Announcements 2025.11.17

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Webinars Celebrating 85th Anniversary: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) – Various Dates, Starting: November 18, 2025
2.) Commonwealth Climate Futures Symposium -- November 19, 2025
3.) Input Sought: 2026-2030 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) – November 19, 2025
4.) Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) Events
   ++ CRC Roundtable Seminar: Sowing Seeds, Growing Relationships: Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Agriculture -- November 19, 2025
   ++ Call for Special Session Proposals: Chesapeake Community Research Symposium 2026 -- Deadline: November 21, 2025; Symposium: June 1-6, 2026
   ++ Call for Nominations: Chesapeake Guardian Award – Due: December 15, 2025
5.) Webinar: Collaborating with our State Partners on Disaster Resiliency Planning -- November 19, 2025
6.) Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo -- November 19-21, 2025
7.) Webinar - Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard -- November 20, 2025
8.) Public Hearings and Comment Opportunities
   ++ Public Hearing: Proposed Permit That Will Allow Impacts to Wetlands, Stream Channels, and Open Water in Pittsylvania County, Virginia -- Hearing: November 20, 2025; Comments Due: December 5, 2025
   ++ Notice of Stakeholder Input and Informal Comment Period: New Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) --  Comments Due: December 19, 2025
9.) Call for Theme Leader Applications: 2026 CUAHSI Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute – Final Application Deadline: December 21, 2025 (reviews start: December 1, 2025); Institute: June 8-July 22, 2026
10.) Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC) Winter Level 1 Training Registration -- Trainings: January-March 2026
11.) Pooled Monitoring Initiative’s Restoration Research Award Program -- Applications Due: January 29, 2026
12.) American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) News
13.) Water Center Jobs Board – https://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/jobs/
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
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.
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
1.) Webinars Celebrating 85th Anniversary: Interstate Commission on the Potomac River Basin (ICPRB) -- For more information and to register, visit https://www.potomacriver.org/ (see “News & Events,” then “Upcoming Events”). Organized by ICPRB.
   ++ November 18, 2025 (11am) -- Unsung Heroes of the Potomac River: American Eels
   ++ December 2, 2025 (11am) -- Reconsidering Connectivity: A North Branch Potomac Case Study
   ++ December 5, 2025 (12pm) -- Land Prioritization Mapping to Protect Drinking Water Quality
   ++ December 9, 2025 (11am) -- The Future of Water in the DC Metro Area
++++++++++++++++++++
2.) Commonwealth Climate Futures Symposium -- November 19, 2025 (10am-4:30pm) -- Blacksburg, VA – Theme: “State and Local Policies for a Sustainable Virginia.” -- This symposium will include panel discussions and interactive breakout sessions. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.  For more information and to register, visit https://climatefuture.vt.domains/. Hosted by The +Policy Network at Virginia Tech and The Town of Blacksburg.
++++++++++++++++++++
3.) Input Sought: 2026-2030 Virginia Marine Debris Reduction Plan (VMDRP) – November 19, 2025 (10am-2pm) -- Hampton Roads -- This plan aims to reduce the flow of debris into Virginia’s waters. Input will be accepted.  For more information about the VMDRP, see https://www.cleanvirginiawaterways.org/vmdrp. Sign up to attend at https://forms.gle/keb9YDnmp32kSKqo9. For more information, contact Zach Huntington at za...@cleanvirginiawaterways.org.
++++++++++++++++++++
4.) Chesapeake Research Consortium (CRC) Events
   ++ CRC Roundtable Seminar: Sowing Seeds, Growing Relationships: Chesapeake Bay Restoration and Agriculture -- November 19, 2025 (12-1pm) -- This virtual seminar will explore the economic and environmental sustainability of Chesapeake farmlands as well as how to work towards a healthier watershed collaboratively. Learn more and register at https://chesapeake.org/crc-roundtable/.
   ++ Call for Special Session Proposals: Chesapeake Community Research Symposium 2026 -- Deadline: November 21, 2025; Symposium: June 1-6, 2026 -- Annapolis, MD -- Theme: “Chesapeake Bay Research and Restoration: Next Generation Tools for a Dynamic Future” -- https://ccmp2026.chesapeake.org/.
   ++ Call for Nominations: Chesapeake Guardian Award – Due: December 15, 2025 -- The awardee will be recognized at the Chesapeake Community Research Symposium in June 2026.” -- https://ccmp2026.chesapeake.org/.
++++++++++++++++++++
5.) Webinar: Collaborating with our State Partners on Disaster Resiliency Planning -- November 19, 2025 (3-4pm) -- This webinar will explore projects completed under the EPA’s Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) with the Environmental Council of the States (ECOS) and the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO). It will also provide information about the most recent project focusing on state disaster resiliency planning. For more information and to register, see https://www.epa.gov/research-states/epa-tools-and-resources-webinar-series. Organized by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
++++++++++++++++++++
6.) Smart Cities Connect Fall Conference and Expo -- November 19-21, 2025 -- National Harbor, MD -- Theme: “Innovating with Cities To Create a Better World” -- City government employees, as well as state and county government leaders, may attend for free. Learn more and register at https://fall.smartcitiesconnect.org/.
++++++++++++++++++++
7.) Webinar - Living in the Liberated Landscape: My Yard -- November 20, 2025 (6pm) -- This webinar will feature landscape designer Larry Weaner, who will show how natural processes can guide the way plants and landscapes are managed. He will explore how implementing self-sustaining native plant communities can get rid of constant maintenance and how to design with nature. For more information and to register, see https://wildones.org/category/wild-ones-presents/. Organized by the Wild Ones.
++++++++++++++++++++
8.) Public Hearings and Comment Opportunities
   ++ Public Hearing: Proposed Permit That Will Allow Impacts to Wetlands, Stream Channels, and Open Water in Pittsylvania County, Virginia -- Hearing: November 20, 2025 (6pm); Comments Due: December 5, 2025 -- Chatham, VA -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42515.
   ++ Notice of Stakeholder Input and Informal Comment Period: New Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) --  Comments Due: December 19, 2025 --  https://townhall.virginia.gov/l/ViewNotice.cfm?GNID=3260
++++++++++++++++++++
9.) Call for Theme Leader Applications: 2026 CUAHSI Water Prediction Innovators Summer Institute – Final Application Deadline: December 21, 2025 (reviews start: December 1, 2025); Institute: June 8-July 22, 2026 -- Tuscaloosa, AL -- Theme leaders will guide collaborative research teams during the institute, mentoring the next generation of water researchers. They will help in shaping research projects aligned with national water prediction priorities and leading collaborative, data-driven projects alongside other researchers. For more information and to apply, see https://www.cuahsi.org/events/call-for-2026-summer-institute-theme-leaders-is-open. Organized by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI).
++++++++++++++++++++
10.) Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC) Winter Level 1 Training Registration -- Trainings: January-March 2026 -- These trainings focus on the design, installation, and maintenance of stormwater BMPs. Early-bird registration ends November 30, 2025; use code GREEN26 to save $50 through November 30, 2025. For more information and to register, see https://cblpro.org/cblp-level-1/. Organized by the Chesapeake Conservation Landscaping Council (CCLC).
   ++ Hybrid: January 27-28, 2026 (9am-12:15pm), plus 1 field day (February 5, 2026 in Arlington, VA; February 26, 2026 in Norfolk, VA; March 11, 2026 in Charlottesville, VA; or other dates/locations).
   ++ In-Person (9am-4pm): February 4-5, 2026 (Arlington, VA); February 25-26, 2026 (Norfolk, VA); March 10-11, 2026 (Charlottesville, VA); or other dates/locations
++++++++++++++++++++
11.) Pooled Monitoring Initiative’s Restoration Research Award Program -- Applications Due: January 29, 2026 -- Open to not-for-profit entities (academic institutions, non-profit organizations) and for-profit entities. Organizations need not be based in Maryland, but the work must be relevant to Maryland’s restoration, regulatory, and/or practitioner communities. The goal of this research program is to answer restoration questions that are a barrier to watershed restoration project implementation. Learn more and apply at https://cbtrust.org/grants/restoration-research/. Funding provided through the Chesapeake Bay Trust.
++++++++++++++++++++
12.) American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) News
   ++ ARCSA Educational Videos – Videos of experts providing rainwater harvesting installation tips for compliance.  Learn more and view videos at https://arcsainternational.org/resources/videos.
   ++ ARCSA On-Line Professional Rainwater Harvesting Classes – Includes Rainwater Catchment System Designer, Installer, and Inspector classes as well as the Recertification class. The classes are based on the ARCSA Rainwater Harvesting Manual and provide a foundation for those new to the industry as well as those studying for the certification exam. Learn more and access the courses at https://iapmolearn.org/topclass/searchCatalog.do?catId=3680662.
++++++++++++++++++++
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).
++++++++++++++++++++
++++++++++++++++++++
The VWMC announcements are provided with support from the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality and the Virginia Water Resources Research Center. 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.