05/25/2024
After 20 years in my U.S. Forest Service carrier, and 14 years working as the Minerals & Geology Program Manager for the Los Padres National Forest, it is time for a temporary change. This last week I started a new position as the US Forest Service - Pacific Southwest Region (R-5) Minerals & Geology Program Lead. This is an exciting opportunity for me !! Below are some basic facts about the Pacific Southwest Region of the U.S. Forest Service.
The Pacific Southwest:
The Pacific Southwest Region of the US Forest Service manages over 20 million acres (32,504 square miles or 84,185 square kilometers) of National Forest land in California and assists the State and Private Forest landowners in California, Hawaii, and the U.S. Affiliated Pacific Islands. Eighteen National Forests are in this region, spreading along the North Coast, Cascade, and Sierra Nevada ranges and from Big Sur to the Mexican border in the south Coast range.
The Pacific South Region (R-5) includes 65 Wilderness areas (4,920,774 acres); 29 Wild & Scenic Rivers; 4,416,000 acres of Roadless Areas; two National Monuments (incorporating 600,000 acres); 46,395 miles of road; 16,202 miles of trails; 35,623,000 Recreation site visits; 25 Ski areas; 515 active grazing allotments; Supplies 35-million-acre feet of water (47% of California’s water supply) to the State of California.
Pacific Island Partners include the State of Hawaii, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Republic of Palau.
Cultural Connections: With 109 federally recognized tribes in California, the U.S. Forest Service in the Pacific Southwest Region encompasses almost 20% of the 574 federally recognized tribes in the nation — the most of any Forest Service region. Additionally, there are over 50 more non-federally recognized tribes in the state who have cultural interest in our National Forests.
