Announcements 2024.7.9

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virtual Learning Series -- Framing 101: Say What You Mean to Say – July 10, 2024
2.) Virginia Household Water Quality Program – Various Dates, Starting: July 10, 2024
3.) Chesapeake Bay Program Environmental Literacy Listening Session – Watershed Session: July 11, 2024; Virginia Session: July 24, 2024
4.) Request for Proposals: 2024 Chesapeake Watershed Forum Poster Session – Submission Deadline: July 12, 2024; Forum: October 19, 2024
5.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Seminar Series -- Various Dates
6.) Request for Proposals: Capacity Building Initiative – Application Deadline: July 18, 2024
7.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) Webinars – Various Dates, Starting: July 18, 2024
8.) Stormwater Management (SWM)/Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Trainings and Continuing Education Classes – Various Dates, Starting, July 23, 2024
9.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) News – Various Dates, Starting: July 24, 2024
10.) Public Comment Notice: 2024 Virginia Outdoors Plan – Comment Deadline: July 31, 2024
11.) Richmond Region Comprehensive Climate Action Plan Survey – Closes: July 31, 2024
12.) Virginia’s AgBMP Loan Program – Applications accepted on a rolling basis; monthly evaluations
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 the VWMC’s intern, Logan Flanagan, for developing today’s announcements. 
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1.) Virtual Learning Series - Framing 101: Say What You Mean to Say – July 10, 2024 (12-1pm) – Learn more and register at https://www.eevirginia.org/learning-series. Offered by the Virginia Association for Environmental Education.
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2.) Virginia Household Water Quality Program – Focuses on maintaining and protecting private water systems such as wells, springs and cisterns. Drinking water clinics are offered through local Extension offices, providing affordable water testing, interpretation of test results and information about maintenance of private water systems. Drinking water samples are analyzed for the following: iron, manganese, nitrate, lead, arsenic, fluoride, sulfate, pH, total dissolved solids, hardness, sodium, copper, total coliform bacteria and E. Coli bacteria. Learn more at https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/. Upcoming water clinics and contacts for more information are posted at https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php. Offered through Virginia Cooperative Extension. Upcoming clinics include the following:
   ++ July 10, 2024 – Nelson, Culpeper, Rappahannock, Fauquier
   ++ July 17 and July 24, 2024 – Frederick, Page, Warren, Clarke, Shenandoah
   ++ August 7, 2024 – Franklin, Pittsylvania, Henry, Bland, Roanoke, Botetourt
   ++ August 14, 2024 – Chesterfield, Spotsylvania, Fredericksburg, Stafford, Caroline, King George
   ++ August 27, 2024 – Accomack, Northampton
   ++ September 11, 2024 – Fairfax
   ++ September 18, 2024 – Greene, Orange, Louisa
   ++ September 25, 2024 – Alleghany, Craig
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3.) Chesapeake Bay Program Environmental Literacy Listening Session – Watershed Session: July 11, 2024 (1-2:30pm); Virginia Session: July 24, 2024 (11:30am-1pm) -- Share your thoughts on the future of environmental literacy in the Mid-Atlantic region. Seeking feedback on the Chesapeake Bay Program’s Environmental Literacy Goal and its outcomes (Student, Sustainable Schools, and Environmental Literacy Planning). Learn more at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/what/goals/environmental-literacy. Register to attend the Virginia session by completing the form at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScr5aCIx_IIOIoU_0zQOxbLM4emHQNKa92543Q2v083hg2IeQ/viewform.  Scroll to the bottom of the form for a link to register for the watershed session or to provide feedback.  Organized by the Chesapeake Bay Program Education Workgroup.  Learn more about the workgroup at https://www.chesapeakebay.net/who/group/education-workgroup.
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4.) Request for Proposals: 2024 Chesapeake Watershed Forum Poster Session – Submission Deadline: July 12, 2024; Forum: October 19, 2024 (7pm) – Shepherdstown, WV – Individual presenters can share their work or research findings in a visual format. Categories include environmental education; diversity, equity, inclusion, justice (DEIJ); outreach; restoration/conservation; science, advocacy, and professional and organizational development. Learn more and submit a proposal at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/watershed-forum-request-for-proposals-for-posters/. Organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
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5.) National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Science Seminar Series – Learn about upcoming seminars and past seminars at https://www.star.nesdis.noaa.gov/star/NOAAScienceSeminars.php. Interested individuals may also subscribe to receive weekly e-mails that summarize upcoming seminars. All seminars are hosted by NOAA. Examples of upcoming seminars include the following:
   ++ Forecasting Hurricane Impacts on US Coasts / Remote Sensing of Hurricane Impacts from Space -- July 16, 2024 (1-2pm)
   ++ NOAA in the Chesapeake Bay -- July 17, 2024 (12-12:45pm)
   ++ U.S. Eastern Region NOAA Climate Services: 2024 Heat Season Update -- July 30, 2024 (9:30-10:30am)
   ++ Life Lessons from a New eDNA Laboratory -- August 21, 2024 (2-3pm)
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6.) Request for Proposals: Capacity Building Initiative – Application Deadline: July 18, 2024 (4pm) – This program funds key capacity-building strategies. Non-profit organizations, and tribal or local governments that provide services within the Chesapeake watershed are eligible. Learn more and apply at https://cbtrust.org/grants/capacity-building/. Provided through the Chesapeake Bay Trust on behalf of the Chesapeake Bay Funders Network.
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7.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) Webinars – Learn more and register at https://www.waterrf.org/webcasts.
   ++ Wastewater Process Emissions Fundamentals – July 18, 2024
   ++ Developing a Coordinated National Research Strategy on Water Reuse -- July 25, 2024
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8.) Stormwater Management (SWM)/Erosion and Sediment Control (ESC) Trainings and Continuing Education Classes – Various Dates, Starting, July 23, 2024 – Enroll in classes through the Environmental Learning Management System (ELMS) at https://vadeq.csod.com/client/vadeq/. Offered by the Virginia DEQ.
   ++ Certification Classes: Classes have been updated to Version 5 to reflect the latest stormwater and erosion changes. Completion of online prerequisites are required before enrolling in trainings. Learn more and view the schedule at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/training-certification/certification-schedule. 
   ++ Continuing Education Classes: Schedule available at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/training-certification/continuing-education.
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9.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) News – Learn more about the events and register at https://blueridgeprism.org/events-calendar/.
   ++ July 24, 2024 (11:30am-1pm) – Summer Quarterly Meeting
   ++ August 14, 2024 (12-1pm) – Brown Bag Webinar: The Problem with Wavyleaf Grass and What to Do About It
   ++ September 4, 2024 (12-1pm) – Brown Bag Webinar: Department of Forestry’s Hardwood Initiative – Explained!
   ++ Invasive Plant Survey – Seeking input to better understand what invasive plant species have been, or are becoming, a problem for Virginia homeowners, farmers, commercial property owners, and natural area stewards. Report which invasive plants you are seeing locally and which are of most concern. Take the survey at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdShNDhbPPeFfgm3hJHx0sFzbGVFHF56f5dI5gpk34tVyvzEQ/viewform.
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10.) Public Comment Notice: 2024 Virginia Outdoors Plan – Comment Deadline: July 31, 2024 – The Virginia Outdoors Plan (VOP) is the state’s official conservation and outdoor recreation plan and helps guide funding prioritization and distribution. The 2024 draft must be reviewed and approved by the National Park Service and undergo a 30-day comment period. Learn more and summit a comment at https://townhall.virginia.gov//l/ViewNotice.cfm?GNID=2895.
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11.) Richmond Region Comprehensive Climate Action Plan Survey – Closes: July 31, 2024 -- PlanRVA received $1 million to develop a climate action plan for the Richmond Metro Statistical Area. Seeking participants in the Richmond, VA area to participate in its Phase 2 Climate Resiliency survey.  Learn more and provide feedback at https://www.climateresilientrva.org/feedback.
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12.) Virginia’s AgBMP Loan Program – Applications accepted on a rolling basis; monthly evaluations -- Offering a 0% interest loan program for agricultural producers installing water quality improving BMPs on their farms. The Virginia Resources Authority (VRA) performs the credit reviews, underwrites the loans, makes the loan reimbursement deposits, and collects loan re-payments. Learn more about the AgBMP program at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/water/clean-water-financing-and-assistance/virginia-clean-water-revolving-loan-fund-vcwrlf/agricultural-bmp. Provided from the Virginia Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund (VCWRLF).
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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 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.