Missoula, Montana, United States
At the end of 2012 I completed my career with the U. S. Forest Service. During that time, I became a national leader in implementing the National Forest Management Act planning process, including drafting portions of the 2012 Forest Service national planning regulations. I chose to focus my efforts on using this planning process to support conservation of fish and wildlife, and I developed expertise in applying the Endangered Species Act to federal land management planning. Much of my career involved planning for spotted owls, grizzly bears, salmon, bull trout, Canada lynx, sage grouse, and species designated as ‘sensitive’ by the Forest Service. I am especially interested in conserving wildlife habitat connectivity as a critical strategy for species adaptation to climate change. Since my retirement I have contributed further to planning for wildlife on national forests by authoring two guides to the national forest planning process on behalf of Defenders of Wildlife. I have continued to be engaged in ongoing planning efforts and policy and legal developments related to conservation planning, including for Defenders and for Pew Environment Group, and as a contributor to the "Smokey Wire," a national forest policy blog. In the legal realm, I have conducted and published legal research, and provided services as a consulting attorney for public land litigation. I have also promoted habitat conservation on private lands. For over 20 years I have provided my legal and analytical skills to land trusts – mostly as a volunteer, but also as an attorney. Within the Forest Service I encouraged coordinated large-landscape planning across ownerships and jurisdictions, and helped develop the agency’s national Open Space Conservation Strategy. I also served a term on the local city-county planning board. I am now available for contract work related to conservation and planning. I approach my work as a big-picture, strategic thinker who is also detail-oriented; analytical but not just linear. I often see issues or opportunities that others don't, and I develop creative solutions by organizing ideas and principles from different sources and perspectives.
I provide focused research and writing, critical document review, and analytical problem-solving to land trusts and other non-governmental organizations, landowners, government agencies, grantmakers, and attorneys. In recent years I have prioritized legal analysis, including preparing briefs for successful litigation in Kettle Range Conservation Group v. U. S. Forest Service (E.D. Wash.).
Drafted and reviewed conservation easements and related documents, and assisted in addressing easement administration problems.
I advised and coordinated policy development and strategic planning for national forests. I focused on habitat planning for fish and wildlife species, including National Forest Management Act requirements for species diversity and viability, and Endangered Species Act substantive and procedural requirements. My work included developing national planning regulations, and managing litigation involving Forest Service plans. I was also the project manager for amending eighteen national forest plans to include a conservation strategy for Canada lynx, and I was the acting program coordinator for threatened endangered and sensitive wildlife species for several months for the Northern Region (R1). I helped develop the Forest Service National Open Space Conservation Strategy in support of private land conservation.
Coordinated review and decisions related to administrative appeals, litigation and Freedom of Information Act requests, and drafted decision letters for the Pacific Northwest Region of the Forest Service (R6).
Prepared forest plans and environmental impact statements for national forests in Helena, MT and Gresham, OR.
Appointed volunteer. Reviewed proposed subdivisions, land use plans and zoning ordinances and advised city and county governments.
Three-month temporary position while a staff attorney was on leave. I worked primarily on real estate transactions related to conservation easements.