Mike Taugher, a former reporter for the Contra Costa Times who was an expert on water issues, died unexpectedly on July 27 while vacationing with his family in Hawaii.
Mike covered the environment, and especially water issues, in a way that presented all sides and enabled readers to understand complexities. When Mike turned to Baykeeper as a source of news, we knew he would understand and present what was at stake for San Francisco Bay and the Delta.
Over the years, Mike’s articles featured a wide range of Baykeeper’s work to protect San Francisco Bay. He wrote about our achieving new limits on mercury pollution in the Bay. He covered our successful advocacy for a cleanup of the Ghost Fleet, 57 decaying surplus military ships that had poisoned the San Francisco Bay ecosystem for 40 years. He wrote about Baykeeper’s Sick of Sewage campaign, and our lawsuits that have compelled the Bay Area’s worst-polluting sewer systems to make repairs to keep sewage from spilling into the Bay. He provided in-depth coverage of oil spill issues, and so much more.
During 12 years as an environmental reporter for the Contra Costa Times, Mike collected numerous awards for his reporting. Since last May, he served as assistant deputy director for communications, education, and outreach for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, where his work included communications on the state’s oil spill response programs.
Mike was a kind human being and trusted colleague, and will be missed by Baykeeper.
Read the Contra Costa Times obituary for Mike Taugher
Read some of Mike Taugher’s articles about San Francisco Bay:
Sewage overflow into bay target of settlement with East Bay cities