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A wildlife population’s health rests on three interconnected factors: animal fitness, quality habitat, and low levels of parasites and pathogens. When these fall out of balance, whether from emerging diseases, habitat loss, or environmental stress, the consequences can be swift and far-reaching, affecting not just wildlife, but the ecosystems, economies, and cultural practices that depend on them.

In recognition of that connection, the USGS Ecosystems Mission Area invites you to join us for a Friday’s Findings in celebration of the 2nd Annual USGS Wildlife Health Awareness Day.

Registration Information

This 1-day training will demonstrate the Department of Fish and Wildlife’s methods for conducting beach surveys and processing samples for Surf Smelt and Sand Lance spawn.  The training will include a classroom component with a presentation and hands-on demonstration of lab techniques. It will also include a field component with a demonstration and time to practice field collection and sample processing. The training is specifically designed for biologists who need to conduct forage fish surveys for regulatory purposes, such as to comply with the conditions of a WDFW, DNR, or ACoE permit. At the conclusion of training, participants will have knowledge of forage fish survey techniques and reporting requirements. (6 AICP CM Credits/CEP Points)

Lunch will be provided. The registration fee is $105. 

Please reach out to Sara Brostrom (bros461@ecy.wa.gov) if you require an accommodation for this training (audio, visual, mobility, or other).  Washington State Department of Ecology staff, if you need a reasonable accommodation to successfully attend this training, please contact the Core Training Team.

Date & Time

Apr 23, 2026 03:00 PM in

Pacific Time (US and Canada)

Description

Join for periodic presentations on solid waste issues during “winter” months. Please check our website for topics and updates, https://dec.alaska.gov/eh/solid-waste/waste-in-rural-alaska/monthly-teleconferences/

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Date & Time

Apr 23, 2026 08:00 AM in

Description

Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) section 1433, which was revised by America’s Water Infrastructure Act (AWIA) section 2013, requires community water systems (CWS) serving over 3,300 people to prepare (or revise) and certify risk and resilience assessments (RRAs) and emergency response plans (ERPs) to the U.S. EPA every five years. Recertification deadlines are coming up in 2026 for CWSs serving 3,301 – 99,999 people.

RRAs and ERPs must address risks from natural hazards and malevolent acts. Cybersecurity, a malevolent act, is specifically required in both. This webinar will highlight EPA resources that CWSs can use to cover cybersecurity in their RRA and ERP.

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Date & Time

Apr 21, 2026 04:00 PM in

Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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Description

Is the air in your classroom actually cleaner than the parking lot outside? Your students probably have an opinion—but do they have the data? Join Vernier biology expert Colleen McDaniel and chemistry expert Dr. Melissa Hill as they walk through place-based air quality investigations that help students connect real environmental data to the health of their own communities.

You will:

• Learn how to frame air quality monitoring as place-based learning, starting with a local case study and using it to spark student-driven questions

• Learn how to use the Go Direct® Air Quality Sensor to measure specific parameters like particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, and VOCs, and understand what each one means for human and environmental health

• See how indoor/outdoor comparisons and traffic monitoring investigations generate meaningful data

• Connect air quality data to bigger chemistry concepts, including photochemical smog, acid deposition, and the science behind the Air Quality Index

Attendees who join us live will be entered to win a $100 gift certificate to Vernier Science Education!

Training will cover the new and revised Drinking Water rules beginning in 2027. They will include PFAS, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements (LCRI), Consumer Confidence Report Rule Revisions (CCR3), and Perchlorate.

To register, email kirstin.latimer@deq.idaho.gov.

Attend this meeting in person:

Idaho Department of Environmental Quality Twin Falls Regional Office

650 Addison Ave W

Twin Falls, ID 83301

Are you interested in finding meaningful environmental work within your community or region? RACEJT is an Environmental Technician job training program provided by Zender Environmental for Rural Alaska residents living in non-hub communities, unemployed or under-employed wanting to remain within their home community or region.

They have limited slots available for their 2026 Session Two starting in April 2026. If you have questions or are interested please contact April McCoy.

Middletown Rancheria, CA

Registration deadline: April 28, 2026

EPA Region 9 is hosting a free, in-person Tribal Waste Assessment Training Workshop at the Middletown Rancheria of Pomo Indians, including a hands-on waste sort.

This training is designed for Tribal staff interested in better understanding and managing their community’s waste stream.

Participants will learn how to:

• Assess the types and amounts of waste generated in their community

• Plan and conduct a waste characterization

• Analyze waste and recycling data

• Identify opportunities to improve waste management programs

• Apply findings to solid waste plans and grant applications

The workshop includes a live residential waste sort, where participants will help safely collect and analyze real data.

Schedule:

• May 6: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM PT

• May 7: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM PT (lunch provided)

Cost: Free (travel not included)

Register by e-mail robinett.travis@epa.gov with your name, Tribe, and interest in waste assessment.

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Wildfires mobilize chemicals in smoke with potential impacts to downwind communities and ecosystems. Although human exposure to smoke has been studied for years, recent evidence suggests that smoke can also have water quality impacts far downwind of the fire epicenter.

In a 2023 study, EPA researchers found that smoke contains extremely high levels of airborne nutrients, which, if deposited on the surfaces of lake and reservoirs, could stimulate algal blooms. These algal blooms can negatively affect drinking water through the production of cyanotoxins, while also impacting aquatic life.

A recently published subsequent study confirmed that the presence of wildfire smoke is indeed significantly correlated with downwind algal blooms. This work compared chlorophyll-a measurements from 2,000+ lakes across the contiguous United States, both before and after smoke events. Chlorophyll-a from algae increased significantly for lakes experiencing smoke events, particularly more dense smoke. Chlorophyll-a also increased for higher elevation and eutrophic lakes after exposure to wildfire smoke. Taken together, this evidence suggests nutrient mobilization from wildfire smoke, in potential combination with changes in light availability, are causing spikes in algal activity in downwind lakes. Because wildfire activity is increasing, these findings have implications for drinking water and recreational lakes across the United States, as well as for lake ecology, particularly in higher elevation systems with otherwise limited nutrient inputs.

Presenters 

Nicole Olson, EPA Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions

Dr. Olson is a physical scientist in EPA’s Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions. She joined EPA in August 2021 where she got involved with wildfire research. She is particularly interested in investigating the link between wildfire nutrient emissions and harmful algal bloom formation. In addition, Nicole has worked on the atmospheric science chapters of the Integrated Science Assessments and projects investigating the health impacts of greenspaces and nature-based solutions. She completed her PhD in analytical chemistry at the University of Michigan, with work focusing on air quality and harmful algal bloom health impacts.

Irena Pavlovic, EPA Region 9

Irena is an environmental health scientist in EPA Region 9, based out of Los Angeles. She joined EPA in March 2023 and serves as the regional lead on wildfire and smoke issues as well as a Project Officer for air monitoring and analysis grants. She completed her Masters in environmental toxicology from Columbia University with a focus on fate and transport of emerging contaminants.

Moderators:

• Brenda Rashleigh, EPA Office of Applied Science and Environmental Solutions

The Tribal Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) program and the Cherokee Nation are hosting the Tribal Brownfields Knowledge Circle. Learn about the Cherokee Nation’s brownfield program and hear from other local Oklahoma Tribes about the work they are doing. Visit some of Cherokee Nation’s active and completed brownfields sites and learn how their cultural programs are related to their brownfield work. There will be a Talking Circle at the end for sharing and reflection. The workshop will be held in person in Tulsa, OK.

•  Registration extended to Feb. 17

The Tribal Technical Assistance to Brownfield Communities (TAB) program and the Cherokee Nation are hosting the Tribal Brownfields Knowledge Circle. Learn about the Cherokee Nation’s brownfield program and hear from other local Oklahoma Tribes about the work they are doing. Visit some of Cherokee Nation’s active and completed brownfields sites and learn how their cultural programs are related to their brownfield work. There will be a Talking Circle at the end for sharing and reflection. The workshop will be held in person in Tulsa, OK.

•  Register by Feb 11

In May, the Alaska Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) will host its next Solid Waste Bootcamp, an online training that teaches participants about the basics of solid waste management in Class III landfills. Some of the topics will include:

• Solid Waste 101
• Solid Waste Best Management Practices
• Proper Burning Practices
• Class III Landfill Designs
• Applying for/Renewing a Class III Landfill Permit
• Maintaining Operations and Site Plans
• Solid Waste Technical Assistance Resources
• Backhaul/Recycling
• Introducing the Waste Index Landfill Scoring Criteria and more.
  
  • Register 

Learn more:

• Take a few moments to peruse DEC’s waste in rural Alaska communities website. 
• If your community has a Class III landfill, visit the list of Rural Landfill Specialists to find the one assigned to your community. These are exceptionally knowledgeable and helpful folks!

Organized by the Northwest Portland Area Indian Health Board (NPAIHB), the Tribal Public Health Emergency Preparedness Conference and Training is designed to enhance the resilience of Indigenous communities in the face of emergencies and disasters. The event will be held in person in Ocean Shores, WA. 

• Submit a proposal
• Register

Spark the Fire is offering a Spring 2026 Certificate in Grant Writing course. The training is designed for professionals who want hands-on experience developing competitive grant proposals. The course is conducted online and includes weekly sessions, writing assignments, and feedback.

• Learn more

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality will host the following in-person workshops in March and April. The trainings will cover the new and revised drinking water rules beginning in 2027, including PFAS, Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, Consumer Confidence Report Rule Revisions, and Perchlorate.

• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Boise – March 5, 2026
• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Boise – March 9, 2026
• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Idaho Falls – March 24, 2026
• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Twin Falls – April 21, 2026
• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Pocatello – April 23, 2026
• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Lewiston – April 28, 2026
• 2026 Drinking Water Rules Workshop, Coeur d’Alene – April 29, 2026
  
  • Learn more

The Inter Tribal Council of Arizona National Tribal Water and Wastewater Operator Training and Certification Program provides online, in-person, and blended trainings. Upcoming trainings include: 

• Water Treatment Level 1: March 2-6, 2026 (online); March 9-13, 2026 (Billings, MT) 
• Water Distribution Level 1: March 30-April 3, 2026 (online); April 6-10, 2026 (Flagstaff, AZ) 
  
  • Register

NEIWPCC is offering a free online training and exam (Class A or Class B) for Underground Storage Tank Operators in Indian Country. The course was developed in partnership with EPA. 

• Learn more

RACEJT provides environmental job training for unemployed, or under-employed residents, from rural Alaska communities of less than 1,500 people. Zender will offer two sessions in the spring: 

• Session 1: March 20 – April 3
  • Spring Break (at home): April 4 – 17
  • Partial-Day Virtual Classes (at home): April 14 – 16
• Session 2: April 18 – May 1

RACEJT includes 260 intensive hours of classes, 20 + certifications, 10 University of Alaska, Fairbanks (UAF) college credits, and a UAF Occupational Endorsement in Rural Waste Management and Spill Response. 

• Apply for RACEJT by Nov. 28.

Zender is offering the following question and answer sessions at 10:00 Alaska:

• Oct. 7: Join on Zoom. Meeting ID: 859-3621-5983; Passcode: 568498 
• Oct. 14: Call-In Teleconference: 800-309-2350. Passcode: 52626#
• Nov. 4: Call-in Teleconference: 800-309-2350  Passcode: 52626#
• Nov. 18: Join on Zoom. Meeting ID: 859-3621-5983; Passcode: 568498