Virginia Update

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BJ Small/CBF Staff

From the Desk of Chris Moore

Winter 2023

CBF Prepares for Virginia Legislative Session

During Virginia's annual legislative session, which begins on January 10, legislators will vote on a budget to fund the state government for the next two years, as well as other proposals affecting the Bay and its rivers and streams. CBF staff will work hard in Richmond throughout the session to advocate for clean water policies.

Investment in several key programs will be crucial for the Bay. Those include funding state programs that reduce pollution from stormwater, agriculture, and wastewater treatment plants.

Supporting efforts to protect Virginia homes and businesses from the effects of climate change will be critical, given the uncertain future of the Community Flood Preparedness Fund. Investment will also be key for hands-on environmental education programs, mussel restoration, and oyster shell recycling.

State legislators should also support the research needed to properly manage the Bay's menhaden fishery—ensuring this small, crucial to the Bay's food web, continues to play its role in the ecosystem.

CBF is supporting a ban on the use of toxic pavement sealant in Virginia to prevent pollution from entering waterways and harming children and wildlife. We will also work to protect wetlands and tree canopy, as well as a host of other policy priorities.

Follow CBF for updates throughout the legislative session and opportunities to take action. You can also register for our upcoming Virginia General Assembly Preview webinar.

Chris Moore Named CBF Virginia Executive Director

Chris Moore, most recently CBF's Regional Ecosystem Scientist, took the helm as the CBF Virginia office's new executive director on December 4.

"I'm excited to help continue the great work of CBF's Virginia office. We have a very talented staff that is doing great things and I'm honored to be able to guide those efforts moving forward," Moore said. "I'm fortunate to have a diverse background from my previous roles, which has prepared me for many of the issues we are working on. I look forward to applying those experiences as executive director."

Moore takes over for former Virginia Executive Director Peggy Sanner, who retired in August.

Since joining CBF in 2005 as a Science Advocate, Moore has led a host of advocacy, policy, and technical support efforts for Chesapeake Bay fisheries and water quality restoration efforts. His work has included building sustainable fisheries for striped bass, Atlantic menhaden, and blue crabs, as well as supporting oyster policy and restoration initiatives. Moore has also worked on funding and legislative issues that are important to improving the health of the Bay watershed.

—Chris Moore
Virginia Executive Director
Chesapeake Bay Foundation

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