Lauren DuRocher to serve as acting Sisters District ranger

BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Deschutes National Forest Supervisor Holly Jewkes has selected Lauren DuRocher to serve as the acting Sisters District ranger while Ian Reid, the current District Ranger, completes a temporary assignment as the acting supervisor in California's Modoc National Forest.

DuRocher, currently the Environmental Coordinator and Natural Resource Team Lead for the Sisters Ranger District, will serve as the Sisters District Ranger for a four-month assignment. Her temporary assignment begins Monday.

DuRocher has been working for the Forest Service since 2011. She started her federal career in recreation management on the Okanogan-Wenatchee and White Mountain National Forests. With master’s degrees in forestry and forest policy, she made the switch to National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) project planning on the Deschutes National Forest in 2015.

For the past three years, she has served as the Environmental Coordinator and Natural Resource Team Lead for the Sisters Ranger District. In this role, she oversaw a team of natural resource specialists and NEPA projects large and small.

“I’m happy to announce Lauren has been selected to serve in this key leadership position on the Sisters Ranger District,” said Jewkes. “She is very familiar with the district’s ongoing projects and priorities and will provide strong leadership over the next four months while Ian is away.”

During fire season, DuRocher helps on incident management teams as a public information officer. Additionally, she has enjoyed a couple temporary assignments working in public affairs across Central Oregon. She spends her free time camping, hiking, skiing, and fly-fishing on public lands with her husband and dog.  

“I look forward to taking on this new role for the next few months,” said DuRocher. “It’s a great opportunity to broaden my perspective and leadership with the Forest Service. I am happy to continue working with the community and the great team of employees and volunteers at the Sisters Ranger District.”