Announcements for July 6, 2009:
Please feel free to forward these announcements. When forwarding, please acknowledge the Virginia Water Monitoring Council. Special thank you to Ashley Allison, VWMC intern, for her help in pulling together these announcements
- Job Posting - Natural Resource Specialist -- Close: July 13, 2009
- Odwalla Plant a Tree Program -- May 27, 2009 - December 31, 2009
- United We Serve -- June 22, 2009 - September 11, 2009
- Numerous Volunteer Opportunities with The Nature Conservancy -- Proposals due by July 21, 2009
- Rain Barrel Workshop -- July 18, 2009
- Roanoke River Watershed Conference -- August 14, 2009
- Citizen Grant Monitoring Program now Accepting Applications --Applications due August 31, 2009
- River and Beach Clean Up Events -- September 1 - October 31, 2009
- 2009 SESWA Annual Conference -- September 30 - October 2, 2009
- New USGS Article on Nitrogen Loading and Delivery to Streams and Coastal Areas in the Southeastern US
- New Online Water Quality Standards Academy TMDL Module
- New USGS Release - Water Quality in Carbonate Aquifers Across the Nation
Please feel free to forward these announcements. When forwarding, please acknowledge the Virginia Water Monitoring Council. Special thank you to Ashley Allison, VWMC intern, for her help in pulling together these announcements.
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1. Job Posting - Natural Resource Specialist, Portland, Oregon
The Surface Water Management Section has an immediate opening for a full-time NRS5 (Senior Water Quality Specialist) to serve as the agency’s water quality expert for the Clean Water Act permitting program. The major responsibility of this position is to develop policies and procedures to assure that discharges allowed by water quality permits will not cause or contribute to violations of water quality standards. Salary: $53,940 to $78,780 annually; Close: July 13, 2009; Announcement Number: LEEQ9010. For more information, and to apply, visit http://www.oregon.gov/DEQ/jobs/LEEQ9010.shtml .
2. Odwalla Plant a Tree Program
This program provides trees to be planted in state parks across the country. You can help plant trees in Virginia State Parks by visiting http://www.parkvisitor.com/odwalla/. All you have to do is click on the "Plant a Tree" link and choose your state. It's a FREE way for you to donate trees for Virginia's state parks. The program is available May 27, 2009 - December 31, 2009. With each click, Odwalla donates $1.00 towards the purchase of a tree to the state parks in that state; only one click allowed per person. Participants pay no money under this program. The cost of the donated trees will be paid by Odwalla, Inc., up to $100,000 worth of trees. Tree costs generally range from $0.25 to $1.20.
3. United We Serve
United We Serve is President Obama's summer service initiative. It is a call to all Americans to join a volunteer effort this summer and be part of building a new foundation for America, one community at a time. United We Serve officially started on June 22, and runs through the National Day of Service and Remembrance on September 11th. A new national web site for United We Serve lists thousands of opportunities to get involved. There are many ways to get involved by joining with local organizations to monitor water quality, restore habitat, build rain gardens, plant trees, or clean up debris. Visit www.serve.gov and search by your zip code to find volunteer opportunities in your area.
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4. Volunteer Opportunities with The Nature Conservancy
If you are interested in signing up or would like to hear about other volunteer opportunities through the Nature Conservancy, contact Jen Rich, volunteer coordinator, at 434-951-0572 or jrich@tnc.org.
A) WETLAND MONITORING - July 14-15, 2009 -- Gwathmey Site -- A volunteer is needed to assist Nature Conservancy Staff monitor a wetland site just northeast of Richmond. Carpooling from Charlottesville or Richmond is available.
B) GATE INSTALLATION -- July 31, 2009 -- Jacobson Site (Lower James area) --Looking for 4-6 volunteers to help dig four holes and set posts with concrete to install a gate at the Conservancy's Jacobson site in the Lower James area. If you have a wheelbarrow to mix concrete please let me know. Anyone is welcome to help, but prior experience installing a gate or doing similar work is helpful. Volunteers will also be helping to mark boundaries at the site.
C) PUNCHEON MAINTENANCE -- August 22, 2009 (10:00 a.m.) Berger Preserve (near Fredericksburg) -- The puncheon (a type of boardwalk) on the trail system at Berger Preserve needs some maintenance. Volunteers will be carrying in lumber, hammering and nailing boards and re-arranging current puncheon so that visitors are able to hike the trails easier.
D) PINE PULLING -- September 12, 2009 (9:00 a.m.) Sussex County -- At least 20 volunteers needed!! The Nature Conservancy planted 105 acres of conservation easement land in Sussex County with longleaf pine, but some volunteer loblolly pines are coming up and will compete for resources with the restored longleaf pine. How can you help? Volunteers are needed to pull the 8-inch tall volunteer loblolly pines. The pines will easily pull up and we need as much help as we can get. Meet at the Sussex County Courthouse at 9:00 a.m.
E) VOLUNTEER VISITATION COMMITTEE ORIENTATION -- -- WILDCAT MOUNTAIN PRESERVE Fauquier County -- SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 (10:00 a.m.) -- VOORHEES PRESERVE Westmoreland County -- SEPTEMBER 19, 2009 (10:00 a.m.) -- FALLS RIDGE PRESERVE Montgomery County -- OCTOBER 3, 2009 (10:00 a.m.)
F) WORLDWIDE OFFICE -- Ongoing -- Arlington, VA -- Help keep things organized and assist with individual projects for Corporate Services Legal staff located in the Ballston area of Arlington, Virginia. Some of the work is clerical, but you would also help with software tasks such as creating charts in MS Office applications, proofreading documents and intranet web pages, or tracking the use of pro bono counsel. The job is strictly voluntary and not intended to lead to employment. A volunteer's days and hours are flexible. Each volunteer must sign a simple Confidentiality Agreement because some of the department's work is private. We'd like you to commit to one year of on-call volunteer assistance.
G) LANDSCAPE COMMITTEE -- Ongoing -- Charlottesville Office -- Volunteers needed to help maintain the landscape around the office. Volunteers can work together or individually and can come in anytime during office hours, Monday-Friday, 9-5 to pull weeds, mulch and trim bushes/hedge, etc
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5. Rain Barrel Workshop
Saturday, July 18, 2009 (9:30-11am) -- Home Depot, 6501 West Broad Street, Richmond, Va. -- The cost is $45 per barrel and includes the barrel and all supplies. All barrels must be taken home the day of the workshop. To register for the workshop contact Michelle at volunteer@jrava.org or 788-8811 ext 204. Please confirm that you have a spot in the workshop before sending in payment. Sponsored by the James River Association.
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6. Roanoke River Watershed Conference
August 14, 2009 -- Ferrum College, Ferrum, Virginia -- This one day conference will focus on trends and issues that impact the Roanoke River watershed, including water quality, water quantity, land use management, citizen action, and government policies. There will be displays and presentations all day and continental breakfast and buffet lunch. Keynote Speakers: Dr. Rupert Cutler, City of Roanoke and Mr. Cabell Brand, Cabell Brand. Center. Contact Maureen Castern at mcastern@verizon.net with any questions. For more information or to register, see http://www.upperroanokeriver.org/rivercurrents.shtml. Sponsored by the Upper Roanoke River Roundtable and Ferrum College.
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7. Citizen Grant Monitoring Program now Accepting Applications
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is accepting applications for the 2010 Citizen Monitoring Grant Program. The grant will support volunteer water quality monitoring activities from January 1, 2010 through December 31, 2010. Funds may be used to pay for monitoring equipment, laboratory analysis, publications, mileage for monitoring related activities, and related items. Grant awards cannot pay for office space, salary for staff or staff benefits; however, applicants can use funds to pay for contractual services for monitoring related activities. Applications are due by the close of business on Friday, August 31, 2009. For more information and to complete an application, visit http://www.deq.virginia.gov/cmonitor/grant.html.
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8. River and Beach Clean Up Events
September 1 - October 31, 2009 -- Clean Virginia Waterways is signing up Site Captains to lead river, stream, and beach clean ups, all across Virginia as part of the Annual Virginia Waterways Clean Up. For more information, visit http://www.longwood.edu/cleanva/iccva.htm. This statewide event involves thousands of volunteers, and is part of a worldwide effort to clean our oceans – the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup.
Top Ten Litter Items found by volunteers in 2008: 1. Cigarettes/Cigarette Filters; 2. Food Wrappers/Containers; 3. Beverage Bottles (plastic) 2 liters or less; 4. Beverage Cans; 5. Glass Beverage Bottles; 6. Bags(Plastic); 7. Cups, Plates, Forks, Knives, Spoons; 8. Caps, Lids; 9. Straws, Stirrers; 10. Bags (Paper). These ten items accounted for 86.32 percent of all litter and trash picked up by volunteers in Virginia during the 2008 Virginia Waterways Cleanup (part of the International Coastal Cleanup). This annual statewide volunteer event is planned by Clean Virginia Waterways, a program affiliated with Longwood University. For more information, visit the CVW web site: www.longwood.edu/cleanva or contact CVW at 434-395-2602 or cleanva@longwood.edu
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9. 2009 SESWA Annual Conference
September 30 - October 2, 2009 - Augusta Marriot Hotel and Suites, Augusta, GA -- The 2009 Southeast Stormwater Association's Annual Conference & Exhibits will be entitles Coping with Change, Balancing Environmental Needs with Economic Realities. Focuses on ways to help your jurisdiction comply with the Clean Water Act and improve water quality during times of fiscal constraints. Registration includes training materials, continuing education units, most meals and opportunities to network. For more information, visit SESWA’s website at: http://www.seswa.org/
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10. New USGS Article on Nitrogen Loading and Delivery to Streams and Coastal Areas in the Southeastern U.S.
The results of the study, which utilized the SPARROW model predictions of total nitrogen yields delivered to local stream reaches in the Southeastern United States, can be accessed here: http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pubs/nitrogen_loads
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11. New Online Water Quality Standards Academy TMDL Module
The Water Quality Standards Academy Online (WQSA Online) has posted its second Basic Course Supplemental Topics Module, Listing Impaired Waters and Developing TMDLs. The new online module addresses the identification and prioritization of impaired or threatened waters by states and tribes, and the development of pollutant loading analyses with a focus on meeting the state's/tribe's water quality standards. Similar to the Key Concepts modules, the Supplemental Topics Modules present text-based information across a sequence of pages that include links to further information and resources, and then a brief quiz at the end. Because these modules are supplemental, they are not associated with the Certificate of Completion earned by completing the Key Concepts modules. To access the module go to http://www.epa.gov/waterscience/standards/academy/supp/tmdl. For more information on WQSA Online contact Bryan "Ibrahim" Goodwin at 202-566-0762.
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12. New USGS Release - Water Quality in Carbonate Aquifers across the Nation
USGS has released a new report, Factors affecting water quality in selected carbonate aquifers in the United States, available at http://water.usgs.gov/nawqa/pubs/carbonate with maps and other companion materials.
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Information provided to the members of the Virginia Water Monitoring Council
To learn more about the Council, please see our website at www.VirginiaWMC.org or contact Jane Walker at the address below. If you have any water-monitoring related news of regional or statewide interest, send it to Jane Walker and ask that it be distributed to VWMC membership. Tax-deductible contributions can be made to the VWMC to support these information updates and other VWMC activities. Make checks payable to: “The Virginia Tech Foundation” and on the memo portion of the check include “Fund #872802.” Mail contributions to Jane Walker, VWMC administrator, at the address below.
Jane Walker
Research Associate
Virginia Water Resources Research Center
210 Cheatham Hall (0444)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
Blacksburg, VA 24061
Phone: 540-231-4159
Fax: 540-231-6673
Email: janewalk@vt.edu
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© 2009 Virginia Water Resources Research Center 