New Superintendent Named for Redwood National and State Parks

Press release from Redwood National & State Parks:

Steven Mietz superintendent of Redwood National & State Parks.The National Park Service has named Steven Mietz superintendent of Redwood National & State Parks. He is currently the superintendent of Great Basin National Park in Nevada. Mietz replaces Steven Prokop who retired earlier in the year.

“Steve is an exceptional leader who is passionate about building positive relationships to preserve our parks,” said Laura E. Joss, regional director for the National Park Service’s Pacific West Region. “He has a proven track record of collaborating with partners. Along with his strong science background, this makes him an excellent fit for Redwood.”

Mietz has more than 18 years with the federal government, including time with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and U.S. Geological Survey. He joined the National Park Service in 2003.

“I am humbled by the opportunity to be a partner in the stewardship of the ecosystem that supports the tallest trees in the world,” Mietz said. “I am very excited about working with the staff and our partners to preserve this awe-inspiring place for the enjoyment and appreciation of all. ”

Under Mietz’s watch, Great Basin National Park was designated an International Dark Sky Park. The park and its nonprofit partners raised $800,000 to construct the Great Basin Observatory. It will take advantage of some of the best night sky viewing in the nation. He has overseen the completion of several large-scale campsite rehabilitations and ecological restoration projects.

Throughout his National Park Service career, Mietz has served in a variety positions, including as the Midwest Region’s acting associate regional director for natural resources, the superintendent of Missouri National Recreational River, and the deputy chief of science and resource management at Grand Canyon National Park. Prior to working at Grand Canyon, he worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Grizzly Bear Recovery Program, the University of Montana’s Flathead Lake Biological Station, and the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation.

Mietz is currently on temporary assignment as the superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore in the San Francisco Bay Area. He will return to Great Basin National Park before taking the reins at Redwood, which is expected to be sometime in late fall.

Mietz earned his Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University and his masters from the University of Montana. His personal interests include hiking, camping, and cross-country skiing with his wife, Stephanie, and sons, Jack and Ben.

Most people know Redwood as home to the tallest trees on Earth. The parks also protect vast prairies, oak woodlands, wild riverways, and nearly 40 miles of rugged coastline. For thousands of years people have lived in this verdant landscape. Together, the National Park Service and California State Parks manage the lands for the inspiration, enjoyment, and education of all.

For more information visit: https://www.nps.gov/redwood.

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12 Comments
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Dave L
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Dave L
6 years ago

Welcome to the Redwood country.

Redwoodguy
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Redwoodguy
6 years ago

Way to go. This important new appointment has gone under the radar of other news sites. New leadership at our most important tourist destination. The trees will still be bringing people here long after the green rush is a historic footnote.

Muggin'
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Muggin'
6 years ago

Thank gawd it’s not Jeff Bomke.
What ever happened to that sorry excuse for a human?

dan
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dan
6 years ago
Reply to  Muggin'

After signing-off on the Gold Bluffs Beach debacle;

ie. see Pages 10 and 11 for before and after.
https://www.parks.ca.gov/pages/24689/files/2.%20success%20story%20-%20gold%20bluffs%20beach%20dunes%20restoration.pdf

Hopefully he was booted.

Bill Jones
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Bill Jones
6 years ago

Slowest news day EVER

CA Armstrong
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CA Armstrong
6 years ago
Reply to  Kym Kemp

That was a beautiful burn Kym!

Anon Forrest
Guest
6 years ago

Welcome, Ranger Mietz!

Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
Guest
Honeydew Bridge C.H.U.M.P.
6 years ago

Do drug tests every 9 days, use federal law to jail marijuana users pulled over. Take their cars, auction them off, use that money for more enforcement and tree planting.
Try and find a way to ban hippies from traveling anywhere in the park.
Good luck!

N
Guest
N
6 years ago

Welcome Supt. Mietz! It sounds like you have done great things for other parks.

Red Woods
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Red Woods
6 years ago

Every possible inch of every possible trail within ALL State and National park lands should be handicap accessible to wheelchairs and electric mobility scooters. They are not. This is all REQUIRED by ADA and the spirit of ADA. Trails must be for all, not just the able bodied. Maybe the new Supt can get this done. Then let US, the handicapped, decide to use them or not, depending on our devices. WE love the coast and redwood state parks too!

Beel
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Beel
6 years ago
Reply to  Red Woods

Hey there. I appreciate your sentiment of access for all. I am handicapped and also love nature and appreciate access to public land.
I have a slightly different perspective. I agree that there should be more ADA accessible trails, but I don’t believe that all trails should meet this standard. There are existing trails through rugged terrain that would be impractical to make ADA compliant.
In my opinion, I think we will be better served by prioritizing appropriate places for ADA access and not insisting on every trail being accessible.