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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Tongass Forest Chief To Take Over Colville Forest

A deputy forest supervisor from one of the nation’s most controversial national forests will be the next supervisor of the Colville National Forest.

Robert Vaught, who has been on the Tongass National Forest in southeastern Alaska since 1991, takes over the Colville Aug. 31. Perhaps no national forest has had as controversial a logging program as the Tongass.

But Vaught gets high marks from some environmentalists for his management style.

“When people hear someone is coming from the Tongass they close their eyes and grit their teeth,” said Jackie Canterbury, Alaska coordinator for the Association of Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics. “I have a lot of respect for Bob.

“He’s got really good communication skills and he’s a really fine man,” Canterbury said. “I think that makes for a good forest supervisor no matter what his bent is.”

Canterbury worked with Vaught during her six years as a wildlife biologist for the Forest Service.

Vaught is on annual leave and could not be reached for comment.

He replaces Ed Schultz, who retired in February after 10 years at the helm of the 1.1-million-acre Colville. Vaught has a bachelor’s degree in fisheries biology from the University of Alaska in Fairbanks.

He was a district ranger on the Toiyabe National Forest in Nevada and worked in other resource management positions.

In addition to being deputy supervisor on the Tongass, Vaught was the team leader for the draft Tongass National Forest Land Management Plan.

, DataTimes