May 12, 2026

County Department of Natural Resources and Parks

McBroom

Taylor

King County Exec. Girmay Zahilay announced that John Taylor, director of the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP), has accepted an appointment as the new CEO of the Cascade Water Alliance, a partner organization that contributes to safe, clean, reliable water supply in the Central Puget Sound region. Taylor will begin his new role May 29.

Mo McBroom — who has served as deputy director for DNRP since 2020 — has been appointed interim director.

The department completed major projects during Taylor's tenure, including King County's largest-ever floodplain restoration project, a unique onsite battery system that provides reliable power to West Point Treatment Plant, and the renewal of the King County Parks Levy.

Taylor was appointed DNRP director in February 2024 after serving as the first director of the King County Department of Local Services. He previously served as a member of the department's leadership team, and was one of the architects of the Land Conservation Initiative, a partnership protecting urban greenspace, forestland, farmland, river corridors and natural areas while increasing access to the outdoors.

The next director will lead a workforce of 2,300-plus employees. DNRP restores habitat, reduces flood risks, builds and operates major infrastructure that protects Puget Sound, transforms waste management to cut carbon emissions, and expands and enhances regional parks and trails.