Announcements 2026.3.20

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Water and Wastewater Training – Various Dates, Starting: March 24, 2026
2.) James River Association (JRA) Events – Various Dates, Starting: March 27, 2026
3.) Save the Bay Photo Contest – Submissions Due: March 27, 2026
4.) Request for Proposals: Stream and Wetland Mitigation Design-Build Services for the Virginia Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program -- Submission Deadline: March 27, 2026
5.) Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) Events
   ++ WaterSoftHack 2026 -- Application Deadline: March 31, 2026; Event: July 20 to July 31, 2026
   ++ Cyber Series: Introduction to National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) for Hydrology -- April 1, 2026
6.) Leo Bourassa Scholarship – Applications Due: April 1, 2026
7.) 2026 Water Is Life Sneaker Ball! -- April 9, 2026
8.) Comments Accepted: Rule to Expand Mineral Development in National Forests -- Comments Due: April 21, 2026
9.) 2026 Virginia Floodplain Management Association (VFMA) Annual Conference -- April 23-24, 2026
10.) 2026 Commonwealth Coastal & Marine Policy Fellowship -- Application Deadline: May 1, 2026
11.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Environmental Education Programs – Various Dates and Programs
12.) DEQ News – Vol 5, Issue 2 – https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/newsroom.
13.) DEQ Resources for Poultry and Livestock Producers
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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.) 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 Joey Hiner at jhi...@sercap.org). Trainings offered by SERCAP, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), and others.
   ++ Webinar: Lagoon Viability and Maximization of Performance Through Optimization & Maintenance – March 24, 2026
   ++ Bridging the Engineering Gap: Helping Small Water Systems Navigate SRF Projects – April 2, 2026
   ++ Improving Wastewater Compliance by Properly Funding Infrastructure Replacement – April 9, 2026
   ++ Interpreting Financial Statements: Understanding Your System’s Financial Position – April 14, 2026
   ++  Water Loss Training For Small Water Utility Systems – May 12, 2026
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2.) James River Association (JRA) Events – Learn about volunteer opportunities with the JRA at https://thejamesriver.org/what-you-can-do/volunteer/. Learn about summer camps with the JRA on the James River at https://thejamesriver.org/camps/. Learn more about the JRA events below at https://thejamesriver.org/events/.
   ++ Green Infrastructure Stewards Volunteer Event -- March 27, 2026 and April 24, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Seasons of the James Workshop -- April 11, 2026 (11am-12pm) -- Richmond, VA
   ++ Invasive Species Removal at Chapel Island -- April 17, 2026 (10am-12pm) -- Richmond, VA
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3.) Save the Bay Photo Contest – Submissions Due: March 27, 2026 (5pm) -- Open to both amateur and professional photographers. Photos should highlight the beauty and character of the Chesapeake Bay and its watershed. Learn more at https://www.cbf.org/save-the-bay-photo-contest/. Organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
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4.) Request for Proposals: Stream and Wetland Mitigation Design-Build Services for the Virginia Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program -- Submission Deadline: March 27, 2026 -- The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is soliciting proposals for Design/Build Services for a Nontidal Wetland and Stream Mitigation project site in the Chowan River Basin in Virginia. The purpose of the project is to provide mitigation to offset unavoidable impacts for which the Virginia Stream and Wetland Mitigation Program (SWMP) was utilized as the compensatory mitigation. Note: a clarification has been added to Question 15 in the Q&A. For more information and to submit a proposal, see https://tnc.box.com/s/5pe4ozy50rvg77da6vrbjhmveggk5j1b. Offered by The Nature Conservancy.
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5.) Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI) Events
   ++ WaterSoftHack 2026 -- Application Deadline: March 31, 2026; Event: July 20 to July 31, 2026 (virtually via Zoom) -- https://watersofthack.github.io/ --  Aims to cultivate the workforce that creates, utilizes, and supports advanced cyberinfrastructure (CI) workflows and tools to enable and potentially transform fundamental water science education and research.
   ++ Cyber Series: Introduction to National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) for Hydrology -- April 1, 2026 (12-2pm) -- https://www.cuahsi.org/cyberseminars/series/introduction-to-neon-for-hydrology
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6.) Leo Bourassa Scholarship – Applications Due: April 1, 2026 – Open to full-time undergraduates, and part-time or full-time graduate students enrolled in a curriculum related to water resources at any Virginia accredited college or university. Recipients must be residents of Virginia at the time of application and at the time of award.  Learn more at https://vlwa.org/committees-and-activities/scholarship/. Offered by the Virginia Lakes and Watersheds Association (VLWA).
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7.) 2026 Water Is Life Sneaker Ball! -- April 9, 2026 (5:30pm) -- Roanoke, VA -- This fundraising event and ball will consist of a grand red-carpet arrival, dinner and a short program, dancing and revelry. Live music by a local band and a best sneaker contest will be featured at this event. Also, purchase a ticket for the State Basket Raffle at https://www.sercap.org/support/sercap-2026-state-basket-raffle. These fundraising events provide unrestricted support that allows the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project (SERCAP) to better meet its mission. For more information about the ball, see https://www.sercap.org/support/sercaps-new-2026-water-life-sneaker-ball. Organized by SERCAP.
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8.) Comments Accepted: Rule to Expand Mineral Development in National Forests -- Comments Due: April 21, 2026 -- The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is seeking written comments on its proposal to revise regulations governing occupancy and use of the surface of National Forest System lands in connection with prospecting, exploration, development, mining, processing, and reclamation and reasonably incident uses authorized by U.S. mining laws and the Organic Administration Act of 1897. For more information, visit the Federal Register link at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/02/20/2026-03364/locatable-minerals.
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9.) 2026 Virginia Floodplain Management Association (VFMA) Annual Conference -- April 23-24, 2026 -- Richmond, VA -- This conference will feature presentations focused on policies, technologies, and best practices in floodplain management. It will attract floodplain managers, emergency management professionals, engineers, and planners from every sector of the professional community. Early bird registration will run through March 23, 2026. For more information and to register, see https://vaflood.org/Annual-Conference. Organized by the Virginia Floodplain Management Association.
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10.) 2026 Commonwealth Coastal & Marine Policy Fellowship -- Application Deadline: May 1, 2026 -- This fellowship provides recent graduates with immersive, on-the-job professional training while advancing the stewardship, resilience, and sustainable use of the Commonwealth’s coastal and marine resources. Fellows are placed within state or local government agencies. The start date is October 1, 2026.  For more information and to apply, see https://vaseagrant.org/commonwealth-fellowship-home/. Sponsored by Virginia Sea Grant, the Virginia Environmental Endowment, and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program.
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11.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Environmental Education Programs – Learn more about these programs and others at https://www.cbf.org/environmental-education/.
   ++ Student Leadership Summer Expeditions -- Registration closes: May 22, 2026 (or capacity is reached); Events: June 22-26, 2026 (Tributary & Bay Ecosystems Exploration); June 28-July 2, 2026 or July 13-17, 2026 (Bay Science and Solutions at Washington College); July 13-17, 2026 (Exploring Eastern Virginia); July 20-24, 2026 (Chesapeake Connections & Actions) – Open to high school students living within the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
   ++ Student Field Programs (one-day and multi-day programs) -- Application opens in April for the following school year, fall 2026 and spring 2027 -- Apply: April 17, 2026-May 22, 2026 (or October-November 20, 2026 for spring 2027 one-day program)
   ++ 2026 Bay Eco Camp: Girls in STEM -- Registration Deadline: June 1, 2026; Camp: August 3-7, 2026 -- Tangier, VA (Drop-Off/Pick-Up Location: Crisfield, MD) -- Open to girls ages 13 and 14.
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12.) DEQ News – Vol 5, Issue 2 – The current issue of the official newsletter by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) covers topics on a Grant to Accelerate Bay Clean Up, Resources to Help Protect Regional Water Supplies, Wetland and Stream Restoration Fund, New Stormwater Program Fee Schedule & Guidances, and more.  The current issue and previous issues are available at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/newsroom. You can also subscribe to the newsletter. Published by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
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13.) DEQ Resources for Poultry and Livestock Producers – The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has developed fact sheets for poultry and livestock producers regarding mortality disposal, construction and demolition debris disposal, animal waste program permit requirements, construction general permit and stormwater requirements, and erosion and sediment control requirements. View the fact sheets, other information, and download forms at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/water/land-application-beneficial-reuse/animal-agricultural-waste/emergency-animal-mortality-management-for-non-disease-scenarios/catastrophic-loss-resources 
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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.