2021 Pacific West Regional Director’s Awards for Natural Resources

The Regional Director’s Awards for Natural Resources recognize employees who go above and beyond in performance of their duties toward specific achievements. Consideration begins within the Region and then moves forward to National level awards.  These award winners were chosen from an exceptional pool of submissions within six natural resource award categories. 

The nominations this year were outstanding and a testament to the dedication and caliber of our employees in natural resources stewardship.  Congratulations to Lorraine Parsons, Garrett Dickman, Dr. Linh Ahn Cat, Dr. Debra Hughson, Dr. Christy Brigham, and Steve Mietz!

---

NPS

Natural Resource Research (Regional Award) –
Lorraine Parsons, Point Reyes National Seashore  

Over the last 20 years, Lorraine Parsons has led significant restoration efforts within Point Reyes National Seashore, both at the Giacomini Wetlands in Tomales Bay and within the park’s coastal dune habitats. With 613-acres of restored wetlands and 525-acres (and counting) of restored dunes, Lorraine has demonstrated her skill at managing projects that must use extreme precision to accomplish restoration goals, while at the same time protecting an array of sensitive resources within the project areas.  Lorraine brings a strong research component to her work. She develops scientifically robust monitoring protocols that demonstrates progress towards restoration goals. She has partnered with NPS colleagues, non-profit partners, and academics to explore physical processes, vegetation communities, and wildlife communities post-restoration. Lorraine’s monitoring reports are extensive, scientifically rigorous, and provide stories of lessons learned that can be adopted by other agency personnel. Her monitoring efforts have launched on-going research of dune microbial communities, dune mycorrhizae, and seed predation of the federally endangered Tidestrom’s lupine. Lorraine recently published three papers on dune restoration in peer-reviewed, scientific journals, allowing important transfer of knowledge of these restoration efforts.

NPS

Natural Resource Management (Regional Award) –
Garrett Dickman, Yosemite National Park  

Garrett Dickman inspired hope and action for restoring ecosystem resiliency and giant sequoia persistence within Yosemite, Sequoia, and Kings Canyon National Parks as well as on neighboring lands. Garrett accomplished this in four ways: (1) developing a mixed conifer management strategy; (2) securing financial resources ($13M since 2018) (3) forming highly effective working relationships across park disciplines and divisions as well as external partners (4) leading the action on the ground, literally acting at the front of the fireline to protect individual monarch sequoia trees, dozens of which were likely saved through his personal efforts. Garrett is also an outstanding spokesperson for communicating the threats and needs of giant sequoias. In addition to dozens of media appearances on giant sequoia conservation, he partnered with a private film company to develop a moving film titled The Last of the Monarchs.  

NPS

Trish Patterson Student Conservation Association Award for Natural Resource Management in Small Parks (Regional Award) –
Dr. Linh Anh Cat, Cabrillo National Monument 

Dr. Linh Anh Cat connects divisions at Cabrillo National Monument to increase a small park’s capability to meet challenges and connects parks within the region in her role as resources program manager and Natural Resources Advisory Committee member. In 2021, she responded to two shipwrecks and an oil spill at the park. Her leadership in both responding to incidents, and planning for the future, demonstrates commitments to safety, organization, and preparedness. In addition to emergency response, Dr. Cat also forges connections across teams, both within the park and region. She created a Diversity Committee at the park in 2021, comprising members from all divisions at the park, and served as both a co-chair and a management team representative.  

NPS

Natural Resource Stewardship through Maintenance (Regional Award) – 
Dr. Debra Hughson, Mojave National Preserve and Castle Mountains National Monument  

Mojave National Park and Castle Mountain National Monument nominate Dr. Debra Hughson, Acting Facilities Maintenance lead in 2021, for the Excellence in Natural Resource Stewardship Through Maintenance. Debra orchestrated a successful Great American Outdoors Act application for roadways that removes 70 miles of road throughout the park. It also makes other roads safer and more protective of federally threatened desert tortoises. Debra oversaw the long-term commitment to complete the 27-year-old Valgold Mine Restoration project, removing 4,121 tons of contaminated materials from the preserve.  Her scientific approach and policy-based logic have helped the preserve manage complicated grazing permits and temporary authorizations for mining.  Her contributions, leadership, and achievements over the last 20 years as the Science and Resources Lead have attained robust success in the conservation and protection of natural resources in these two units. By bringing science, conservation, and maintenance together in harmony, Debra has been a game changer in natural resources stewardship and protection.  

NPS

Professional Excellence in NR Stewardship (Regional Award) –  
Dr. Christy Brigham, Sequoia Kings Canyon National Park 

Dr. Christy Brigham had an enormous impact in 2021, going well beyond park boundaries.  The Castle Fire killed thousands of mature giant sequoias which had survived dozens of fires, numerous droughts, and insect attacks for the past one to three millennia. Peer-reviewed modelling by Christy’s team revealed that the fire resulted in the loss of 10-14% of the giant sequoia population. In response, Christy played a leading role in launching a “call to action” by co-founding the Giant Sequoia Lands Coalition. Christy’s work is far more impactful than just sequoia conservation. She helped to make the sequoia an icon of climate change impacts and treatments that make western forests more resilient to fire. In 2021, Christy personally conducted dozens of television, radio, and print interviews for regional, national and international media outlets. National network reporters frequently seek her out to inspire and educate the public on these matters. She is a highly effective ambassador for the NPS and conservation efforts facing climate change.  In short, sequoia groves face a brighter future, thanks to Christy. 

NPS

Superintendent of the Year for Natural Resource Stewardship (Regional Award) –
Steve Mietz, Redwood State and National Parks 

Partnership work led by Superintendent Steve Mietz between the NPS, California State Parks (CSP), and the non-profit Save the Redwoods League (SRL) is now implementing watershed restoration across 35,000 acres of park land. In addition, Steve presided over the park's developing California Condor program, that reestablishes a population of California condors in the Pacific Northwest for the first time since 1933 in close partnership with the Yurok Tribe.  The birds arrived on March 24, 2022, a seminal moment in the park's history with deep meaning to the Yurok people.  Steve also negotiated with SRL for the acquisition, in 2026, of a 125 acre former redwood logging mill site.  Steve’s team will work with the League and other partners to restore the site's natural resources and improve habitat for listed salmon species. Steve’s work is an example of game changing long range contributions towards integrated natural and cultural resources stewardship. 

Honorable Mentions

Tara Chestnut (Mount Rainier NP) - exceptional coordination of white nose syndrome response and kaleidoscopic range of other work that supported the protection, restoration, and understanding of wildlife. 

Eamon Engber (Pacific West Region) - complex fire and restoration response, excellence in executing Burned Area Emergency Response programs 

Patti Happe (Olympic NP) - fisher reintroduction, spotted owls, invasive ungulate removal projects with volunteer component 

Brent Johnson (Pacific West Region) - tribal inclusion at the beginning of processes, planning across many organizations, reliable, helpful, and knowledgeable support to parks and programs 

Drew Kaiser (Mojave National Preserve/Castle Mountains National Monument) - successful Joshua tree nursery work and restoration post Dome Fire 

Ryan Monello (Pacific Islands Inventory and Monitoring) - work on Hawai’i avian malaria to save critically endangered Hawaiian forest birds