Announcements 2026.5.29

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Events – Various Dates, Starting: May 30, 2026
2.) Water and Wastewater Training – Various Dates, Starting: June 2, 2026
3.) Youth Climate Institute Chapter Interest Meetings -- Various dates: June, July, August, September 2026 (Next: June 2, 2026)
4.) Call For Abstracts: 2026 Mid-Atlantic & the Carolinas Groundwater Conference -- Submission Deadline: June 5, 2026; Conference: August 18-19, 2026
5.) Comments Accepted: Draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) – Comments Due: June 5, 2026
6.) Hearing: Summary of Comments on VPDES Amazon Data Services, Inc., Lake Anna Tech Campus – June 9, 2026
7.) Funding Opportunities: Chesapeake Bay Trust – Various Deadlines, Next Deadline: June 10, 2026
8.) Virginia Oyster Gardening Seminars – Various Dates, Starting June 13, 2026
9.) “Hellbenders Night” at Minor League Baseball Game – June 26, 2026
10.) Course: Geomorphic & Ecological Fundamentals of River & Stream Restoration -- August 17-21, 2026
11.) StormCon 2026 -- August 25-27, 2026
12.) Middle James Roundtable 2026 Annual Meeting -- September 3-4, 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.) Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Events – Learn more at https://events.wm.edu/calendar/upcoming/vims/.
   ++ 24th Annual Marine Science Day! -- May 30, 2026 (10am-3pm) -- Gloucester Point, VA
   ++ Batten School & VIMS Public Tour Series -- June 12, 2026 and June 26, 2026 -- Gloucester Point, VA
   ++ After Hours Lecture Series -- Slime and Punishment: The Life, Times and Crimes of the American Eel -- June 25, 2026 (6:30pm - 8pm)
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2.) 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 Lisha McCargo at lmcc...@sercap.org). Trainings offered by SERCAP, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), and others.
   ++ Water Loss Training (GLCAP) – June 2, 2026 (8:30am-5pm)
   ++ Applying for State Revolving-loan Fund: a Cloverport Case Study -- June 4, 2026 (1-2pm)
   ++ Onsite & Decentralized Wastewater Systems: Best Practices for Performance, Longevity, and Public Health – June 18, 2026 (1-2pm)
   ++ Regionalization Workshop Train-the-Trainer -- July 28, 2026
   ++ Small System Operator Training: Achieve & Maintain Compliance with the SDWA, Small Systems Resilience 2026 – August 11, 2026 (10am-4:30pm)
   ++  Small System Operator Training: Achieve & Maintain Compliance with the SDWA, Small Systems Resilience 2026 – August 13, 2026 (10am-4:30pm)
   ++ Water Loss Workshop for Small Utilities (RCAC) -- August 17, 2026 – Denver, CO -- https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEJAJVOGSDTD/home/
   ++ 2nd Annual National State Revolving Fund (SRF) Infrastructure Financing and Training Workshop -- August 17-20, 2026 – Denver, CO – https://www.rcap.org/srf-workshop/
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3.) Youth Climate Institute Chapter Interest Meetings -- Various dates: June, July, August, September 2026 (Next: June 2, 2026) -- These information sessions will teach how to launch a chapter and support future climate leaders in the community. These meetings are geared towards teachers or other adults interested in running a chapter at their school or organization. Interested students are encouraged to connect with a teacher at their school or visit https://youthclimateleader.org/for-students/ to learn more. For more information on the information sessions and to register, see https://youthclimateleader.org/venue/chapter-interest-meetings/. Organized by the Youth Climate Institute.
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4.) Call For Abstracts: 2026 Mid-Atlantic & the Carolinas Groundwater Conference -- Submission Deadline: June 5, 2026; Conference: August 18-19, 2026 -- Richmond, VA -- Groundwater Professionals in the Mid-Atlantic and Carolinas region are invited to share the problems they’ve solved, patterns noticed, or interesting discoveries. Abstracts will be 30-minute presentations or 1-1.5 hour panel discussions that cover the topics of contaminated hydrogeology, groundwater monitoring, groundwater management, bi-state groundwater monitoring, groundwater communication, data centers and groundwater, and geothermal. To submit, send the Title, Brief Description, and Short Professional Bio to Sara Chudnoff, PG, Executive Director at sa...@agwt.org. For more information about the conference, see https://agwt.org/event/26magw/. Organized by the American Ground Water Trust.
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5.) Comments Accepted: Draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List (CCL 6) – Comments Due: June 5, 2026 -- The CCL identifies drinking water contaminants that are not currently regulated at the federal level but are known or expected to occur in public water systems and may warrant future regulation under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA). The draft CCL 6 includes 9 microbial contaminants; 75 individual chemicals; and 4 chemical groups: microplastics, pharmaceuticals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), and disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is seeking public comment on both the draft list and the process used to select contaminants. Learn more at https://www.epa.gov/ccl/draft-contaminant-candidate-list-6-ccl-6. View the CCL6 and submit comments at https://www.regulations.gov/docket/EPA-HQ-OW-2022-0946/document.
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6.) Hearing: Summary of Comments on VPDES Amazon Data Services, Inc., Lake Anna Tech Campus – June 9, 2026 (7-9pm) – Mineral, VA – Accepting input on DEQ’s Summary of Comments from individuals who previously commented, either in person at the draft permit public hearing or in writing during the public comment periods. No new information will be accepted at the hearing. The comment period will end when public comment is complete or 9pm, whichever is earlier. Learn more at https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=43391.  Organized by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
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7.) Funding Opportunities: Chesapeake Bay Trust – Learn more about these and other opportunities at https://cbtrust.org/grants/.
   ++ Request for Proposals: Provide Federal Compliance Training Services for the Capacity Building Initiative – Deadline: June 10, 2026 (4pm) – https://cbtrust.org/bidder-opportunities/ -- Aims to secure a qualified contractor to deliver live federal fiscal compliance training and individualized capacity‑building support for Chesapeake Bay Trust (the “Trust”) grantees.
   ++ Youth Environmental Education Grant Program – Deadline: July 9, 2026 (4pm) – https://cbtrust.org/grants/youth-environmental-education-grant-program/ -- Aims to provide funds to schools, organizations, and agencies for youth environmental education opportunities and educator support.
   ++ Capacity Building Grant Program – Deadline: July 15, 2026 (5pm) -- https://cbtrust.org/grants/capacity-building/ -- Aims to support nonprofit organizations and local governments working at the intersection of natural resource protection and community well‑being across the Chesapeake Bay watershed.
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8.) Virginia Oyster Gardening Seminars – Various Dates, Starting June 13, 2026 -- Learn how to become a successful oyster gardener.  Registration is available for those who would like to “listen and learn” as well as those who want to participate in this program.  Oyster gardeners will receive spat-on-shell (baby oysters set on recycled shells), two 18″ x 9″ cages, as well as other necessary supplies. Participants must attend an oyster gardening seminar before taking home spat on shell.  There are a limited number of public locations available for gardeners without their own dock. Learn more and register at https://www.cbf.org/resources/virginia-oyster-gardening-seminars/.   Organized by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
   ++ June 13, 2026 (9-11am) -- Virginia Beach, VA
   ++ June 16, 2026 (6-8pm) – Norfolk, VA
   ++ June 20, 2026 (9-11am) -- Virginia Eastern Shore
   ++ June 25, 2026 (6-8pm) -- Hampton, VA
   ++ July 18, 2026 (9-11am) -- Irvington, VA
   ++ July 21, 2026 (6-8pm) -- Newport News, VA
   ++ July 23, 2026 (6-8pm) -- Gloucester Point, VA
   ++ July 30, 2026 (6-8pm) – Portsmouth, VA
   ++ August 1, 2026 (9-11am) -- Virginia Beach, VA
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9.) “Hellbenders Night” at Minor League Baseball Game – June 26, 2026 (6:35pm) – Salem, VA – Game: Myrtle Beach Pelicans vs. Salem RidgeYaks -- This family-friendly evening will celebrate and support conservation efforts for the Eastern hellbender, North America’s largest salamander. Virginia’s Hellbender Headstart Program is helping to lead efforts to restore threatened hellbender populations. Half of the proceeds purchased through this ticket link will support hellbender research and ongoing conservation work in Appalachian streams. During the game, hellbenders will be omnipresent, with information tables, and hellbender trivia in-between innings.
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10.) Course: Geomorphic & Ecological Fundamentals of River & Stream Restoration -- August 17-21, 2026 -- Truckee, CA -- This five-day introductory course emphasizes understanding the geomorphic and ecological process as a sound basis for planning and designing river restoration, and will cover general principles and case studies from a wide range of environments. Early-bird registration rates are available until May 31, 2026. For more information and to register, see https://berkeleyriverlab.org/geomorphic-ecological-fundamentals-of-river-and-stream-restoration/. Organized by the Berkeley River Lab.
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11.) StormCon 2026 -- August 25-27, 2026 -- Minneapolis, MN -- Learn from practitioners who design, implement, and manage stormwater systems and gain insight into BMP performance, MS4 compliance, flood mitigation, green infrastructure, and erosion control strategies. For more information and to register for this event, see https://www.stormcon.com/2026/. Also offering the following field trips (learn more at https://www.stormcon.com/2026/2026fieldtrips):
   ++ St. Anthony Falls Laboratory and Water Works Tour -- August 25, 2026 (9am-3:30pm)
   ++ Wilderness Inquiry Mississippi River Canoe Tour -- August 25, 2026 (8:30am-11:30pm)
   ++ Owámniyomni Okhódayapi – Friends of the Falls Tour -- August 27, 2026 (3-5:30pm)
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12.) Middle James Roundtable 2026 Annual Meeting -- September 3-4, 2026 -- Luray, VA -- This meeting will focus on the state of outdoor recreation in the watershed. It is open to anyone with an interest in protecting and promoting the middle section of the James River. There will be opportunities to enjoy Shenandoah National Park as well as informational sessions. A block of rooms is reserved at Skyland Resort for overnight stays, but lodging reservations must be made by July 30, 2026. For more information and to register, see http://www.mjrt.org/2026-annual-meeting.html. Organized by the Middle James Roundtable.
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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.