Dirk Marks is a native southern Californian. He graduated from California State University of Long Beach with a degree in Civil Engineering in 1979. He is a registered professional civil engineer in California.
He spent seven years in the private sector planning, designing, and overseeing the construction of potable water distribution systems along with other public works projects.
He joined the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California in 1987 where his work focused on the water and financial management of its State Water Project water supply contract. While there he also focused on the development of innovative water transfer and water banking programs.
In 2008, Dirk Marks moved to Santa Clarita to work for the Castaic Lake Water Agency as its Manager of Water Resources. In 2018, he became the Director of Water Resources at the newly formed Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency. During his time here in the Santa Clarita Valley he has:
He represents the Agency on the Reservoir Committee for the 1.5 Million Acre Foot (MAF) Sites Reservoir Project located north of Sacramento. He is working with the Antelope Valley East-Kern Water Agency to facilitate our possible participation in their High Desert Water Bank.
He is currently vice chair of the Safe Clean Water Program Santa Clara River Watershed Steering Committee.
To achieve a reliable, safe and affordable water supply for current and future customers, SCVWA will be faced with several challenges including:
Options exist to address and adapt to these challenges, including:
Updating the State Water Project infrastructure (i.e. needing to invest in future water supplies)
To continue to have resilient water supplies, the Santa Clarita Valley will need to thoroughly analyze potential investments in new programs and balance reliability, quality, costs, and the environment. Dirk Marks’ expertise uniquely qualifies him to contribute to sound policy decisions that will secure our water future.
Dirk and his Wife Cindy are long-term supporters of Santa Clarita Family Promise.