Blue Mountains Forest Plan Revision Team
Team Organization
Over the years we have learned that a long-term planning process,
such as Forest Plan revision, is best accomplished by assigning
a dedicated team to work on it full-time. With the help of many
employees on all three National Forests, the Blue Mountains Forest
Plan Revision Team will be the core group revising the Forest Plans.
The Team will function as resource specialists but will also have
responsibilities for coordinating other closely related fields outside
their main areas of expertise.
The Revision Team brings over 200 years of experience in resource
management to the revision process, many of which were gained
while working in the Blue Mountains.
Name |
Position |
Katie Countryman |
Acting Team Leader
Education/Background: B.S. Forest Biology, B.S. Computer
Science. 25 years with FS in silviculture, planning, and systems
management.
Duties: Katie is responsible for project leadership,
ensuring legal requirements for both the process and the products
are met, and for overseeing public participation. |
Vacant |
Public Affairs Specialist Duties:
Responsible for the public participation process and media relations.
|
Heidi
Bigler-Cole |
Social
Scientist
Education/Background: B.A., Speech Communication; M.S.c.
Environmental Science; Ph.D. Natural Resources. 19 years with
the Forest Service in public affairs, technology transfer
and social science research/application. Certified Professional
Facilitator.
Duties:Heidi
is responsible for the plan's social science-related collaboration
and analyses. |
Bruce Countryman |
Vegetation
Education/Background: B.S. Forestry. 25 years with FS
in silviculture, timber, and planning. Duties: Bruce
is responsible for the areas of forest and rangeland vegetation,
fuels, timber suitability, noxious weeds, and grazing. |
Bob Mason |
Biologist
Education/Background: B.S and M.S. Wildlife
Management. 30 years with FS in wildlife management. Duties: Bob is responsible for analyzing
management’s effects on plants and animals. He will study
their ecology and habitat. He is also responsible for coordinating
and consulting with other state and federal agencies with responsibilities
in those arenas. |
Karl
Vester |
Writer-Editor
Education/Background: B.A. Journalism, B.S. Resource
Conservation. 5 years with Forest Service as a content analysis
specialist and NEPA specialist/writer-editor.
Duties: Karl
is responsible for writing, editing, documentation, public
affairs, and records management. |
Dee McConnell |
GIS Specialist
Education/Background: A.S. Forest and Range Management.
15 years with FS in Forestry and GIS. Duties:
Dee is responsible for geospatial information data analysis,
production, and management. |
Bob Gecy |
Physical Sciences
Education/Background: B.S. Geology. 24 years with FS
in fire management and hydrology. Duties: Bob is responsible
for the areas of climate, air quality, geology, soils, hydrology
(water cycles), lands, minerals (locatable, leasable, and salable),
and streamside ecology. |
Vacant |
Recreation
Education/Background:
Duties:
|
The overall revision effort is directed by the three Forest Supervisors
(Kevin Martin, Umatilla National Forest; Stan Benes, Malheur National
Forest; and Steve Ellis, Wallowa-Whitman National Forest) and the
Wallowa-Whitman's Deputy Forest Supervisor (Dick Markley). A working
committee, called the Planner/Ranger Board, composed of the three
Planning Staff Officers and a District Ranger from each forest will
have a high level of involvement in the process and interaction
with the Team Leader and the Revision Team.
Planner/Ranger Board
Forest Planners |
Duty Station |
|
District
Rangers |
Duty
Station |
Carole Holly, Acting |
John Day, Oregon
Malheur National Forest
|
Elaine Kohrman |
Malheur National
Forest |
Jim Gilsdorf, Acting |
Baker City, Oregon
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest |
Kurt Wiedenmann |
La Grande Ranger District.
La Grande, Oregon
Wallowa-Whitman National Forest |
David Hatfield |
Pendleton, Oregon
Umatilla National Forest |
Craig Smith-Dixon |
Ukiah Ranger District
Ukiah, Oregon
Umatilla National Forest |
|