Contact:

Matt Phelps                               Fay Lim

Communications Specialist II   Communications Supervisor

Matt.Phelps@snoco.org           Fay.Lim@snoco.org   

425-388-3126                          425-388-6413

Snohomish County Employee with Three Decades of Experience Promoted to Surface Water Utility Director

Gregg Farris served as Interim Director of the division and has been with the County for 19 years

EVERETT, Wash., June 25, 2018 – The Surface Water Management (SWM) division of Snohomish County Public Works protects and enhances water quality for county residents and aquatic habitat, reduces flood impacts, and preserves water resources. The responsibility of leading a division with 94 full-time employees is vast and newly named Surface Water Utility Director Gregg Farris is excited for the challenge.

Farris, who has held the title of Interim Surface Water Utility Director twice, has worked for nearly two decades with the division. He started in his newest position earlier this month following a competitive three-month recruitment and selection process.

“Gregg’s skill set stood out above all the other candidates,” Snohomish County Public Works Director Steve Thomsen said. “His strong leadership as Interim Director, along with his history of establishing strong working relationships with external stakeholders and within the county, reinforced our decision.”

Farris is a licensed Civil Engineer and has nearly 30 years of experience within the field of water resources. Prior to working for the county, he was a consultant providing water resource planning and worked as an engineer for multiple municipalities in the area.

“As an engineer, my first job was in surface water and that was where I developed an ongoing interest,” Farris said. “I have a strong appreciation for the valuable services that Surface Water Management provides to help keep people and property safe and our waters healthy. I believe that my background in management and water resources is a good fit for leading this division into the future.”

Farris has had a prominent role in the development of a Surface Water Management Utility Business Plan, which is intended to guide and improve the services that SWM provides while keeping costs down. The plan is in the final phase of being completed and will provide recommendations on SWM services and utility rates to fund these services.

Farris, a resident of Edmonds, has a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Washington and a Master’s degree from Colorado State University.

About Snohomish County Public Works

The Snohomish County Public Works Department constructs and maintains county roads; controls and manages surface water quantity, quality, and fish habitats; and oversees the recycling and disposal of solid waste. The department’s main office is located at 3000 Rockefeller Ave., Everett, WA 98201. For more information about Snohomish County Public Works, visit www.snohomishcountywa.gov/PublicWorks.