Announcements 2025.3.25

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virginia Native Plant Society News – Various Dates, Starting: March 29, 2025
2.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Volunteer Opportunities – Various Dates, Starting April 1, 2025
3.) Wetlands Stream Identification Training -- April 2, 2025 and August 20, 2025
4.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Public Participation Opportunities
   ++ TMDL Community Engagement Meeting -- Watershed Cleanup Study for Roanoke River, Tinker Creek, and Wolf Creek – April 2, 2025; Public Comment Period: April 2, 2025-May 2, 2025
   ++ Comment Period: Cleanup Study and Plan for Hat and Black Creeks (Nelson County) – Public Comment Deadline: April 4, 2025
   ++ Cleanup Study: Crooked Run, Stony Creek and Pughs Run (Shenandoah County) Meeting: April 9, 2025; Public Comment Period: April 9, 2025-May 9, 2025
5.) Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB) Upcoming Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 4, 2025
6.) Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Upcoming Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 5, 2025
7.) Lynnhaven River Now Cleanups -- April 5, 2025 and April 18-19, 2025
8.) 35^th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium – April 8-10, 2025
9.) Call for Abstracts: 45^th Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) – Submission Deadline: April 11, 2025; Symposium: November 4-7, 2025
10.) James River Leadership Expedition – Applications reviewed on a rolling bases; closes once full or April 15, 2025
11.) 2025 Virginia Brownfields Symposium – April 24, 2025
12.) Request for Proposals: 2025 Chesapeake Small Watershed Grants – Application Deadline: May 13, 2025
13.) Water Center Jobs Board – https://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/jobs/
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See recent announcements and learn more about the Virginia Water Monitoring Council (VWMC) at www.VirginiaWMC.org. Feel free to forward these announcements. When forwarding, please acknowledge the VWMC. If you have a water-related announcement of regional or statewide interest, send it to vw...@vt.edu and ask that it be distributed to the VWMC membership. If someone forwarded this message to you, you can join the VWMC for free by sending your name, water-monitoring affiliation (if applicable), and contact information (email address, mailing address, and phone number) to vw...@vt.edu. Thank you to the VWMC’s intern, Logan Flanagan, for developing today’s announcements. 
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1.) Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS) News – Various Dates, Starting: March 29, 2025
   ++ VNPS State and Chapter Events – Various Dates, Starting: March 29, 2025 -- https://vnps.org/events/
   ++ Native Plant Sales in Virginia – Various Dates, Starting: April 2, 2025 -- https://vnps.org/events/ (search “plant sale”)
   ++ Regional Virginia Native Plant Guides -- https://vnps.org/virginia-native-plant-guides/ (download or order)
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2.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation Volunteer Opportunities – Help with gardening, weeding, mulching, etc. at these events.  Learn about these events and other opportunities at https://www.cbf.org/events/, then click on calendar.
   ++ Lafayette Park Garden Maintenance -- April 1-2, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
   ++ McFadden Buffer & Living Shoreline Maintenance -- April 3, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
   ++ Weyanoke Buffer & Living Shoreline Maintenance -- April 4, 2025 (9am-12pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
   ++ Libby's Garden Maintenance -- April 8, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Virginia Beach, VA.
   ++ Brock Environmental Center Garden Maintenance -- April 9, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Virginia Beach, VA.
   ++ Sherwood Forest Elementary School Garden Maintenance -- April 14-15, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
   ++ Lindenwood Elementary School Garden Maintenance -- April 16-17, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
  ++ Clean the Bay Day -- June 7, 2025 (9am-12pm) -- Volunteer registration will open in the early April. To learn more about Clean the Bay Day, see www.cbf.org/clean or email ct...@cbf.org.
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3.) Wetlands Stream Identification Training – Gain an understanding of the science behind stream indicators and how those indicators can be used to define important criteria used to determine the upper limits of waters of the U.S. in stream channels (e.g., ordinary high-water mark). Includes afternoon field exercises. After participants attend the course, the Stream Identification Exam will become available. Learn more and register at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/wetlands-streams. Organized by the Virginia DEQ.
   ++ April 2, 2025 – DEQ Northern Regional Office – Woodbridge, VA
   ++ August 20, 2025 – DEQ Piedmont Regional Office – Glen Allen, VA
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4.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Public Participation Opportunities
   ++ TMDL Community Engagement Meeting -- Watershed Cleanup Study for Roanoke River, Tinker Creek, and Wolf Creek – April 2, 2025 (5pm), Salem, VA; Public Comment Period: April 2, 2025 to May 2, 2025 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=41353
   ++ Comment Period: Cleanup Study and Plan for Hat and Black Creeks (Nelson County) – Public Comment Deadline: April 4, 2025 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=41301
   ++ Cleanup Study: Crooked Run, Stony Creek and Pughs Run (Shenandoah County) Meeting: April 9, 2025 (5:30pm, Woodstock, VA); Public Comment Period: April 9, 2025 to May 9, 2025 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=41418
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5.) Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB) Upcoming Events – See more information about these events and others at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/get-involved/events/.
   ++ Project Clean Stream Kickoff – April 4, 2025 – Richmond, Va; Washington, DC; etc.
   ++ Treelay Event – April 5, 2025 – Richmond, Va.
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6.) Piedmont Environmental Council Upcoming Events – Learn more about these and other events at https://www.pecva.org/events/.
   ++ Volunteer at the Community Farm – April 5, 2025-October 2025 – Aldie, VA – Learn more at https://www.pecva.org/about-us/properties/gilberts-corner/community-farm/.
   ++ Native Tree Giveaway at Orvis Leesburg – April 5, 2025 (1-5pm) – Leesburg, VA
   ++ 22^nd Annual Bluebell Walk: In Tribute to Mike Stevens – April 13, 2025 (11am-1pm) – Catlett, VA
   ++ Native Tree Giveaway at Gilberts Corner Market – May 3, 2025 (10:30am-12pm) – Aldie, VA
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7.) Lynnhaven River Now Cleanups – For all events, wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle. Learn more and register at https://www.lynnhavenrivernow.org/waterway-cleanups/.
   ++ April 5, 2025 -- Lake Bradford -- This is a water-based cleanup only. Access points and parking are limited so specific details will be provided to those that register for parking and launch.
   ++ April 18-19, 2025 -- Lake Windsor -- This is a water-based cleanup only.
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8.) 35^th Annual Environment Virginia Symposium – April 8-10, 2025 – Lexington, VA – Pre-conference workshops include: 1) Leadership skills for Rising Leaders, and 2) Adapting to Changing Climate: Applications of Resilient Water Management Technologies. Learn more at https://vmieva.cventevents.com/event/bdb0e501-8619-478e-84cd-26d6f3e1f377/summary.  Co-hosted by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics, Virginia DEQ, DCR, DWR, DOF, VMRC, and the Virginia Environmental Endowment.
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9.) Call for Abstracts: 45^th Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) – Submission Deadline: April 11, 2025; Symposium: November 4-7, 2025 – Myrtle Beach, SC – Theme: “Navigating Change Together: Enhancing Lake, Reservoir, and Watershed Resilience” – Topics covered will include hazardous algal blooms, source water protection, fluctuating water levels, increased tropical storm frequency and strength, and balancing reservoir needs for water supply and recreation. Learn more and submit an abstract at https://www.nalms.org/nalms2025/. Organized by the North American Lake Management Society.
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10.) James River Leadership Expedition – Applications reviewed on a rolling bases; closes once full or April 15, 2025 – This year-long leadership program is for high school students who are interested in advocating for the James River. Students will start the program with a 5-day paddle. Following the trip, they’ll take part in a year-long leadership program with a self-designed service project. Scholarships are available for those who need it. Learn more and apply at https://thejamesriver.org/students-of-the-james/james-river-leadership-expeditions/. Organized by the James River Association.
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11.) 2025 Virginia Brownfields Symposium – April 24, 2025 – Hopewell, VA – Theme: “Measuring Success in Brownfields” – The program covers how redevelopment experts can measure success in environmental work, including economic outputs and impacts on community. Learn more and register at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-virginia-brownfields-symposium-registration-1119767718389. Hosted by the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and City of Hopewell.
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12.) Request for Proposals: 2025 Chesapeake Small Watershed Grants – Application Deadline: May 13, 2025 (12pm) – Funding is available for projects within the Chesapeake Bay watershed that promote voluntary, community-based efforts to protect and restore the diverse and vital habitats of the Chesapeake Bay. A recorded webinar detailing the RFP will be available March 31, 2025. Learn more, view the webinar, and apply at https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-small-watershed-grants/chesapeake-bay-small-watershed-grants-2025-request or https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-small-watershed-grants. Final award decisions are anticipated in August 2025. Organized by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
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13.) Water Center Jobs Board – View a listing of current job opportunities and employment resources on the Jobs Board at https://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/jobs/.  Developed by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center (Water Center).
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The VWMC announcements are provided with support from the Virginia Water Resources Research Center. Thank you to our sponsor!

You too can sponsor the VWMC announcements.  Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the VWMC to support information updates and other VWMC activities.  Make checks payable to: “The Virginia Tech Foundation” and on the memo portion of the check include “VWMC Fund #872802.” Mail contributions to the Virginia Water Resources Research Center (0444, Attn: Jane Walker) at 210 Cheatham Hall, Virginia Tech; 310 West Campus Drive; Blacksburg, VA 24061.