New Boss Yosemite

Neubacher Named Superintendent of Yosemite National Park

WASHINGTON – Don Neubacher has been selected as the new superintendent of
Yosemite National Park in California. Neubacher takes over from David
Uberuaga who has been acting superintendent since Mike Tollefson retired
last year.

Yosemite National Park is one of the icons of the National Park System.
Set aside as a national park in 1890 because of the spectacular tract of
mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, the park preserves
stunning waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant
sequoias, the world's largest living things. Yosemite National Park
welcomes more than three million visitors annually and is home to one of
the most complex ecosystems in the world.

“Don is a seasoned manager who has proven himself time and time again to be
an exceptional leader,” said National Park Service (NPS) Director Jon
Jarvis. “He brings a thoughtful approach to the vast range of issues faced
by a modern park manager in protecting park resources, providing quality
experiences to our visitors, and motivating a highly professional staff.
Yosemite is a high priority position, and I appreciate Don taking on this
new challenge.”

“I also want to commend Dave Uberuaga for his stellar work leading Yosemite
during this year-long transition,” said Jarvis. “Dave stepped into one of
most complex assignments in the National Park System and never missed a
beat. He got up to speed quickly, moved negotiations along on the largest
concession contract in the system, and provided the day-to-day leadership
that our partners and employees need to care for Yosemite.”

“Yosemite National Park has an inspired staff that has been a leader in
preserving one of the nation's most sacred treasures,” said Neubacher. “I
look forward to working with park staff and the many partners and
interested groups to ensure Yosemite's future is unimpaired for generations
to come.”

Neubacher has been superintendent at Point Reyes National Seashore for the
past 15 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for completing a
number of important initiatives including the Giacomini Wetlands
Restoration Plan/EIS, the Fire Management Plan, the Coastal Watershed
Restoration Plan/EIS, and the implementation of the park’s Land Protection
Plan.

A 28-year veteran of the National Park Service, Neubacher has previously
served as deputy general manager of the Presidio of San Francisco, chief of
visitor services at Point Reyes, education program administrator at Point
Reyes, seminar coordinator for the Coastal Park Association, natural
resources lecturer for Humboldt State University, and park ranger at
Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.

Neubacher is a 2006 graduate of the Senior Executive Service training.
Honors and awards include: the Sierra Club Resource Conservation Award in
2008, the NPS Director’s Award for Wilderness Stewardship (2005), the
Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Award (2002),
Superintendent of the Year/ Pacific West Region (2001), Meritorious Service
Award, Department of the Interior (2000); and Superintendent of the Year,
Natural Resource Management, Pacific West Region (1998).

Neubacher is a graduate of the University of California-Davis where he
received a bachelor of science degree in planning and management and
Humboldt State University in Arcata, California where he received a
master’s degree in natural resource management.

Jay,

This is interesting news. Do you have any opinion as to what this might mean for the parks future?

BTW, based on the title I thought this might be a picture of a grizzly.

Derek

Derek,
Not really sure of Neubacher's record. I know several park service staff that have migrated to point reyes in the past 15 years. Must not be that bad a guy. Mike Tollefson is still in the area and working for a Yosemite non-profit which will hopefully create a bit of a support system. 2011 marks the end of the largest concession contract and is up for bid. This can be a very time consuming process. I really can't comment much more on that issue due to contract.
The other big agenda is the Merced River Plan is restarting the process of developement..........3rd times a charm I guess. That process is riddled with red tape and could make or break his position.
I would imagine there would be some key replacement of staff.....which has been happening for a while.

So for the parks future it seems the new guy is in to preservation and restoration. Which can mean a lot of things here.........


BTW no Grizzly's here just black bears...They are like big dogs

Hopefully good things will come of it. To a lot of us who visit the park this is a side we never think really about. In a way I guess that is the way it is supposed to be. But obviously there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes. I work for the Gov't in a different capacity and I find it interesting work as well.

I was amazed by the number of grizzlys I saw while in Yellowstone. Then when in the Tetons a man was attacked and critically injured while out on an early morning run. The California black bears don't seem to be as aggressive towards humans. But that doesn't stop them from raiding trash bins, vehicles, camp sites, etc... In Alaska black bears seem to be much more agressive/prone to attack humans.

Derek

Derek,
I do hope this super will do wonderful things for the park. It is a balance game in the heavily used locations of the park. There are just so many groups with interest in the park it can be a little funky putting plans together.
It is the greatest hope of all the folks here to find a balance where guests get the dream visit and there is minimal impact to the location.
For the bears I love the little guys!!!! I admire them on there quest fo food. Living here for the past 13 years has really been a gift. They do tear up cars and break in to trash all the time. This is generally the work of uninformed persons leaving food reward in their cars or rooms etc... They really are not interested in people or attacking them.....although I have been bluff charged when they are cornered.I think anytime humans and wild animals are put together there will be contact of some sort. Once a bear of any kind learns there is food in large amounts availible in a location those bears will be more likely to defend their new found food source. Hopefully were not the one they focus on

Mountian lions are much more scary in real life.....A bear assumes your bigger because your taller a Mountian Lion thinks it's bigger than anything else in the world..just like it's small domestic counterpart

So Jay what do you do at the park if I may ask?

Mike,
I'm the warehouse/trasportation manager for the concession by day. And unskilled photographer by night.
Jay

Jay, is Steve Shackleton still around? Or does Don's selection automatically mean purging the division chiefs so that Don can hand-pick his team? Ken S

Ken,
I honestly don't know. It's been a while since I've seen him. I'll ask around. The chief ranger and I are in a little different circles Heck of a guy though,

Yes, great guy. He loves Yosemite and its people...passionate...he tries to give back to staff and families so they can experience somewhat the beauty and community that he recalls of growing up in the valley. Last talked w/him in Oct.09. His father...also a Yosemite ranger died in Nov.

It is nice to see a local kid do good. He has a pretty unique understanding of the area and is community based for sure.I asked around and he is still in town. Thoughts would be his next steps would be to go for a super job at another park,go to washington or just live out his days here. I would imagine a super job somewhere close and hopefully return.

Ken,
Steve has annouced his departure for D.C. they are having a send off on March 19th.
Jay