Kim Forrest grew up in Seaside, where her father, Gordon Forrest, was the first city manager from 1959 until his death at age 49 in 1969. Her family spent a month in the back country of Yosemite every summer, on the family farm (since 1858) in Iowa for a month every summer, and winters skiing the Tahoe area. These outdoor experiences – and, of course, living and recreating in glorious Monterey County – formed who she is.
Kim’s mother, Mary, decided to move out to the “country” of Carmel Valley, purchased a lot, designed a house, and had it built in 1973 – and dearly loved her piece of paradise. Kim retired two years ago and moved home. She spent the last year doing major rehab to the old worn house, focusing on fire resistance.
Kim went to college in Utah, majoring in Wildlife Science, and started her 46-year career with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. She was one of the first female refuge managers in the National Wildlife Refuge System. She worked on two refuges in Utah, one in Montana, and three in California – retiring after 23 years as the manager of the San Luis NWR Complex (Merced and Stanislaus counties). Despite minimal staff and funding, they established the new San Joaquin River NWR, restoring 2,500 acres of highest-caliber riparian woodland using $15 million in grants with many partners, and expanding its footprint for future acquisition along 35 miles of the River. The Complex accommodates 120,000 visitors per year and built the first LEED Platinum building in the USFWS – a 16,000 sq. ft. visitor center/office.
The more routine refuge work focused on managing habitats for targeted species using heavy equipment, prescribed fire, intensive wetland management, weed control; managing public use by designing/building visitor facilities, law enforcement, environmental education; obtaining special funding for facilities construction; involvement with complex water issues; and supervising 30 people -- managers, biologists, fire crew, public use staff, admin, and equipment operators. Near and dear to her heart was the work with many partners to recover the very endangered -- and very adorable -- riparian brush rabbit.
Kim’s son is an Environmental Scientist for the California Department of Water Resources, and her partner is involved with Boreal/Arctic initiatives for Ducks Unlimited. Post retirement, Kim finds a need for a new focus for her conservation passion – the Carmel Valley Association!
