Announcements 2026.6.26

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS) News – Various Dates, Starting: June 27, 2026
2.) Training: Chesapeake Urban Stormwater Professionals (CUSP) – Registration Closes for Course 1: June 28, 2026; Course 1 Starts: July 1, 2026
3.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events – Various Dates, Starting June 29, 2026
4.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) News
   ++ Residential End Uses of Water, Version 3: A Single-Family and Multi-Family Study -- June 30, 2026
5.) James River Association (JRA) Events – Various Dates, Starting: July 7, 2026
6.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Events – Various Dates, Starting: July 7, 2026
7.) EPA's 2026 National Cyber Drill -- July 8, 2026
8.) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Office Hours – July 8, 2026; August 12, 2026; September 9, 2026
9.) Virginia Conservation Network Annual Photo Contest – Submissions Due: July 17, 2026
10.) Course: Geomorphic & Ecological Fundamentals of River & Stream Restoration -- August 17-21, 2026
11.) The Taste: Celebrate the Chesapeake -- September 10, 2026
12.) 2026 Annual Virginia Retail Garden Center Survey – Ends: September 2026
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 Julia Porter, VWMC intern, for developing and organizing this week’s set of VWMC announcements.
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1.) Virginia Native Plant Society (VNPS) News – Download or order regional Virginia Native Plant Guides at https://vnps.org/virginia-native-plant-guides/. Learn about upcoming VNPS State and Chapter Events at https://vnps.org/events/.
   ++ June 27, 2026 (10am-1pm) -- National Forest Appreciation Day at Pandapas Pond -- Blacksburg, VA (New River Chapter)
   ++ July 1, 2026 (10am-1pm) -- Potowmack Chapter Native Plant Sale -- Alexandria VA (Potowmack Chapter)
   ++ July 10, 2026 (10am-12pm) -- Nature Journaling at Lake Accotink with Jen Brown -- Springfield Virginia (Potowmack Chapter)
   ++ July 11, 2026 (10am-12pm) -- Garden Tour in King George County (Central Rappahannock Chapter)
   ++ July 17, 2026 (9-11am) -- Ferns of Riverbend Park with Kit Sheffield -- Great Falls VA (Potowmack Chapter)
   ++ July 23, 2026 (7-8pm) -- Native Bees and Native Plants: Partners in Pollination, A Zoom Presentation with Barb Abraham (John Clayton Chapter)
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2.) Training: Chesapeake Urban Stormwater Professionals (CUSP) – Registration Closes for Course 1: June 28, 2026; Course 1 Starts: July 1, 2026 -- This free stormwater management training program offers two courses that cover watershed science, municipal stormwater permit management, and Chesapeake Bay restoration. Learn more and register at https://chesapeakestormwater.org/cusp/.  Organized by the Chesapeake Stormwater Network.
   ++ Course 1: Science and Stormwater Practices – Starts: July 1, 2026
   ++ Course 2: Stormwater Policy and Programs – Starts: September 30, 2026
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3.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events -- For more information about these events and others and to register, see https://blueridgeprism.org/events.
   ++ Northern Blue Ridge Conservation Stewards Workdays -- June 29, 2026 (Front Royal, VA); June 30, 2026 (Boyce, VA)
   ++ Central Blue Ridge & Piedmont Conservation Stewards Workdays -- June 30, 2026 (Piney River, VA)
   ++ PRISM Summer Meeting with Guest Speaker Ethan Tapper -- July 22, 2026 (11:30am-1pm)
   ++ Virginia Invasive Plant ID & Control Tool – This online tool helps individuals identify invasive plant species. Learn more and access the tool at https://blueridgeprism.org/plants.
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4.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) News -- For more information about webcasts and to register for them, visit https://www.waterrf.org/webcasts. For information about request for proposals (RFPs) and requests for qualifications, see https://www.waterrf.org/proposals.
   ++ Residential End Uses of Water, Version 3: A Single-Family and Multi-Family Study -- June 30, 2026 (3pm)
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5.) James River Association (JRA) Events – Learn more about these events and others at https://thejamesriver.org/events/.
   ++ James River Watch – Updated Fridays (TODAY) -- https://thejamesriver.org/james-river-watch/ -- This water quality monitoring program communicates river conditions across the James River basin.  View the map or sign up for email notifications.
   ++ Citizen Science with JRA Teacher Professional Learning Workshop -- July 7, 2026 (9am-4pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Green Infrastructure & Problem-Based Learning Teacher Professional Learning Workshop -- July 15, 2026 (9am-4pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Seasons of the James: Summer Wildlife and River Recreation -- July 18, 2026 (11am-12pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Invasive Species Removal at Chapel Island -- July 24, 2026 (9-11am) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Invasive Species Removal at Chapel Island -- August 14, 2026 (9-11am) -- Richmond, VA
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6.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Events -- Learn about these and other events, including numerous oyster gardening seminars and roundups, at https://www.cbf.org/events/.
   ++ Tiny Forest Tuesdays -- July 7, 2026 and August 4, 2026 (All: 9-11am) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Richmond VoiCeS Class – Registration Deadline: July 13, 2026; Event: July 15, 2026 – Richmond, Va.
   ++ Paint & Sip for the Bay – Registration Deadline: July 15, 2026; Event: July 17, 2026 (6-8pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Webinar: Beyond Clean the Bay Day -- July 16, 2026 (6:30-7:30pm)
   ++ Bunker Talk: Why Menhaden Matter -- July 19, 2026 (5:30-8pm) -- Alexandria, VA
   ++ Environmental Education Programs – Various dates and registration deadlines – Various locations -- Learn more about these programs at https://www.cbf.org/environmental-education/.
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7.) EPA's 2026 National Cyber Drill -- July 8, 2026 (1-3pm) -- This exercise is designed to challenge drinking water and wastewater utilities to maintain critical system functions in an environment where telecommunications and internet access are no longer available. It will enable participants to identify barriers and dependencies while reinforcing continuity of safe and reliable water and wastewater services in the absence of telecommunications and internet connectivity. For more information and to register, see https://www.epa.gov/cyberwater/epa-2026-national-cyber-drill. Organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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8.) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Office Hours – July 8, 2026; August 12, 2026; September 9, 2026 (2-3pm) -- The WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program at EPA. It aims to accelerate investment in water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia (see “Connect with the WIFIA Program” for information on office hours). Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a WIFIA staff member at https://www.epa.gov/wifia/schedule-meeting-wifia-staff or by emailing wi...@epa.gov
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9.) Virginia Conservation Network Annual Photo Contest – Submissions Due: July 17, 2026 -- All levels of photography experience are welcome to submit photos of either outdoor recreation in Virginia, close encounters with nature, people-centered communities, or transitioning to clean energy. There will be a grand prize winner as well as winners in each category. Submissions could be featured in environmental publications while supporting environmental goals and advocating for the protection of our natural resources. For more information and to submit, see https://vcnva.org/photo-contest/. Organized by the VA Conservation Network.
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10.) Course: Geomorphic & Ecological Fundamentals of River & Stream Restoration -- August 17-21, 2026 -- Truckee, CA -- This five-day introductory course emphasizes understanding the geomorphic and ecological process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration, and will cover general principles and case studies from a wide range of environments. For more information and to register, see https://berkeleyriverlab.org/geomorphic-ecological-fundamentals-of-river-and-stream-restoration/. Organized by the Berkeley River Lab.
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11.) The Taste: Celebrate the Chesapeake -- September 10, 2026 -- Richmond, VA -- This fundraiser event supports the work of the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay. The event will feature live music, locally-inspired eats, awards, and camaraderie, and aims to bring together like-minded corporations and conservationists within three distinct Chesapeake Bay watershed communities. Early-bird tickets are available through July 6, 2026. For more information and to purchase a ticket, see https://www.allianceforthebay.org/event/thetaste/. Organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
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12.) 2026 Annual Virginia Retail Garden Center Survey – Ends: September 2026 -- Report invasive plants for sale you see at your local garden center by filling out the survey form at https://virginiainvasives.org/garden-center-survey. Available for mobile phones and allows picture uploads. Organized by The Virginia Invasive Plant Coalition.
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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 Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Water Resources Research Center with funding from the U.S. Geological Survey. Thank you to our sponsors!

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.