The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) approved a slate of new officers Monday, August 6. Chris Warn is the chairman, Jack Merriam is the vice chairman and Tommy Vaughan-Birch is the secretary.

Chris Warn is an environmental consultant employed by Weston Solutions, Inc., a national environmental services company. He served the CAC previously as the vice chairman. Jack Merriam is the recently retired environmental manager for Sarasota County where he worked for 12 years in the mid 80s and more recently from 2005 until his retirement earlier this year. Tommy Vaughan-Birch has been a volunteer at Mote Marine Laboratory since 1990 and is a past president of the Volunteers of Mote Marine Laboratory. The new officers will serve a one-year term.

The 26-member CAC provides public input to support SBEP planning and promotes the SBEP mission and its various programs throughout Sarasota and Manatee County. Current members include parents, grandparents, educators, former elected representatives, business owners, environmental advocates, scientists, ecologists, realtors, and engineers. Learn more at www.sarasotabay.org.

The Sarasota Bay Estuary Program is dedicated to restoring the area's greatest natural asset—Sarasota Bay. Its unique program strives to improve water quality, increase habitat and enhance the natural resources of the area for use and enjoyment by the public. Sarasota Bay is one of 28 estuaries in the United States that have been named by the U.S. Congress as an "estuary of national significance." Partners include Sarasota County, Manatee County, City of Sarasota, City of Bradenton, Town of Longboat Key, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Southwest Florida Water Management District, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.