Marriott East Lansing at University Place, 300 M.A.C. Avenue, East Lansing, Michigan
June 2 – 4, 2026 with a Pre-conference workshop on June 1, 2026
Registrations open through Friday May 22, 2026. If you cannot make it in person, there is a virtual option.
Meeting Objectives
- Advance Conservation Drainage Adoption
- Strengthen Collaboration Across the Drainage Community
- Identify Research Priorities and Knowledge Gaps
- Showcase Innovations in Drainage Technology and Management
- Support Nutrient Loss Reduction and Water Quality Goals
- Inform Policy, Funding, and Implementation Pathways
Agenda Overview
1:00 – 2:30 pm
Automated Controlled Drainage: Hardware, Data Portal, and Management
Instructors:
- Dr. Vinayak Shedekar, Ohio State University
- Ben Reinhart, Ecosystem Services Exchange
- Josh Schuler, Agri Drain Inc.
This session will feature advances in Controlled Drainage Technology. Participants will learn about the automation hardware, capabilities, installation considerations, and the real-time data access portal and management guidance.
2:30 – 2:45 pm Break
2:45 – 5:00 pm
Conservation Drainage Decision-Support Tools
Instructors:
- Dr. Ehsan Ghane, Michigan State University
- Dr. Falasy Anamelechi, Michigan State University
- Dr. Vinayak Shedekar, Ohio State University
- Ashkan Tehrani, Michigan State University
This session introduces the new Controlled Drainage Tool (CDTool) and Saturated Buffer Tool (SBTool) – interactive decision-support tools that evaluate the performance of conservation drainage practices under site-specific conditions.
Participants will learn how to quantify the nitrate‑removal benefits of conservation drainage practices, identify suitable sites for implementing controlled drainage or saturated buffers, evaluate system performance under various weir‑management strategies, and estimate the overall cost‑effectiveness of conservation drainage systems.
6:00 – 8:00 pm
Welcome Reception in the Terrace Space at the Marriott Hotel
7:00 – 8:00 am
Registration and Continental Breakfast – Terrace at the Marriott
8:00 – 9:00 am
Welcome and Introductions
9:00 – 10:15 am
Drainage Governance and Funding
10:15 – 10:45 am Refreshment Break
10:45 am – 12:00 pm
Drainage Systems Management
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 pm
State Drainage Reports and Poster Session 1
3:00 – 5:00 pm
Land Management and Drainage
5:00 – 6:00 pm
Conservation Drainage Network Committee Meetings
6:30 – 8:30 pm Social Mixer
7:15 – 8:15 am
Business Meeting for NCERA-217
7:00 – 8:30 am
Continental Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 am
Innovative Strategies for Reducing Phosphorus Loss and Improving Water Quality
10:00 – 10:30 am Refreshment Break
10:30 am – 12:00 pm
Research and Discoveries for Conservation Drainage
12:00 – 1:00 pm Lunch
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Modeling of Drainage Outcomes and Poster Session 2
3:00 – 4:30 pm
State Drainage Reports and Advancing Conservation Drainage
4:30 – 4:50 pm
Moving Conservation Drainage Forward: Committee Reports and Next Steps
4:50 – 5:00 pm
Closing
7:15 – 3:00 pm
Field Trip
- 7:45 am Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center
- This stop features MSU’s state‑of‑the‑art Dairy Cattle Teaching and Research Center, a modern facility designed to support cutting‑edge research, teaching, and Extension outreach. Participants will see advanced dairy technologies including robotic milking systems, precision feeding, manure collection and separation, and integrated nutrient management systems. The facility is closely linked with MSU’s anaerobic digester, demonstrating how livestock production, manure management, and environmental sustainability are integrated at a commercial scale.
- 8:30 am South Campus Anaerobic Digester Facility
- Participants will tour Michigan State University’s South Campus Anaerobic Digester, one of the largest university‑based digestion systems in the United States. The facility converts dairy manure and food waste into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion, generating electricity and heat for campus buildings while reducing odors, greenhouse gas emissions, and nutrient losses. The tour will highlight waste‑to‑energy processes, nutrient recovery, and the role of digesters in sustainable manure and phosphorus management.
- 10:30 am Hancock Turfgrass Research Center
- At the Hancock Turfgrass Research Center, participants will learn how MSU turfgrass scientists are supporting natural grass systems for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The tour will highlight innovative turfgrass production systems, shallow and engineered root‑zone profiles, and advanced drainage designs required to maintain high‑performance natural grass surfaces in stadium environments, including domed venues. This stop showcases how drainage engineering, soil physics, and water management principles are applied beyond agriculture to elite sports turf systems.
- 12:30 pm ADS Pipe Manufacturing Plant (Owosso, MI)
- Important Note: The ADS manufacturing plant tour is not open to representatives of competing companies. Participants who prefer no to attend the ADS tour, or who are unable to participate, may opt to be dropped off at the Marriott East Lansing following the Hancock Turfgrass Research Visitor Center.
- Participants will tour the Advanced Drainage Systems (ADS) manufacturing plant in Owosso, Michigan, a leading producer of high‑density polyethylene (HDPE) drainage pipe used in agricultural, stormwater, and conservation drainage applications. The tour will provide an inside look at modern pipe manufacturing, quality control, and recycled material use. This stop connects research and design concepts discussed at the meeting with real‑world drainage products used across agricultural landscapes.
- 3:00 pm Arrive at Marriott East Lansing
Conference Hotel Room Block
The Marriott East Lansing at University Place is offering conference attendees a group rate of $179.00 USD per night. Please book your room with the link below by Monday May 11, 2026
Conservation Drainage Network Group Rate
Presenting Sponsors
Gold Sponsors
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Bronze Sponsors
For information on how to become a sponsor, click here.