Pete Nichols, the director of Humboldt Baykeeper for the last seven years, has just been promoted. He’ll be the new regional director for Baykeeper’s parent group, Waterkeeper Alliance — an international environmental NGO chaired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Nichols, a particular bête noire of local pro-development interests, has — not without controversy — steered Humboldt Baykeeper to fast growth and high visibility in local politics. Under his leadership, the group filed several lawsuits against prominent projects and landowners. One such suit, filed against Eureka businessman Rob Arkley’s proposed Marina Center project, was settled last year, and ended with Baykeeper assuming a seat at the table as regards toxic cleanup at the site.

In recent years, Nichols has been increasingly involved in national and international Waterkeeper efforts. He serves on the group’s Board of Directors and earlier this year led a mission to help establish a Waterkeeper chapter in Iraq.

Nichols will stay in the area, and presumably he will continue to co-host KHUM’s Wednesday afternoon Coastal Currents show. His Baykeeper replacement has not yet been announced.

The email announcing his promotion follows.

It is very bittersweet to announce that, after 7 years, I will be leaving Humboldt Baykeeper to take a position with the Waterkeeper Alliance. As you can imagine, this was a very difficult decision for me. Humboldt Baykeeper’s staff, board, members, and supporters have been like family to me for the past seven years and I think we, together, did some amazing work protecting our Bay, watersheds, and coast.

While I will miss the work at Humboldt Baykeeper, I will still be involved in my new role as the Western Regional Director of the Waterkeeper Alliance. In this position I will be working to promote the work of all the Waterkeepers in the west, coordinating regional campaigns, and bringing new Waterkeeper programs to the movement. I am extremely excited for this new challenge and dedicated to working towards ensuring swimmable, drinkable, and fishable waters for all — locally, regionally, and globally.

I will still be in the area, and look forward to working with many of you in my new position at Waterkeeper. I will be leaving Baykeeper in late July or early August and will be working to ensure a smooth transition with Baykeeper’s extremely capable staff.

Thank you SO much for providing me with the opportunity to be YOUR Baykeeper for the past seven years and you can rest assured that the fantastic staff of Humboldt Baykeeper will continue to work tirelessly to fight for the bay and coast in this new chapter for the organization.