BLM names veteran manager to lead Arizona Strip District
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ST. GEORGE, Utah—The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) has named Michael Herder as the new district manager for the Arizona Strip District, which comprises 2.8 million acres north of the Grand Canyon in Northwestern Arizona.
Herder comes to Arizona from Nevada, where he served as the associate district manager and later, district manager, for the BLM's Ely District. Herder served in a temporary assignment as the BLM Nevada Associate State Director from September through December 2017. He started work at the Arizona Strip on January 8.
Herder’s return to the Arizona Strip brings his journey full circle as he began his BLM career 30 years ago as a biological technician at the Arizona Strip District Office, where he worked for 20 years. During that time, Herder was promoted to wildlife team leader, where he was responsible for planning and implementation of various program activities related to wildlife, fisheries, riparian, and threatened and endangered species.
Herder later worked in the Washington Office, where he prepared national policy and facilitated budget allocations for the wildlife and fisheries programs nationwide. In 2006, Herder was named BLM Arizona Employee of the Year. He holds a B.S. in Wildlife Management and an M.A. in Marine Biology from Humboldt State University in California.
Ray Suazo, BLM Arizona State Director, appointed Herder to the position overseeing the Arizona Strip District.
“Mike is an experienced land manager who has demonstrated the ability to deal with a variety of challenging issues. He has fostered positive working relationships with local, state, federal, and tribal partners as well as local communities and other stakeholders. We are lucky to have him in Arizona and welcome him to our leadership team,” Suazo said.
Herder replaces Tim Burke, who retired on December 30, 2017. The District has about 65 employees.
“I’m happy to be back in this region,” Herder said, “and I’m looking forward to the opportunities to collaborate with our great partners on the Arizona Strip.”
The Arizona Strip District includes the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona Field Office, and Vermilion Cliffs National Monument. The Grand Canyon isolates the Arizona Strip region from the rest of Arizona, making it among the most remote and rugged public lands management units in the lower 48 states. There are approximately 4,000 miles of unpaved roads leading to spectacular scenic vistas, remoteness and solitude among rough scenic canyons and ponderosa pine forests, as well as working landscapes that support the local economy through grazing, mining and other uses.
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The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.