Ukiah, Calif.— The Bureau of Land Management California and the Mendocino National Forest announce the selection of Kay-Leigh Barnitz as the Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument manager. Her career in public service and natural resources spans more than 10 years. She now embraces the challenge of overseeing the management of 330,780 acres of public lands in a region stretching from Napa County to the mountains of the Mendocino National Forest north of Clear Lake.  

“Kay-Leigh is an experienced, dedicated and collaborative leader,” stated BLM Central California District Manager Chris Heppe. “Her extensive knowledge of natural resource management and commitment to community partnerships will benefit the Monument’s scenic and biologically diverse landscapes.” 

“I am extremely pleased to welcome Kay-Leigh to the region,” says Acting Mendocino National Forest Supervisor David Fournier. “I share her excitement for the opportunities here and gratitude for the Monument and the collaboration among our agencies and partners.” 

Barnitz has a strong background in natural resource management at the Monument. Over the last eight years, as the wildlife biologist for the Ukiah Field Office, she was instrumental in restoring and protecting rare ecosystems in the region including those encompassed by the Monument.  

“The Berryessa Snow Mountain National Monument encompasses some of the most spectacular landscapes and diverse ecosystems in the country,” Barnitz said. “I am looking forward to continuing my work with the communities of northern California, our partners, and the visitors to ensure this special place is available for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations.”  

Kay-Leigh is a self-proclaimed, “Woman of the West.” Originally from New Mexico, she was raised in Oregon, and now enjoys life in California. Her permanent career was first spurred by the BLM’s Direct Hire Authority/Resource Assistant Internship program with the Las Cruces District Office in Las Cruces, New Mexico. She values the Western lifestyle and loves hiking, riding horses, running her dogs, hunting, and snowboarding on public lands. She holds a bachelor’s degree in wildlife science from New Mexico State University.

PALM SPRINGS, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management California Desert District has selected Brandon Anderson to serve as the field manager for the Palm Springs – South Coast Field Office. In his role, Anderson oversees the management of about 1.7-million acres of public lands in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and San Diego counties. Anderson started his position on July 15.

“Brandon brings a wealth of experience to the role and has an exceptional ability to build meaningful relationships with stakeholders, local communities, and fellow land managers,” said Shelly Lynch, California Desert District Manager. “We are thrilled to have Brandon lead this field office and his unwavering dedication to public lands makes him an invaluable asset to our team.”

Anderson started his career with the BLM in 2009 as a realty specialist intern for the California State Office, while finishing his degree in finance, real estate, and land use at California State University, Sacramento. He spent five years as a realty specialist working on complex actions such as renewable energy and was a member of the first Roads to Realty cohort that trained new realty specialists in the BLM. After graduating with his master’s degree in urban land development and public policy in 2014, he became a realty specialist and project manager in the Palm Springs – South Coast Field Office.

Anderson most recently spent five years as the BLM California Desert District’s project support assistant district manager, leading the team responsible for managing renewable energy projects across the roughly 11 million acres of public lands managed by the District. During his tenure, he and his team permitted more than 2500 megawatts of renewable energy and pioneered implementation of the first projects covered under the Desert Renewable Energy Conservation Plan.

“I am incredibly grateful to have this opportunity and will work hard to uphold my obligations to the community and team I serve,” said Anderson.

Anderson and his wife are long term residents of the Coachella Valley. Together, they enjoy exploring public lands, including Anderson’s personal favorite places of Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains National Monument, Sand to Snow National Monument, and the California Coastal National Monument. In his personal time, Anderson enjoys finding solitude among the ancient oaks in the Beauty Mountain Wilderness or the twisted slot canyons in the Mecca Hills Wilderness. Anderson has two pups, Huckleberry and Finnegan.
 

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management welcomes Elizabeth Meyer-Shields as the new Deputy State Director, Resources. In her new position, Meyer-Shields will oversee resource and sustainable use programs for 15 million acres of public lands in California.

“I am thrilled to have Liz join our leadership team at the California State Office,” said Acting State Director for BLM California Gordon R. Toevs. “Her expertise and guidance will be critical to fulfilling our mission to manage important natural resources on public lands.”

Meyer-Shields started her federal career in 2009 in the BLM Washington Office as a Presidential Management Fellow in the Division of Decision Support, Planning and NEPA, and in 2011, moved to Sacramento as a Planning and Environmental Coordinator in the California State Office. In 2018, she moved up the hill to the Mother Lode Field Office as field manager. In 2022, Meyer-Shields returned to the California State Office as the Branch Chief for Lands, Planning, Recreation, and Cultural.

Meyer-Shields will oversee programs including wildlife, aquatics, special status species, wild horse and burro, hydrology, ecology, air, range, vegetation management, botany, cultural/paleontological resources, soils, recreation, lands and realty, National Conservation Lands/Wilderness/Wild and Scenic Rivers, land use planning, National Environmental Policy Act compliance, renewable energy (solar and wind), and partnerships.

Meyer-Shields grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, where she fell in love with public lands, hiking, skiing, fishing, and camping.  She attended Oregon State University, where she received a B.S. in Environmental Science and the University of Denver School of Law. In her spare time, Meyer-Shields enjoys watercolor painting and spending time outside with her family.

EL CENTRO, Calif. – The Bureau of Land Management welcomes Matthew Lohr as the new El Centro Field Manager. Lohr will oversee the management of 1.4 million acres of public lands in Imperial and San Diego counties. Lohr started his position on Jan. 29 and succeeds Michael Ryan Chatterton, who vacated the position in 2022.

“We are thrilled to have Matt lead the El Centro Field Office,” Shelly Lynch, California Desert District Manager said. “He brings years of experience working across various levels of government and his previous leadership roles will help him manage the many issues and programs within the field office.”

“I’m excited to join the BLM and work through the unique challenges of managing public land for multiple uses,” Matthew Lohr said.

Lohr has more than 25 years of experience in city, county, special district, and state government. Lohr joins the BLM from California State Parks where he served as sector superintendent. His previous roles also include parks and recreation management and supervision for the city of Riverside, city of Newport Beach, and city of Ceres and parks superintendent for Riverside County Regional Parks & Open Space. He has experience with interpretive services and park maintenance, managing park rangers, collaborating with communities, and managing off-highway vehicle programs. Lohr holds a bachelor’s degree in parks and recreation administration from California State University, Chico, and a master’s degree in public administration from California State University, San Bernadino.

Lohr is an Imperial Valley native from Brawley and is returning to his roots and reuniting with family in the area. In his personal time, he enjoys swimming, hiking, traveling, and volunteering.

The El Centro Field Office has an active recreation program including the popular Imperial Sand Dunes Recreation Area, the largest mass of sand dunes in North America. The field office also has several long-term visitor areas, Tumco Historic Mine, segments of the Juan Bautista de Anza Historic Trail and Pacific Crest Trail; and 12 wilderness areas. For more information visit: https://www.blm.gov/office/el-centro-field-office.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Bureau of Land Management welcomes Jeremiah Karuzas as the new Deputy State Director, Energy and Minerals. In his new position, Karuzas will oversee project and programs that impact the management of 47 million acres of subsurface mineral estates, which includes oil, gas, and geothermal resources on BLM-managed public lands in California. Karuzas will also oversee hard rock mining for metallic and industrial minerals and programs responsible for managing hazardous materials and abandoned mine lands.

“I am thrilled to have Jeremiah join our BLM California leadership team,” said Gordon R. Toevs, Acting State Director for BLM California. “Jeremiah’s institutional knowledge about natural resources will be critical to managing energy and minerals development on public lands.” 

Karuzas began his permanent federal career more than 20 years ago in Arizona with the U.S. Forest Service and has lived in the Sacramento area since 2007. Karuzas started working at the BLM California State Office in 2014, and like many that have made a career with the BLM, he continues to strive to help fulfill BLM’s multi-use mission. Karuzas also served as a Branch Chief in the California State Office Division of Natural Resources, acting BLM Palm Springs-South Coast Field Manager, and led numerous high-profile projects as a wildlife biologist, project manager, and renewable energy program lead. Karuzas also holds a master’s degree from Binghamton University in New York State.

In his personal time, Karuzas enjoys the outdoors and exploring our amazing public lands.