(Kamiah, ID) —After an eventful 37+ year Forest Service career, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests Supervisor Cheryl Probert has announced her retirement effective June 28, 2024.
In making her decision Probert reflected on the amazing people and communities she has worked with and the magnificent and productive landscapes she has had the privilege to manage. She expressed confidence that employees and partners will continue to implement the collective vision for the Forests that has developed during her tenure. “Of all the decisions I’ve made during my career, this is the hardest,” Probert stated.
Her family was a critical factor in her decision. “My family has supported me through thick and thin. They’ve all spent many hours volunteering to help the agency achieve its mission. These guys are my rock and my legacy,” she explained. “It is time to catch tomorrow with them today.”
Cheryl Probert (front row, left) surrounded by the family who supported her throughout her 37- year Forest Service career.
Probert accepted the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests assignment in November 2014 the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests were in the midst of implementing an administrative consolidation and moving the Forest Supervisor’s Office to Kamiah. She is proud to have overseen the design and construction of the new, low-cost Supervisor’s Office that was built as a model of sustainable, locally sourced wood products.
Over Probert’s ten-year tenure in Kamiah, the Forests have reinvigorated the vegetative management program, released a forest plan with a draft decision, initiated an aggressive program to reduce wildfire risk, built a conservation education program, and implemented a “historic routes” initiative to connect visitors to the Forests’ amazing history.
Most importantly, Probert has worked to strengthen relationships. She leaves a legacy of connecting the Forests with communities and partners to accomplish project work.
“I’m intensely proud that we have approved Good Neighbor Authority agreements with Tribal, state, and county governments so we can work collectively to get more work done on the Forests and in our communities for years to come,” she stated. Recently, the Forest expanded the successful watershed restoration program with the Nez Perce Tribe into other actions such as restoring Nimiipuu names, building cultural understanding into project planning, and forging agreements that empower the Tribe to implement critical fuel reduction projects. “Through these agreements with the Tribe, Idaho County, the State of Idaho and other organizations we have been able to get millions of federal dollars into our local economies to help build environmental, economic, and social sustainability.”
Probert started her career as a rangeland management specialist in southeast Idaho. She has also worked as a wildlife biologist, environmental coordinator, forest planner, district ranger and deputy forest supervisor in Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, California, and Utah before moving to the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests in 2014.
