Announcements 2026.6.12

[Walker, Jane]

1.) Potomac River Cleanups – Various Dates, Starting: June 13, 2026
2.) Blue Ridge Partnership for Regional Invasive Species Management (PRISM) Events – Various Dates, Starting: June 16, 2026
3.) EPA Tools and Resources Webinar: Practical Tools to Advance Water Reuse -- June 17, 2026
4.) EPA Cybersecurity Exercises and Technical Assistance Courses – Various Dates, Starting: June 17, 2026
5.) Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) Webcasts – Various Dates, Starting: June 17, 2026
6.) 41st Annual James River Batteau Festival – Various Dates: June 17-27, 2026
7.) Women Advancing River Research Seminar Series (virtual) – Various Dates, Starting: June 18, 2026
8.) 2026 Drinking Water Clinics – Various Dates, Starting: June 24, 2026
9.) Chesapeake Watershed Forum -- Apply by: August 21, 2026; Forum: November 13-15, 2026
10.) 2026 American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) International Annual Conference -- September 16-17, 2026
11.) DEQ News – Vol 5, Issue 4 – https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/newsroom
12.) White Paper: “Soil-Site Management Protocols & Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Utility Scale Solar Site (USS) Development and Management in Virginia – Version 2” – https://landrehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Virginia-Tech-USS-White-Paper-V2-3-5-26.pdf
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 Julia Porter, VWMC intern, for developing and organizing this week’s set of VWMC announcements.
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1.) Potomac River Cleanups -- To learn about these events and others, see https://potomac.org/events. Organized by the Potomac Conservancy.
   ++ Four Mile Run Park, VA -- June 13, 2026 (9-11am) -- Alexandria, VA
   ++ Turkey Run Park, VA -- June 27, 2026 (9-11am) -- McLean, VA
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2.) 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.
   ++ Summer Invasive Plant Workshop: Introduction & Identification -- June 16, 2026 (1pm) – online
   ++ Summer Invasive Plant Workshop: Management & Control -- June 17, 2026 (1pm) – online 
   ++ Central Blue Ridge & Piedmont Conservation Stewards Workdays -- June 18, 2026 (Harrisonburg, VA); June 19, 2026 (Ruckersville, VA); June 20, 2026 (Madison, VA); June 25, 2026 (Charlottesville, VA); June 30, 2026 (Piney River, VA)
   ++ Central Blue Ridge & Piedmont Invasive Plant ID Walks -- June 23, 2026 (9-11am) -- Piney River, VA
   ++ Brown Bag Webinar -- New Invasive Plant Laws: What Happens Next -- June 24, 2026 (12pm) – Online
   ++ Northern Blue Ridge Conservation Stewards Workdays -- June 29, 2026 (Front Royal, VA); June 30, 2026 (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.
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3.) EPA Tools and Resources Webinar: Practical Tools to Advance Water Reuse -- June 17, 2026 (3-4pm) -- Presenters will address the latest developments of EPA’s Water Reuse Action Plan 2.0 initiative and will highlight EPA’s priorities for advancing water reuse. This webinar will also provide a live walkthrough of the REUSExplorer, EPA’s searchable tool for navigating summaries of state reuse regulations. For more information and to register, see https://www.epa.gov/research-states/epa-tools-and-resources-webinar-series. Organized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
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4.) EPA Cybersecurity Exercises and Technical Assistance Courses – Learn about and register for these and other courses at https://www.epa.gov/cyberwater/cybersecurity-exercises-and-technical-assistance-courses.
   ++ Cybersecurity Refresher -- June 17, 2026
   ++ Water Cybersecurity Assessment Tool (WCAT) Webinar -- June 24, 2026
   ++ Cybersecurity Procurement Checklist Tool Training -- June 25, 2026
   ++ EPA 2026 National Cyber Drill -- July 8, 2026
   ++ Insider Threat Mitigation Webinar -- July 9, 2026
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5.) Center for Watershed Protection (CWP) Webcasts – Learn more and register for these webcasts at https://www.cwp.org/2026_webcast_list.php.
   ++ Machine Learning in Watershed Modeling for Stormwater Planning and Flood Forecasting -- June 17, 2026
   ++ Integrated Water Management: Coordinating Stormwater, Wastewater, and Water Supply -- July 15, 2026
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6.) 41st Annual James River Batteau Festival – Various Dates: June 17-27, 2026 – James River (Starts: Lynchburg, VA) -- Step back in history and experience firsthand what it was like to journey the river on a Batteau Experience Ride. Many festival participants also use kayaks and canoes as part of the group.  Learn general event information at https://www.vacanals.org/batteau. Learn more about the Lynchburg events at https://www.lynchburgparksandrec.com/programs-and-activities/batteau-fest/. Organized by the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society, Lynchburg Parks and Recreation, and James River Association.
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7.) 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. 
   ++ June 18, 2026 -- Water quality and water scarcity
   ++ July 16, 2026 -- Riparian Wetlands as River Modulators Across Landscapes
   ++ August 20, 2026 -- Open Discussion, Feedbacks, and Community Bonding
   ++ September 17, 2026 -- Urban Stream Biogeochemistry
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8.) 2026 Drinking Water Clinics -- Provides water testing and practical information to users of private water supplies about maintaining and protecting private water systems 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.
   ++ June 24, 2026 – Essex, Gloucester, King William, Mathews Middlesex
   ++ July 15, 2026 – Culpeper, Rappahannock, Fauquier
   ++ July 22, 2026 -- Isle of Wight, Chesapeake, Suffolk, Virginia Beach
   ++ July 29, 2026 – Nelson, Chesterfield
   ++ August 11, 2026 – Northampton, Accomack
   ++ August 19, 2026 -- Loudoun (waitlist)
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9.) Chesapeake Watershed Forum -- Apply by: August 21, 2026 (5pm); Forum: November 13-15, 2026 -- Shepherdstown, WV -- Registration will be based on a lottery system, which uses a random, computer-generated selection process to allocate limited attendee spots. Learn more about the forum at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/event/chesapeake-watershed-forum/. Learn more about the lottery registration and apply at https://www.allianceforthebay.org/forum-lottery-and-registration/. Organized by the Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay.
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10.) 2026 American Rainwater Catchment Systems Association (ARCSA) International Annual Conference -- September 16-17, 2026 -- Universal City, California – Engage with experts and practitioners in the field of rainwater harvesting and sustainable water management. Co-located with the International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials (IAPMO) Conference. Learn more and register at https://arcsainternational.org/conference-arcsa.  Organized by ARCSA.
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11.) DEQ News – Vol 5, Issue 4 – The current issue of the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) newsletter includes information about new legislation, effective July 1, 2026, that will require data center water usage to be reported to DEQ, drought advisory update, a report about harmful algal blooms in Smith Mountain Lake,  opening of the fiscal year 2027 solicitation period for the Virginia Clean Water Revolving Loan Fund (VCWRLF), and more.  The current issue and previous issues are available at https://www.deq.virginia.gov/news-info/newsroom. You can also subscribe to the newsletter. Published by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ).
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12.) White Paper: “Soil-Site Management Protocols & Best Management Practices (BMPs) for Utility Scale Solar Site (USS) Development and Management in Virginia – Version 2” – This publication presents an overview of the challenges that land development, active construction management, and post-development stormwater management of USS sites pose to local soil and water quality, along with recommended best management practices (BMPs). Available at https://landrehab.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/Virginia-Tech-USS-White-Paper-V2-3-5-26.pdf. Published by Virginia Tech. 
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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 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.