2025 York Watershed System Symposium
Celebrating the York River, Mobjack Bay, and Piankatank River basins.
The biennial York Watershed System Symposium convenes practitioners and residents throughout the York River, Mobjack Bay, Piankatank River basins, and beyond (!) for a day of knowledge exchange and networking.
Hosted by CBNERR-VA on the VIMS campus, this forum offers an opportunity to learn of watershed research, education, stewardship, and management efforts - past, present, and future - from a variety of regional perspectives.
This year's theme, Protected Areas, People, and Science, will offer a glimpse at conservation lands and waters in our watershed system - their operations, their impact, the challenges they face, and the needs surrounding them.
Find inspiration in keynotes and a series of place-based presentations, in addition to a poster expo and networking opportunities. Headlining the event this year will be Jon Jarvis, 18th Director of the National Park Service; Inaugural Executive Director and current Chairman of the Board at UC Berkeley's Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity; and William & Mary alum. Find his bio below.
- What: A forum for the exchange of place-based research, education, stewardship and management
- Where: In person (!) at the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, Gloucester Point, Virginia
- When: May 14, 2025; Save the Date!
- Who: Researchers, managers, educators, practitioners and community members operating/interested in the York Watershed System (including York River, Mobjack Bay and Piankatank River basins)
- Why: To learn about the place we live and/or work from new perspectives - and to meet the ripple makers behind it all!
- How: Call for Abstracts coming in January; Registration to follow. Stay tuned for follow-up by joining the CTP listserv!
Jon Jarvis
Jonathan (Jon) B. Jarvis served for 40 years with the National Park Service (NPS) as ranger, biologist and superintendent in national parks across the country. He was nominated by President Barack Obama and confirmed by the Senate as the 18th Director of the National Park Service (NPS), serving for the entire Obama administration from 2009 to 2017. During his tenure, he led the National Park Service and its 400 parks through its Centennial, adding 22 new parks - including those that recognize the contributions of women and people of color. Moreover, he achieved the agency's largest budget in history, launched a climate change strategy for the National Park System, and raised more than $400 million in philanthropic support.
Retiring from the NPS in 2017, he became the Inaugural Executive Director of the Institute for Parks, People and Biodiversity at the University of California, Berkeley and now serves as Chairman of the Board. He provides advice and training to national park professionals around the world including China, where he has been involved in the establishment of their national park system. In 2019, he led a team to evaluate and recommend the designation of Sanjiangyuan National Park and he is currently working on the restoration of freshwater in Qinling National Park. He has also advised the park systems in Chile, Thailand and Georgia. Jarvis has co-authored two books published by the University of Chicago Press: “The Future of Conservation in America: A Chart for Rough Water”, and "National Parks Forever: Fifty Years of Fighting and a Case for Independence”. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary (1976) and was granted an honorary PhD by W&M for his service.
Symposium Lookbacks
...And yes! We once were the "York River and Small Coastal Basins Symposium" - a region now collectively calling itself the York Watershed System!
Lingering questions?
Please address to cagonzalez@vims.edu