JOSHUA TREE, Calif. — Joshua Tree National Park Superintendent Curt Sauer has annnounced his retirement after 35 years of federal service, effective Sept. 30.
Before going to Joshua Tree, Sauer was chief ranger at Olympic National Park for nine years.
He went to Joshua Tree as acting superintendent in 2002 and was appointed superintendent on Oct. 6, 2003.
In addition Olympic and Joshua Tree, Sauer’s career included being manager for the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, part of North Cascades National Park; park ranger at Grand Canyon and Rocky Mountain national parks and seasonal positions with the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
At Joshua Tree, Sauer, who turns 60 this year, “was hands-on with the park’s gateway communities and would personally lead tours of the park to increase awareness of park’s benefits and challenges and to encourage stewardship,” the National Park Service said in a statement.
“He oversaw the addition of more than 7,400 acres of privately held land through acquisition or donation to the park, and 36,700 acres of land were upgraded to Wilderness status. Sauer developed and promoted an extensive safety program aimed at reducing accidents and injuries among staff and visitors alike.”
He will maintain a home in Joshua Tree “while exploring new adventures,” the park service said.
