Leadership changes for Plumas National Forest – KOLO

Plumas National Forest Leadership Changes

PLUMAS COUNTY, Calif. (KOLO) – The Plumas National Forest has undergone leadership changes, as announced by the U.S. Forest Service on Friday.

New Forest Supervisor

Rick Hopson, who has been serving as the interim forest supervisor since September, will assume the position permanently on February 9.

New Deputy Forest Supervisor

Caitlin Ostomel, a native of Reno, will become the Plumas deputy forest supervisor. Ostomel previously held the position of director of public affairs for the U.S. Navy’s Southwest Region Installations Command.

Background of Rick Hopson

• Worked as a district ranger on the Eldorado National Forest
• Served as a regional hydrologist in the intermountain region
• Held hydrologist positions in California, including on the Sierra and Inyo National Forests and the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit

Hopson holds a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Minnesota and a Master of Science degree in Forest Hydrology from Oregon State University.

In his free time, Hopson explores national forests, practices yoga, cooks, and spends time with family and friends.

“I’ve greatly enjoyed getting to know the employees and communities of the Plumas National Forest over the past few months and I am excited to be returning in February as the forest supervisor,” Hopson said in a statement from the Forest Service. “There is great work occurring here on the Forest and I am looking forward to furthering those efforts while continuing to build productive relationships with our partners and community members.”

Background of Caitlin Ostomel

• Coordinated public information and communications functions for shore installations and Navy Reserve Centers in multiple states
• Worked for the Federal Emergency Management Agency in various roles and on numerous emergency assignments

Ostomel holds bachelor of arts degrees in International Relations and French from the University of Southern California and University of Nevada, Reno, respectively, and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University.

She has lived and worked overseas in the Czech Republic, France, Switzerland, and Zambia. In her free time, Ostomel and her husband introduce their toddler and dog to the joys of recreating on the water, hiking, and spending time in nature.

“I’m excited to join such an experienced and dedicated team on the Plumas National Forest and learn more about natural resource management while working closely with employees and partners on issues that are important to our local communities,” Ostomel said in a U.S. Forest Service statement. “It’s even better that this adventure is in a part of the country that will always be home and that I can share the beauty of the seasons and make great memories in the ‘Lost Sierra’ with my family.”

Other Leadership Changes

Forest Fire Management Officer

Aaron Grove, the Forest Fire Management Officer, retired at the end of October. Martin Senter, the Forest Fire Planner, is concluding a four-month assignment as the acting forest fire management officer. Ryan Bauer, the Forest Fuels Officer, will be starting a temporary assignment in the position. The permanent position is currently being advertised and will be filled by this spring.

Forest Natural Resources Staff Officer

Felipe Cano, the Forest Natural Resources Staff Officer, accepted the forest supervisor position on the Shawnee National Forest in Illinois. The local staff officer position is also in the process of being filled.

Mount Hough District Ranger

Joe Hoffman, the Mount Hough District Ranger, transferred into the Plumas National Forest engineer position, which had been vacant for several months. The acting district ranger position is currently being rotated among the staff at the Mount Hough Ranger District until the position is filled. For those needing to contact the acting district ranger, please call the Mount Hough District office at 530-283-0555.

“There is a tremendous amount of change occurring within the leadership on the Plumas National Forest right now, especially in critical positions that are important to the work we do and issues that are important to our communities,” Hopson said. “We are working to fill the vacant positions and appreciate the patience and understanding of our partners, communities, and employees as new leadership gets settled in over the next few months.”

More information: www.fs.usda.gov/plumas.

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SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 15: Life on Land – The article discusses leadership changes within the Plumas National Forest, which is a natural resource management area.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Target 15.2: By 2020, promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests, and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• No specific indicators are mentioned in the article that directly measure progress towards the identified target. However, indicators such as the number of leadership changes, the time taken to fill vacant positions, and the successful implementation of sustainable forest management practices could be used to measure progress indirectly.

Table: SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: kolotv.com