Natural Perspectives:

I got word by e-mail last week that Jeff Stoddard had received a promotion within the Department of Fish and Game and would soon be leaving his position as manager of the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve (Jeff shares responsibilities with Kelly O’Reilly, who manages the newly restored portions of Bolsa Chica). I quickly called him to extend my regrets at losing him and my congratulations on his advancement.

Jeff, Lou and I sat down for a chat over soft drinks Saturday afternoon.

At 28, Jeff’s career with the department is just getting started. He graduated from Humboldt State with a degree in wildlife management and was sent to Bolsa Chica as his rookie assignment with the department. I’d say they threw him into the deep end of the pool.

I’ve heard from other department employees that working in Orange County is not considered a dream job. There is no cost of living premium for state employees and the cost of housing around here is a lot higher than it is in, say, Alturas.

Furthermore, Bolsa Chica is a refuge fraught with problems, from chronic vandalism of fences and signs to the ongoing maelstrom of political controversy that never seems to abate at Bolsa Chica.

Jeff came to Bolsa in December 2006, a few months after the opening of the new tidal inlet in August. When he departs Aug. 24, he will have been here nearly three years. I haven’t kept records, but that seems like about the tenure of Jeff’s predecessors in the management role at Bolsa.

His next assignment will be in the Sacramento area, working with farmers and other landowners who want to improve their wetlands and grasslands for the benefit of wildlife. Hard to imagine, isn’t it?

Lou and I asked him what he thought his major accomplishments had been. He paused for a moment and then reminded us that Bolsa Chica had not been his only responsibility. He was also in charge of the Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve, which has had a multimillion-dollar dredging project going on for several years, as well as smaller areas at Laguna Laurel and Coal Canyon. As a result, he has spent only an average of two days per week at Bolsa for most of his three years.