valuing you
valuing you
who’s on
THE MOVE
•
•
•
•
Taijasa Corso, Assistant Forest
Training Officer for the
Entiat IHC on the OkanoganWenatchee NF to Engine
Captain for the Wenatchee
River RD on the OkanoganWenatchee NF
Heather Ibsen, Development
Director for the Blue Mountain
Land Trust in Walla Walla,WA
to Public Affairs Specialist for
the Gifford Pinchot NF
Damian Lunetta, Recreation
Forestry Technician for the
North Umpqua & Diamond
Lake Zone of the Umpqua
NF to Facilities Operations
Specialist for the Deschutes NF
Paul Meznarich, Media
Relations Coordinator for the
Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, WI
to Public Affairs Specialist for
the Siuslaw NF
March 31st, 2015
my values as
YOUR REGIONAL FORESTER
By: Jim Peña
Regional Forester, Pacific Northwest Region
How time flies! It has been over six months since I
arrived in Portland as your Regional Forester. I have
spent time becoming reacquainted with the congenial
people and special places of the Pacific Northwest. I
find myself continually impressed with the relationships
you have in the communities we serve and the work that
is getting done in support of caring for the forests and
watersheds within Oregon and Washington.
Moving forward I want to share with you
the values I find important as your Regional
Forester. Integration, Inclusion and
Learning will focus all of my efforts and
engagement in R6, and I want to take a
moment to talk about each one.
Integration - Success for me is defined
by how well we are able to integrate our
efforts across budget line items, programs
and ownership boundaries. We have been
given tools and authorities that allow us to
leverage our resources and energy in
(Continued on Page 2)
ask
A RANGER
what’s
INSIDE
Living and Learning...... 2
Working Together.......... 3
For the Greatest Good... 4
Awards Corner............... 6
Digger Bear.................... 7
Getting to Know............. 8
Where in the Region...... 9
Curious about something going on in the
Region? Send me the question!
Q: Where can an employee go to get help with communication
issues or conflict situations with their supervisor or coworkers?
A:
The Region 6 Partnership Council has
developed a “Quick Guide to Conflict Resolution
Resources” (http://go.usa.gov/3afy5) that can
help assist employees with conflict situations.
who’s
ON THE MOVE
•
Gala Miller, Executive Director
of Columbia Springs in
Vancouver, WA to Community
Engagement Specialist\
Partnership Coordinator for
the Gifford Pinchot NF
•
Monica Neal, Executive
Assistant to the Forest
Supervisor for the Shawnee NF
(R9-IL) to Executive Assistant
to the Regional Forester &
Staff Assistant for R6
•
Cathy Pearson, Program
Support Assistant for LE&I in
Vancouver, WA to Executive
Assistant to the Deputy
Regional Foresters for R6
•
Amelia Rhodewalt is the new
Visitor Services Information
Assistant on the Cottage Grove
RD for the Umpqua NF
•
•
Zachary Teel, Human
Intelligence Collector for the
U.S. Army (319th Military
Intelligence Battalion) to
VetsWork Intern for the
Gifford Pinchot NF
Jimmy Tyree, Field Officer
Manager for the BLM (St.
George, UT) to District Ranger
of the Diamond Lake RD on
the Umpqua NF
photo bugs
NEEDED
Photography Guidelines: Shoot
photos horizontally and try to
include the Forest Service emblem.
Photos will be accepted from now
through the end of 2015; prizes
will be awarded quarterly. Please
submit them to [email protected].
Good Luck!
my values
YOUR REGIONAL FORESTER
(Continued from Page 1)
conjunction with our federal and state partners and other neighbors
towards our common goals. My intention is to explore how we can
maximize our investments to increase our collective ability to support
resilient landscapes and communities.
Inclusion - My vision (for R6) is that we are welcoming to all people
through our employment and program delivery. I believe in mutual
respect for everyone. It is important to me that the public we serve
feels welcomed, safe and that they have ample opportunity to access
their public lands. It is also important to me that our employees feel
valued, included, safe and productive in the work that they do.
Learning - In the Safety Engagements we experienced how important
it is to incorporate continuous learning into our daily work. We need
to expand this way of thinking to everything that we do. Adaptive
management is a valuable practice to keep us on the path of learning
so we can improve our efficiency and effectiveness as individuals and
as an organization.
I am privileged to be your Regional Forester. I look forward to having
conversations with you about these concepts and your experiences
working for the Forest Service.
Thanks for everything you do!
living and learning
MY TIME AT DIAMOND LAKE
By: Carl Bauer
Deputy District Ranger, Central Coast RD/Oregon Dunes NRA, Siuslaw NF
I enjoyed being involved in all that
goes on across the many resource areas
across the Diamond Lake RD.
The natural resources and scenery
on the Umpqua NF are spectacular!
I experienced firsthand living on a
remote FS compound. Watching
employees across the District work and
play well together was uplifting.
While I missed my chance to
experience snow in the Cascades, I’ll
miss the folks I got to work with most.
It was great to be at the Umpqua NF,
even if it was for a brief moment.
Page 2
who’s
MOVING OUT
working together
VOLUNTEERS CLEAR DUNES TRAIL
By: Paul Meznarich
Public Affairs Specialist, Siuslaw NF
•
Amanda Colton, Natural
Resources Staff for the Sweet
Home RD on the Willamette
NF to Environmental Planner
for the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers (Detroit, MI)
•
Cary Stock, Fuels AFMO for
the Wenatchee River RD on
the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF
to Fuels AFMO for the Alpine
& Springville RD on the
Apache-Sitgreaves NF (R5-AZ)
•
Kelly Watson, Fleet Manager
for R6 and Umpqua NF to Fleet
Manager for R4 (Ogden, UT)
M
embers of a local off-highway vehicle group met with Siuslaw NF staff
February 28th to clear brush and remove hazards along a popular riding trail in
the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. About 25 members of the Florence
based Save the Riders Dunes riding club met with Coordinator Mathue Fasching
to clear 2.4 miles of trail extending from the Spinreel OHV Campground to the
ocean beach.
“It was a pretty big task,” Fasching said, “but everyone worked hard and we were
able to get an impressive amount of work done.”
Crews targeted overgrown sections of trails to remove blind spots and improve
visibility while also trimming back obstructions encroaching onto the trails.
“We want to contribute and help keep the dunes as open as possible,” said
Shandie Davenport, a Save the Riders Dunes volunteer. “We want the Dunes to
be around when our children have children.”
In addition to their contribution to trail maintenance on the dunes, Save the
Riders Dunes is a key partner in a collaborative effort to restore the dunes.
They have joined forces with the FS as well as many other stakeholders groups,
conservation organizations and agencies to develop a strategy to restore the
ecological function of the Oregon Dunes while ensuring the Dunes remain a
nationally recognized recreation destination.
“Management of the Dunes is complex, so the FS relies on the ideas and
contributions of groups like Save the Riders Dunes, who are passionate about this
landscape, to help meet the goals we share,” Fasching said.
who’s
MOVING ON
•
Rob Cox, Wildlife Biologist
for the Cottage Grove RD on
the Umpqua NF has retired
with more than 34 years of
service
stories wanted
If you have a story to tell
we want to hear it!
For more information:
http://www.savetheridersdunes.com
[email protected]
Page 3
for the greatest good
THE SECOND LIFE OF RECYCLED FIRE HOSE
By: Chamise Kramer
Public Affairs Specialist, Rogue River-Siskiyou NF and Medford District BLM
W
hen the smoke has cleared and mop-up is complete it is to be
expected that there will be a large amount of damaged fire hose remaining.
On the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest an average of 5000 acres
burns every year. Wildlife Biologist Sheila Colyer has found a great use for
a lot of that hose at the end of fire season: toys and hammocks for animals
at Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center.
Founded in 1981, the local non-profit facility was created to provide for
the care and treatment of sick, injured and orphaned wildlife. It now also
includes a wide range of educational programs offered to the Southwestern
Oregon community. Everything from skunks and squirrels to mountain
lions and black bears have been cared for at the facility. A Wildlife Images
volunteer since 2013, Shelia has even helped to release a few rehabilitated
animals on her District including a gray fox, red-tailed hawk and a western
screech owl. Animals that cannot be released back into the wild because of
permanently disabling injuries are integrated into educational programs as
ambassadors or permanent residents. Often it is those permanent residents
who appreciate the donated fire hose the most.
“The animal care staff was already using donated fire hose for hammocks
and toys,” Sheila said. “I had noticed a fairly large amount of hose being
thrown out at the end of fire season on the Districts, and so far Wildlife
Images has taken everything we’ve offered to them.”
For more information:
http://www.wildlifeimages.com
Page 4
Sheila Colyer
for the greatest good
THE SECOND LIFE OF RECYCLED FIRE HOSE
Page 5
awards
CORNER
The Wagon Wheel Gap Award
By: Franklin Pemberton
Public Affairs Officer, Colville NF
William “Bill” Swartz, Hydrologic Technician for
the Colville NF has been awarded the Wagon Wheel
Gap award for national excellence in hydrology and
soil science for the USFS.
Bill has been the backbone of the program charged
with maintaining and improving clean water coming
off of the Colville NF for the last two decades.
His long history in the area and on-the-ground
knowledge has made him a critical part of the
Colville NF team. His patience and willingness to
help train and mentor new crew members is legendary. He’s charged with collecting and analyzing water samples, maintaining water temperature recorders and rain gauges, training crews and completing
technical analysis on a variety of projects on the
Forest. Bill, serving in a liaison capacity, introduced
new (and new to the area) agency and state personnel to the Forest when they arrived. There aren’t too
many creeks on the 1.1 million acre Colville NF that
Bill hasn’t visited.
Bill’s skills as a Hydrological Technician were built
from a foundation reaching farther than his 21 years
of experience.
After receiving a B.A. in Geology from
Antioch College in 1968, Bill entered active service in the U.S. Army. Honorably
discharged in 1970, he went to work for
Callahan Mining Inc. and CE Minerals Inc.
as a Geologist. He conducted mapping,
sampling and environmental investigations by surface, drilling and underground
techniques looking for industrial mineral
deposits. He then joined the Colville NF
in 1994.
Bill Swartz and Linda, his wife of 46 years,
will fly to Washington D.C. to receive his
award from Tom Tidwell, Chief of the
Forest Service. The ceremony is slated for
May 18th at the National Archives.
Page 6
awards
CORNER
The Order of the Eagle Award
By: Patrick Lair
Public Affairs Officer
Ochoco NF \Crooked River National Grassland
Dede Steele, Wildlife Biologist for the
Ochoco NF and Crooked River Grasslands
was presented the Order of the Eagle award
by Oregon State Parks for 20 years of
enthusiastic service in helping to organize
the annual Eagle Watch event at Lake Billy
Chinook in Oregon.
Eagle Watch is hosted by many partners
every year in February at Round Butte
Overlook Park. The event celebrates eagles
and other wildlife while offering informational opportunities, food and music.
The Jack Adams Award
By: Cathy Dowd, Public Affairs Officer, Okanogan-Wenatchee NF
Mary Maj, District Ranger for the Cle Elm District of the Okanogan-Wenatchee NF is this year’s recipient of the
“Jack Adams Award”, presented annually to a Forest Service wildlife biologist, fisheries biologist or botanist who
exemplifies the characteristics and qualities of Jack Adams, wildlife biologist for the Forest Service (1961-1984).
Mary has worked steadily to build coalitions among often disparate user groups to balance the spectrum of
resource management issues while ensuring that the needs of wildlife, fisheries and rare plants were reflected
in all management decisions. The award was presented in Omaha, Nebraska on March 11th during the North
American Wildlife and Natural Resource Conference.
digger
BEAR
As always, thanks to Jimmye Turner, Walla Walla RD
Page 7
getting to know
KEN FARRIER
Ken Farrier is currently a Level 2 Desktop Support Specialist for the
Region 6 Desktop Team of the Chief Information Office.
Why do you work for the Forest Service?
What do you like best about the Pacific Northwest?
I grew up in a small town in the Central Oregon Cascades
and I spent a lot of time camping, fishing and hunting out
in the forest. When we couldn’t find something in town,
the bigger cities of the Willamette Valley weren’t that far
away. But I was always glad to get back to the trees. Now
I get to be in the woods without having to work in the
woods. I’m glad to be in the office when it’s cold and wet
because I’ve spent enough cold and rainy days out in the
woods chasing tree planters!
What other jobs have you had?
I love that we have all of these recreation based
options right here at our doorstep. You can
hop in the car and be at Crater Lake or the
Oregon Coast in no time. I’m used to the rain;
I was born here and growing up we “didn’t do”
umbrellas. I’m above the valley fog and below
the mountain snow and I’ve never wanted to
live anywhere else. But what I love most are my
coworkers. They’re service driven and some of
the best people that I’ve ever had the pleasure
to work with.
I started my Forest Service career doing
restoration work for the Young Adult
Conservation Corps and quickly transitioned
to assisting the archeologist by doing ground
surveys. I found an obsidian thumbnail
scraper on my first trip out! From there my
drafting background led to a temporary job
in Engineering helping to create site plans
for various projects. We were still drawing
everything by hand in those days; there’s probably
still some plans out there with my signature in
the corner. I was finally hired as a permanent
employee working in Silviculture (lots of
stocking surveys) and then found work digitizing
manuscripts for GIS. After that I migrated to
working remotely for the CIO providing desktop
support and I’ve been here ever since.
Smokey Bear and Ken Farrier
from your
POINT OF VIEW
Three Sisters (Oregon)
Page 8
where
IN THE REGION
Win a prize if you have the most correct answers this quarter!
Below are new photos from somewhere in Washington or Oregon.
Using the following haiku hints, try to figure out the location of the photos.
Send your guess to [email protected]. If you have photos or artwork of places in R6, please send them my way!
Early bathroom stop
For watching dam construction
Built by C.C.C.
It’s not Crater Lake
Though it’s found in Oregon
This lake has a twin
Answers to last edition’s photos are: Interrorem Cabin on the Olympic NF and Strawberry Lake on the Malheur NF.
r6update
STAFF
Publisher, Shoshona Pilip-Florea
[email protected], 503.808.2240
Managing Editor, Margaret Petersen
[email protected], 503.808.2414
03-15
Editor, Josh Dawson
[email protected], 541.782.5229
Page 9