Virginia Water Monitoring Council
Water Monitoring

News and Events (Announcements)

Announcements for September 14, 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

  1. VWMC seeking nominations for members to serve on Steering Committee
  2. World Water Monitoring Day -- September 18, 2009 (Data accepted from sites monitored between March 22 -- December 31)
  3. 28th Annual International Submerged Lands Management Conference -- Free Webinar -- Various dates in September and October, 2009
  4. 40th Annual Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium -- October 2 to 4, 2009
  5. Mapping Virginia Communities: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis -- October 9, 2009
  6. Virginia Water Research Conference -- October 15-16, 2009
  7. Volunteer Opportunity -- Extreme Stream Makeover: Blackwater Creek --Oct 19-22, 2009
  8. Workshop: Water and the Developing Landscape: Stormwater Regulations, Explanations & Opportunities -- October 28, 2009
  9. USGS Water Resources Lecture -- "How to Add Natural Tracers to Your Hydrological Toolbox" -- November 3, 2009
  10. EPA Seeks Comments on New Information about Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide
  11. EPA document: "Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet for the Water Sector"

    Please feel free to forward these announcements. When forwarding, please acknowledge the Virginia Water Monitoring Council.
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1. VWMC seeking nominations for members to serve on Steering Committee

Please consider nominating yourself or other individual with good leadership skills and the time and energy to help the VWMC. The purpose of the VWMC Steering Committee is to generate ideas of new program areas, help implement the VWMC program activities, and provide leadership for the VWMC annual conference. We envision having 3 to 4 meetings of the Steering Committee each year (We usually meet in Richmond and have telephone call-in capabilities). Steering Committee members serve a three-year term. To view past Steering Committee meeting minutes, please see our website at: http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/vwmc/about.asp#steering. If you have questions, please feel free to contact Jane Walker at vwmc@vt.edu or call 540-231-4159.
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2. World Water Monitoring Day

September 18, 2009 (Data accepted from sites monitored between March 22 -- December 31) -- This international outreach program builds public awareness and involvement in protecting water resources around the world. To learn how to participate in World Water Monitoring Day (WWMD), find out about WWMD activities in Virginia, link to resources for teachers, and view maps and data from past WWMD events, see http://va.water.usgs.gov/wqday_09/intro.htm. If you have information about events in your watershed, please email Gary Speiran with the USGS (gspeiran@usgs.gov) so that your event can be included on the Virginia WWMD website.

World Water Monitoring Day kits: The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality is distributing a limited number of water monitoring kits for free to schools and organizations that do not have water monitoring equipment. Each kit can perform up to 50 tests for dissolved oxygen, pH, turbidity, and temperature. Usually one kit is enough to monitor at several locations. Because quantities are limited, please request only the number of kits you are sure that you will use. To order kits, please contact Mr. Stuart Torbeck by e-mail at charles.torbeck@deq.virginia.gov. Please provide your complete mailing address, as well as the number of kits you would like to receive. The Virginia Water Monitoring Council and United States Geological Survey Virginia Water Science Center (http://va.water.usgs.gov) donated kits this year.
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3. 28th Annual International Submerged Lands Management Conference

Because of severe travel restrictions for many, this year's conference will be a free webinar series including the following topics:

  • The public trust - September 24, 2009
  • Working waterfronts - October 8, 2009
  • Water dependency - October 22, 2009
  • Wetlands restoration as an adaptation tool to sea level rise - November 5, 2009
  • Marine spatial planning. November 19, 2009

When: Every other week between September 10, 2009 and November 19, 2009 - Thursdays, 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm EST For more information and to register, visit www.submergedlandsconference.com
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4. 40th Annual Binghamton Geomorphology Symposium: Geomorphology and Vegetation: Interactions, Dependencies, and Feedback Loops

October 2 to 4, 2009 -- Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia -- On-line Registration available through Sept. 25, 2009. For More Information, see: http://twosweet.bse.vt.edu/bing2009/index.htm or contact: W. Cully Hession, PhD, PE, Biological Systems Engineering, 304 Seitz Hall, Mail Code 0303, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Va 24061; Phone: (540) 231-9480; Email: chession@vt.edu
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5. Mapping Virginia Communities: An Introduction to GIS and Community Analysis

October 9, 2009 (8:30 am - 4:30 pm) -- Computer Services and Training - 1516 Willow Lawn Drive, Suite 100 Richmond, VA, 23230 -- This workshop is customized for each city in which it is taught. Audience: Beginners, anyone interested in mapping their community; Registration Fee: $495 (Credit Cards, Checks, Purchase Orders Accepted); Non-Profit Fee: $250 (Limited to first 5 Non-Profit Registrations per workshop. Must be a 501 Non-Profits to qualify. Government Agencies and Academic Institutions DO NOT QUALIFY. See http://www.urban-research.info/workshops/virginia-gis.htm or contact nur@urban-research.info for more information.
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6. Virginia Water Research Conference

October 15-16, 2009 -- Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Va -- Conference Theme: Water Resources in Changing Climates -- Program posted! Join Preston Bryant, Virginia Secretary of Natural Resources; Virginia Burkett, Chief Scientist for Global Change Research at the USGS, and others in exploring the issues associated with climate change and likely impacts on Virginia's water resources. Oral and poster presentations will include science, policy, and socio-economic issues associated with understanding and managing water resources: stormwater management, nutrients and other water quality topics; water supply, planning and conservation; monitoring and modeling. See http://www.vwrrc.vt.edu/2009conference.html for more information and to register for this conference. On-line registration available through October 2, 2009. Contact Jane Walker at janewalk@vt.edu or 540-231-4159 for more information.
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7. Volunteer Opportunity -- Extreme Stream Makeover: Blackwater Creek

Oct 19-22, 2009 -- This watershed includes portions of Bedford and Campbell Counties, as well as the City of Lynchburg. Extreme Stream Makeover is a week-long, local project aimed at sparking greater community involvement and public action to improve and restore water quality through a series of low impact design projects. Hundreds of volunteers will work at various sites throughout the watershed including Jefferson Forest High School, Peaks View Park, Blackwater Creek Athletic Area and several shopping centers along Wards Road. Sponsored by the James River Association and local government, businesses and organizations. To learn more, see http://www.jamesriverassociation.org/what-we-do/extreme-stream
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8. Workshop: Water and the Developing Landscape: Stormwater Regulations, Explanations & Opportunities

October 28, 2009 -- Mark your calendar! More information will be posted on the Virginia Watersheds Alliance website www.vawatersheds.org and on-line registration at the Pure Water Forum’s website www.purewaterforum.org by September 28th. Hosted by the Shenandoah Valley Pure Water Forum at James Madison University’s Festival Conference Center. For more information, contact Bruce Lundeen at bruce@purewaterforum.org or 540-568-8793.
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9. USGS Water Resources Lecture -- "How to Add Natural Tracers to Your Hydrological Toolbox"

November 3, 2009 (10:00 a.m.) -- USGS Virginia Water Science Center, 1730 East Parham Road, Richmond, VA 23228 -- Presented by Dr. Doug Burns, Research Hydrologist. -- Abstract: Natural tracers can provide another tool along with the common hydrological and water quality measurements to further our understanding of hydrologic systems. For example, the water isotopes d18O and d2H can help to answer questions of volume and flux when two or more distinct sources of water are present in a watershed, and in many cases solute tracers can be applied to solve these same problems. Additionally, the temporal patterns of natural tracers can reveal the transit time of water along a ground-water flow path or through a watershed. Furthermore, measurements of the isotopic content of solutes such as nitrate, sulfate, and phosphate can provide insight to the source and the biogeochemical processes that most greatly affect solute flux in a hydrologic system. In this presentation, the use of tracer-based models to better understand the source, flow paths, and transit time of water will be discussed, with an emphasis on ground water – surface water interactions. The presentation will include a discussion of the application of tracer-based approaches to the nitrogen cycle in watersheds, and the power of multi-tracer approaches for constraining sources and the processes that shape solute fluxes through hydrologic systems. -- For more information, contact George Harlow, Jr. at 804-261-2631 or geharlow@usgs.gov or see the website: http://va.water.usgs.gov
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10. EPA Seeks Comments on New Information about Geologic Sequestration of Carbon Dioxide

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is requesting comments on new information it has received about geologic sequestration of carbon dioxide. During geologic sequestration, carbon dioxide is injected underground for long-term storage. This technology can be used to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere. Under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA), EPA protects underground sources of drinking water from threats related to injection activities. The new information supplements the agency’s 2008 proposed rule that, if finalized, would create a new class of injection well and establish requirements under the authority of the SDWA to ensure that geologic sequestration activities do not endanger drinking water sources. The publication reviews research and data on geologic sequestration and presents an alternative the agency is considering related to the proposed injection depth requirements for carbon dioxide. In addition, the publication announces that EPA is evaluating the need for a more comprehensive regulatory framework to manage the geologic sequestration of CO2. The agency is requesting public comments for 45 days after publication in the Federal Register. More information on geologic sequestration and how to submit comments: http://www.epa.gov/safewater/uic/wells_sequestration.html
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11. EPA document: "Pandemic Influenza Fact Sheet for the Water Sector"

Pandemic flu could affect the capability of water system operators to operate and maintain their systems adequately due to increased absenteeism at their systems and at other interdependent sectors that provide essential materials and supplies. The flu fact sheet provides information to assist the water sector in integrating pandemic planning into existing business continuity and emergency response plans and reducing the risk to public health that would be caused by disruption in operation of water systems. In addition to background information on pandemic flu, its potential impacts, and possible interventions, the fact sheet provides references to tools and guidance materials offered by EPA and other organizations. The fact sheet is available at: http://cfpub.epa.gov/safewater/watersecurity/pandemicflu.cfm
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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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