Methow Watershed Council and Staff
Legislation that enabled creation of the Council can be found in the Library.
Members of the Methow Watershed Council are selected by the three initiating governments, the Town of Twisp, the Town of Winthrop, and Okanogan County. The all volunteer Council is comprised of nine residents of Okanogan County. For complete information regarding the appointment process, membership structure, and organization of the Methow Watershed Council, please email our current MWC Chair.
Ashley Thrasher - Chair
Position #6 - At Large
Originally from Vermont, Ashley graduated from the University of Puget Sound with a Bachelors of Science in 2008 and began wildland firefighting with the US Forest Service. After firefighting for seven years, Ashley decided to give up the seasonal lifestyle and strengthen her roots in the
Methow Valley; she just started a new business venture with her sister. Ashley lives with her partner Chris in Twisp.
Travis Thornton - Vice Chair
Position #4 - At Large
Travis Thornton is a lawyer with the SSL Law Firm with a focus on Commercial Leasing, Acquisition/Disposition and Real Estate Finance, Condominiums and Planned Developments and Land Conservation. He attended University of Denver and Lewis and Clark Law School.
Gregg Knott - Vice Chair
Position #1 - Upper Methow
Greg Knott has 27 years of experience with the U.S. Forest Service. Following that employment, he served 8 years as the Methow Subbasin Liaison for the Bureau of Reclamation. During that tenure, over over 50 restoration projects were implemented while he managed Reclamation's ESA-listed species
habitat restoration program in the Methow Valley. When not working on his 25 acre hobby farm, he plays the guitar, mandolin, and harp, coaches youth volleyball, is an active member of the Winthrop Kiwanis Club, and sails his 38′ sloop on the Salish Sea.
Mike Fort
Position #2 - At Large
Mike Fort was a Smokejumper with Intercity airport from 1961 to 1967. He graduated from the University of Maryland with a BS in Civil Engineering in 1967. He worked internationally in Civil Engineering from 1968 to 1990 and returned to the Methow Valley in 1989.
Dick Ewing
Position #3 - Middle Methow
Dick is currently the President of the Okanogan County Farm Bureau and represents the Middle Methow on the Council.
William R. Tackman
Position #5 - Lower Methow
Bill lives in McFarland Creek on a small farm with his partner Katie Haven. He is a Licensed Land Surveyor and has been working in the Methow Valley for twenty years to support his hobby farm habit. He feels lucky enough to have adjudicated water rights on McFarland Creek, and when a
position on the watershed council opened up he jumped at the chance to join. He felt like it was a great chance to expand his knowledge of water law and also to represent the lower valley's interest.
Jeff Sarvis
Position #7 - Town of Winthrop
Jeff is the representative to the Council for the Town of Winthrop, and currently works as Winthrop's Public Works Director
Soo Ing-Moody
Position #8 - Town of Twisp
Soo represents the Town of Twisp on the Council and currently serves as Mayor of Twisp.
Sarah Lane- Admin Assistant
Sarah moved to the Methow Valley in 2017 with her husband Glenn, after many years of visiting and developing friendships. It's the perfect place to pursue love for flyfishing and working in her garden. Sarah has an Environmental Education - Communications degree from Huxley College, and is glad to have found this position with the Council
and Foundation. She performs administrative tasks, manages finances, takes minutes at meetings, helps with outreach and grants, and holds the only paid position with the Methow Watershed Council.
Andy Hover
Position #9 - Okanogan County
Andy currently serves District #2 on the Okanogan County Board of Commissioners