Restoration for the Future: Promoting resilience in our rivers and communities
Building upon our 2023 Workshop Series which included our Planting for the Future and Habitat for the Future workshops, the theme for our 2024 Riparian Restoration Conference is, Restoration for the Future: Promoting resilience in our rivers and communities. The emphasis at this conference will be on building resilience in our rivers and riparian ecosystems, as well as the surrounding human communities. How can we support climate resilience in riparian restoration work? How can we ensure that restoration work has lasting impacts that benefit both ecological and human communities?
Who attends the Riparian Restoration Conference?
Over 200 river restoration professionals, including but not limited to: land managers, scientists, non-profit organizations, watershed groups, private landowners, consultants, students, river enthusiasts, biologists, you!
When and Where
The Conference is on March 5-7, 2024 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, Colorado. Sessions will be at CMU's University Center. Click here for directions to the parking deck.
Register online for the 2024 Conference. As part of the registration process you will select the days of the conference you plan to attend and select which field trip or workshop you would like to attend. View the draft agenda below for information. Space for some workshops and fieldtrips is limited, so register soon to reserve your spot.
Registrants must register on or before January 12, 2024 (11:59 pm MT) to receive Early Registration pricing.
Presenters must register on or before January 15, 2024.
Special discounts apply for Colorado Mesa University staff and students. Contact Nicole Cook, ncook@riversedgewest.org, to learn more.
Please email Nicole, ncook@riversedgewest.org, with any questions about registration.
View the Agenda here. The timing listed on the agenda reflects Mountain Standard Time.
Agenda at a Glance:
| Day 1 - March 5 | |
| 9:00-10:00am | Check-in and Networking with Refreshments |
| 10:00-10:20am | Welcome and Overview |
| 10:20-11:00am | Keynote Address: Dr. Anna Sher, University of Denver |
| 11:00am-12:30pm | Session and Panel: Restoration in the Age of Climate Change |
| 12:30-1:40pm | Lunch |
| 1:40-3:00pm | Concurrent Sessions |
| Diverse Stakeholder Engagement | |
| Lessons Learned in Restoration | |
| 3:00-3:30pm | Break |
| 3:30-5:00pm | Session: Models for Scaling Local Capacity for Multi-Benefit Watershed Projects |
| 5:00pm | Evening Social at Trail Life Brewing |
| Day 2 - March 6 | |
| 8:00-8:30am | Check-in and Breakfast |
| 8:30-10:10am | Concurrent Sessions |
| Monitoring Changing Riparian Ecosystems | |
| Fish & Hydrology | |
| 10:10-10:40am | Break |
| 10:40am-12:20pm | Concurrent Sessions |
| Revegetation Strategies | |
| Biocontrol & Threatened and Endangered Species | |
| 12:20-1:50pm | Lunch |
| 1:50-3:10pm | Concurrent Sessions |
| Plant Community Response to Climate Change | |
| Process-Based Restoration | |
| 3:10-3:40pm | Break |
| 3:40-4:40pm | Session: The Big Picture: Lessons from Large Scale Restoration |
| 4:40-5:00pm | Closing Remarks |
| 5:00-7:00pm | Poster Session & Happy Hour |
| Day 3 - March 7 | |
| 8:00-8:30am | Check-in and Breakfast |
| 8:30-11:30am | Field Trips and Workshops |
| Palisade Insectary Tour | |
| Just Trust Me: Exploring and Understanding the Role of Trust in Collaborative Efforts | |
| Integrated Woody Invasive Management Strategies: Perspective from On-the-Ground Experiences | |
| Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area Site Visit |
|
Early (before 1/12/2024) |
Late (after 1/12/2024) |
|
|
Standard |
$375 |
$400 |
|
Student |
$100 |
$130 |
|
One Day |
$250 |
$280 |
|
Exhibitor - Business |
$610 |
$640 |
|
Exhibitor - Nonprofit |
$460 |
$490 |
Exhibitor pricing includes one registration and exhibit table.
Registrants must register on or before January 12, 2024 (11:59 pm MT) to receive Early Registration pricing.
Special discounts apply for Colorado Mesa University staff and students. Contact Nicole, ncook@riversedgewest.org, to learn more.
If you have any questions about pricing, require special documentation, or pricing adjustments, please contact Nicole at ncook@riversedgewest.org.
The deadline for RiversEdge West Conference room blocks has passed, but many conference attendees will be staying at the three following hotels.
Need a ride to Grand Junction? to the venue? to your field trip? Check out the carpooling sign-up sheet here.
Walking Distance to Venue
Hotel Maverick is less than 1/4 mile from the conference venue.
Hotel Maverick
840 Kennedy Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone: 970-822-4888
Downtown Hotels
These hotels are about 1.6 miles from the conference venue, but are walking distance to many downtown restaurants, shops, and bars!
TRU by Hilton
243 Colorado Ave
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone: 970-256-1000
SpringHill Suites by Marriott
236 Main Street
Grand Junction, CO 81501
Phone: 970-424-5777
Partner with us at the leading riparian restoration conference in the West by becoming a conference sponsor!
Why Sponsor?
Our attendees are taking a leading role in restoring riparian ecosystems and are an important audience for your organization’s message. Along with increased visibility, additional sponsor benefits include complimentary registration(s) and exhibit space.
Ask us about additional benefits for title sponsors and refer to the sponsor packet for more information.
Your contribution will directly support all aspects of the conference - from scholarships for students and networking events to the cost of facility rental and meals.
To become a sponsor, simply make your contribution here - we'll take care of the rest!
Or, mail in a check, or contact Nicole Cook, Conference Coordinator, at (970) 256-7400 or ncook@riversedgewest.org.
Mailing address:
P.O. Box 1907
Grand Junction, CO 81502
Attn: Nicole Cook
Join us as an exhibitor! Your presence as an exhibitor increases your visibility at the 2024 Conference and provides the opportunity to interact with 200+ restoration-minded professionals from across the West; from land managers and researchers, to landowners, non-profits, agencies, and private individuals.
Exhibit Hall Perks
One conference registration is included per exhibit table—Includes access to all food, presentations, and networking events
One 5’x30" table with a tablecloth and two chairs
Complimentary list of attendees (contact information excluded)
Recognition on RiversEdgeWest.org and via the conference app.
Promotion in REW social media postings before, during, and after the conference
See pricing above for exhibitor rates or learn more here.
If you have questions about being an exhibitor, please email Nicole Cook at ncook@Riversedgewest.org.
Student Poster Awards
All student posters are eligible to win one of two Student Poster Awards with a $150 prize. A panel of three RiversEdge West staff and board will evaluate each poster during the poster session. The panel will use a standardized rubric to score posters on the value of the work for restoration, effectiveness of communication, and visual appeal and organization. The top two posters will each be awarded $150 (poster presentations with more than one presenter will have the prize money divided equally between presenters).
R I V E R C H A M P I O N S P O N S O R S /// $5,000 +
River Champion sponsors receive three conference registrations, a booth in the Exhibit Hall, prominent recognition in conference materials and in the online conference app, and an opportunity to welcome attendees.
C O T T O N W O O D S P O N S O R S /// $2,500 +
Cottonwood sponsors receive two conference registrations, a booth in the Exhibit Hall, and prominent recognition in conference materials and in the online conference app
W I L L O W S P O N S O R S /// $1,000+
Willow sponsors receive one conference registration and recognition in conference materials
S E E D L I N G S P O N S O R /// $500+
Seedling sponsors receive recognition in conference materials
H A P P Y H O U R S P O N S O R S
Add your logo to this list - become a sponsor here!
The deadline to share your work at our 21st Riparian Restoration Conference has now passed.
View the Call for Abstracts for information about oral and poster presentations.
If you have questions about abstracts or deadlines, please email Nicole Cook at ncook@Riversedgewest.org.
The deadline to apply for a scholarship our 21st Riparian Restoration Conference has passed as of December 29. If you have questions about conference pricing, please contact Nicole Cook at ncook@riversedgewest.org. If you are a 2024 scholarship recipient and have questions about the next steps in the process, please contact John Leary at jleary@riversedgewest.org.
RiversEdge West fosters collaboration across diverse groups to ensure inclusive and engaged riverside communities and stewards. These entities include governments, industries, and water user groups that are comprised of a wide array of socioeconomic backgrounds, ages, and cultures. To that end, we are offering a limited number of scholarships to those lacking financial resources. Scholarship recipients are required to volunteer a portion of their time during the conference to assist with a variety of conference-related tasks.
Learn more about our biennial conferences here.
