Forest Service Chief Michael Dombeck announced Aug. 8
that he will move some of the agency’s top managers. In the coming
months, two of the West’s most spotlighted regional foresters will
shuffle off the map.
Hal Salwasser, regional
forester for Montana, northern Idaho and North Dakota since 1995,
is headed to Berkeley, Calif., to run a research station. Some
observers see the move as a demotion for Salwasser’s opposition to
the buy-out of the New World Mine outside Yellowstone National
Park.
Taking Salwasser’s place will be Dale
Bosworth, presently the regional forester for Utah, Nevada, western
Wyoming and southern Idaho. Bosworth has a reputation for being an
adept administrator, though Utah environmentalists say he’s shown
little initiative on conservation issues. Bosworth’s replacement
has not been announced.
Dombeck has also moved
Elizabeth Estill, regional forester for Colorado, eastern Wyoming,
South Dakota, Nebraska and Kansas since 1992. The first female
regional forester, Estill has worked on air and water quality
issues, but also pushed to open roadless areas to logging. She’ll
head the 13-state Southern region based in
Atlanta.
Lyle Laverty, Forest Service recreation
director, will replace Estill. Laverty has been instrumental in
creating the agency’s user-fee demonstration
program.
Bridger-Teton Forest Supervisor Sandra
Key is also leaving. Key, known for defending wildlife habitat from
the oil and gas industry, will work on programs and legislation in
Washington.
While he isn’t shocked by the
shuffle, Michael Francis of the Wilderness Society says it’s a step
in the right direction. “I hope this is just the beginning,” he
says. “In order to make changes, you’ve got to rock the boat.” –
Greg Hanscom
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Dombeck shakes up agency.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
