Trash Monitoring Work Group plans outreach to new council director and aims to restore web presence

Shelley Moore announced she will step down as executive director of the Moore Institute effective Jan. 1 and said she expects to remain involved part time, focusing on research and writing rather than administrative duties. "I will be stepping down as executive director for the Moore Institute, effective at the first of the year," she said.

Shelley and colleagues told meeting participants they had met with Laurie Webber, who recently became the director overseeing the Water Quality Monitoring Council. Shelley said Webber had been surprised to learn that some subcommittees (for example, the microplastics and data-management subcommittees) and the trash monitoring work group were still meeting; Webber offered to help restore the group's presence on the state website and requested materials to upload.

Shelley also asked for a stronger State Water Board presence at work-group meetings so staff can answer questions about how monitoring discussions might affect policy and permitting. She reported Webber agreed to make staff available when topics warrant their attendance and that the work group will add Webber to meeting invitations to improve awareness.

Next steps: Shelley said she will convene a full trash monitoring work-group meeting in the next few months to review active subcommittees and to determine whether new subcommittees are needed. Members agreed to coordinate with Webber on posting meeting notes and recordings to the council website.