Kurnath named head of Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River

A new superintendent, Lindsey Kurnath, has been named at the Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River (UPDE). Her appointment was announced November 29 by National Park Service (NPS) Northeast Regional Director Gay Vietzke.

The UPDE consists of a 73.4-mile corridor of the Delaware River, in Pennsylvania and New York state.

“Lindsey knows how to bring people together to share common interests,” said Vietzke in a press release issued by the NPS. “She values the experience and expertise of park staff and community members and inspires others to work towards common goals. Her experience and energy make her a great fit for the job.”

"I am thrilled to join the park team at Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River,” Kurnath stated. “I look forward to strengthening and growing the park’s relationship with the Upper Delaware Council along with neighbors and members of the community, so that we can work collaboratively and creatively to protect the unique natural, cultural, scenic and recreational resources of the Upper Delaware River. The park team is exceptional, and I am excited to learn from the talented and dedicated employees as we begin our work together."

Of interest:Doyle Sapp named superintendent of Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Kurnath's most previous Park Service assignment was at Fire Island National Seashore, where she has served as deputy superintendent since 2020. The press release states that at Fire Island she strengthened relationships with park partners and stakeholders and coached division chiefs to work as a cohesive, interdisciplinary team to address strategic issues and opportunities. She also served for four months as acting superintendent.

She came to that job from Mount Rainier National Park in Washington state, where she served as chief of Administration and Business Management, uniting a team of previously unconnected programs into one highly functional division. Kurnath began her NPS career in 2010 as a management analyst for the Business Management Group in Washington, DC.

Kurnath holds both a Master of Environmental Management and a Master of Public Policy from Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She also holds a Bachelor of Science in biology from Boston College.

Originally from western New York state, Kurnath anticipates spending time outside, enjoying the many recreational opportunities along the Delaware River, the Catskills and the Poconos. An avid hiker, cyclist and rock climber, she is looking forward to exploring the area with her dog, the NPS release states.

The superintendent's position became vacant July 26 with the unexpected death of Superintendent Joseph Salvatore. An Acting Superintendent, Kara Deutsch, who works at the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, was temporarily assigned to the UPDE in the fall until January 21, 2023 unless a permanent superintendent was appointed by then.

The UPDE was established in 1980 as a unit of the National Park Service with the distinction that the vast majority remains in control of local property owners. The NPS owns only 30.4 acres out of the 55,575 acres of the corridor for which the agency has management responsibility under the federal Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.

The nonprofit Upper Delaware Council (UDC) was formed in 1988 as a coalition of the 15 member townships and towns and the five counties sharing the Upper Delaware, the two member states (PA and NY), the Delaware River Basin Commission (non-voting member) and its partnership with the NPS. The role of the UDC is to oversee the implementation and administration of the River Management Plan under which the members agree to protect the resources of the UPDE. The superintendent or her NPS representative participates in the monthly UDC meetings, which are open to the public.

Kurnath is the eighth permanent superintendent named at the UPDE and only the second female in that position, although others have served on an interim basis. The roster has been: John Hutzky 1980-1995; Calvin Hite 1995-2001; David Forney 2002-2008; Vidal Martinez 2008-2009; Sean McGuiness 2010-2014; Kristina Heister 2014-2020; Joseph Salvatore 2020-2022.

For more information about the UPDE, visit: nps.gov/upde

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: NPS names new head of Upper Delaware Scenic and Recreational River