Forest Service Hires Garten as New Area Ranger for the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area
Release Date: Mar 13, 2017
Contact(s): Rebecca Robbins (540) 265-5173
(March 13, 2017) Roanoke, VA - The USDA Forest Service is pleased to announce Barry Garten as the new Area Ranger for the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area, headquartered in Marion, Virginia. Garten replaces recently retired Area Ranger Beth Merz. Garten oversees approximately 200,000 acres of National Forest System lands covering five counties and containing over 500 miles of trails including the Virginia Creeper Trail and portions of the Appalachian National Scenic Trail. Garten reported for duty on January 8.
Garten transferred to Mount Rogers after nearly two years as the Clinch District Ranger in Norton, VA. “Garten’s successes in managing the Clinch District’s natural resources, partnerships and staff make him an ideal area ranger for the Mount Rogers National Recreation Area,” says Forest Supervisor Joby Timm.
Garten has prior experience as the acting District Ranger on the Lee Ranger District of the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests and as a District Ranger on the Croatan National Forest in North Carolina.
“I am very excited for the opportunity to serve as the Area Ranger for the Mount Rogers NRA and am looking forward to working closely with local communities, partners and volunteers,” says Garten.
Garten is a well-known name throughout the firefighting community. From 2010 to 2014, Garten worked at the Southern Regional Office as the Assistant Regional Fuels Specialist providing program support for 13 national forests. As the Assistant Fire Management Officer on the George Washington and Jefferson National Forests from 2003-2010, Garten managed the prescribed burn program for 1.8 million acres of public land. Garten has participated on a National Response Incident Management Team since 1995, where he is currently a Section Chief in charge of Fire Operations for the Southern Area’s Blue Team. Garten has worked on a number of high profile incidents including the Big Turnaround Fire in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge in Georgia, The Rim Fire in the Stanislaus National Forest and Yosemite National Park in California, and Hurricane Ike in Houston, Texas.
Garten attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1984. Garten’s career with the US Forest Service began in 1980 as member of the Young Adult Conservation Corps working in California. Over the past 37 years, Garten has served on four Ranger Districts covering three National Forests across the country.
Garten and his wife Barb enjoy exploring Virginia on their Harley Davidson Motorcycles.
Alerts & Warnings
- North Zone Complex Fire Closures
- Supervisor's Office Phones Down
- Roaring Run Recreation Area closed for repairs
- Construction near Appalachian Trail
- Temporary Road Closure on the Glenwood Pedlar Ranger District
- Temporary Delays - Mount Rogers NRA Roads
- Temp Closure: Rocky Run ATV trail, Second Mountain, Long Run Rd, Vepco Rd