Most Popular Stories

Alaska Natives disproportionately affected in gonorrhea spike

Student competition turns on 'meniscus'

It takes a watershed to raise a salmon

Exxon decides not to appeal

Kuttel resigns from Trident Seafoods

Published on January 28th, 2010

Cordova says goodbye to forest supervisor

By JOY LANDALUCE

CHUGACH FOREST, Courtesy Photo

Hikers in the Chugach Forest are able to witness majestic views.

Joy Landaluce, , Alaska Newspapers

Mayor Tim Joyce presents Joe Meade with a proclamation of appreciation and a key to the city last Saturday.

Joy Landaluce, , Alaska Newspapers

Hugs end the presentation of the key to the city and a proclamation of appreciation for all Meade's work and leadership the last seven years.

Joy Landaluce, , Alaska Newspapers

Mayor Tim Joyce presents the key to the city to Joe Meade for his vision and leadership the last seven years.

Friends and co-workers gathered for a farewell celebration to honor Chugach National Forest supervisor Joe Meade. Meade and his wife, Heather, head to Washington, D.C., for Meade's new position as National Director of Partnerships for the Forest Service. Mayor Tim Joyce presented Joe Meade a proclamation of appreciation and a key to the city last Saturday night at the home of District Ranger Teresa Benson.

The proclamation stated Meade's many accomplishments Meade has been involved with as the Chugach National Forest supervisor since March of 2003.

"Joe was instrumental in obtaining funding for and championing the expansion of the Child's Glacier Campground, Joe was integral in getting funds to repair the Alaganik boardwalk after years of frost heaves left it sloped and uneven and the long needed improvements to the Alaganik Slough and Eyak River boat ramps have started under the sponsorship of Joe," states the proclamation. "Joe provided the leadership and skills needed on the Exxon Valdez Oil Spill Trustee Council to fund the Prince William Sound Framework Study to allow for managed growth of the tourism industry in Prince William Sound and Joe's leadership skills on the EVOS Trustee Council and his desire to see a valuable restoration contribution by the Trustee Council to the oil impacted communities resulted in Cordova receiving up to $7 million for the Cordova Center Project to restore the Cordova tourism industry lost in 1989."

The proclamation mentions Meade's efforts to develop partnerships and collaboration in community development including the Fungus Festival, Salmon Festival, Shorebird Festival and Marine Highway Interpreters and how they have benefited the community; Meade's work and its benefits to the fish and wildlife resources; and the way fish and wildlife have benefited from Meade's efforts to highlight the international, national and regional significance of Prince William Sound and the Copper River Delta.

"Even though Joe lives in Anchorage, his actions as the Chugach Forest Supervisor in assisting Cordova to sustain, diversify and maintain our productivity as a community now and for future generations qualifies him as an honorary Cordova resident."

In closing, the proclamation of appreciation addresses all of the efforts that Meade has made to enhance the Cordova community and better the lives of Cordova residents.

"This warrants that Joe be honored with the Key to the city of Cordova and this Proclamation of Appreciation which entitles him with a warm welcome anytime he returns to visit."  

Past District Ranger Dan Logan called in from Tucson, Ariz., to thank Meade for his leadership.

"It was an absolute pleasure to work with you, you are an inspiration to everyone around you, it really speaks to the kind of person you are," Logan said. "I wish you the best."

Meade said Cordova is a wonderful community.

"I feel great pride in the work of the last seven years. No other community has been as unique, and as a group you are the reason the district is so connected to the community, this is an enchanted place," Mead said. "Heather and I will take fantastic memories with us and my heart thanks you."

Benson noted that Meade has been an honor to work for and that he will be greatly missed on the Chugach National Forest.

"Joe's enthusiasm for the natural resources that we manage is contagious to those around him. He delights in building relationships that transform into partnership that expand the efforts of key projects, such as the recently developed 'Children's Forest' partnership with Alaska Geographic."

The Chugach National Forest is a 5.4 million acre U. S. National Forest in Southcentral Alaska and is the northernmost national forest.

The forest envelops Prince William Sound, the Copper River Delta and is surrounded by the Chugach Mountains. It was originally designated in 1907 by Theodore Roosevelt and was originally 23 million acres in size. About one-third of the area of the forest is rocks and ice. The supervisor's office is located in Anchorage. There are local ranger district offices located in Cordova, Girdwood and Seward, according to Web sources.