Announcements 2026.1.15

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virtual Seminar: Greener Workforce, Greener Chesapeake Bay Watershed -- January 21, 2026
2.) EPA Tools & Resources Webinar: Lead (Pb) Overview and Data Mapping -- January 21, 2026
3.) 2026 Winter Salt Week Webinars -- January 21 and 23, 2026 
4.) Request for Proposals (RFP): Communications Training Development and Facilitation -- Submission Deadline: January 23, 2026
5.) Course: Footprints on the James (VCU ENVS 491 and BIOL 391) -- Virtual Information Sessions: January 21 and February 4, 2026; Expedition: May 18-June 18, 2026
6.) Webcast: 2026 Water Research Foundation (WRF) Unsolicited Research Program Update -- January 22, 2026
7.) Winter Seed Sowing -- January 24, 2026
8.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Cleanup Studies and Implementation Plans – Various Dates, Starting: January 28, 2026
9.) Funding Opportunities within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed
   ++ 2026 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program -- Applicant Webinar: February 2, 2026; FieldDoc Webinar: February 4, 2026; Submission Deadline: April 2, 2026
   ++ Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants -- Applications Due: February 12, 2026
10.) Call for Abstracts: AWRA 2026 Geospatial Water Technology Conference -- Submission Deadline: February 6, 2026; Conference: May 18-20, 2026
11.) Water Quality Data Sought: Virginia’s 2026 Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report – Deadline: March 3, 2025
12.) Request for Proposals: 2025-2026 Virginia Watershed Educational Programs Project: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences Grants -- Application Deadline: March 5, 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.) Virtual Seminar: Greener Workforce, Greener Chesapeake Bay Watershed -- January 21, 2026 (12-1pm) -- This webinar will focus on local workforce development programs and regional efforts to align workforce development goals. For more information and to register, see https://chesapeake.org/crc-roundtable/. Organized by the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC).
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2.) EPA Tools & Resources Webinar: Lead (Pb) Overview and Data Mapping -- January 21, 2026 (3-4pm) -- This webinar will present both an overview of the Administration’s priorities for lead and a detailed look at the data mapping approach available for states and partners. The presenters are the Agency Lead (Pb) Coordinator, Sheila Xiah Kragie, and Pb researcher, Lindsay Stanek. For more information, see https://www.epa.gov/research-states/epa-tools-and-resources-webinar-series. Organized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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3.) 2026 Winter Salt Week Webinars -- January 21 and 23, 2026 -- Learn more and register at: https://www.novaregion.org/1638/2026-Winter-Salt-Week. Offered by the Northern Virginia Regional Commission and partners.  Learn about national Winter Salt Week activities (January 26-30, 2026) at www.wintersaltweek.org.
   ++ Webinar: Safe Sidewalks, Clean Water: Smart Salting for Residents -- January 21, 2026 (1-1:30pm)
   ++ Webinar: Community Winter Salt Management in Action! -- January 23, 2026 (1-1:30pm)
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4.) Request for Proposals (RFP): Communications Training Development and Facilitation -- Submission Deadline: January 23, 2026 (5pm) -- Seeking a qualified contractor to create and facilitate a training series centered on the fundamentals of storytelling and communication. Proposals should be geared towards Choose Clean Water Coalition (CCWC) nonprofit member organizations, partners, and community-based organizations across the Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information and to submit a proposal, see https://www.choosecleanwater.org/opportunities. Offered by the Choose Clean Water Coalition.
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5.) Course: Footprints on the James (VCU ENVS 491 and BIOL 391) -- Virtual Information Sessions (6pm): January 21 and February 4, 2026; Expedition: May 18-June 18, 2026 -- This course allows undergraduates to live outdoors and travel by canoe, bateau, raft, and sea kayak. Students will conduct hands-on field research techniques and explore the human history of the James River from indigenous settlements to the present day. The course is open to non-VCU students through the VCU Summer Studies. Attendance of at least one information session is required. For a flyer or more information and a link to fill out an interest form, contact Dr. Daniel Carr (car...@vcu.edu) or Dr. James Vonesh (jrvo...@vcu.edu). Offered by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Summer Studies program.
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6.) Webcast: 2026 Water Research Foundation (WRF) Unsolicited Research Program Update -- January 22, 2026 (3-4:30pm) -- This webcast will share key information about the 2026 Unsolicited Research Program, which launches on January 22, 2026. In addition, researchers who were awarded grants through the 2024 Unsolicited Research Program will give brief presentations on their ongoing projects. For more information and to register, see https://www.waterrf.org/webcasts. Offered by the Water Research Foundation (WRF).
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7.) Winter Seed Sowing -- January 24, 2026 (1-3pm) -- Ashburn, VA -- Attendees will be guided through an easy method for sowing vegetables and pollinator-friendly native perennials in milk jugs this winter. Participants will set up their own mini greenhouse to take home and take a short walk to explore the new potential meadow site along the W&OD Trail. The event will also discuss how native plantings can support wildlife and build healthier ecosystems. For more information and to register, see https://www.sustainabilitymatters.earth/events. Organized by Sustainability Matters.
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8.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Cleanup Studies and Implementation Plans – Learn more about TMDL studies under development across Virginia at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/tmdl-development/tmdls-under-development. Learn more about Virginia’s cleanup implementation plans under development at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/water-quality/implementation/implementation-plans-under-development.
   ++ Watershed Cleanup Plan for Clinch River, Little Stoney Creek, Staunton Creek, Fall Creek, Russell Creek, Lick Creek, Laurel Branch and Cigarette Hollow watersheds (Russell, Scott, Wise Counties) – Meeting: January 28, 2026 (3pm; Lebanon, VA) -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42854
   ++ TMDL Cleanup Study for the South Fork Rivanna River and tributaries (Albemarle County) -- Meeting: January 29, 2026 (5:30pm; Crozet, VA); Comment Period: January 29, 2026-March 2, 2026 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42880
   ++ TMDL Cleanup Study for Appomattox River Tributaries (Amelia, Appomattox, Cumberland, and Prince Edward Counties) – Comments Due: February 13, 2026 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?meetingid=42776.
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9.) Funding Opportunities within the Chesapeake Bay Watershed – Offered by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (NFWF), in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the federal-state Chesapeake Bay Program (CBP) partnership
   ++ 2026 Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grants Program -- Applicant Webinar: February 2, 2026 (1pm); FieldDoc Webinar: February 4, 2026 (11am); Submission Deadline: April 2, 2026 (12pm) -- https://www.nfwf.org/programs/chesapeake-bay-stewardship-fund/chesapeake-bay-small-watershed-grants-2026-request
   ++ Innovative Nutrient and Sediment Reduction Grants -- Applications Due: February 12, 2026 -- https://www.nfwf.org/programs/innovative-nutrient-and-sediment-reduction-grants
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10.) Call for Abstracts: AWRA 2026 Geospatial Water Technology Conference -- Submission Deadline: February 6, 2026; Conference: May 18-20, 2026 -- Niagara Falls, NY -- Theme “Geospatial and AI Innovations for Smarter Water Solutions” -- Presentations can be individual oral presentations, panel sessions, lightning talks, or other ideas, such as workshops. The conference is centered around artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, and how they are transforming water resources. For more information and to submit or register, see https://www.awra.org/Members/Events_and_Education/Events/2026-Landing-Pages/01_GWTC/GWTC2026.aspx. Organized by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA).
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11.) Water Quality Data Sought: Virginia’s 2026 Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report – Deadline: March 3, 2025 -- The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting water quality data collected between January 1, 2019 and December 31, 2024 for possible inclusion in the 2026 305(b)/303(d) Water Quality Assessment Integrated Report (IR). All data must be accompanied by a DEQ Data Use Authorization Form. For more information, see https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewNotice.cfm?GNid=3028.
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12.) Request for Proposals: 2025-2026 Virginia Watershed Educational Programs Project: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences Grants -- Application Deadline: March 5, 2026 -- Funding requests can be up to $45,000 with a total of $250,000 available statewide for qualified applicants who provide exemplary “meaningful watershed educational experiences” (MWEE) within Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay watershed. For more information, see https://www.dcr.virginia.gov/environmental-education/funding-opportunities. Provided by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
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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.