Johanna Kovarik

Hello Everyone! I’ve worked for the Forest Service for over 15 years, and I just recently became a District Ranger on the Paulina Ranger District of the Ochoco National Forest in Central Oregon. We have a unique volcanic landscape full of wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, and tons of space for you to come hike, bike, hunt, fish, paddle, and explore! I become fascinated with public lands through the portal of caves – I was a Student Conservation Association intern with the National Park Service at Carlsbad Caverns. Through working on the Tongass National Forest in southeast Alaska as a hydrologist and geologist, I became interested in the dynamics between people and underground resources. Following that interest, I did a Masters in Geoscience, and went on to get a PhD in Geoscience and Environmental Science and Policy. I have gotten to study caves in Mexico, China, the Philippines, and tons of cool places in the U.S. on public lands. Often you will find my husband and I caving, but when we are on the surface we enjoy climbing, skiing, gardening, and hanging out with our two cats, Franklin and Percy.