Announcements 2026.8.4

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Water and Wastewater Trainings – Various Dates, Starting: August 5, 2026
2.) Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) Events – Various Dates, Starting: August 11, 2026
3.) Chesapeake Stormwater Network Webinars – Various Dates, Starting: August 11, 2026
4.) 2026 Drinking Water Clinics – Various Dates, Starting: August 11, 2026
5.) Comments Accepted: Proposed 6^th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) Monitoring Rule -- Webinars: August 11, 2026 and August 12, 2026; Comments due: August 31, 2026
6.) Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Trainings
   ++ CBLP Level 1 Training – Various Dates, Starting: August 12, 2026
   ++ Living Shorelines Class – Various Dates, Starting: September 18, 2026
7.) Comments Accepted – Various Comment Deadlines, Starting: August 12, 2026
8.) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Office Hours – August 12, 2026; September 9, 2026
9.) Virginia Backyard Streambank Repair Workshop -- August 13, 2026
10.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events – Various Dates, Starting: August 13, 2026
11.) Funding Opportunity: Technical Assistance and Training for Rural, Small and Tribal Municipalities and Wastewater Treatment Systems – Applications Due: August 14, 2026
12.) Call for Workshop Proposals: Future Harvest Conference -- Proposals Due: August 15, 2026; Conference: January 21-22, 2027
13.) 2026 Mid-Atlantic & the Carolinas Groundwater Conference -- August 18-19, 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.) Water and Wastewater Trainings – 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.
   ++ Asset Management 101: Developing Your Asset Management Plan for Small Drinking Water Systems – August 5, 2026 (1-4pm)
   ++ Introduction to the SDWA and AWIA Small System Resilience Training Workshop for Small Drinking Water Systems – August 6, 2026 (12:30-4:30pm)
   ++ Small System Operator Training: Achieve & Maintain Compliance with the SDWA, Small Systems Resilience 2026 – August 11, 2026 (10am-4:30pm) – Provided by SERCAP, RCAP, and AWWA Virginia Section
   ++ Small System Operator Training: Achieve & Maintain Compliance with the SDWA, Small Systems Resilience 2026 – August 13, 2026 (10am-4:30pm) – Provided by SERCAP, RCAP, and AWWA Virginia Section
   ++ Water Loss Workshop for Small Utilities (RCAC) -- August 17, 2026 – Denver, CO -- https://site.pheedloop.com/event/EVEJAJVOGSDTD/home/
   ++ 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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2.) Friends of the Rappahannock (FOR) Events -- Learn more about these events and others at https://riverfriends.org/events/.
   ++ Summer Nursery Volunteer Hours -- August 11, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Rapidan, VA
   ++ Lower Rappahannock Field Trip Volunteer Training -- August 12, 2026 (9am-12pm) -- Warsaw, VA
   ++ Cat Point Creek Spruce Up -- August 15, 2026 (8am-12pm) -- Warsaw, VA
   ++ Upper Rappahannock Field Trip Volunteers Training -- September 9, 2026 (9:30am-12pm) -- Rapidan, VA
   ++ Riverfest -- September 19, 2026 (3-8pm) – Fredericksburg, Va. – Fundraiser for Friends of the Rappahannock. Volunteers needed.
   ++ FXBG Rubber Ducky Derby -- October 17, 2026 (3pm) – Fredericksburg, Va.
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3.) Chesapeake Stormwater Network Webinars -- Learn more and register at https://chesapeakestormwater.org/webinars/.
   ++ Building Better Stream Monitoring Programs: Strategies, Innovations, and Success Stories from Local Governments -- August 11, 2026
   ++ Using Future Precipitation Data to Inform Resilient Stormwater Design -- September 10, 2026
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4.) 2026 Drinking Water Clinics -- Provides water testing and practical information to users of private water supplies, including wells, springs and cisterns. Contact your local Extension office to express interest in a clinic. Learn more at https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/events.php and https://www.wellwater.bse.vt.edu/index.php.  Offered through Virginia Cooperative Extension’s Virginia Household Water Quality Program.
   ++ August 11, 2026 – Northampton, Accomack
   ++ August 19, 2026 -- Loudoun (wait list)
   ++ September 2, 2026 – Cumberland, Buckingham, Amelia, Louisa
   ++ September 16, 2026 – Fluvanna, Fairfax County
  ++ September 30, 2026 -- Roanoke County, Pittsylvania, Franklin, Henry
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5.) Comments Accepted: Proposed 6^th Unregulated Contaminant Monitoring Rule (UCMR 6) Monitoring Rule -- Webinars: August 11, 2026 and August 12, 2026; Comments due: August 31, 2026 – The rule proposes sample collection for 30 chemical contaminants between 2028 and 2030 using analytical methods developed by the EPA. For the list of proposed contaminants, minimum reporting levels, and more, see https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/proposed-sixth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule.  Register for a webinar at https://www.epa.gov/dwucmr/unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule-ucmr-meetings-and-materials. Learn more at https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/07/01/2026-13263/revisions-to-establish-the-sixth-unregulated-contaminant-monitoring-rule-ucmr-6-for-public-water.  Submit comments using Docket ID: “EPA-HQ-OW-2023-0469” at https://www.regulations.gov/. Published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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6.) Chesapeake Bay Landscape Professional (CBLP) Trainings
   ++ CBLP Level 1 Training -- In-person: August 12-13, 2026 (Petersburg, VA); September 14-15, 2026 (Waynesboro, VA) plus others -- Participants are eligible for professional development Continuing Education Units (CEUs) through multiple organizations and agencies.  Learn more and register at https://cblpro.org/cblp-level-1/.
   ++ Living Shorelines Class -- September 18, 2026 (online); September 22-23, 2026 (Hampton, VA); October 16, 2026 (online) -- Gain skills to design and implement resilient shoreline projects, navigate permitting, and protect coastal ecosystems. Learn more and register at https://cblpro.org/cblp-shorelines/.
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7.) Comments Accepted
   ++ Chapter: Virginia Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (VPDES) General Permit for Discharges of Stormwater from Small Municipal Separate Storm Sewer Systems (MS4s) (formerly Part XV, 4VAC50-60) [9 VAC 25 ‑ 890] -- Comment Deadline: August 12, 2026 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewStage.cfm?StageID=11206
   ++ Chapter: Financial Assurance Regulations for Solid Waste Disposal, Transfer and Treatment Facilities [9 VAC 20 ‑ 70] -- Comment Deadline: August 12, 2026 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewStage.cfm?StageID=11194
   ++ Chapter: Water Quality Standards [9 VAC 25 ‑ 260] -- Public Hearing: August 31, 2026 (1pm, Richmond, VA); Comment Deadline: September 11, 2026 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewStage.cfm?StageID=11052
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8.) Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Office Hours – August 12, 2026; September 9, 2026 (2-3pm) -- The WIFIA program is a federal loan and guarantee program at EPA. It aims to accelerate investment in water infrastructure by providing long-term, low-cost supplemental credit assistance for regionally and nationally significant projects. For more information about the WIFIA program, visit: https://www.epa.gov/wifia (see “Connect with the WIFIA Program” for information on office hours). Schedule a one-on-one meeting with a WIFIA staff member at https://www.epa.gov/wifia/schedule-meeting-wifia-staff or by emailing wi...@epa.gov
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9.) Virginia Backyard Streambank Repair Workshop -- August 13, 2026 (8:30am-4pm) -- Harrisonburg, VA -- This workshop provides information on simple streambank erosion control techniques that landowners can implement to stabilize eroding streambanks along small streams. It is designed for individuals who work with the general public on soil conservation and water quality improvement projects, not individual landowners. For more information and to register, see https://pears.io/events/vce/7978/. Organized by the Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE).
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10.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events -- For more information about these events and others and to register, see https://blueridgeprism.org/events.
   ++ Webinar: Boots on the Ground: Advancing Invasive Species Management in an Urban Park -- August 13, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Webinar: Herbicide Heroes: Volunteers Dabbing Invasives -- September 17, 2026 (12-1 pm)
   ++ Virginia Invasive Plant ID & Control Tool – This online tool helps individuals identify invasive plant species. Learn more and access the tool at https://blueridgeprism.org/plants.
   ++ 2026 Annual Virginia Retail Garden Center Survey -- Help survey Virginia retail garden centers for invasive plants -- https://virginiainvasives.org/garden-center-survey
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11.) Funding Opportunity: Technical Assistance and Training for Rural, Small and Tribal Municipalities and Wastewater Treatment Systems – Applications Due: August 14, 2026 – This program supports efforts to identify water challenges, develop plans, build technical, financial, and managerial capacity, comply with Clean Water Act requirements, and access water infrastructure funding. For more information and to apply, see https://www.epa.gov/small-and-rural-wastewater-systems/training-and-technical-assistance-ta-program-rural-small-and#announcement. Offered by the EPA.
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12.) Call for Workshop Proposals: Future Harvest Conference -- Proposals Due: August 15, 2026; Conference: January 21-22, 2027 -- Silver Spring, Md -- Theme: “Planting a Legacy: From the Past, in the Present, and for Our Future,” -- Accepting proposals for approximately 75–90-minute workshops that educate the public and do not advertise a specific product or service. Learn more and apply at https://futureharvest.org/2027conference/. If you have ideas for more intensive workshops (two hours or more) or informal farmer to farmer chats (usually 45-60 min), email confe...@futureharvest.org. If you want to share about a product, email spon...@futureharvest.org. Hosted by Future Harvest. 
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13.) 2026 Mid-Atlantic & the Carolinas Groundwater Conference -- August 18-19, 2026 -- Richmond, VA -- Conference topics to include: An update from Virginia DEQ on groundwater supply management in eastern Virginia, hydrogeologic exploration, water well construction and rehabilitation, groundwater outreach and awareness, aquifer storage, water quality, and more.  For more information about the conference, see https://agwt.org/event/26magw/. Organized by the American Ground Water Trust.
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The VWMC announcements are provided with support from the Virginia Water Resources Research Center with funding from the U.S. Geological Survey and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality.  Thank you to our sponsors!

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