Announcements 2025.11.19

[Walker, Jane]

1.) 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
   ++ Public Hearing & Information Briefing: Glen Lyn Landfill: Closure of Landfill Units and Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Units – Hearing and Briefing: December 18, 2025; Comments Due: December 29, 2025 
   ++ Stakeholder Input and Informal Comment Period: New Statewide Solid Waste Management Plan (SWMP) --  Comments Due: December 19, 2025 -- 
2.) Future Harvest Events – Various Dates, Starting: November 21, 2025
3.) Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) News – Various Dates, Starting: December 6, 2025
4.) Webinar: Lessons Learned from 20+ Years of Raingarden Research -- December 11, 2025
5.) Call for Panel Proposals: Smart Cities Connect Conference -- Deadline: December 12, 2025; Conference: March 10-12, 2026
6.) Call for Presentations: 21^st Annual Regional Stormwater Seminar -- Submission Deadline: December 12, 2025; Seminar: April 17, 2026
7.) Nature-Based Teacher Certification -- January 13-February 19, 2026
8.) Applications Accepted: CUAHSI 2026 Summer Institute -- Deadline: January 12, 2026; Institute: June 8-July 22, 2026
9.) Survey: Virginia Farm Voluntary Ag BMP Inventory – Closing: June 30, 2026
10.) Host Offices Sought: 2026 Commonwealth Coastal & Marine Policy Fellowship -- Fellows start: October 1, 2026
11.) Online Watershed Library (OWL) -- https://owl.cwp.org/
12.) 2025 Potomac River Report Card – https://potomacreportcard.org/
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.) 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.
   ++ Public Hearing & Information Briefing: Glen Lyn Landfill: Closure of Landfill Units and Coal Combustion Residual (CCR) Units -- December 18, 2025 (Information Briefing: 6pm; Hearing: 7pm); Comments Due: December 29, 2025 -- https://townhall.virginia.gov/L/ViewMeeting.cfm?MeetingID=42640
   ++ 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
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2.) Future Harvest Events
   ++ Choose Your Own Consultant – Application Deadline: November 21, 2025 -- This program provides $1,000 grants for farmers to work with the consultant of their choice. Preference is given to farmers with over 5 years of experience. Learn more at https://futureharvest.org/programs/choose-your-own-consultant.
   ++ Future Harvest Conference -- January 22-23, 2026 -- Silver Spring, MD – Theme: “Pivot, Care, Grow” – Also offering optional pre-conference and post-conference events. Early-bird registration in effect until December 14, 2025. Learn more and register at https://futureharvest.org/2026-conference/.
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3.) Virginia Conservation Network (VCN) News
   ++ General Assembly Preview – December 6, 2025 (9am-12pm) -- Attend an in-person Regional Watch Party (breakfast provided) or join online. In-person attendees will have the chance to meet local community members and advocacy leaders. Learn more at  https://vcnva.org/general-assembly-preview-2025/.
   ++ Save the Date: Conservation Lobby Day -- February 4, 2026 – Richmond, Va. -- https://vcnva.org/general-assembly-advocacy/
   ++ “Our Common Agenda” – This collection of papers was written by, vetted through, and voted on by VCN’s 170+ Network partners. This briefing book explains the Commonwealth’s environmental policy background and potential opportunities. Download a PDF copy or order a hard copy at https://vcnva.org/our-common-agenda/. Published by the VCN.
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4.) Webinar: Lessons Learned from 20+ Years of Raingarden Research -- December 11, 2025 (12-1pm) -- Dr. Robert Traver will focus on what was learned and what still needs to be explored regarding the bio-infiltration rain garden on the Villanova Campus. For more information and to register, see https://www.memberleap.com/Calendar/moreinfo.php?eventid=59543. Organized by the Chesapeake Water Environment Association (WEA).
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5.) Call for Panel Proposals: Smart Cities Connect Conference -- Deadline: December 12, 2025; Conference: March 10-12, 2026 -- Raleigh, NC -- Share with government innovators, industry experts, and academic leaders real-world insights and strategies that are redefining how cities operate and connect. Special consideration will be given to panel proposals that integrate city leadership with innovation and industry solutions, particularly discussions that address cross-domain urban needs. Learn more and submit at https://fall.smartcitiesconnect.org/.
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6.) Call for Presentations: 21^st Annual Regional Stormwater Seminar -- Submission Deadline: December 12, 2025; Seminar: April 17, 2026 -- Atlanta, GA – Theme: “From Assessment to Action: Improving Stormwater Systems for Today's Complex Challenges” – Seeking presentations that explore innovative approaches, case studies, research findings, and best practices related to stormwater infrastructure assessment. Presentations from municipalities, consulting firms, academia, and public agencies are encouraged. Presenters receive a discounted registration rate. For more information and to submit, see https://seswa.memberclicks.net/. Organized by the Southeast Stormwater Association (SeSwA).
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7.) Nature-Based Teacher Certification -- January 13-February 19, 2026 (meets 2-3/week) -- This online level I program will provide in-depth study of best practices in nature-based early childhood education, preparing teachers for meaningful outdoor experiences. For more information and to register, see https://erafans.wildapricot.org/Teacher-Certification. Offered by the Association for Nature-Based Education.
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8.) Applications Accepted: CUAHSI 2026 Summer Institute -- Deadline: January 12, 2026; Institute: June 8-July 22, 2026 -- Seeking graduate student fellows to work with peers from across the country on research projects that advance water prediction. For more information and to apply, visit https://www.cuahsi.org/events/applications-for-the-2026-summer-institute-are-now-open. Organized by the Consortium of Universities for the Advancement of Hydrologic Science, Inc. (CUAHSI).
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9.) Survey: Virginia Farm Voluntary Ag BMP Inventory – Closing: June 30, 2026 -- Seeking information about voluntary conservation practices on Virginia farms in the Chesapeake Bay watershed. The survey aims to show what farmers are doing to conserve soil and improve water quality. The survey should take approximately 30 minutes to complete. For more information, go to: https://vaswcd.org/virginia-farm-voluntary-agricultural-bmp-inventory/. Developed by Virginia’s Voluntary Agricultural Best Management Practices (BMP) Task Force.
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10.) Host Offices Sought: 2026 Commonwealth Coastal & Marine Policy Fellowship -- Fellows start: October 1, 2026 -- Fellows receive on-the-job training by working with a host office to address coastal and marine resource issues while learning about the policy and management process occurring at the state level. This 12-month paid fellowship aims to increase the capacity of host offices by supporting fellows who are working on mission-relevant programs, and leveraging the knowledge and capacity of Virginia’s academic institutions. Learn more at https://vaseagrant.org/commonwealth-fellowship-host-offices/. The program is supported by Virginia Sea Grant (VASG), the Virginia Environmental Endowment (VEE), and the Virginia Coastal Zone Management Program (VA CZM).
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11.) Online Watershed Library (OWL) -- This library offers a searchable database of publications, trainings, and other resources on watershed and stormwater management. To access the library and its free resources, visit https://owl.cwp.org/. Offered by the Center for Watershed Protection (CWP).
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12.) 2025 Potomac River Report Card – The report presents and assesses data on six river health indicators: Pollution, Fish, Habitat, Land, People, and Climate. View the report card at https://potomacreportcard.org/. Published by the Potomac Conservancy. 
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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. 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.