Karen Gustin, Olympic National Park Superintendent since April 2008, will retire early next month, she announced today.
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Olympic National Park,” said Gustin. “The staff is a great group of people to work with, as are the communities of the Olympic Peninsula. The community support and our park neighbors have been wonderful here.”
Under Gustin’s leadership, Olympic National Park worked with many partners
to celebrate and commemorate the beginning of the nation’s largest dam
removals on the Elwha River last September. Elwha River Restoration is now
well underway and on schedule, with completion of dam removal slated for
2014. Work has begun on the Olympic National Park Wilderness Stewardship
Plan, with public scoping to begin this summer. Development of a
Wilderness Stewardship Plan is included in the Olympic National Park
General Management Plan completed in 2008.
Gustin has also work to strengthen the park’s relationships with eight
Olympic Peninsula treaty Indian tribes under a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) signed in 2008.
Several sizable public access projects were completed under Gustin’s
leadership, including close to $4 million in storm damage repairs to
trails, roads and wilderness bridges in 2008 and over $2 million in road
repairs and improvements around the park in 2011. In 2010, emergency
repairs were quickly completed after a landslide destroyed a section of the
Hurricane Ridge Road, resulting in a $2 million contract to a Port Angeles
firm and restored access to the park’s most popular winter destination.
Slated to begin later this year is the long-awaited installation of a new
bridge over Staircase Rapids, a $1.1 million project that will restore the
popular Staircase Rapids loop trail.
Gustin and her family plan to relocate to Lexington, Kentucky. An avid
horsewoman, Gustin will immerse herself in the equine industry. "There are
a host of non profit organizations and companies that work in all facets of
horse breeding, training, conservation and management. I look forward to
making new contacts, taking advantage of employment opportunities, and
learning more about the business," she explained.
Gustin’s last day as Olympic National Park Superintendent will be Friday,
March 2. Deputy Superintendent Todd Suess will serve as Acting
Superintendent in the interim.
ONP Superintendent to Retire
"I have thoroughly enjoyed working at Olympic National Park,” said Gustin. “The staff is a great group of people to work with, as are the communities of the Olympic Peninsula. The community support and our park neighbors have been wonderful here.”
Under Gustin’s leadership, Olympic National Park worked with many partners
to celebrate and commemorate the beginning of the nation’s largest dam
removals on the Elwha River last September. Elwha River Restoration is now
well underway and on schedule, with completion of dam removal slated for
2014. Work has begun on the Olympic National Park Wilderness Stewardship
Plan, with public scoping to begin this summer. Development of a
Wilderness Stewardship Plan is included in the Olympic National Park
General Management Plan completed in 2008.
Gustin has also work to strengthen the park’s relationships with eight
Olympic Peninsula treaty Indian tribes under a Memorandum of Understanding
(MOU) signed in 2008.
Several sizable public access projects were completed under Gustin’s
leadership, including close to $4 million in storm damage repairs to
trails, roads and wilderness bridges in 2008 and over $2 million in road
repairs and improvements around the park in 2011. In 2010, emergency
repairs were quickly completed after a landslide destroyed a section of the
Hurricane Ridge Road, resulting in a $2 million contract to a Port Angeles
firm and restored access to the park’s most popular winter destination.
Slated to begin later this year is the long-awaited installation of a new
bridge over Staircase Rapids, a $1.1 million project that will restore the
popular Staircase Rapids loop trail.
Gustin and her family plan to relocate to Lexington, Kentucky. An avid
horsewoman, Gustin will immerse herself in the equine industry. "There are
a host of non profit organizations and companies that work in all facets of
horse breeding, training, conservation and management. I look forward to
making new contacts, taking advantage of employment opportunities, and
learning more about the business," she explained.
Gustin’s last day as Olympic National Park Superintendent will be Friday,
March 2. Deputy Superintendent Todd Suess will serve as Acting
Superintendent in the interim.
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