I’m always on the lookout for partisan views submerged under the media sea of our policy issues. One place I look for a nonpartisan view is the Western Governors Association (WGA). They have to agree across partisan divides, and (in my view) tend to be more pragmatic about solutions than national figures, perhaps based on their direct experience with managing agencies, finding common ground and trade-offs within the state, and the complex world of implementation.
Here’s a letter of theirs to Secretary Brooke Rollins on USDA Reorganization.
Regarding the U.S. Forest Service (USFS), the elimination of the regional offices could result in a substantial communication gap between the agency and its partners, who play an increasingly important role in collaborative forest management and shared stewardship agreement implementation. Western Governors encourage you to consider establishing state directors, replicating the model employed by USDA-RD, FSA, and NRCS. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) also uses this model, and its efficacy is proven. BLM maintains state directors in nine separate western states, two shared state directors for five western states, and one director for eastern states. Establishing a state director framework for USFS would ensure strong communication between the agency and states and promote improved collaboration on forest and rangeland management, recreational use, and wildfire mitigation and response. It would also provide a strong local resource for coordinating activities under the Shared Stewardship Agreements executed between states and the USDA.
It does seem fairly rational to have the same structure as other USDA and land management agencies.. seems like it would help use federal funds jointly better if all the relevant State Directors of the different Fed Agencies met and coordinated, which would conceivably be more easy on them, and on the States themselves. Think EPA, prescribed fire, state responsibilities for the Clean Air Act and state and fed (Interior and USDA) responsibilities for prescribed fire. It might also facilitate better coordination with Tribes.
My own experience on our joint RMP/Forest Plan effort (major windmill tilt) was that the State Director approach worked pretty well. Of course, if they’re SES, that would be 12 field SES for that level instead of 9. What do you all think, especially those of you who have worked in both the BLM and FS?
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Here’s what WGA says about SSAs (Shared Stewardship Agreements) in WGA Policy Resolution 2024-02..
Western Governors point to the Western Governors’ Association (WGA) – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Shared Stewardship Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as an example of an effective framework to establish shared state-federal priorities for forest and rangeland management and encourage the development of similar MOUs with other Executive Branch agencies for other areas of natural resource management.
4. Effective forest and rangeland management is only possible through coordination between federal, state, local, and tribal land management agencies. These agencies should strive to find new ways to collaborate on forest and rangeland management projects, as well as to explore ways to improve state-federal coordination on existing management projects. Shared Stewardship Agreements between states and USDA are a good example.
Note that the point of MOUs came up in this meeting during the previous Admin, when a new MOU with USDA was signed in 2024..
“I will forgive you if you say, ‘okay, what’s the point of another MOU?’” Deputy Secretary Torres Small said. “But the one we signed today will… mark a new beginning for better integration when it comes to how forest and rangeland restoration projects are prioritized across different land ownerships. It creates new opportunities for us to work more closely with you on important issues, such as expanding rural high-speed internet and enhancing our support for farming and ranching communities.”
The state director approach is worth considering (that is, if the administration is open to a leadership layer between the national forests and Washington). Such an approach would have to consider what states could combine under a single director (Nevada would not need its own FS director, for example).
Of course, there would need to be some thought about how to address national forests that span more than one state.
Region 10 in has essentially already had this approach, since it included only one state, Alaska, and its two national forests.
I asked what I think was Google AI and it left off the MedBow/Routt so I asked for a deeper AI dive and this is what it came up with.. perhaps complete?
“Several National Forests in the United States cross state lines, often as part of larger administrative complexes managed by the
U.S. Forest Service.
Multi-State National Forests
Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest
The largest national forest in the lower 48 states, spanning Nevada and eastern California.
George Washington & Jefferson National Forest
These forests are managed together and cover a vast area across Virginia, West Virginia, and a small portion of Kentucky.
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Spans Idaho, Wyoming, and Utah.
Black Hills National Forest
Located primarily in South Dakota, with a portion extending into Wyoming.
Ouachita National Forest
Crosses from central Arkansas into southeastern Oklahoma.
Manti-La Sal National Forest
Located primarily in Utah, but has a small portion extending into Colorado.
Medicine Bow-Routt National Forest
These are managed together and stretch from north-central Colorado into central Wyoming.
Ashley National Forest
Located in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming.
Cherokee National Forest
While primarily in Tennessee, it is often associated with the border regions of North Carolina and Georgia as part of the Southern Appalachian mountain chain.
Notable Administrative Complexes
Many forests are grouped for management purposes, which can lead to large areas covering multiple states:
Cibola National Forest & National Grasslands
: Covers parts of New Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma.
Pike-San Isabel National Forests & Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands
: Spans Colorado and Kansas.
Off the top of my head alone in Region 6 – Rogue River Siskiyou; Oregon/California. Wallowa Whitman; Oregon/Washington. Columbia River Gorge; Oregon/Washington.
Thanks, WC! AI doesn’t quite do it, does it?
Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit
Thanks, Sam. I guess I should have asked the AI for administrative units instead of forests and grasslands.
Custer Gallatin has a ranger district in South Dakota.
Respectfully, trying to mirror the USFS with a BLM approach could work, but it will not be more efficient. I have written about this before, often it seems. What not let the land dictate the efficiency. That is, have a leader by an eco-region. This approach is contemporary. Having a bunch of state leaders is quite stale, actually. Plus, think about the programs. The Forest Service goes far above and away of the “management of 193 million acres.” Oh my Gosh, so much farther. Caring for an ecoregion that includes public and non-federal lands; science; education; a range of federally assisted state programs, etc. would be amazing. Don’t go back. Be creative. That leader (or director) would be a very special person. Think of the relationships that could be developed with the USGS, Tribal lands? Let us take some time and do this correctly. The outcomes could be so dynamic on so many levels. State directors? It’s always been a bad idea. We do not need more to confirm that notion.
When I worked for BLM the State Director announced a major reorganization of BLM to put “more boots” on the ground. The State and District office FTE’s were going to be shifted to the Area Offices. The “cowboys” decided that they didn’t want more BLM employees in the field.
The State Director was fired. My time in BLM was during the Carter and Reagan Administrations. Not sure which Administration fired him.
I do remember reading that Gifford made the decision to cross state lines with the Regional Offices, thereby reducing the influence of the Governor over Forest Service decisions.
Who do you trust more?? A Regional Forester or a Governor of a state??
BTW….camped right now at Amboy Crater in California on BLM land. Thanks to StarLink for this message. The BLM recreation facility is very well designed. Kudo’s to BLM.
Of course the WGA members would like something that gives them more state authority over national forests.