Announcements 2026.4.8

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 13, 2026
2.) Training: James River Watch Water Quality Monitor Volunteers -- April 23, 2026
3.) Spring 2026 North Carolina Water Resources Association (NCWRA) Workshop -- April 23-24, 2026
4.) Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals (VAWP) Student Opportunities – Submissions Due: April 24, 2026
5.) Virginia Land Conservation & Greenways Conference -- Registration Closes: April 13, 2026; Conference: April 27-29, 2026
6.) Request for Proposals: Amelia Street School Trail & Green Infrastructure -- Proposals Due: April 30, 2026
7.) Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program Upcoming Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 29, 2026
8.) Call for Student Presentations: Student Day at National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) Conference -- Submissions Due: May 1, 2026; Conference: July 14, 2026
9.) Call for Speakers/Posters: 2026 Potomac Conference -- Abstracts Due: May 15, 2026; Conference: September 9, 2026
10.) American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2026 Geospatial Water Technology Conference -- May 18-20, 2026
11.) New Report: What Utilities Need to Know About Iranian Cyber Threats -- https://www.waterisac.org/tlpclear-deep-dive-into-iranian-cyber-actor-tactics-what-utilities-need-to-know
12.) Tick Donations Accepted: Old Dominion University (ODU) Tick Team Research Lab
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.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Events -- Learn about these and other events at https://www.cbf.org/events/.
   ++ Webinar -- Menhaden Policy Review: 2026 General Assembly -- April 13, 2026 (6-7pm)
   ++ Hampton Roads Oyster Social -- April 14, 2026 (6-8pm) -- Virginia Beach, Va
   ++ Oak Grove Tree Maintenance Day – Registration Deadline: April 16, 2026; Event: April 18, 2026 (9am-3pm) – Richmond, VA
   ++ Clean the Bay Day 2026 – Registration Due: April 17, 2026; Event: May 2, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Locations across Chesapeake Bay Watershed in Virginia -- For more information, see https://www.cbf.org/clean-the-bay-day/.
   ++ The Last Osprey: Film Screening and Dialogue – April 20, 2026 (5:30-7pm) -- Virginia Beach, VA
   ++ Webinar -- A Resilient Commonwealth: Exploring Virginia’s Statewide Priorities -- April 27, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Pine Cone Harbour Buffer Project: Buffer Planting -- Registration Deadline: May 2, 2026; Event: May 5-7, 2026 (10am-2pm) -- Hampton, 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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2.) Training: James River Watch Water Quality Monitor Volunteers -- April 23, 2026 (5:30-6:30pm) -- Buchanan, VA -- This training is for those interested in volunteering to help share weekly bacteria data for recreation sites this summer.  No monitoring or science background is required.  Attendees will learn how James River Watch monitors water quality across the river and will receive hands-on experience with sampling and bacteria monitoring (weather permitting). For more information and to register, see https://thejamesriver.org/event/in-person-training-water-quality-monitor-2/. Organized by the James River Association.
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3.) Spring 2026 North Carolina Water Resources Association (NCWRA) Workshop -- April 23-24, 2026 -- Asheville, NC -- This workshop will focus on resilience and recovery in Western North Carolina, with an emphasis on lessons learned from recent storm events and ongoing restoration efforts following Hurricane Helene. Additional presentations will showcase green stormwater infrastructure, and field trips are also offered. For more information and to register, see https://ncwra.starchapter.com/meetinginfo.php?id=30&ts=1775064365. Organized by NCWRA.
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4.) Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals (VAWP) Student Opportunities – Learn more about these opportunities from VAWP’s Spring Newsletter at https://vawetlands.org/vawp-spring-2026-newsletter-spring-meeting-scholarship-and-poster-session/.
   ++ Call for Student Posters: Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals (VAWP) Spring Meeting -- Submission Deadline: April 24, 2026; Meeting: May 8, 2026 -- Glen Allen, VA -- Seeking undergraduate and graduate research posters related to wetland science, natural resource, or other related environmental science fields. Students must provide their own easel for poster display. Registration fees for the meeting will be waived for students participating in the poster session.
   ++ Student Research Scholarship -- Applications Due: April 24, 2026 -- This scholarship is for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Virginia institutions. It is a $1,000 scholarship for outstanding students pursuing research focused on wetland science, natural resources, or related environmental fields. The student’s research must demonstrate a specific interest in advancing the mission and ideals of VAWP.
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5.) Virginia Land Conservation & Greenways Conference -- Registration Closes: April 13, 2026; Conference: April 27-29, 2026 -- Newport News, VA -- This conference will feature field trips, networking opportunities, sessions, meetings, and food. Sessions about trail usage, wetlands, mapping, and state-level engagement and governance will be available as well as student sessions. For more information and to register, see https://vaunitedlandtrusts.org/annual-conference/. Organized by Virginia’s United Land Trusts (VaULT).
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6.) Request for Proposals: Amelia Street School Trail & Green Infrastructure -- Proposals Due: April 30, 2026 -- Richmond, VA – Accepting bids for a professional contractor to install an ADA accessible nature trail that includes green infrastructure practices and recreational amenities at Amelia Street School. For more information and to submit a proposal, see https://www.allianceforthebay.org/blog/. Offered by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
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7.) 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.
   ++ Virginia Forestry Summit -- April 29-May 1, 2026 -- Norfolk, VA
   ++ Spring Venture Outdoor Series -- May 7, 2026 (Halifax, VA); May 14, 2026 (Farmville, VA); May 21, 2026 (Bedford, VA); (All: 10am-2pm)
   ++ Southwest Virginia Beginning Woodland Owner Retreat -- May 8-9, 2026 -- Abingdon, VA
   ++ 17th Annual Vegetation Management Workshop -- May 13, 2026 -- Colonial Heights, Va
   ++ Generation NEXT Webinar: Be Lawyer Ready -- May 27, 2026 (6:30-8pm)
   ++ Generation NEXT Legacy Planning Workshop -- July 24 & 25, 2026 -- Warrenton, VA
   ++ Online Woodland Options for Landowners Short Course -- June 1-August 7, 2026
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8.) Call for Student Presentations: Student Day at National Marine Educators Association (NMEA) Conference -- Submissions Due: May 1, 2026; Conference: July 14, 2026 (7:30am-4/5pm) -- Cambridge, MD -- This one-day program is for students, ages 13 and up. It provides an opportunity to meet other students and professionals who work in marine science and education. Students are welcome to submit a proposal for either a 7-minute, in-person presentation or a 15- to 30-minute prerecorded presentation. To submit a proposal or learn more, see https://www.marine-ed.org/conference/2026/student.
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9.) Call for Speakers/Posters: 2026 Potomac Conference -- Abstracts Due: May 15, 2026 (Close of Business); Conference: September 9, 2026 -- Poolesville, MD -- Theme: “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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10.) American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2026 Geospatial Water Technology Conference -- May 18-20, 2026 -- Niagara Falls, NY -- Theme “Geospatial and AI Innovations for Smarter Water Solutions” – Workshops are being offered at no additional charge. For more information and to register, see https://www.awra.org/Members/Events_and_Education/Events_and_Education_Conferences.aspx. Organized by the American Water Resources Association (AWRA).
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11.) New Report: What Utilities Need to Know About Iranian Cyber Threats -- This new WaterISAC report breaks down the repeatable tactics Iranian‑linked threat actors use to gain access, stay hidden, and cause disruption. The report highlights how attackers increasingly abuse legitimate tools, cloud services, and trusted access to blend into normal operations, with a growing emphasis on identity‑based attacks and large‑scale disruptive campaigns. The report outlines practical, utility‑focused mitigations aligned with WaterISAC’s 12 Fundamentals to help organizations reduce risk. For more information and to view the report, visit https://www.waterisac.org/tlpclear-deep-dive-into-iranian-cyber-actor-tactics-what-utilities-need-to-know. Provided by WaterISAC.
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12.) Tick Donations Accepted: Old Dominion University (ODU) Tick Team Research Lab – Ticks pulled off of you or your pet can be donated to ODU’s Tick Team lab, and ticks removed by hunters from game animals are also accepted. Include who or what the tick was pulled off of (human, dog, deer, etc.), the date the tick was found, and the general geographic location of the tick. Put the tick in a small ziploc bag and freeze it for at least two hours to ensure it is dead. Make sure the bag is completely sealed, and place into a standard or padded envelope. You can also request testing results for a specific tick for Borrelia burgdorferi, B. miyamotoi, Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Ehrlichia chaffeensis, E. ewingii, and Rickettsia spp. for a donation of $50 per tick to cover expenses. Learn more at https://sites.wp.odu.edu/tick-team/what-we-do/tick-testing/sending-us-your-ticks/. Questions about the donation process can be sent to hg...@odu.edu.  Offered by ODU’s Tick Team Research Lab.
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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.