Announcements 2023.5.13

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Webinar: Building A Diverse Environmental Workforce and Packaging the State of the Science -- May 17, 2023
2.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Public Meetings
   ++ Community Engagement Meeting: Watershed Cleanup Study for Hat and Black Creeks in Nelson County, Virginia – May 17, 2023
   ++ Implementation Plan (IP) Community Engagement Meeting: Watershed Cleanup Plan for Moores and Mill Creeks (Rockbridge County) – May 31, 2023
3.) Webinar: An Introduction to Virginia's First Wildlife Corridor Action Plan – May 18, 2023
4.) Virginia Forest Landowner Events
   ++ Spring Venture Outdoors – Multiple Dates: May 18-June 9, 2023
   ++ Fifteen Minutes in the Forest – Next: May 19, 2023
   ++ Landowner Retreats – May 19-20, 2022; September 8-9, 2023
   ++ Online Woodland Options for Landowners – June 5, 2023-August 11, 2023
5.) Potomac Riverkeeper Network Events – Various Dates: Starting: May 19, 2023
6.) ForumPlus: Siting Solar: An Understanding of Solar Fields in the Bay Watershed -- May 22, 2023
7.) Webinar: Building Successful Stream Stabilization and Buffer Repair Programs -- May 25, 2023
8.) Invasive Plant Workshop – June 9, 2023
9.) Request for Proposals: Youth Environmental Education Grant Program – Deadline: June 29, 2023
10.) AWRA 2023 Summer Conference – July 17-19, 2023
11.) Fish Advisory Information Cards for the Potomac and Shenandoah
12.) 2023 International Coastal Cleanup
13.) Job Opportunities
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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 the VWMC’s intern, Logan Flanagan, for developing today’s announcements. 
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1.) Webinar: Building A Diverse Environmental Workforce and Packaging the State of the Science -- May 17, 2023 (12-1pm) --  Speakers from the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science (UMCES) will discuss their Institute of Marine and Environmental Technology (IMET) internship program, the Living Marine Resources Cooperative Science Center, and the coastal adaptation report card. Learn more and register at https://chesapeake.org/crc-roundtable/.  Organized by the Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC).
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2.) Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) Public Meetings – Addresses water quality issues for waterbodies on Virginia’s § 303(d) list of impaired waters for failing to meet Virginia’s water quality standards. Hosted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
   ++ Community Engagement Meeting: Watershed Cleanup Study for Hat and Black Creeks in Nelson County, Virginia – May 17, 2023 (2pm) -- Lovingston, VA – Focus is on addressing aquatic life impairments.  Learn more at https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=37970.
   ++ Implementation Plan (IP) Community Engagement Meeting: Watershed Cleanup Plan for Moores and Mill Creeks (Rockbridge County) – May 31, 2023 (2pm) -- Lexington, VA – Focus is on addressing aquatic life impairments.  Learn more at https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=37971. 
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3.) Webinar: An Introduction to Virginia's First Wildlife Corridor Action Plan – May 18, 2023 (6:30-7:30pm) – Amy Golden of Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) will discuss the Wildlife Corridor Action Plan (WCAP). Learn more about the action plan at https://dwr.virginia.gov/wildlife/corridors/.  Learn more about the webinar and register at https://wildvirginia.org/.  Organized by Wild Virginia.
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4.) Virginia Forest Landowner Events – Learn more and register for these events and others at https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/eventscalendar.html. Organized by Virginia Cooperative Extension and partners.
   ++ Spring Venture Outdoors – Multiple Dates: May 18-June 9, 2023 – These short courses cover topics including tree identification, invasive plant/insect management, hardwood management, and water quality.
   ++ Fifteen Minutes in the Forest – Next: May 19, 2023 (12:15pm) – Join on Facebook Live or Youtube Premier to learn about various forest-related topics. This is part of a continuous series every other Friday.
   ++ Landowner Retreats – May 19-20, 2023 (Galax, VA); September 8-9, 2023 (Providence Forge, VA) – Developed for those new to actively managing their woods to teach concepts of sustainable woodland management.
   ++ Online Woodland Options for Landowners – June 5, 2023-August 11, 2023 – This 10-week online course will teach the fundamentals of forest management. Participants can create a forest management plan draft and attend an end-of-semester field trip to Appomattox, VA on August 5, 2023.
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5.) Potomac Riverkeeper Network Events – Learn more about these events and others at https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/events/.
   ++ May 19, 2023 (9am-3pm) -- Riverpalooza: South Branch Trough -- Purgitsville, WV
   ++ June 14, 2023 (9am-12pm) -- DC Pride Paddle -- Washington, DC
   ++ June 30, 2023 (9am-3pm) -- Riverpalooza: Shenandoah Birdwatching – Put In: Andy Guest Shenandoah River State Park
   ++ July 14, 2023 (9am-4pm) -- Riverpalooza: USFS Shenandoah Snorkeling And Paddle -- Front Royal, VA
   ++ July 22, 2023 (1-6pm) -- Riverpalooza: Women For Clean Water Paddle -- Alexandria, VA
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6.) ForumPlus: Siting Solar: An Understanding of Solar Fields in the Bay Watershed -- May 22, 2023 (1:30-4:30pm) – Harrisburg, PA – This free event will examine where solar fields are placed based upon different zoning policies in various jurisdictions. The presenters will share solar siting case studies, identify best practices. and identify pitfalls to avoid. Registration is free. This event is part of the Choose Clean Water Conference, May 23-24, 2023. To register, select the ForumPlus only option from the registration page at https://www.choosecleanwater.org/our-conference. Organized by the Choose Clean Water Coalition and the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
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7.) Webinar: Building Successful Stream Stabilization and Buffer Repair Programs -- May 25, 2023 (11am-12pm) -- This free webinar will focus on how the City of Raleigh’s stormwater has implemented and enhanced three different stream stabilization programs to repair, rehabilitate, and strengthen streams on private city properties. The webinar will provide details about funding, techniques, and collaboration with private citizens, local universities and organizations within the Drainage Assistance and Stream Stabilization Programs and will highlight their new voluntary programs, the Stream Bank Repair Workshops and the Buffer Builder Bag Program. Learn more at https://www.seswa.org/webinars-state-spotlight. Organized by the Southeast Stormwater Association (SeSwA).
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8.) Invasive Plant Workshop – June 9, 2023 (10am-1pm) -- Nellysford, VA -- Learn more and register at https://blueridgeprism.org/. This workshop will include an invasive plant identification walk on the Rockfish Valley Trails. Long pants and closed-toe shoes are required. This event will be held rain or shine. Organized by Blue Ridge PRISM in partnership with the Rockfish Valley Foundation.
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9.) Request for Proposals: Youth Environmental Education Grant Program – Deadline: June 29, 2023 (4pm) -- Provides funds to schools, organizations, and agencies for projects that involve youth and students investigating a local environmental issue, problem, or phenomenon.  Youth conduct indoor and outdoor research to develop solutions and take action in their school or community. Funds can cover field trips, fieldwork, transportation, substitute fees, and supplies for projects. Applications accepted for projects occurring in the Chesapeake Bay watershed.  Learn more at https://cbtrust.org/grants/youth-environmental-education-grant-program/.  This program is a partnership between the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), Chesapeake Bay Watershed Education and Training Program (B-WET), and Maryland Department of Natural Resources. 
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10.) AWRA 2023 Summer Conference – July 17-19, 2023 -- Denver, CO – Theme: “Connecting Land & Water for Healthy Communities” – This conference will focus on the design, integration, and implementation of programs necessary to better connect land and water planning and policy.  The early-bird rate ends May 19, 2023. Learn more about and register for this conference and others at 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.) Fish Advisory Information Cards for the Potomac and Shenandoah – These cards provide meal recommendations on eating certain fish species caught from specified waterbodies. View the cards in English or Spanish at https://www.potomacriverkeepernetwork.org/dmv-fish-advisory/.  For questions about human health risks from exposure to fish contaminants, contact the Virginia Department of Health's Division of Environmental Epidemiology at 804-864-8182. Published by the Potomac Riverkeeper Network.
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12.) 2023 International Coastal Cleanup – Cleanups can occur year-round.  During a cleanup, volunteers record data about the litter they find. Collect data using a paper data card or through the CleanSwell App on your phone. Seeking site captains for fall cleanups to be held between August and November. Learn more at http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/VolunteerSiteCaptain.html. For more information, call 434-395-2602 or email cle...@longwood.edu. Part of the Ocean Conservancy's annual International Coastal Cleanup (ICC). The ICC events in Virginia are coordinated by Clean Virginia Waterways of Longwood University.
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13.) Job Opportunities – View a listing of current job opportunities and employment resources on the Job Board at https://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/jobs/.  Developed by the Virginia Water Resources Research Center.
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The VWMC announcements are provided with support from a grant from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) with funding from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  Funding is also provided from generous VWMC members. 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.