Another Great LMVJV Waterfowl Symposium

Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture partners convened for the second time in four years to share science, management insights, and emerging ideas related to waterfowl conservation in the region. In early March, 150 participants representing 28 organizations gathered in North Little Rock for the LMVJV’s 2026 Waterfowl Symposium, making the event a strong success.

Plenary speakers—Dr. Tony Roberts, Adam Phelps, and Dr. Barbara Avers—opened the symposium with perspectives on the historical context, habitat conservation, waterfowl harvest regulations, and human dimensions of the North American Waterfowl Management Plan. Student and professional presentations highlighted conservation planning, landscape ecology, and migration and winter ecology, underscoring the diverse science and management efforts underway across the region.

Graduate students Cory Highway (Tennessee Tech University), Maddison Allen-DeVries (University of Arkansas at Monticello), and Obioma Ogwo (University of Arkansas at Monticello) were recognized with awards for Best Student Presentation, Outstanding Student Presentation, and Best Student Poster, respectively.

The Arkansas River waterfront venue and relaxed atmosphere created an ideal setting for both social and professional engagement, offering opportunities to strengthen existing partnerships and build new ones. Special thanks go to the organizational sponsors—Arkansas Game & Fish Commission, Arkansas Game & Fish Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Five Oaks Ag Research & Education Center, Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture, and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service—as well as to the entire Symposium Planning Team.