Announcements 2025.10.22

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Public Hearings and Comment Opportunities – Various Dates, Starting: TODAY, October 22, 2025
2.) November General Election Information
   ++ Register to vote or update an existing registration
   ++ Apply for a ballot to be mailed to you -- Deadline: October 24, 2025 (5pm)
   ++ Early, In-Person Voting -- Deadline: November 1, 2025
   ++ Election Day -- November 4, 2025
3.) Webinar: Achievable Actions to Reduce Pollution with Salt Watch -- October 28, 2025
4.) Input Sought: 2026-2030 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) – October 28, 2025; November 6, 2025; and November 19, 2025
5.) TMDL Cleanup Study for Wolf Creek (Washington County) -- Meeting: October 28, 2025 (3pm); Comments Due: December 5, 2025
6.) 2025 Drinking Water Clinics – Various Dates, Starting: October 29, 2025
7.) North American Association for Environmental Education (NAEE) Events (Virtual) – Research Symposium: October 30, 2025; Conference: November 3-6, 2025
8.) Call for Abstracts: 2026 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference -- Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025; Conference: April 14-16, 2026
9.) American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2025 Annual Water Resources Conference -- November 10-12, 2025
10.) Call for Proposals: The Water Research Foundation (WRF) Research Projects -- Submissions Due: November 20, 2025
11.) Future Harvest Fundraiser: Seed the Need for Farmers Campaign
12.) DEQ News – https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/newsroom
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.) Public Hearings and Comment Opportunities
   ++ Environmental Permit: Release of Treated Wastewater in Loudoun County -- Hearing: October 22, 2025 (6:30pm); Comments due: November 6, 2025 -- Waterford, VA – https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/Viewmeeting.cfm?meetingid=42310
   ++ Environmental Permit: Dominion Chesterfield Energy Reliability Center Project -- Comments due: October 23, 2025 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42270
   ++ Environmental Permit: Land Application of Biosolids and Water Treatment Plant Residuals in Orange County – Informational Briefing & Hearing: October 23, 2025 (Briefing: 6pm; Hearing: 6:30pm); Comments due: November 7, 2025 -- Orange, VA – https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42315
   ++ Proposed Reissuance of Four Virginia Water Protection General Permits –Comments due: October 24, 2025 – Accepting comments on the following proposed regulations:
      == 9VAC25-660 for Impacts Less Than One-Half Acre;
      == 9VAC25-670 for Facilities and Activities of Utility and Public Service Companies Regulated by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission or the State Corporation Commission and Other Utility Line Activities;
      == 9VAC25-680 for Linear Transportation Projects; and
      == 9VAC25-690 for Impacts from Development and Certain Mining Activities. – https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42111
   ++ Public Hearing: General Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System Watershed Permit Regulation for Total Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus Discharges and Nutrient Trading in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Virginia (9VAC25-820) -- November 10, 2025 (10:30am) -- Glen Allen, VA -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42313
   ++ Public Hearing: Proposed Permit That Will Allow Impacts to Wetlands, Stream Channels, and Open Water in Pittsylvania County, Virginia -- Hearing: November 20, 2025 (6pm); Comments Due: December 5, 2025 -- Chatham, VA -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42515.
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2.) November General Election Information – Learn where to vote and see who is on your ballot at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/casting-a-ballot/polling-place-lookup/. Learn more at https://www.elections.virginia.gov/. 
   ++ Register to vote or update an existing registration – Register to vote or update an existing registration online using the Citizen Portal through October 24, 2025. If you register to vote using the Citizen Portal after October 24, 2025, you will not be able to cast your ballot in the November 4, 2025 general election.  Voters may register and vote using a provisional ballot In-Person through Election Day. Contact your local registrar’s offices for more information.
   ++ Apply for a ballot to be mailed to you -- Deadline: October 24, 2025 (5pm) -- Your request must be received by your local registrar's office by 5pm. Apply for an absentee ballot online using the Citizen Portal.
   ++ Early, In-Person Voting -- Deadline: November 1, 2025 -- Contact your local registrar’s offices for all early voting and satellite location information. Voter registration offices will be open for early voting on October 25, 2025.
   ++ Election Day --- November 4, 2025 (6am-7pm) -- Anyone in line at 7pm will be allowed to vote. Virginia law requires all voters to provide either an acceptable form of ID or sign an ID Confirmation Statement at the polls.
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3.) Webinar: Achievable Actions to Reduce Pollution with Salt Watch -- October 28, 2025 (1-2pm) -- Salt Watch Coordinator, Abby Hileman, will explain what to expect and what’s new for the upcoming monitoring season. Hear from volunteers with the Loudoun Wildlife Conservancy (VA) and Friends of Sligo Creek (MD). Learn more and register to attend at https://iwla.org/event/clean-water-webinar-achievable-actions-to-reduce-pollution-with-salt-watch/.  Organized by The Izaak Walton League of America.
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4.) Input Sought: 2026-2030 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) – This plan aims to reduce the flow of debris into Virginia’s waters. Input will be taken at the in-person meetings listed below.  For more information about the VMDRP, see https://www.cleanvirginiawaterways.org/vmdrp. Sign up to attend a session at https://forms.gle/keb9YDnmp32kSKqo9. For more information, contact Zach Huntington at za...@cleanvirginiawaterways.org.
   ++ October 28, 2025 (1-4pm) -- Northern VA
   ++ November 6, 2025 (10am-2pm) -- Central VA
   ++ November 19, 2025 (10am-2pm) -- Hampton Roads
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5.) Meeting and Comment Period: TMDL Cleanup Study for Wolf Creek (Washington County) -- Meeting: October 28, 2025 (3pm); Comments Due: December 5, 2025 -- Abingdon, VA -- This stream is listed as impaired for Aquatic life (benthic macroinvertebrates). Learn more at https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42424.
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6.) 2025 Drinking Water Clinics -- Provides water testing and practical information to private water supply users about maintaining and protecting private water systems including wells, springs and cisterns. Contact your local Extension office to express interest in a clinic. Learn more at https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php and https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/index.php.  Offered through Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Virginia Household Water Quality Program.
   ++ October 29, 2025 -- Westmoreland, Northumberland, Lancaster, Richmond County
   ++ November 12, 2025 – Fluvanna, Henrico, Nelson, Mathews, Gloucester, Middlesex
   ++ November 19, 2025 -- Albemarle
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7.) North American Association for Environmental Education (NAEE) Events (Virtual) – Research Symposium: October 30, 2025; Conference: November 3-6, 2025 – Theme: “Forward Together” -- For more information, see https://conference.naaee.org/. Organized by the North American Association for Environmental Education.
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8.) Call for Abstracts: 2026 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference -- Submission Deadline: October 31, 2025; Conference: April 14-16, 2026 -- Charlotte, NC -- Theme: “Building Resilient Watersheds: Advancing Innovation and Partnership in Rapidly Changing Environments” -- Submissions can share research, practical tools, and field-tested strategies. For more information, see https://www.cwp.org/2026_conference_abstract.php. Organized by the Center for Watershed Protection.
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9.) American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2025 Annual Water Resources Conference -- November 10-12, 2025 -- Westminster, CO -- This conference will explore innovative, practical, and applied solutions to today’s water challenges. Early-bird registration rates end October 24, 2025. For more information, see https://www.awra.org/Members/Events_and_Education/Events_and_Education_Conferences.aspx. Organized by the American Water Resources Association.
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10.) Call for Proposals: The Water Research Foundation (WRF) Research Projects -- Submissions Due: November 20, 2025 (5pm) -- Proposals are being accepted for 14 research projects that will advance the science of water for communities around the world, focusing on asset management, PFAS source identification, climate change resilience, nature-based solutions, and more. For more information, see https://www.waterrf.org/news/wrf-seeks-proposals-14-new-research-projects-totaling-34m. Organized by the Water Research Foundation.
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11.) Future Harvest Fundraiser: Seed the Need for Farmers Campaign – Future Harvest lost a million dollars in federal dollars this year and is trying to raise $30,000 by the end of 2025 to continue meeting its mission: To advance agriculture that sustains farmers, communities, and the environment in the Chesapeake Bay region.  For more information, see https://futureharvest.org/ (including ways to give).
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12.) DEQ News – Vol 4, Issue 9 – The current issue and previous issues of DEQ’s official newsletter are available at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/newsroom. You can subscribe to the newsletter (see the link in the "Stay Informed" section at the bottom of webpage). Published by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
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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. 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.