SAN DIEGO COASTKEEPER HIRES NEW LEADER FROM RIVERKEEPER

San Diego Coastkeeper announced this past week that Phillip Musegaas will take over in October as the water-quality nonprofit’s new executive director. He’s moving from Washington, D.C., where he worked for more than seven years as the Potomac Riverkeeper Network’s vice president of programs and litigation.

He’ll replace the group’s outgoing leader Matt O’malley, who took over in late 2016. The nonprofit has recently focused on improving the region’s ailing stormwater system, backing water recycling efforts and calling attention to leaky sewage pipes linked to beach closures.

Musegaas said he’s eager to learn more about beach water quality and other issues particular to the San Diego region, as well as take on “emerging concerns,” such as PFAS chemicals.

“I’m coming to San Diego because this as a fantastic opportunity to apply the experience I have and passion I have for clean water,” he said in an interview with the Union-tribune.

People shouldn’t accept living with poor water quality, he added. “To fight against that is hard, but it’s a worthy fight. You want to give people a sense of what these waterways could be like.”

The 59-year-old is originally from Kansas City, Mo. He worked as a professional chef in Southern California before getting his law degree and launching a second career in 2005 with the Hudson Riverkeeper in New York.

“We are thrilled that Phillip is bringing his dynamic leadership, energy, and creativity to the fight for drinkable, fishable, and swimmable waters in our region,” said Chanté Coleman, interim chair of Coastkeeper’s board of directors.