Announcements 2026.5.5

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program Upcoming Events – Various Dates, Starting: May 7, 2026
2.) Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance -- Stakeholder Engagement Webinar: May 7, 2026; Comments Due: May 26, 2026
3.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) News – Various Dates, Starting: May 7, 2026
4.) Resilient River Star Schools Program -- Application Deadline: May 8, 2026
5.) Water and Wastewater Training – Various Dates, Starting: May 12, 2026
6.) James River Association (JRA) Events – Various Dates, Starting: May 14, 2026
7.) Notice of Public Comment: Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund Draft Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) -- Comments Due: May 15, 2026
8.) Call for Speakers/Posters: 2026 Potomac Conference -- Abstracts Due: May 15, 2026; Conference: September 9, 2026
9.) Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) Events – Various Dates, Starting: May 16, 2026
10.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Events – Various Dates, Starting: May 16, 2026
11.) American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) Technical Symposium -- May 20-21, 2026
12.) Workshop: Virginia Backyard Streambank Repair -- May 22, 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 Forest Landowner Education Program Upcoming Events – For more information about these events and others, see https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/eventscalendar.html. Organized by Virginia Cooperative Extension and partners.
   ++ Spring Venture Outdoor Series -- May 7, 2026 (Halifax, VA); May 14, 2026 (Farmville, VA); May 21, 2026 (Bedford, VA); (All: 10am-2pm)
   ++ Spring Working Woods Walk -- May 9, 2026 (10am-12pm) -- Montpelier Station, VA
   ++ 17th Annual Vegetation Management Workshop -- May 13, 2026 -- Colonial Heights, Va
   ++ Generation NEXT Webinar: Be Lawyer Ready -- May 27, 2026 (6:30-8pm)
   ++ Online Woodland Options for Landowners Short Course -- June 1-August 7, 2026
   ++ Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop -- July 24 & 25, 2026 -- Warrenton, VA
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2.) Clean Water Act Financial Capability Assessment (FCA) Guidance -- Stakeholder Engagement Webinar: May 7, 2026 (1-2:30pm); Comments Due: May 26, 2026 -- This resource aims to help water bills remain affordable during infrastructure upgrades within wastewater systems. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will use feedback to update this guidance. For more information, register for the webinars, and to submit a comment, see https://www.epa.gov/waterfinancecenter/clean-water-act-financial-capability-assessment-guidance.
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3.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) News -- For more information about webcasts and to register for them, visit https://www.waterrf.org/webcasts. For more information about the request for proposals (RFPs), see https://www.waterrf.org/proposals.
   ++ Webcast: Microplastics Sampling: Pioneering Practices, Experiences, and Lessons Learned -- May 7, 2026 (3pm)
   ++ RFP: Alternative Approaches to Water Shutoffs for Non-Payment of Bills (RFP 5360) -- Proposals Due: May 20, 2026 (3pm);
   ++ RFP: Evaluating Scalability, Reproducibility, & Impact of GenAI & Agentic AI in the Water and Wastewater Sector (RFP 5394) -- Proposals Due: May 20, 2026 (3pm)
   ++ Webcast: Managing Prestressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) to Extend Asset Life -- June 18, 2026 (3pm)
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4.) Resilient River Star Schools Program -- Application Deadline: May 8, 2026 -- Schools near the Elizabeth River can apply for funding and support for Youth Resilience Projects like planting natives, raising oysters, and designing climate-smart landscapes. Includes support for field trips, teacher training, and classroom resources. For more information and to apply, see https://elizabethriver.org/youth-projects-resilience-expo/. Offered by the Elizabeth River Project.
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5.) Water and Wastewater Training – Learn more about these events and others at https://www.rcap.org/training-events/. Also, Southeast Rural Community Assistance Program (SERCAP) provides free math tutoring for individuals interested in becoming Water Operators (contact Lisha McCargo at lmcc...@sercap.org). Trainings offered by SERCAP, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), and others.
   ++ Water Loss Training For Small Water Utility Systems – May 12, 2026
   ++ Risk and Resilience Assessments and Emergency Response Plans – May 14, 2026 (1-2pm)
   ++ Applying for State Revolving-loan Fund: a Cloverport Case Study -- June 4, 2026 (1-2pm)
   ++ Onsite & Decentralized Wastewater Systems: Best Practices for Performance, Longevity, and Public Health – June 18, 2026 (1-2pm)
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6.) James River Association (JRA) Events -- Learn more about these events and others at https://thejamesriver.org/events/.
   ++ Rain Barrel Workshop for Hopewell Residents -- May 14, 2026 (6-7pm) -- Hopewell, VA -- Free to Hopewell residents
   ++ Invasive Species Removal at Chapel Island -- May 15, 2026 (10am-12pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Rain Barrel Workshop at Lower James River Center -- May 20, 2026 (6-7pm) -- Williamsburg, VA
   ++ Rain Barrel Workshop at Blue Mountain Barrel House in Nelson County -- May 21, 2026 (6-7pm) – Arrington, VA
   ++ Green Infrastructure Stewards Volunteer Event -- May 29, 2026 (9am-12pm) – Richmond, VA
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7.) Notice of Public Comment: Resilient Virginia Revolving Fund Draft Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) -- Comments Due: May 15, 2026 -- This funding opportunity will support projects that improve flood resilience and recovery. The Department of Conservation and Recreation (DCR) is accepting comments on a draft NOFO and will finalize the NOFO no later than June 1, 2026. For more information, see https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewNotice.cfm?GNID=3350.
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8.) Call for Speakers/Posters: 2026 Potomac Conference -- Abstracts Due: May 15, 2026 (Close of Business); Conference: September 9, 2026 -- Poolesville, MD -- Theme: “A Dry Horizon: The Future of Water Supply in the Potomac River Basin” -- This conference will explore drinking water availability, emerging demands, and projected stressors to the Potomac water supply system, and more. For more information and to submit an abstract, see https://www.potomacriver.org/news/call-for-speakers-for-the-2026-potomac-river-conference/. Organized by the Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB).
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9.) Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) Events -- For more information about these and other events, see https://potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/events-calendar/.
   ++ Splash and Dash Fundraiser -- May 16, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- National Harbor, MD -- Individuals, families, and corporate teams are encouraged to get physically active on or alongside the Potomac River. The first event is a 5K Walk/Run. Proceeds benefit the PRKN.
   ++ Explorations with Your Riverkeeper: Shenandoah Birdwatching Paddle w/ Shenandoah Riverkeeper -- June 5, 2026 (9am-4pm)
   ++ Explorations with Your Riverkeeper: Shenandoah Snorkeling Paddle w/ Shenandoah Riverkeeper -- July 17, 2026 (10am-4pm)
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10.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Events -- Learn about these and other events at https://www.cbf.org/events/.
   ++ Oak Grove Tree Maintenance Day -- May 16, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Tiny Forest Tuesdays -- June 2, 2026; July 7, 2026 ; and August 4, 2026 (All: 9-11am) -- Richmond, 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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11.) American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) Technical Symposium -- May 20-21, 2026 – Brookshire, Texas – Provides technical education on wet and dry conveyance, stormwater capture methods, pump principles, rainwater system integration, filtration and monitoring, tank design, ultraviolet treatment basics, and policy and code updates. Learn more at https://arcsainternational.org/news/arcsa-international-technical-symposium. Organized by ARCSA.
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12.) Workshop: Virginia Backyard Streambank Repair -- May 22, 2026 (9:30am-4pm) -- Fredericksburg, VA – The goal of this workshop is to provide information on simple streambank erosion control techniques that landowners can implement to stabilize eroding streambanks along small streams. The workshop provides training for individuals who work with the general public on soil conservation and water quality improvement projects. There is no cost for the workshop, but registration is required. For more information and to register, see https://pears.io/events/vce/5143/. Organized by Virginia Cooperative Extension with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
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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.