Clackamas River Ranger District welcomes new district ranger

The Mt. Hood National Forest is pleased to welcome Curt Booher as the new Clackamas River District Ranger. The Clackamas River Ranger District encompasses over 400,000 acres on the southwest side of the Forest, including many popular recreation sites and nearly 100,000 acres of Wilderness. Booher is currently serving as District Ranger for the Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and Ranger District, part of the Ashley National Forest in Utah. He has a diverse background with positions across the West with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, and California State Parks. These previous positions include managing recreation and river use on the Deschutes and John Day Rivers in Central Oregon and on the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area in Northeast Oregon. “We are excited for Curt to join the Clackamas River Ranger District,” said Mt. Hood National Forest Supervisor Meta Loftsgaarden. “With the many challenges that the Clackamas has seen over the last two back-to-back fire years, we are pleased that Curt brings valuable experience engaging with communities and partners. He will be a great asset for the Forest. Initial priorities for Booher will be centered around collaboration and partnerships, wildfire recovery, and recreation management. Over the last 18 months, the district has been heavily impacted by four wildfires covering over 128,000 acres.  “I’m looking forward to returning to Oregon and the Pacific Northwest,” said Booher. “We are facing opportunities and challenges in the wake of recent fires. The Clackamas Ranger District is a beautiful location and an awesome workplace, with involved partners and a caring public.” Booher has a bachelor’s degree in social science and organizational administration from the University of Oklahoma. He and his wife are looking forward to hiking, hunting, fishing, boating and kayaking out on the Forest.