Mason, National Resource Soil Scientist for Training (Compliance), USDA NRCS Soil and Plant Science Division

Climate Hub Update
Sara Keleman, ORISE Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Fellow USDA Northeast Climate Hub

Special Projects Region – Urban Special Projects Office Update
Donald Parizek, USDA NRCS Special Projects Region, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA NRCS

Special Projects Region – Coastal Zone Soil Survey Update
Rob Tunstead, Special Projects Region, Soil and Plant Science Division, USDA NRCS

11:30 am
Business Meeting
12:00 pm
Closing Remarks
12:15 pm
Adjourn