Announcements 2026.2.6

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Events – Various Dates, Starting: February 10, 2026
2.) Water and Wastewater Training – Various Dates, Starting: February 10, 2026
3.) American Water Works Association (AWWA) Events – Various Dates, Starting: February 10, 2026
4.) Virginia Association for Environmental Education (VAEE) 2026 Annual Conference -- Registration closes: February 11, 2026; Conference: February 26-28, 2026
5.) Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program Upcoming Events – Various Dates, Starting: February 12, 2026
6.) Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District (PWSWCD) Events – Various Dates, Starting: February 14, 2026
7.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events – Various Dates, Starting: February 18, 2026
8.) Women Advancing River Research Seminar Series (virtual) – Various Dates, Next Seminar: February 19, 2026
9.) Walking Softer Education Program -- Application Deadline: February 20, 2026
10.) Art Contest: 2026 Science Without Borders Challenge -- Deadline: March 2, 2026
11.) Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep Virtual Workshop – Registration Closes: About 1 month prior to event; Workshops: March 24 & 25, 2026
12.) Environment Virginia Symposium -- March 24-26, 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.) Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) Events – Learn more at https://events.wm.edu/calendar/upcoming/vims/.
   ++ Discovery Lab – Love in the Ocean -- February 10, 2026 (6-8pm) -- Gloucester Point, VA
   ++ After Hours Lecture Series: sEa-Harmony: Swiping Right for Science! -- February 12, 2026 (6:30-8pm) -- Gloucester Point, VA
   ++ Know Your York Watershed System: Episode 4 (Ashland Mill Dam removal and the future of fish passage) (Virtual) – February 18, 2026 (12-1pm)
   ++ Batten School & VIMS Behind-the-Scenes Tour -- February 19, 2026 (10-11:30am) -- Gloucester Point, VA
   ++ 24th Annual Marine Science Day! -- May 30, 2026 (10am-3pm) -- Gloucester Point, VA
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2.) Water and Wastewater Training – Learn more about this event 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 Joey Hiner at jhi...@sercap.org). Trainings offered by SERCAP, Rural Community Assistance Partnership (RCAP), and others.
   ++ Developing Tribal Wastewater O&M Manuals -- February 10, 2026 (1-2pm)
   ++ Improving Wastewater Compliance through Asset Management Practices -- February 12, 2026 (1-2pm)
   ++ Water Loss Training M36 Workshop for Small Water Utilities – March 4, 2026 (9:30am-6:00pm) – Prattville, AL
    ++ Solutions for Addressing Difficult Sites for Septic System Professionals – March 17-19, 2026 -- Griffin, GA
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3.) 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: PFAS Treatment with GAC and IX -- February 10, 2026 (11am-12:30pm)
   ++ Webinar; Data and Information Management: Cornerstone for Utility Decision-Making -- February 11, 2026 (11am-12:30pm)
   ++ Webinar: Microplastics 2026: State Regulatory Perspectives and Progress -- March 4, 2026 (11am-12:30pm)
   ++ Webinar: From Legacy to Modern: Columbia Water's Digital Transformation Story -- March 5, 2026 (11am-12pm) – FREE; Sponsored and presented by Hansen Technologies.
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4.) Virginia Association for Environmental Education (VAEE) 2026 Annual Conference -- Registration closes: February 11, 2026; Conference: February 26-28, 2026 -- Richmond, VA -- Theme: “Strength in ComunitEE” -- This conference will celebrate both communities and the impact of environmental education. For more information and to register, see https://www.eevirginia.org/conference. Events include: Day 1 Workshop: Project WET and Field Trip - Stream Monitoring Training. Organized by VAEE.
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5.) Virginia Forest Landowner Education Program Upcoming Events – For more information about these events and others, see https://forestupdate.frec.vt.edu/eventscalendar.html.
   ++ Virginia Association of Forest Health Professionals Annual Conference --  February 12-13, 2026 – Blacksburg,Va.
   ++ Southern Pine Beetle Information Session -- February 19, 2026 (10am-12pm) – Courtland, VA
   ++ Southwest Virginia Woods & Wildlife Conference -- February 21, 2026 – Blacksburg, Va.
   ++ Northern Virginia Woods & Wildlife Conference -- February 28, 2026 – Culpeper, Va.
   ++ The Woods in Your Backyard Online Course (online) -- March 9-May 18, 2026
   ++ Silvopasture Workshop -- March 18, 2026 (1-4pm) – Petersburg, VA
   ++ Beyond the Basics Woodland Owner Retreat: Managing Your Forest for Timber Income -- March 13-14, 2026 – Appomattox, VA
   ++ Spring Ephmerals Woods Walk -- March 28, 2026 (10am-12pm) -- Montpelier Station, VA
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6.) Prince William Soil & Water Conservation District (PWSWCD) Events
   ++ 8th Annual Prince William Native Plant Symposium -- February 14, 2026 (9am-4pm) -- Manassas, Va or Virtual – Learn more at https://www.pwswcd.org/. 
   ++ Big Stream Cleanup in Manassas Park City -- 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.
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7.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events -- For more information and to register, see https://blueridgeprism.org/events.
   ++ Invasive Plant Identification Walk -- February 18, 2026 (10-11am)
   ++ Conservation Stewards Workday -- February 27, 2026 (10am-12pm)
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8.) Women Advancing River Research Seminar Series (virtual) – Monthly, 3rd Thursday (11am) – Learn more and register at https://www.cee.psu.edu/events/women-advancing-river-research.aspx.  Co-hosted by University College Dublin; Caltech; Trent University, Canada; University of Wisconsin, Madison; and Penn State. 
   ++ February 19, 2026 -- Troubled waters: hidden challenges for water quality
   ++ March 19, 2026 -- Climate impacts on weathering and flow
   ++ April 16, 2026 -- Water at the top of the world
   ++ April 30, 2026 -- Managing for water scarcity in the western U.S.
   ++ May 21, 2026 -- Carbon transport & processing across land-ocean continuum
   ++ June 18, 2026 -- Water quality and water scarcity  
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9.) Walking Softer Education Program -- Application Deadline: February 20, 2026 -- This free program is designed for high school-aged students in classes, clubs, or after-school programs to learn about sustainability. Groups then plan, design, and implement a community sustainability project with up to $2,000 in project funding. For more information and to apply, see https://www.walkingsofter.org/education. Offered by Walking Softer. 
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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). 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.) Remote Pilot (Drone) Certification Test Prep Virtual Workshop – Registration Closes: About 1 month prior to event; Workshops: March 24 & 25, 2026 -- This 2-day workshop will provide information on how to pass the FAA Remote Pilot Knowledge Test and an overview of federal regulations, best flight operational practices, and safety guidelines. For more information, see https://virginiaview.cnre.vt.edu/workshops-events/. Offered by Virginia Cooperative Extension.
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12.) Environment Virginia Symposium -- March 24-26, 2026 -- Lexington, Va. -- The symposium will include nearly 40 sessions with topics ranging from climate resilience to emerging contaminants. For more information and to register, see https://vmieva.cventevents.com/event/b92e4a1e-0f51-4fa4-a737-f7e9976c2a09/home. Organized by the VMI Center for Leadership and Ethics and partners.
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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.