2025 Conference Summary

The 2025 MNAFPM conference was held in St. Cloud, MN for the third time from November 12th to the 14th. Nearly 125 floodplain managers, state and federal regulators, academics, design professionals, consultants, and students from Minnesota and neighboring states attended.

As in years past, the conference began on Wednesday with a few trainings and a field tour around the area to visit a variety of flood related projects. Training topics included national floodplain regulations, statewide funding opportunities, modeling software, and use of roadway embankments as dams. The field tour was led by the City of St. Cloud and the Stearns Conservation District. Highlights of the tour included the City's hydroelectric dam and Highbanks Ravine project followed by the Conservation District's Mississippi River County Park Streambank Stabilization Project. The tour highlighted how floodplain management has evolved over time on this Mississippi River and how these projects have uniquely integrated nature-based design components. 

The opening plenary was held that evening and featured Bob Brezinka from Stearns County Emergency Management on Jon Roeschlein of the Sauk River Watershed District. Each touched on recent updates and initiatives for flood response, flood mitigation, and other programs intended to build consensus and increase collaboration among entities for greater project impacts.

The second day of the conference kicked off bright and early with the MNAFPM Membership Meeting. The morning plenary featured Ceil Strauss (MNDNR) and Meg Galloway (ASFPM), each providing an update on ongoing efforts and upcoming initiatives at the state and national levels. This was followed by a full day consisting of a wide range of breakout sessions offered by state and local officials as well as engineering consults.  After the flood of concurrent sessions had receding, Adam Nies and and Mohsen Tahmasebi Nasab were seen carrying home the coveted 2025 Best Speaker Awards. Awards were given to Jeff Weiss for Floodplain Manager of the Year and the Rice Creek Watershed District for Project of the Year. The third day concluded the conference and included an in-person option to take the CFM exam. 

Lisa Buchli Floodplain Manager of the Year Award
Jeff Weiss (MN DNR)

Top Speaker Awards
Adam Nies (Houston Engineering, Inc.)

Mohsen Tahmasebi Nasab (AECOM)

Project of the Year Award
Hansen Park Water Quality and Flood Control Project