Announcements 2026.2.23

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Basics of Land Conservation and Farm Grants – TODAY: February 23, 2026 (6:30pm)
2.) Chesapeake Stormwater Network (CSN) Webinars – Various Dates, Starting: February 24, 2026
3.) Virginia Rural Water Association (VRWA) Classes and Webinars – February 24-26, 2026
4.) Webinar -- Rare Native Plants: Conserving the Remnant Grasslands of Virginia -- February 25, 2026
5.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events – Various Dates, Starting: February 26, 2026
6.) USEPA Water Sector Threat Briefing -- February 26, 2026
7.) Applications Accepted: Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund -- Deadline: February 27, 2026
8.) Big Stream Cleanup in Manassas Park -- February 28, 2026
9.) Call for Proposals: 2026 National Marine Educators Association Conference -- Proposals Due: February 28, 2026; Conference: July 12-16, 2026
10.) Art Contest: 2026 Science Without Borders Challenge -- Deadline: March 2, 2026
11.) American Water Works Association (AWWA) Events – Various Dates, Starting: March 4, 2026
12.) Request for Proposals: 2025-2026 Virginia Watershed Educational Programs Project: Meaningful Watershed Educational Experiences Grants -- Application Deadline: March 5, 2026
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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.) Basics of Land Conservation and Farm Grants – TODAY: February 23, 2026 (6:30-8pm) -- Stanardsville, VA – Learn about conservation easements, applicable grants, and additional conservation tools, opportunities and cost-share programs for landowners.  Learn more about this and other events at https://www.pecva.org/events/. Organized by the Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC)
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2.) Chesapeake Stormwater Network (CSN) Webinars -- For more information and to register, see https://chesapeakestormwater.org/events/.
   ++ Updating Urban Fertilizer Management in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed – February 24, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Reimagining Watershed Management: Creative Funding Models and Partnerships for an Inclusive Future -- March 3, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Assessing the Effectiveness of Green Stormwater Infrastructure for Addressing Stormwater Management Goals at the Watershed Scale – March 10, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Assessing and Managing Stormwater Impacts of Solar Installations in Virginia and Central Pennsylvania – March 19, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Where Clean Water Meets Community: Showcasing Innovation at the Wetlands at Long’s Park – March 26, 2026 (12-1pm)
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3.) Virginia Rural Water Association (VRWA) Classes and Webinars – Learn more about these opportunities and others at https://www.vrwa.org/TrainingEvents/Classes.aspx.
   ++ PFAS Drinking Water EnviroWorkshop -- February 24, 2026 (Leesburg, VA) and February 26, 2026 (Smithfield, VA)
   ++ Wastewater Operations: Certification Practice for Class 3&4 -- February 25 and 26, 2026 -- Buena Vista, VA
   ++ Prepare with Purpose: Wastewater Operations Certification Class 1&2 –March 4&5, 2026 -- St. Paul, VA
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4.) Webinar -- Rare Native Plants: Conserving the Remnant Grasslands of Virginia -- February 25, 2026 (7-8pm) -- For more information and to register, see https://www.sustainabilitymatters.earth/events. Organized by Sustainability Matters.
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5.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events -- For more information and to register, see https://blueridgeprism.org/events.
   ++ Webinar: Loudoun Invasive Removal Alliance – A Grassroots Success Story -- February 26, 2026 (12-1pm)
  ++ Invasive Plant Identification Walk -- February 26, 2026 (Front Royal, VA); April 1, 2026 (Boyce, VA); and April 2, 2026 (Front Royal, VA) 
   ++ Conservation Stewards Workday -- February 27, 2026 (10am-12pm) – Harrisonburg, VA
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6.) USEPA Water Sector Threat Briefing -- February 26, 2026 (2pm) -- This free briefing will provide an overview of drinking water and wastewater security threats and preparedness, including potential threats to critical infrastructure (cyber and physical), what to do in the event of a cyber or physical intrusion, and water security and preparedness products and services.  No clearance is required as the information presented is unclassified. For more information, see https://wateroperator.org/calendar_details/ID/244829. Organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Office of Water Emergency Response and Cybersecurity (OWERC), in partnership with the Water Information Sharing and Analysis Center (WaterISAC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST), and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA).
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7.) Applications Accepted: Mid-Atlantic Community Forestry Fund -- Deadline: February 27, 2026 (4pm) -- This grant program leverages forestry to address environmental justice (EJ) issues. There are three tracks: 1) EJ Organization Capacity Building; 2) Tree Canopy for Resiliency and Public Health, and 3) Workforce Development in Community Forestry. Open to community-based organizations that are tax-exempt or fiscally sponsored throughout the Mid-Atlantic region (VA, etc.), particularly those who have historically faced barriers in securing funding to address EJ issues. For more information and to apply, see https://cbtrust.org/grants/macff/. Funded through the Chesapeake Bay Trust with funding from the USDA Forest Service, Urban and Community Forestry Program, as part of the Inflation Reduction Act investment, as well as by other local private and community foundations.
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8.) Big Stream Cleanup in Manassas Park -- February 28, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Manassas Park, VA (Manassas Park Dog Park) -- For more information about cleanup events, contact Veronica Tangiri at waterq...@pwswcd.org. Organized by the Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District (PWSWCD).
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9.) Call for Proposals: 2026 National Marine Educators Association Conference -- Proposals Due: February 28, 2026; Conference: July 12-16, 2026 -- Cambridge, MD -- Theme: “Meeting of the Waters” -- Plenary speakers will highlight freshwater, brackish, and saltwater environments. Proposals will be for either in-person or asynchronous presentations, with the option of outdoor presentations. Presentations must adhere to one of the 7 tracks listed on the website. For more information and to submit a proposal, visit https://www.marine-ed.org/conference/2026. Organized by the National Marine Educators Association and Mid-Atlantic Marine Education Association.
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10.) Art Contest: 2026 Science Without Borders Challenge -- Deadline: March 2, 2026 -- Theme: “Microscopic Marine Life” -- This art contest is open to students ages 11-19 enrolled in primary or secondary school (or homeschool equivalent). Scholarships of up to $500 are awarded to the winning entries. For more information and to apply, see https://www.livingoceansfoundation.org/science-without-borders-challenge/. Organized by the Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation.
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11.) American Water Works Association (AWWA) Events -- For more information about these events and other AWWA events and to register, see  https://www.awwa.org/event-calendar/.
   ++ Webinar: Microplastics 2026: State Regulatory Perspectives and Progress -- March 4, 2026 (11am-12:30pm)
   ++ Webinar: Digital Transformation at Columbia -- March 10, 2026 (11am-12pm) – FREE; Sponsored and presented by Hansen Technologies.
   ++ Webinar: Essential Policy Updates from AWWA's DC Office -- March 11, 2026 (11am-12:30pm)
   ++ Webinar: Federal and State Funding: Virtual Roundtable -- March 18, 2026 (11am-12:30pm)
   ++ Young Professionals Summit -- March 22-24, 2026 -- Charlotte, NC
   ++ AWWA/WEF The Utility Management Conference™ -- March 24-27, 2026 -- Charlotte, NC
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12.) Request for Proposals -- 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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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.