VNLA Newsletter Spring 2018

Of particular in- terest to growers and wholesalers of native plants is the growing de- mand that these CBLPs are creat- ing as they specify and purchase na- tive plants for

Not yet certified or ready to advance to a CBLP Designer and/or Installer? New trainings and certification opportuni- ties are being offered this summer and you can earn CEU credits for many existing professional certifications, includ-

ing VCH, in the process. Level 1 trainings include: •

June 18-19, Annapolis, MD July 9-10, Charlottesville, VA

• •

July 30-31, State College, PA The next Level 2 Intensive Seminar will be held June 21- 23, 2018. Level 1 candidates must have a degree, certificate, or certification in a related green infrastructure field, or have professional experience. To qualify for Level 2, pro- fessionals must complete Level 1 and demonstrate experi- ence designing or installing stormwater BMPs. To date, CBLP has certified 233 Level 1, and 35 Level 2 profession- als from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and the District of Columbia. Eventually, CBLP will be of- fered in all states in the Bay watershed. For more information and to register, visit www.http://cblpro.org or contact: Beth Ginter, CBLP Coordinator, beth@cblpro.org

their landscape and stormwater projects! This year we added stormwater practice verification to the list of skills for certified CBLPs. As states enter into the final phase of compliance with the Chesapeake Bay Pollution Diet, local- ities need to verify that all practices reported for nutrient and sediment reduction credits still exist, are properly main- tained, and function as designed. If not, the practices must be restored or credits are lost. Vegetation health and cover- age are key indicators of proper maintenance and function - many stormwater practices need to refresh or refine their plantings - who better to determine plant health and pre- scribe the right plants than VCH-certified CBLPs? Where will these native plants be purchased? Sustainable best practices suggest that plants should be grown within the same ecoregion and within a 200-mile radius of the project.

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April/May/June 2018 VNLA Newsletter April / May / June 2018 V LA Newsletter