Announcements 2026.7.9

[Walker, Jane]

VWMC Members: Make plans to attend the 2026 VWMC Conference and help share the conference information with your colleagues, friends, and listservs.

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2026 Virginia Water Monitoring Council Conference -- September 29, 2026 -- Hanover, VA – Presentations will focus on monitoring and modeling the Potomac Interceptor sewer line collapse, data centers and water demand, benthic macroinvertebrate surveys, hellbender salamanders, and more.  Early-bird registration rates end July 31, 2026 (5pm). More information is available at https://vwmc.vwrrc.vt.edu/conferences/. 
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1.) Paddle the James: Canoe Landing to Dixon Landing -- July 12, 19, and 26, 2026
2.) Webinar -- Growing Resilience: Healthy Forests in the Chesapeake Watershed and Beyond – July 15, 2026
3.) Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) Events – Various Dates, Starting: July 15, 2026
4.) Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Trainings – Various Dates, Starting: July 21, 2026
5.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events – Various Dates, Starting: July 22, 2026
6.) River Safety Day -- July 25, 2026
7.) Chesapeake Bay Paddle -- July 25, 2026
8.) Funding Opportunity: WaterSMART Drought Response Program – Submissions Due: July 28, 2026
9.) Call for Abstracts: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2026 – Submission Deadline: August 5, 2026; Meeting: December 7-11, 2026
10.) Call for Workshop Proposals: Future Harvest Conference -- Proposals Due: August 15, 2026; Conference: January 21-22, 2027
11.) Virginia Department of Health: Waterborne Hazards Control Programs – https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/
12.) Research Request: Algae Bloom Reporting – https://sites.wp.odu.edu/mulhollandLab/algae-bloom-reporting/
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.) Paddle the James: Canoe Landing to Dixon Landing -- July 12, 19, and 26, 2026 (1-4pm) -- Gladstone, VA -- This event is an approximately 2-mile, ranger-guided canoe float between Canoe Landing and Dixon Landing. The tour will last around 2 hours, depending on river flow. Rangers will share stories of the James River’s history, point out aquatic wildlife, and highlight the unique plants and animals that call the area home. The tour is beginner friendly and will cover paddling techniques and safety skills. For more information and to register, see https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/state-parks/event?id=2026-04-22-11-07-09-982064-lte. Organized by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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2.) Webinar -- Growing Resilience: Healthy Forests in the Chesapeake Watershed and Beyond – July 15, 2026 (12-1pm) – This webinar will explore the latest recommendations from a Chesapeake Bay Science and Technical Advisory Committee workshop on keeping forests healthy.  For more information and to register, see https://chesapeake.org/crc-roundtable/. Organized by the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC).
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3.) Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) Events -- Learn more about these events and others at https://riverfriends.org/events/.
   ++ Farmer’s Right to Know: PFAS and Biosolids -- July 15, 2026 (6:30-8pm) -- Warsaw, VA
   ++ Summer Culpeper Litter Cleanup -- July 25, 2026 (9-10:30am) -- Culpeper, VA
   ++ Lower Rappahannock Field Trip Volunteer Training -- August 12, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Warsaw, VA
   ++ Cat Point Creek Spruce Up -- August 15, 2026 (8am-12pm) -- Warsaw, VA
   ++ Upper Rappahannock Field Trip Volunteers Training -- September 9, 2026 (9:30am-12pm) -- Rapidan, VA
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4.) Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Trainings
   ++ Meadow Management Workshop -- July 21, 2026 (9am-1pm; online); optional Day 2: July 23, 2026 (9am-2:30pm) -- Berwick, PA -- https://certified.cblpro.org/product/meadow-management/.
   ++ CBLP Level 1 Training -- Participants can either complete 2 full in-person days or 2 half days online and one full day in person. Participants are eligible for professional development Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through multiple organizations and agencies.  Learn more and register at https://cblpro.org/cblp-level-1/.
      == Hybrid Option: Online Session: August 4-5, 2026 (9am-12:15pm), plus one, in-person, field day: August 13, 2026 (Petersburg, VA); September 15, 2026 (Waynesboro, VA) plus others;
      == In-person: August 12-13, 2026 (Petersburg, VA); September 14-15, 2026 (Waynesboro, VA) plus others
   ++ Living Shorelines Class -- September 18, 2026 (online); September 22-23, 2026 (Hampton, VA); October 16, 2026 (online) -- Gain skills to design and implement resilient shoreline projects, navigate permitting, and protect coastal ecosystems. Learn more and register at https://cblpro.org/cblp-shorelines/.
   ++ CBLP Level 2 Training -- November 19-21, 2026 -- Woodbridge, VA -- This advanced training is designed for experienced landscape professionals. Choose to pursue a Design (CBLP-D) credential, an Installation (CBLP-I) credential, or both. Learn more and register at https://certified.cblpro.org/level-2/. Save $100 during the month of July with the coupon code “SAVEL2.”
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5.) 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.
   ++ PRISM Summer Meeting with Guest Speaker Ethan Tapper -- July 22, 2026 (11:30am-1pm)
   ++ Webinar: Stream Health and Invasive Plants -- July 29, 2026 (12-1 pm) -- Speaker: Lisa Wittenborn, Executive Director, Rivanna Conservation Alliance
   ++ Webinar: Boots on the Ground: Advancing Invasive Species Management in an Urban Park -- August 13, 2026 (12-1pm) – Speakers: Laura Greenleaf, founder of the James River Park System’s Invasive Plant Task Force, and Catherine McGuigan, Invasive Plant Management Coordinator
   ++ 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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6.) River Safety Day -- July 25, 2026 (11am-2pm) -- Richmond, VA -- This is a hands-on community event focused on staying safe, smart, and confident on the James River. Attendees will learn essential river safety tips, watch live demonstrations, meet local rescue and outdoor organizations, and enjoy activities for all ages. For more information, see https://www.facebook.com/events/pony-pasture-park-james-river-park-system/river-safety-day/3368890673288525/. Organized by the James River Park System.
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7.) Chesapeake Bay Paddle -- July 25, 2026 -- Kent Island, MD -- There will be 3 paddle races during this event.  All registration fees will be donated to Waterkeepers Chesapeake, Oyster Recovery Partnership, and Chesapeake Conservancy.  For more information and to register, see https://www.baypaddle.org/. Hosted by Kent Island Outrigger Canoe Club.
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8.) Funding Opportunity: WaterSMART Drought Response Program – Submissions Due: July 28, 2026 – Offering support for both drought contingency planning and on-the-ground resilience projects, as part of ongoing federal investments to help water systems better prepare for and respond to drought challenges.  Learn more about the program at https://www.usbr.gov/drought/ and the current funding opportunity at https://www.grants.gov/search-results-detail/361415.  Offered by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation.
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9.) Call for Abstracts: American Geophysical Union (AGU) 2026 – Submission Deadline: August 5, 2026; Meeting: December 7-11, 2026 -- San Francisco, CA -- Abstracts should focus on scientific results, enabling Earth and space science or its application, or the contributions of the Earth and space sciences to society.  Learn more and submit at https://www.agu.org/annual-meeting/present.
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10.) Call for Workshop Proposals: Future Harvest Conference -- Proposals Due: August 15, 2026; Conference: January 21-22, 2027 -- Silver Spring, Md -- Theme: “Planting a Legacy: From the Past, in the Present, and for Our Future,” -- Accepting proposals for approximately 75–90-minute workshops that educate the public and do not advertise a specific product or service. Learn more and apply at https://futureharvest.org/2027conference/. If you have ideas for more intensive workshops (two hours or more) or informal farmer to farmer chats (usually 45-60 min), email confe...@futureharvest.org. If you want to share about a product, email spon...@futureharvest.org. Hosted by Future Harvest. 
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11.) Virginia Department of Health: Waterborne Hazards Control Programs – Information provided by the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) at https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/.
   ++ Swimming Advisories and Monitored Beaches Map -- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/swimming-advisories-and-monitored-beaches-map/
   ++ Beach Data -- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/statistics/
   ++ Harmful Algal Bloom (HAB) Dashboard -- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/algal-bloom-surveillance-map/
   ++ HAB Online Report Form -- https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/waterborne-hazards-control/harmful-algal-bloom-online-report-form/ -- Report potential harmful algal blooms (form accepts photos).  Report suspected illness due to HAB exposure, at 888-238-6154. Report fish kills at 1-800-468-8892. 
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12.) Research Request: Algae Bloom Reporting – If a bloom is observed in the lower Chesapeake Bay, lower James River, Virginia Beach (coastal Atlantic Ocean), coastal bays, or anywhere else connected to the Chesapeake Bay, contact VDH as described above and also contact phyt...@odu.edu.  ODU is doing research on potentially harmful algal blooms and would like to take a sample if the location is known.  If possible, add a photo along with a general or GPS location. Learn more about the work at https://sites.wp.odu.edu/mulhollandLab/algae-bloom-reporting/.
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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.