8th Conference on Natural Channel Systems
Hosted by the Natural Channels Initiative, June 8-10, 2026, at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
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About the Natural Channels Initiative
The Natural Channels Initiative (NCI) is a group of Canadian water resources professionals dedicated to the restoration and sustainable management of rivers and streams using natural channel design principles. The core principle of the Natural Channel Initiative is to manage our watercourses to be naturally functional, dynamically stable, healthy, productive, sustainable, to deal with the fundamental root cause of issues, and to work with the natural processes taking place within our river systems.
Since the 1990s, one of the main outputs from the NCI is the hosting of conferences to advance natural channel restoration through knowledge sharing, workshops, training, and networking.
What to Expect at the Natural Channels Conference
The First Natural Channel Systems conference was held in Niagara Falls in 1994. Since then, NCI has hosted seven conferences across Southern Ontario to bring together practitioners across various industries, public agencies, academia, and other organizations that are passionate about watercourse management, and to share knowledge and lessons learned on topics such as:
- Restoring the geomorphic stability of streams
- Enhancing aquatic and riparian ecosystems
- Developing sustainable, self-maintaining channel systems
- Integrating multidisciplinary knowledge into watercourse management
- Machine learning and modelling in fluvial geomorphology
- Overcoming challenges during design, implementation and post-construction phases
- Building resilient watersheds as natural infrastructure for climate change adaptation
2026 Conference Theme
The 8th Conference on Natural Channel Systems will be held at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario from June 8-10, 2026. The focus of the conference is:
Resilient River Corridors: Navigating Challenges, Opportunities and Change
The natural channel system encompasses more than just the channel, focusing on the river corridor shifts the thinking to include the area of land surrounding the channel that provides the floodplain and riparian functions necessary to maintain a naturally stable and healthy river corridor.
At this conference we will look back at what factors have affected and changed our river corridors since the conference was first held 30 years ago. We will also explore the new challenges and opportunities presented to the natural channel system practitioners. Our focus will be on the importance of addressing the river corridor in our watercourse management practices. The conference will include keynotes, concurrent sessions, workshops/training sessions/tours, a young professionals event, and a banquet.
Date & Location
The 8th Conference on Natural Channel Systems will be held on June 8-10, 2026 at McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario in the Peter George Centre for Living and Learning building.
What to Watch For / Coming Soon
Sponsorship and Exhibitor Opportunities
Coming Soon
Partner with us: Build connections and showcase your brand to a targeted, engaged audience — sponsorship opportunities coming soon.
Our sponsorship and exhibiting prospectus will be ready soon, offering a chance to partner with us and gain visibility among a targeted audience.
Stay tuned for more sponsorship and exhibitor details early this summer.
Accommodations
This fall
We’ve secured a variety of on-site residence accommodations at McMaster University, and are arranging a nearby hotel with a discounted rates for attendees.
Full accommodations details will be available this fall.
Training Opportunities
This fall
Our committee is hard at work preparing a range of valuable training opportunities and hands-on workshops for Sunday, June 7, 2026. Whether you’re looking to enhance your skills or dive into new areas of knowledge, we’ve got something for everyone.
Stay tuned for detailed session topics, expert facilitators, and registration information coming this fall.
Call for Sessions & Abstracts
This fall and winter
Your ideas matter! Submit your session ideas and abstract and join the conversation.
Will you be ready to share your research, insights, or innovations with a dynamic community of professionals and thought leaders?
We will be inviting submissions for session ideas this fall, followed by call for abstracts this winter.
Keynote Announcements
Stay Tuned
Our Keynote Speaker lineup will be announced starting this fall. Stay tuned for updates.
News & Announcements
May 2025 – Website for the 8th Conference on Natural Channel Systems launched