Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals upcoming events

Local NWAEP Screenings - NAEP Cutting-Edge Technologies Transforming Environmental Practice: AI, IoT, Geospatial Technology, and Digital Twins (Wednesday, September 30, 2026)

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 18:00:00 GMT

LOCAL NWAEP SCREENINGS

Join NWAEP/NAEP hosts Kim Wetzel at Jacobs' Portland Office (2020 SW Fourth Avenue, 3rd Floor) or Brian Durkin at ESA's Seattle Office (2801 Alaskan Way, Suite 200) to view the virtual webinar in person. Please register by September 29th so Kim and Brian know how many will be attending.

Please register for this event if you will be attending either one of the local NWAEP screenings.

For more information on the virtual webinar from NAEP, or to register through NAEP to directly stream the virtual webinar yourself, please click below:

NAEP Webinar Information and Registration

Virtual Webinar Description:

The rapid convergence of Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Large Language Models, Internet of Things sensor networks, remote-sensing technologies, and geospatial analytics is dramatically changing the environmental sector. These emerging tools are equipping organizations with the capability to collect, analyze, and act upon environmental data at unprecedented levels of precision, speed, and insight-thereby enabling a shift from reactive monitoring toward proactive environmental stewardship.AI and ML are leading this transformation through the most advanced capabilities for pattern recognition, predictive modeling, and anomaly detection in large datasets. These tools underpin real-time environmental risk assessment, climate modeling, and optimization of natural resources. LLMs, as the newest evolution in AI, even further facilitate accessibility and communication by interpreting complex environmental data, automating technical documentation, and providing conversational interaction with geospatial and regulatory databases. Such democratization of data intelligence speeds up decision-making and reduces barriers between technical experts, policy makers, and the public.

Meanwhile, IoT devices and remote sensing platforms-including drones and satellites-are scaling up the coverage and frequency of environmental data acquisition. IoT sensors monitor air and water quality, soil conditions, and emissions on a continuous basis, while drones and satellites provide high-resolution imagery for large-scale environmental assessment, habitat mapping, and disaster response. Linked to AI analytics, these technologies form a near-real-time feedback system to track environmental change and guide mitigation strategies.

Geospatial Technologies and Digital Twins form the heart of this data ecosystem, represented by intelligent, 3D representations of physical environments that integrate spatial data, AI analytics, and real-time IoT inputs. Digital twins thus allow environmental professionals to simulate and visualize complex scenarios involving flood risk, urban heat islands, or infrastructure resilience. By connecting predictive analytics to spatial context, they make environmental management adaptive and evidence-based. Taken together, these technologies are driving a new paradigm of intelligent, data-driven environmental management wherein continuous sensing, spatial analytics, and AI reasoning come together to enhance the sustainability, resilience, and decision-making at every scale, from ecosystems to cities.

This event is not presented or sponsored by NWAEP, it is shared as a courtesy to our parent national organization National Association of Environmental Professionals (NAEP). Please check NAEP Events Page for more details on all NAEP events and registration.

NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixer, (10/1) Portland (Thursday, October 01, 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:30:00 GMT

NWAEP FIRST THURSDAY NETWORKING MIXERS

Thursday, October 1, 2026

5:30 – 7:30 PM

Portland - This month will be a joint mixer with PSU, AWA, & AOA

NWAEP monthly First Thursday networking events are a great opportunity for you to meet, network, and stay informed with local environmental professionals. These events also provide an opportunity to connect with the NWAEP board to contribute ideas for future events, speakers, topics, trainings, and more.

NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixer, (10/1) Seattle/Tacoma and Sporting Kansas City at Seattle Sounders soccer match (Thursday, October 01, 2026)

Fri, 02 Oct 2026 00:30:00 GMT

NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixer (Seattle/Tacoma)

followed by

Sporting Kansas City at Seattle Sounders soccer match (Active NWAEP Members)! ⚽

First Thursday Networking Mixers are free and open to both NWAEP Members and non-members. NWAEP members in good standing receive one free drink ticket — so make sure your membership is up to date before you come! Due to the match start time, this is a shorter mixer, we will be heading over at 6:30 p.m. and there is no registration/RSVP for Mixer ONLY attendees this month. If you won't be attending the game, you're more than welcome to come meet and network with us ahead of the match.

SEATTLE/TACOMA

Hatback Bar & Grille

1201 1st Ave S

Seattle, WA 98134

5:30 - 6:30 PM

NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixers (bimonthly in Seattle and monthly in Tacoma) are a great opportunity for you to meet, network, and stay informed with local environmental professionals. These events also provide an opportunity to connect with the NWAEP board to contribute ideas for future events, speakers, topics, trainings, and more.

After the First Thursday Networking Mixer, continue the evening with NWAEP at Lumen Field as the Seattle Sounders host Sporting Kansas City! We will head to the stadium for the 6:30 PM kickoff and enjoy an exciting MLS matchup together! Registration for the match is currently limited to active NWAEP members. Members click the link below to register, seats are limited! If your membership needs updated, or you've been thinking about joining NWAEP and would like to attend the match with us, now is the perfect time to update or join!

Only 20 tickets are available, so register here ASAP!

Special thanks to Holt Services, Inc. for generously donating the match tickets for this event!

SEATTLE

Lumen Field

800 Occidental Ave S

Seattle, WA 98134

6:30 PM

Whether you are a longtime soccer fan or simply looking to connect with fellow environmental professionals, this event offers the perfect blend of networking and entertainment. Bring your Sounders spirit and join NWAEP for an exciting evening at Lumen Field! We look forward to seeing you there!

Local NWAEP Screenings - NAEP 2025 NEPA Case Law Review (Thursday, October 15, 2026)

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 16:00:00 GMT

LOCAL NWAEP SCREENINGS

Join NWAEP/NAEP hosts in one of four locations to view the virtual webinar in person. Please register by October 14th so Kim, Brian, Lindsey, and Tess know how many will be attending.

Kim Wetzel at Jacobs' Portland Office (2020 SW Fourth Avenue, 3rd Floor)
Brian Durkin at ESA's Seattle Office (2801 Alaskan Way, Suite 200)
Lindsey Amtmann at Jacobs' Bellevue Office (1100 112th Ave NE Ste 500, Bellevue, WA 98004)
Tess Amen at Jacobs' Spokane Office (999 W Riverside Ave #500, Spokane, WA 99201)

Please register for this event if you will be attending any of the local NWAEP screenings.

For more information on the virtual webinar from NAEP, or to register through NAEP to directly stream the virtual webinar yourself, please click below:

NAEP Webinar Information and Registration

Virtual Webinar Description:

The panel is based on a paper that reviews substantive National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) cases issued by United States Courts of Appeals in 2025. The implications of the decisions and relevance to NEPA practitioners will be explained. This session will summarize the more detailed paper prepared for this session. The paper briefly explains, with an emphasis on the substantive NEPA findings, each opinion issued by the U.S. Court of Appeals. The paper identifies statistics regarding the NEPA appellate opinions, such as twelve-year record of NEPA cases, organized by circuit, and by year. The paper also identifies the agencies involved in each case and presents statistics relevant to the agencies; the paper further identifies the prevailing ratio of federal agencies, including by agency and by document type (categorical exclusion, environmental assessment, environmental impact statement). The paper analyzes the trends in the court opinions involving NEPA for 2025, with an emphasis on substantive NEPA practice, and by grouping of the cases. Finally, each court opinion is paraphrased and organized in a manner easy to read for practitioners to find the court's ruling. Appellate opinions are grouped and analyzed by agency. Past trends include challenges to purpose and need, alternatives considered, public comment, scientific impact assessment methodologies, GHG emissions and climate change impact assessment, incomplete or unavailable information, determination of significance, segmentation, duty to supplement, connected actions, federal actions, cumulative impact assessment, mitigation, monitoring and adaptive management. Suggestions for improving the implementation of the NEPA process and to meeting current challenges are offered, looking ahead to the future with renewed emphasis on one of the world's oldest and most forward-looking environmental laws.

NWAEP First Thursday Networking Mixers, (11/5) Portland & Tacoma (Thursday, November 05, 2026)

Fri, 06 Nov 2026 01:30:00 GMT

NWAEP FIRST THURSDAY NETWORKING MIXERS

Thursday, November 5, 2026

5:30 – 7:30 PM

Portland & Tacoma

First Thursday mixers are free and open to both NWAEP Members and non-members. NWAEP members in good standing receive one free drink ticket — so make sure your membership is up to date before you come! Also, please RSVP to let us know you are attending.

PORTLAND

Wayfinder
304 SE 2nd Ave

TACOMA
7 Seas Brewing
2101 Jefferson Avenue

NWAEP/IdAEP Regional Conference (Wednesday, November 03, 2027)

Wed, 03 Nov 2027 15:00:00 GMT

We are thrilled to share the official details for the 2027 Northwest Association of Environmental Professionals (NWAEP) and Idaho Association of Environmental Professionals (IdAEP) Regional Conference.

This premier joint regional conference will take place from November 3 to 4, 2027, at the Three Rivers Convention Center in Kennewick, WA.

This event brings together environmental consultants, regulators, industry experts, and resource managers from across the Pacific Northwest and Intermountain West.