The San Juan National Forest, which encompasses 1.8 million acres divided into the Mancos-Dolores, Columbine and Pagosa ranger districts, has a new supervisor. After making the drive from his former home in Washington, D.C., David Neely arrived in Durango this week to freshly fallen snow.
Other than spending June through September as the acting supervisor of the SJNF, Neely has spent the last seven years in policy roles with the Forest Service in D.C. Most recently, Neely worked as the deputy director for the ecosystem management coordination staff, in which he supported forests and grasslands in developing sustainable land management plans.
Prior to that, Neely spent 20 years working in various ranger districts from the White Mountains of Vermont to Vail ski resort in Colorado.
“My plan in going to D.C. – there were personal, professional, a host of reasons to be there – but my intention was always to get back out onto the national forests,” Neely said. “Frankly, the San Juan was kind of the top of my list of places that I wanted to end up.”
Neely recognized wildfire hazards, livability and overuse as some of the biggest challenges facing the forest that he must tackle throughout his tenure. Collaboration with local stakeholders will be critical in that process, he said. Tribal nations, local governments, and various recreation groups are all important parties in reducing the impact of wildfires and managing sustainable recreation on the forest.
“The recreation economy in this part of the world is foundational, but a booming recreation economy also comes with a host of impacts,” Neely said. “There are real challenges in crafting strategies to provide the benefits that we all enjoy from outdoor recreation while also offsetting some of the challenges that result when everybody decides to go bike the same trail the same day.”
The SJNF includes four designated wilderness areas, Chimney Rock National Monument, as well as Purgatory Resort, which operates on Forest Service-owned land under a special-use permit.
Even high-level employees in the Forest Service often move quickly from one place to another chasing promotions. While Neely has yet to purchase a house in Durango, he said he and his wife intend to make the city their home.
Neely enjoys skiing in all forms, fishing and river rafting and camping, all of which he looks forward to doing in the SJNF.
“Ranger districts are where policy needs people and, and I feel like the role that I'll get to play as a forest supervisor will be to connect closely with our three district rangers on helping deliver the mission, and I get to do it in a place that is just spectacular and full of the kind of soul-nurturing activities that keep me resilient and keep me happy,” he said.
rschafir@durangoherald.com
