Announcements 2025.4.4

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB) Upcoming Events – Treelay Event – April 5, 2025
2.) Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Upcoming Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 5, 2025
3.) Lynnhaven River Now Cleanups – Various Dates, Starting: April 5, 2025
4.) Future Harvest Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 5, 2025
5.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation Volunteer Opportunities –Various Dates, Starting: April 8, 2025
6.) Virginia Osprey Festival -- April 12, 2025
7.) Blue Ridge PRISM Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 16, 2025
8.) Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals (VAWP) Opportunities
   ++ VAWP Spring Meeting Poster Session – Registration Deadline: May 2, 2025; Poster Session: May 30, 2025
   ++ 2025 Scholarship – Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025  
9.) 2025 Scenic Virginia Photo Contest – Submissions Due: May 15, 2025
10.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Student Leadership Summer Expeditions – Various Dates: July-August 2025
11.) Tap Water Database -- https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/
12.) Accepting Applications: Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP)
13.) DEQ News – https://www.deq.virginia.gov/get-involved/newsroom
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
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. 
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
1.) Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay (ACB) Upcoming Events – See more information about these events and others at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/get-involved/events/.
   ++ Treelay Event – April 5, 2025 – Richmond, VA
++++++++++++++++++++
2.) Piedmont Environmental Council (PEC) Upcoming Events – Learn more about these and other events at https://www.pecva.org/events/.
   ++ Volunteer at the Community Farm – April 5, 2025-October 2025 – Aldie, VA – Learn more at https://www.pecva.org/about-us/properties/gilberts-corner/community-farm/.
   ++ Native Tree Giveaway at Orvis Leesburg – April 5, 2025 (1-5pm) – Leesburg, VA
   ++ 22^nd Annual Bluebell Walk: In Tribute to Mike Stevens – April 13, 2025 (11am-1pm) – Catlett, VA
   ++ Native Tree Giveaway at Gilberts Corner Market – May 3, 2025 (10:30am-12pm) – Aldie, VA
++++++++++++++++++++
3.) Lynnhaven River Now Cleanups – For all events, wear sturdy shoes and weather-appropriate clothing and bring a water bottle. Learn more and register at https://www.lynnhavenrivernow.org/waterway-cleanups/.
   ++ April 5, 2025 -- Lake Bradford -- This is a water-based cleanup only. Access points and parking are limited so specific details will be provided to those that register for parking and launch.
   ++ April 18-19, 2025 -- Lake Windsor -- This is a water-based cleanup only.
   ++ May 10, 2025 – London Bridge Bike Path
++++++++++++++++++++
4.) Future Harvest Events – Learn more at https://futureharvest.org/. Offered by Future Harvest.
   ++ On Farm Cosmotionz: Mindfulness, Yoga , and Meditation – April 5, 2025 (11am-2pm) -- Brandywine, MD
   ++ Growing & Marketing a Year-Round, Full-Diet CSA – April 10, 2025 (10am-1pm) -- Purcellville, VA
   ++ Butterbee Farm Hands-On Field Day: Compost Workshop -- June 14, 2025 (10am-1pm) -- White Hall, MD
++++++++++++++++++++
5.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation Volunteer Opportunities – Help with gardening, weeding, mulching, etc. at these events.  Learn about these events and other opportunities at https://www.cbf.org/events/, then click on calendar.
   ++ Libby's Garden Maintenance -- April 8, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Virginia Beach, VA.
   ++ Brock Environmental Center Garden Maintenance -- April 9, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Virginia Beach, VA.
   ++ Sherwood Forest Elementary School Garden Maintenance -- April 14-15, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
   ++ Lindenwood Elementary School Garden Maintenance -- April 16-17, 2025 (9am-2pm) -- Norfolk, VA.
  ++ Clean the Bay Day -- June 7, 2025 (9am-12pm) -- Volunteer registration will open in the early April. To learn more about Clean the Bay Day, see www.cbf.org/clean or email ct...@cbf.org.
++++++++++++++++++++
6.) Virginia Osprey Festival -- April 12, 2025 (9am-4pm) -- Colonial Beach, VA – The festival will offer a keynote speaker, educational presentations, osprey nest tours, bird walks, activities for children, and a wide variety of exhibitors and vendors. All events and exhibits on Town Hill are free. Tickets are required for presentations at the Fisheries Building and for the Golf Cart and Trolley Nest tours. For more information see https://www.virginiaospreyfoundation.org/2025-festival or contact Joanie Millward, Festival Coordinator at ospre...@gmail.com. Hosted by the Virginia Osprey Foundation.
++++++++++++++++++++
7.) Blue Ridge PRISM Events -- Learn more about events and register at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/blue-ridge-prism-virginia-31070464381.
   ++ Webinar: Blue Ridge PRISM Spring Meeting: Restoration After Invasive Plant Removal – April 16, 2025 (11:30am-1pm)
   ++ Invasive Plant Training Workday at State Arboretum of Virginia -- April 25, 2025 (10am) – Boyce, VA
   ++ 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.
++++++++++++++++++++
8.) Virginia Association of Wetland Professionals (VAWP) Opportunities – Learn more about and apply to both opportunities at https://vawetlands.org/education-committee/. Contact Eli Wright at ewr...@w3env.com with questions.
   ++ VAWP Spring Meeting Poster Session – Registration Deadline: May 2, 2025; Poster Session: May 30, 2025 – Glen Allen, VA -- Seeking undergraduate and graduate students to participate in the Student Poster Session at the Annual Spring Meeting.
   ++ 2025 Scholarship – Submission Deadline: May 15, 2025 – VAWP is accepting scholarship applications from undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in Virginia institutions pursuing research focused on wetland science, natural resources, or related environmental science fields.
++++++++++++++++++++
9.) 2025 Scenic Virginia Photo Contest – Submissions Due: May 15, 2025 –Accepting photographs of Virginia’s landscapes. Categories include Cities & Towns, Coastal & Chesapeake Bay, Farms & Open Spaces, Highways & Byways, Mountains & Valleys, Rivers & Waterways, Scenic Trees, and Vistas with Wildlife. Learn more and submit a photo at https://www.scenicvirginia.org/2025-photo-contest. Organized by Scenic Virginia.
++++++++++++++++++++
10.) Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) Student Leadership Summer Expeditions – These multi-day, overnight experiences are available to rising 9-12^th graders. Expeditions primarily take place outdoors where participants investigate different parts of the Chesapeake Bay watershed and engage with CBF staff and scientists. Learn more and register at https://www.cbf.org/join-us/education-program/student-leadership/summer-expeditions.html. Offered by the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF).
   ++ Chesapeake Bay Watershed 101: Freshwater Ecosystems – July 7-11, 2025 – Harrisburg, PA, Annapolis, MD, & Richmond, VA
   ++ Bay Science and Solutions at Washington College – July 14-18, 2025 – Annapolis, MD
   ++ Tributary Connections: Susquehanna River to the Bay – July 21-25, 2025 – Harrisburg or Columbia, PA
   ++ Exploring Eastern Virginia – July 21-25, 2025 – Richmond or Virginia Beach, VA
   ++ Chesapeake Connections & Actions – July 28-August 1, 2025 – Prince George’s County, MD
++++++++++++++++++++
11.) Tap Water Database -- https://www.ewg.org/tapwater/ -- Shows results of tests conducted by the water utility and provided by the Virginia Department of Health--Office of Drinking Water, as well as information from the U.S. EPA Enforcement and Compliance History database (ECHO). Enter your zip code and click on the name of the utility serving the area to see a list of contaminants detected.  Website developed by the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
++++++++++++++++++++
12.) Accepting Applications: Virginia Environmental Excellence Program (VEEP) – This voluntary program encourages Virginia businesses to go beyond compliance and embrace pollution prevention in their day-to-day activities. The VEEP Sustainability Partners track is designed to encourage large organizations, in both the private and public sector across Virginia, to make environmental sustainability part of their culture through leadership, innovation, and continual improvement. Organizations must demonstrate this commitment through measurable and verifiable conservation efforts, leading to direct and indirect improvements in energy usage, water usage, waste generation, and other environmental benefits. Learn more at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/our-programs/pollution-prevention/virginia-environmental-excellence-program. Offered by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
++++++++++++++++++++
13.) DEQ News – Vol 4, Issue 3 – The current issue and previous issues of DEQ’s official newsletter are available at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/get-involved/newsroom. You can subscribe to the newsletter (see the link in the "Stay Informed" section at the bottom of webpage). Published by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
The VWMC announcements are provided with support from the Virginia Water Resources Research Center. Thank you to our sponsor!

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.