Water Is Life

It's what we do.

Our Mission

Discovery, learning, and outreach

We Serve

The people of the Commonwealth of Virginia

Welcome to the Virginia Water Center

The Water Center offers resources and support to researchers, educators, and decision makers throughout the state of Virginia. We do this by facilitating collaborative research, extension, and education programs to develop solutions to water resource challenges. We work across Virginia's academic institutions and with federal, state, regional, nonprofit, and campus communities. Learn more about us.

Weekly Water Announcements

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1.) 2026 Water Is Life Sneaker Ball! – Registration Deadline: March 31, 2026; Ball: April 9, 2026
2.) James River Association (JRA) Events – Various Dates, Starting: April 1, 2026
3.) Water and Wastewater Training – Various Dates, Starting: April 2, 2026
4.) Water Research Foundation (WRF) Webcasts – Various Dates, Starting: April 2, 2026
5.) New River Symposium 2026 -- April 9-10, 2026
6.) Request for Proposals: Chesapeake Watershed Investments for Landscape Defense (WILD) Grants – Proposals Due: April 9, 2026
7.) Friends of the Occoquan (FOTO) Spring River Clean-Up 2026 -- April 11, 2026
8.) 2026 National Watershed & Stormwater Conference – April 14-16, 2026
9.) Upcoming Special Elections
10.) James River Association (JRA) Youth Summer Programs – Various Dates
11.) Call for Abstracts: Groundwater Protection Council (GWPC) Annual Forum -- Abstracts Due: May 4, 2026; Forum: September 15-17, 2026
12.) Potomac Riverkeeper Network (PRKN) News
13.) Water Center Jobs Board

Data and Model Integration to Assess Harmful Algal Blooms in Smith Mountain Lake

Data and Model Integration to Assess Harmful Algal Blooms in Smith Mountain Lake
The 2024 Virginia General Assembly requested a study to assess harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Smith Mountain Lake (SML), a reservoir created by damming the...

New MS Degree Program in Water Resources at Virginia Tech is Approved 

New MS Degree Program in Water Resources at Virginia Tech is Approved 
A new M.S. degree program in Water Resources at Virginia Tech has been officially approved! Proposed by Drs. Stephen Schoenholtz and Kevin McGuire of the Virginia Water...

Update: Sewage Spill in the Potomac River – Find Out the Latest Information

Update: Sewage Spill in the Potomac River – Find Out the Latest Information
March 30, 2026 Update — You may be wondering what’s the latest about the sewage spill in the Potomac River. More information is available on...