CHARTER
MARYLAND WATER MONITORING COUNCIL
Establishment
The Maryland Water Monitoring Council (MWMC) is established by the Department
of Natural Resources.
Purpose
The MWMC shall serve as a statewide collaborative body to help achieve
effective collection, interpretation, and dissemination of aquatic resource
monitoring data used in addressing the issues, policies, and management of
the State's waters. The Council shall operate through consensus building
among its members. The Council shall address the full range of aquatic
resources, including ground and surface waters, freshwater, estuarine, and
marine environments, and associated watershed resources in Maryland.
Goals
- Provide a forum for effective communication, cooperation, and
collaboration among individuals and organizations involved in
monitoring.
- Promote the development of collaborative watershed-based monitoring
strategies.
- Document monitoring activities in Maryland.
- Promote the use of quality assured procedures for sample collection,
performance based analytical methods, assessment, data management, and
reporting.
Membership and Officers
Board of Directors
Board members of the MWMC shall be representatives of the following groups:
(4) State Agencies--at least one each from the Maryland Department
of Natural Resources and the Maryland Department of the Environment;
(4) Local Agencies;
(2) Federal Agencies;
(2) Volunteer Groups/Environmental Organizations (one of which has
statewide affiliation);
(2) Academia;
(1) Intergovernmental Organizations;
(2) Consultants and Industry;
(4) At large members.
Appointments to the Board shall be for three year terms, except that the
one-third of the initial appointments shall be for four and five years
respectively, to allow for stability and continuity in the membership.
Appointed members shall designate alternates to represent them in their
absence.
Nominees for appointment to the Board shall be provided to the Secretary of
Natural Resources by a Nomination Committee of the Board.
Appointments by the Secretary of Natural Resources shall ensure that the
membership is committed to water monitoring and is representative of the
diverse interests, organizations, and regions of Maryland. Failure of a
member or the designated alternate to participate in more than three
consecutive meetings of the Board shall constitute grounds for replacement of
the member representative by the Secretary.
The Chair, Vice Chair, and any other officers as deemed necessary by the
Board shall be selected from among the appointed members by a process to be
established by a majority of the members for nomination and voting.
Committee Members
Committee chairs shall be selected by the Board. Members of the committees
shall be selected by the respective Chairs with concurrence by the Board from
the General Members.
General Members
General, non-voting membership shall be open to any person having an interest
in promoting the goals of this organization.
Executive Secretary
The Department of Natural Resources shall provide staff support to serve the
Council in the role of Executive Secretary.
Organization
Board members of the MWMC shall be appointed by the Secretary of Natural
Resources. The Board shall establish such bylaws and procedures that it deems
necessary to accomplish the purpose and goals of the MWMC. The Board may
establish standing or ad hoe committees to address specific topics.
Participants in the committees shall be representatives of agencies,
organizations, and groups with responsibility for, or participation in, water
monitoring activities.
Activities
The Council shall periodically convene meetings and symposia for the purpose
of achieving collaboration, communication and information exchange among those
engaged in water monitoring activities.
The Council may issue documents and reports to further enhance communication
and information exchange among those in the water monitoring community.
The Board shall meet as often as necessary, but not less than twice a year.
Effective June 26, 1996
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