Jon Vanderheyden is currently on the Board of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group. He is retired from the USDA Forest Service (35 years), where his last assignment was as District Ranger for the Mt. Baker Ranger District of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. That position involved management and oversight of all aspects of District management, including Forest ecosystems, Fire, Recreation, Wilderness, Mt. Baker Ski Area permits, road management, fish & wildlife habitat management, and included the management of the Skagit Wild & Scenic River. The tenure also included review and implementation of the final Seattle City Light License and agreement and lead negotiator for the Forest Service on the Baker River Project relicensing by Puget Sound Energy. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry from Michigan State University (1977) and a Master of Science Degree from Oregon State University (1980). He has lived in Mount Vernon since 1991.
“I view the Skagit River watershed as a significant national ecological feature and salmon habitat is a key component of that ecosystem. I am excited by the opportunity of further involvement in restoring and protecting this valuable resource. I have lived in Pacific Northwest since 1977, and spent 22 years as District Ranger with primary responsibility for over half a million acres of National Forest on the Mt. Baker Ranger District. This work included a myriad of partnerships, management of conflicting and competing interests, fostering creative solutions and maintaining focus on priority work with limited resources. As a member of the Skagit Fisheries Enhancement Group, I have been able to continue to support an ecological approach to habitat restoration and education for the future of river resources. I think the Skagit Watershed Council provides a unique opportunity to merge diverse interests for the stewardship of the Skagit’s incredible resources.”
