Hey Everyone!
My name is Andrew Dagnan. I recently accepted the role as lead of the Portland Chapter's Blue Water Task Force (BWTF), a volunteer-run, water quality monitoring, education, and advocacy program to protect public health in recreational waters. I am really excited to be helping with the BWTF and look forward to working together with others to complete water quality monitoring for Oregon's north coast's beaches.
I graduated with a BS Environmental Health from East Tennessee State University in 2009, and have since worked in the field of environmental, health, and safety in Washington and now in Portland. I was drawn to Surfrider, and specifically this position, not only because of my love for surfing and the outdoors in general, but also for my shared passion to protect human health by maintaining a healthy environment. I have wanted to be involved in Surfrider for a long time and am excited that I now have an opportunity to help develop and lead an exciting program.
It is my hope that the program on the north coast can become strong and consistent, as other chapter programs in OR are. This will require help from volunteers not only from the Portland chapter, but also from those living on the coast who can help with sampling and lab analysis, both of which can be fun and easy to learn!
We will be working in the near future to develop and schedule training and will also begin scheduling events to raise awareness for the program and to gain volunteer support, so stay tuned! In the meantime, if anyone has interest in the program/volunteering, questions, comments, concerns, or just want to help or say hi, drop me an email at Andrew.Dagnan@ gmail .com. Thanks!!