[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 104 (Wednesday, June 14, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E563-E564]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        RECOGNIZING KURT NELSON

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. MICHAEL K. SIMPSON

                                of idaho

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 14, 2023

  Mr. SIMPSON. Mr. Speaker, I am honored today, along with my esteemed 
colleagues, Senator Mike Crapo and Senator Jim Risch, to recognize the 
retirement of Kurt Nelson from the U.S. Forest Service. After 45 years 
of service as a United States Forest Service employee, Kurt retired on 
June 3, 2023.
  Kurt started his career on June 4, 1978, in the Carson National 
Forest as a Wildlife Biologist. He was quickly reassigned to the 
Chugach National Forest as a Wildlife and Fisheries Biologist. In 1985, 
he was promoted to District Ranger in the Cordova Ranger District until 
August of 1988, when he accepted the Forest Staff Officer position in 
the Payette National Forest. In 1994, he joined the Interior Columbia 
Basin Ecosystem Management Project as Terrestrial Science Team Co-
leader. The ``Columbia Basin'' Project was a monumental project that 
still impacts how forests and irrigation projects are managed today.
  In 1995, Kurt accepted the Ketchum Ranger District position in the 
Sawtooth National Forest and since then he has served the community, 
elected officials, partners, and agencies across the Wood River Valley. 
Kurt has served as Agency administrator on fires all over the region 
and has spent countless hours sharing his wealth of knowledge with new 
employees on fire assignments.
  His knowledge and leadership during fire season was invaluable, most 
notably for the Castle Rock Fire 2007 (48,000 acres), Beaver Creek Fire 
2013 (113,000 acres), and Sharps Fire 2018 (65,000 acres). Each of 
these three fires were Type 1 long duration fires during peak August 
visitor seasons, which required up to 2,000 fire personnel and resulted 
in no serious injuries and only one home lost. There was, however, a 
severe impact to the local economy and the evacuation of several 
thousand people. Because of Kurt's excellent leadership, the agency 
received strong community support throughout the fires' durations and 
the following debris flows that damaged trails, bridges, and roads.
  Kurt's leadership has also led to outstanding partnerships with the 
local community, a few of which include the 5BRC Coalition, Wood River 
Trails Coalition, National Forest Foundation, and Blaine County. 
Combining public and private support has allowed the Ketchum Ranger 
District to successfully rebuild over 100 miles of trails, rebuild 
several miles of road, and relocate roads out of riparian zones prone 
to washout and flooding. Kurt's assistance in developing these 
partnerships was instrumental in restoring iconic structures, 
developing recreational trails, and providing resources to local 
tribes.
  There are several significant projects in the Wood River Valley area 
which can be attributed directly to Kurt's leadership and community 
relationships: the Bald Mountain Stewardship Project, the restoration 
of the iconic Pioneer Cabin, development of the world renowned Osberg 
Ridge Trail, and the Adams Gulch adaptive sports trail and trailhead 
which allows people of all abilities to enjoy mountain biking.
  I thank Kurt for his loyal service to the Forest Service and to 
Idaho. We appreciated working with him. I hope he enjoys his well-
deserved retirement.

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