Princeton Hydro Receives NALMS 2026 Jim Flynn Outstanding Corporation Award

Princeton Hydro was honored to receive the 2026 Jim Flynn Outstanding Corporation Award at this year’s North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) International Symposium in Kelowna, British Columbia.

Presented annually by NALMS, the award recognizes a corporate member that has made significant contributions to the organization and its mission of fostering the management and protection of lakes and reservoirs. Chris Mikolajczyk, CLM, Princeton Hydro’s Senior Manager of Aquatics, accepted the award on behalf of our firm.

For more than 25 years, Princeton Hydro has been an active member of NALMS and worked alongside lake associations, municipalities, watershed organizations, and communities to address water quality challenges and improve freshwater resources. Earning this year’s Jim Flynn Award carries added significance because Princeton Hydro was previously honored with the Jim Flynn Award in 2004. Receiving the award again more than two decades later is a testament to our team’s continued dedication to advancing the science and practice of lake and watershed management.

The recognition capped off a busy and rewarding week at NALMS’ 46th Annual International Symposium, which brought together researchers, consultants, lake managers, government agencies, and industry professionals from across North America. This year’s theme, “Swimming Upstream: Tackling Environmental Challenges through Partnership, Innovation, & Science,” focused on addressing emerging water resource challenges through collaboration and applied science.

Kelowna provided a fitting backdrop for these discussions. While the region is known for its lakes and waterways, it’s located within one of Canada’s most water-scarce regions, where increasing demands from agriculture, urban growth, environmental flow requirements, and a warming climate place increasing pressure on available water resources.

The conference includes technical workshops, field trips, networking events, and the annual Clean Lakes Classic 5K Run/Walk, which Princeton Hydro was proud to sponsor again. A longstanding symposium tradition, the event offers attendees an opportunity to connect outside of the conference setting while enjoying the local landscape. This year’s route took participants along Kelowna’s scenic waterfront.

As part of the technical program, Chris presented “Eurasian Watermilfoil Management in a Mesotrophic Lake; an Overall Timeline and the Surprising Sediment Impacts Recently Discovered.”

Co-authored with Princeton Hydro Aquatic Ecologist Jesse Smith, the presentation examined the management of Eurasian watermilfoil and explored changes observed in lake sediments over the course of the project. The project highlights how lake ecosystems continue to evolve following management actions and offers valuable insights for developing effective long-term management strategies.

Chris also attended the symposium in his role as President of the Colorado Lake and Reservoir Management Association (CLRMA), a NALMS affiliate dedicated to supporting lake and reservoir management throughout Colorado.

As President, Chris helps organize educational opportunities, facilitate information sharing, and strengthen connections among water resource professionals across the state. The symposium also provided an opportunity to reconnect with fellow CLRMA board members and collaborate with colleagues from across North America.

His leadership with CLRMA builds on years of involvement with NALMS, including serving as NALMS President. Earlier this year, Chris joined fellow NALMS members in Washington, D.C., to advocate for federal water quality funding and programs that support lakes, reservoirs, and watersheds nationwide. You can read more about that effort in our blog, Championing Water Quality Funding: Chris Mikolajczyk, CLM Joins NALMS in Washington, DC.

We’re grateful to NALMS for the Jim Flynn Award recognition and for another incredibly fun and informative symposium. We’re proud to be a part of this incredible community of professionals dedicated to protecting, restoring, and celebrating our freshwater resources.

Congratulations to Chris, Jesse, and the entire Princeton Hydro team!

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