Forest Service brings in new recreation leader

Kirk Flannigan arrived in Sisters last week to take on a new Forest Service job heading the recreation, heritage, lands and minerals staff for the Sisters Ranger District.

"About 85 percent of my work will be in recreation," Flannigan said. "That's campgrounds, trails, wilderness, leased cabins...."

Originally from Georgia, Flannigan headed west not too long after high school and ended up in Utah. An avid skier, he spent the last 15 years as a self-described "ski bum," college student, and - more recently - as a U.S. Forest Service official. When he finally gave up being a full-time ski bum, he obtained bachelor's and master's degrees in Natural Resources Recreation Planning and Management from the University of Utah.

"My first gig with the Forest Service was a winter internship plowing ski trails and cleaning toilets," he said. He says his early work with the Forest Service gave him the "inspiration" to pursue the career he is following today.

Flannigan worked with District Ranger Bill Anthony last week to set some preliminary goals and priorities.

"I'm excited," he said. "Bill has some big ideas about trails. We're also looking at parking potential for Three Creek (Lake) and upgrading facilities and access at the headwaters of the Metolius. We're also looking at the trail between Suttle Lake and Camp Sherman and at plans for Whychus (Creek)."

He feels lucky to have landed in Sisters. Being close to skiing was a big factor in his decision-making while he was considering new positions.

"My wife and I were looking for something in a smaller town," he said. "This job came open; and, fortunately, I got it!"

He said the Forest Service's online job search site makes the process easy. He explained that Forest Service job vacancy announcements are delivered by e-mail and are customized for each person's job qualifications.

He acknowledged that, as recreation and heritage supervisor and team leader, he will be spending a lot of his time in the office, but he hopes to get out quite a bit, too. He said that trails and wilderness will be a major focus, and he sees a lot of work to be done in those areas.

He describes his first workweek here as being pretty hectic. On top of everything else, he said, "My first day, a fire started!"

He is already working to become familiar with the Sisters Ranger District and says he is "making a big commitment to working with Sisters, Camp Sherman and the community to be partners and work together toward common goals."

And what does he plan to do on his first day off? "Saturday I'm going skiing up on Bachelor."

Well, of course.