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Christie True – Executive Constantine’s longest-serving department director – retiring after 39 years of service at Department of Natural Resources and Parks
Summary
Christie True, who has successfully led Executive Constantine’s environmental initiatives for 13 years as a member of his Cabinet, will retire early next year after serving 39 years at the Department of Natural Resources and Parks.
News
King County Executive Dow Constantine today announced the retirement of Department of Natural Resources and Parks Director Christie True – the longest-serving department director on his Cabinet – after a 39-year career at the agency.
Executive Constantine credited True for reinforcing King County’s reputation as a trusted environmental steward by producing climate solutions, protecting water quality, restoring habitat, conserving open space, and improving access to parks and trails. The Executive Office will conduct a nationwide recruitment for one of the largest metropolitan natural resource agencies in the country.
"Since I appointed her Director in 2010, Christie has consistently reinforced King County’s reputation as a leading and trusted environmental steward,” said Executive Constantine . “Her integrity and leadership have helped King County make good on our steadfast commitment to protect and restore this place we love. I am grateful for the impact she has made throughout her 39 years of outstanding service with the department.”
“It is an extraordinary privilege to spend an entire career advancing a mission you believe in and working alongside people you trust,” said True . “I am grateful for the opportunity Executive Constantine provided me to lead such a talented team of dedicated professionals who work hard each day to protect the spectacular natural environment that defines our region.”
The Department of Natural Resources and Parks’ portfolio significantly expanded under True’s leadership, now managing a wide range of services and initiatives that protect and restore the region’s natural environment.
At the direction of Executive Constantine in 2017, the department launched the Land Conservation Initiative to protect the last, best 65,000 acres of urban greenspace, forests, farmland, trails, river corridors, and natural areas within a single generation. King County voters last year approved Executive Constantine’s proposal that restored Conservation Futures funding to its original rate to accelerate open space preservation.
True’s leadership team led the implementation of Executive Constantine’s Clean Water Healthy Habitat initiative to better align investments and actions to produce better results faster for people, salmon, and orcas. Recent examples include major capital projects that simultaneously reduced flood risks and restored salmon habitat along the Cedar River, the Green River, and the Lower Duwamish.
The Department of Natural Resources and Parks also contributed to King County’s Strategic Climate Action Plan, developing the region’s first-ever extreme heat mitigation strategy and wildfire risk reduction strategy. It is now leading the new Re+ initiative to transform the region’s waste system to cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The department has made the region’s wastewater treatment system safer, more reliable, and more resilient during True’s tenure. Crews are currently installing on-site batteries at West Point Treatment Plant that will provide operators with an uninterruptable power supply. Last year it activated the state-of-the-art Georgetown Wet Weather Treatment Station that better protects the Duwamish River and Puget Sound from stormwater pollution during severe rainstorms, which are occurring more frequently due to climate change.
King County Parks significantly expanded as well, now offering 200 parks, 175 miles of regional trails, and 30,000 acres of open space, making progress on its commitment to equitable access to recreation and natural areas. A recent example is the new urban park in unincorporated North Highline. The agency recently completed the final segment of the East Lake Sammamish Trail, contributing to a 44-mile trail corridor that connects Golden Gardens Park in Ballard to Eastside cities and the Cascade foothills with connections to Sound Transit Link light rail stations.
That is in addition to starting and accelerating other countywide initiatives, including historic preservation, farmland conservation, and strengthening the local food economy.
True started her career at King County in 1984 as a water quality technician, advancing to become director of the Wastewater Treatment Division, the largest of the department’s four divisions. Executive Constantine appointed her as the department director in 2010.
Resources
Quotes
Since I appointed her Director in 2010, Christie has consistently reinforced King County’s reputation as a leading and trusted environmental steward. Her integrity and leadership have helped King County make good on our steadfast commitment to protect and restore this place we love. I am grateful for the impact she has made throughout her 39 years of outstanding service with the department.
It is an extraordinary privilege to spend an entire career advancing a mission you believe in and working alongside people you trust. I am grateful for the opportunity Executive Constantine provided me to lead such a talented team of dedicated professionals who work hard each day to protect the spectacular natural environment that defines our region.
Contact
Chad Lewis, Department of Natural Resources and Parks, 206-263-1250