Annual meeting of the Virginia Chapter of the Soil and Water Conservation Society.  Topics covered will include extreme weather events, increasing variation in annual precipitation, predicted water-demand increases, and gaps in data for surface water and groundwater.

Register at http://ww2.bse.vt.edu/swcs/   Registration is $50, and registration closes on October 21.  Contact Erin Ling at ejling@vt.edu, or Karen Kline at kline@vt.edu.

What a great chance to ask some GOOD questions to presenters like Scott Kudlas, Director, Office of Water Supply, Virginia Department of Environmental Quality! Questions like:

• Given our finite supply and projected increasing demand, why does VA’s DEQ intend to give a free pass to the ACP to pollute so much water through erosion and sedimentation? No free pass? Oh, great, so you WILL ASK FOR AND MAKE PUBLIC site specific erosion and storm water control plans well in advance of project approval?
• In light of our finite supply and projected increasing demand, can you speak to the effect of the ACP using over 38 million gallons for DUST CONTROL?
• Extreme weather events? How does the VA DEQ intend to take into account the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in their granting of open trench waivers (15 miles long anyone?) and handling of other erosion and sedimentation concerns (landslides?) regarding the ACPs construction on VAs steep slopes?
• What evidence can you provide to reassure people in Nelson County that removing over 3 million gallons of water from local rivers for hydrostatic testing won’t negatively impact aquatic life or drinking water?