Note: this page requires a specific link to access. It is intended as a spot for sharing outreach specifically intended for officials of local government units (LGU) working with land use zoning.
Monthly LGU virtual forums
What: A monthly live virtual Teams forum for local officials involved in managing natural resources, especially for those involved in administering floodplain, shoreland or river-related ordinances, to learn and chat about topics of interest to you.
Purpose: Provide a regular opportunity for local officials and Department of Natural Resources to share information and have discussion outside of more formal trainings on topics that help you manage natural resources in your community.
How do I attend?
Forums will be hosted from 9:30 to 11 a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month, beginning Feb. 15, 2023. Use the links listed under “Upcoming Forums” to join the live virtual meetings using Microsoft Teams software.
Request a calendar invite for the series by contacting [email protected] (or one of the DNR floodplain and shoreland staff).
2026 forums
Jan. 21: Topic, Statewide Clean Water Projects - Agenda | Presentations
Feb. 25: Topic, Dam Safety: Rapidan Dam General Overview and Lessons Learned
- 2025 forums
Jan. 15 | Topic: Bridge and Culvert Crossings: BMPs and Case Studies. - Agenda | Presentations
Feb. 19 | Canceled
March 19 | Topic: Public Waters Inventory History and Update - Agenda | Presentations
April 16 | Shoreland Activity Survey: Riprap Results and Discussion - Agenda | Presentations
May 14 | Topic: Utilities and Utility Crossings - Agenda | Presentations
June 18 | Topic: Useful GIS/web-based tools you may not know about - Agenda | Resources | Presentations
July 16 | Topic: Flood Hazard Mitigation Grant Program and Community Success Stories - Agenda | Presentations
Aug. 20 | Topic: Native Vegetation and Pollinators - Recorded forum | Agenda | Presentations | Resources | Carlton SWCD root systems and shoreline graphic
Sept. 17 | Topic : Watershed Storage Options - Agenda | Presentations
Oct. 8 | Topic: New and Future Floodplain Standards and Modeling | Agenda | Presentations | Recorded Atlas 15 | Recorded ASCE 24-24
Nov. 19 | CANCELED
Dec. 17 | Topic: The Future of Flood Risk Mapping - Agenda | Presentations
- 2024 forums
Jan. 17 | Topic: Storm Water Higher Standards: BMPs in Shoreland - Agenda | Presentations
Feb. 21 | Topic: Mooring and Marina Standards - Agenda | Handout | Presentations
March 20 | Topic: Dealing with Floodplain and Shoreland Violations - Agenda | Presentations
April 17 | Topic: Stream Gaging and Flood Forecasting - Agenda | Presentations
May 15 | Topic: Natural Shorelines - Agenda | Presentation
June 12 | Canceled
July 17 | Topic: Urban Flooding - Agenda | Presentation
Aug. 21 | Topic: New WCA Legislation: What’s Changed? - Agenda - Presentations
Sept. 18 | Topic: Grants: Focus on Reducing Flood Risk - Agenda - Presentations
Oct. 23 | Canceled
Nov. 20 | Climate Trends Affecting Lakes and Rivers - Agenda - Presentations
Dec. 11 | Topic: Federal Flood Risk Management Standards (FFRMS) for FEMA and HUD - Agenda - Presentations
- 2023 forums
Feb. 15 | Topic: Retaining walls - Agenda
March 15 | Topic: Sand Blankets and Aquatic Plant Management (APM) - Agenda
April 19 | Topic: Culverts and Crossings - Agenda
May 17 | Topic: Culverts and Crossings - Higher Standards and Approaches - Agenda
June 21 | Topic: Riprap - Agenda
July 19 | Topic: Beyond Riprap: Bioengineering - Agenda
Aug.16 | Topic: Water Surface Use Impacts and Regulations - Agenda
Sept. 20 | Topic: Storm Water Basics for Zoning Administrators - Agenda
Oct. 18 | Canceled
Nov. 15 | Topic: Flood Risk Reduction - Agenda | Presentations
Dec.20 | Topic: Bluffs and Landslides - Agenda | Presentations
Format: Each forum will feature a presentation and discussion on a specific topic of interest. DNR staff, local staff, consultants, and other technical experts will present. DNR will also provide updates on upcoming training opportunities and state and FEMA updates of interest to local governments.
Topics: Topics will focus on shoreland, river and floodplain management, DNR's public water work permit regulations, and other topics of interest to local zoning, emergency management and engineering staff and officials (i.e., wetlands, Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS), watershed management, changing climate impacts on natural resources, etc.). Future topics will be discussed at the forums, and can be submitted to State Floodplain Manager Ceil Strauss or State Shoreland/River Programs Manager Dan Petrik, or to [email protected].
Emails or newsletters will be sent to local officials one to two weeks in advance with the agenda for each DNR LGU forum, and will be available on this page.
Other helpful resources
Some public sites with helpful information for local officials.
Water Talk Newsletter page (review archived issues and sign up for future issues)