35 Years of Success in Conservation and
SUSTAINABILITY
ABOUT MARK
Mark has a proven record of success and innovation in conservation, land use and open space protection. He worked at King County for 30 years with a concentration in land use, zoning, conservation finance, land use incentives and landscape planning.
As the Chair of the diverse, 39-member Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Forum, Mark worked with 14 cities, King and Snohomish Counties, the Master Builders Association, Boeing, the Tulalip Tribe,
local outdoor enthusiasts and the environmental community to craft an effective and balanced plan to recover salmon in the Snohomish River Basin. This important work was built on the best available science and the participation of scientists from member agencies, the Tulalip Tribe, NOAA and the Forest Service. William Ruckelshaus, the first head of the EPA, called this consensus-based Salmon Conservation Plan a“regional model” for the other Puget Sound watersheds.
Mark's Priorities
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Generate value for his clients
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Protect and enhance our Northwest farms, forests and fisheries
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Stop sprawl and increase residential and commercial densities inside our cities
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Fight climate change
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Sustainable neighborhoods
Accomplishments & recognition
Selected accomplishments
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Led the effort to permanently protect 1,800 acres on Cougar Mountain, Meadowbrook Farm, Tollgate Farm, Camp River Ranch, the Preston Mill, Three Forks Natural Area and applied TDR on the 90,000-acre Snoqualmie Forest. Since 2012, he has worked with farmers to permanently protect 1,000 acres of King County farm land on the Green and Snoqualmie Rivers.
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Chaired the diverse, 39-member Snohomish Basin Salmon Recovery Forum, which developed a science-based, consensus-driven recovery plan for endangered salmon in the basin, which received a unanimous vote of support from the Metropolitan King County Council. Report available at https://www.govlink.org/watersheds/7/pdf/WRIA%207_Plan/Final_Compiled_Plan.pdf.
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Chaired the Snoqualmie Watershed Forum, which funded stream and river restoration projects. Retrofitted hydraulic flood control pumps to protect spawning salmon.
Recognition
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King County Green Globe Award, Leader in Open Space Conservation
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NW Indian Fisheries Commission and the NW Salmon Homecoming Alliance, Seventh Generation Legacy Award
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Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust, Certificate of Merit
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Association of Washington Cities, Municipal Leader Certificate
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National American Planning Association Conference invited speaker, Transfer of Development Rights and the partnership with Seattle in the Denny Triangle Neighborhood
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Vice Chair, Snoqualmie Valley Cities
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American Planning Association National Conference invited speaker, Transfer of Development Rights in the Northwest
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King County Open Space Bond Campaigns, Speakers Bureau
Education
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Masters in Public Administration, Seattle University
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Bachelor of Arts, Gonzaga University
The quality of life and the future of the Pacific Northwest depend on the implementation of policies that protect and enhance local farms and forests, improve the water quality in our streams and rivers.