Water quality and supply issues will take center stage at the 2007 Water Research Symposium Nov. 26-30 at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center in Blacksburg, Va.
The eventwhich will focus on ways to protect and restore the regions groundwater, streams and rivers, lakes, wetlands and the Chesapeake Bayis being hosted by the West Virginia Water Research Institute at West Virginia Universitys National Research Center for Coal and Energy in partnership with the Virginia Water Resources Research Center based at Virginia Techs College of Natural Resources.
Participants will learn about innovative water monitoring methods, new modeling techniques and current research findings. They will also gain new insights into biological and chemical water quality contaminants and obtain a better understanding of water conflicts and collaborations.
The conference is open to the public and especially geared for state and local government professionals, university faculty and students, experts from environmental consulting and environmental law firms and other interest groups. The online registration deadline is Monday (Nov. 12) and is available athttp://wvwri.nrcce.wvu.edu.
Highlights of this years symposium include five workshops and a panel that will discuss emerging water issues in West Virginia and Virginia.
Additionally, more than 80 paper presentations will draw attention to research findings, technical innovations, regulations, watershed management and monitoring and a broad range of other water quality and supply issues.
Under federal legislation, the U.S. Geological Survey established the West Virginia Water Research Institute in 1967 as one of the nations 54 water institutes. It conducts research related to water issues in the state.
The West Virginia Water Research Institutes work also reaches well beyond the borders of West Virginia to improve water in the nation. It is recognized as an international leader in the areas of acid mine drainage abatement, watershed remediation and industrial waste utilization and disposal technologies.
The work of WVWRI , along with state and federal partners and motivated local citizens, has led to significant improvements in technologies for preserving and protecting our water resources,said Paul Ziemkiewicz, director of the institute.We are proud to have a role in restoring watersheds and improving the quality of life of West Virginias citizens.
For more information on the institute and symposium, contact conference coordinator Tamara Vandivort at 304-293-2867 ext. 5448 or Tamara.Vandivort@mail.wvu.edu .