MEET CLARK TUCKER

Even after 35 years with the Forest Service, new Duchesne/Roosevelt District Ranger Clark Tucker still professes his love for the National Forests: "They are the reason I exist." Clark began his career on Region Four, doing timber inventory, and served on the Uinta, the Salmon, then on the Ashley National Forest. Ecosystem management and a good land ethic are two core beliefs he brings to this job on the south slope of the Uintas.

Some of the issues he sees facing the district are off highway vehicle abuse, dam stabilization and water dispensation, as well as the establishment of a formal wilderness management team on the Wasatch and Ashley. He has prioritized the improvement of rangeland health, which has been terribly exacerbated by the drought; implementation of the wilderness plan as well as monitoring of protocol; and to work with the UDWR on a fish stocking Memorandum of Understanding for the High Uintas Wilderness that will lead to further protection of wilderness values.

While most logging has already been completed on district lands, he told HUPC on January 24 that there will be some small salvage and thinning sales offered. HUPC will be monitoring and commenting on those, to be sure.

In addition, Clark is proud to announce that the district now has a trails coordinator as well as a wilderness coordinator to work the High Uintas.

We anticipate working with Clark Tucker for many years to come.

If you have questions for the new ranger, his email address is cbtucker@fs.fed.us.

Margaret Pettis