News Release

For Release: February 23, 2009         
Contacts:   John Dearing (916) 978-4622 or Jan Bedrosian (916) 978-4612
CA-SO-09-05

Kathy Hardy is named BLM district manager for Central California

The Bureau of Land Management has selected Kathy Hardy of El Dorado Hills, California, as the district manager for the newly formed Central California District. 

Hardy will be headquartered in Sacramento and will oversee BLM field offices in Ukiah, Folsom, Bakersfield, Bishop, and Hollister.  The five offices manage over 2.1 million acres of public land, including the Carrizo Plain National Monument; the central California segment of the California Coastal National Monument; the American, Merced and Tuolumne wild and scenic rivers; Piedras Blancas Light Station Outstanding Natural Area; Cosumnes River and Pine Hill Preserves; and the Alabama Hills.  The current five field office managers will remain in place under this new district structure.

Hardy graduated from the University of Virginia in 1981 with a bachelor’s degree in anthropology.  She began her federal career that same year at Sierra National Forest in Oakhurst, California.  She has served twenty-eight years with the U.S. Forest Service at increasingly responsible positions in a variety of assignments in California, Colorado, and Wyoming.  She is currently the deputy forest supervisor for the Stanislaus National Forest. This is her first position with BLM.

“We are truly grateful to have someone of Kathy’s caliber as the Central California District manager,” said California State Director Mike Pool.  “She brings an incredible amount of land management experience and knowledge and will be an excellent fit for our Central California District,” Pool said.  He said the newly formed district is part of a national reorganization designed to streamline and standardize BLM’s management functions.

Hardy, who reports for work on May 1, says she is honored to be chosen for the position and looks forward to the many challenges the federal land agency faces.

-BLM-

California State Office – 2800 Cottage Way, Sacramento, CA 95825