Getting to Know : Joey Algiers, Restoration Ecologist of the Santa Monica Mountain NCRA

Author: Anthony Dant

Joey Algiers is a restoration Ecologist who has worked with the National Park Service for almost 16 years. He began his career working with a graduate student in the park who was involved in restoration work which included the restoration of endangered plant species in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. After a fire in 2005 within the park, he was recruited to be a biological technician with the National Park Service(NPS). After obtaining his undergraduate and master's degree in biology, he worked in securing a position he has now as a restoration ecologist with the NPS in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area.

Joey Algiers in the field.

What are some of Joey's roles as a restoration ecologist in the Santa Monica Mountains?

Joey wears multiple hats in his role as restoration ecologist in the NPS. The first and foremost is the restoration of the Santa Monica Mountains. He often oversees the land management of about 4,000 acres in the park which includes roles like invasive plant removal, native planting events, and the care for the NPS's native plant nursery. He also surveys the park to determine sensitive areas which may be vulnerable to biodiversity loss. However, this is only the first part of his job. Another portion of job includes the securing of funds for these projects. Joey is also a passionate scientific communicator who creates many community outreach events for volunteers to participate in restoration efforts. A lot of Joey's work is focused on youth within Los Angeles who do not have easy access to green space and developing methods for them be involved in restoration efforts within the mountains.

" We try to think of ways to make sure that we're reaching everyone. So everyone knows the park is there for them, and that they can experience it just like everyone else." - Joey on park accessibility.

Joey being helped by his two daughters at a restoration event.

There was recently a large fire in the Santa Monica Mountains in November 2018, could you talk about your experience dealing with that event?

Joey reflected on how this fire started right when he was at the 2018 CALIPC symposium. This was the largest recorded fire within the Santa Monica Mountains in terms of acres burned. His initial concerns after the fire were invasive species gaining a foothold within sensitive areas. Nutrient rich soil post fire invites good habitat for native plants adapted to fire in Southern California, but also provides opportunities for invasive plant species to colonize these areas. Joey and the NPS were able to assemble a team which helped minimize the damage of the fire from a restoration perspective. This team was able to survey about 4,000 acres and able to treat about 1,800 acres within the mountains. While this is a remarkable success, Joey highlighted that fires are becoming more frequent in the park and risk converting shrub land into annual invasive grassland habitat.

" The Woolsey fire was rather shocking. No other fire has burned that much of the Santa Monica Mountains. About 90% of National Park Service land was burned due to this single fire."

Map of the Woolsey fire over the National Recreation Area boundary

What are some of Joey's goals as a scientific communicator within the park?

Joey works with numerous volunteers across Ventura and LA counties. A project he is overseeing is to plant over 100,000 native plants within the Santa Monica Mountains over the course of two years. This effort is partnered through the Rewild project ( a link to their organization is shown here : https://www.therewildproject.com ), whose mission is to help restore native habitat around the world while connecting people with nature. In addition to this, the NPS has partnered with local nonprofit organizations like Community Nature Connection ( a link to their website is found here : https://www.communitynatureconnection.org) which helps provide opportunities for youth in Los Angeles to help volunteer in restoration efforts in the mountains. He also discussed the park's current connections with local universities like UCLA, CSU Northridge, and CSU Channel Islands in helping students secure capstone projects and experience in the park.

"We're constantly looking to make new partnerships and trying to figure out how to provide the public, primarily youth and an unrepresented groups, with experience and with access to the parks."

Joey Algiers at a restoration event checking on plants which were planted by volunteers

What is your advice for people interested in working in the national Park service?

Joey described how volunteering at restoration events is a great option to begin with for people who are just starting out to help better understand the kind of job you would be doing. Joey's role as a land manager in the NPS has him work with many different people outside the realm of the biological sciences, so being able to communicate science outside of academic spaces is also something to consider for people interested in working with federal programs. Alternatively, working with nonprofit organizations who have partnerships with the NPS is also a way which people can become involved with the NPS. Joey also mentions that the park often can provide students opportunities to work part time at the park while pursuing a degree, which is what Joey did for his undergraduate and eventually master's degree.

How do you stay positive in your work as a restoration ecologist and land manager in regards to the environment?

Seeing the programs and partnerships he has built over the years is something that helps Joey remain optimistic for his restoration work. He also described how his work has already begun to have an impact on both the environment and local communities interested in nature. The work accomplished already in the park helps him see that people are inspired to make long lasting change in the natural world.

" It can be discouraging and disheartening. But I think the main thing that keeps me positive about the work that I do is that I see the results."

Finally I asked Joey what his favorite native plant is and his least favorite invasive plant.

His favorite plant is the chocolate lily (Fritillaria biflora) due to is short blooming time and effort needed to find it during its flowering season. His least favorite invasive plant is Carnation Spurge (Euphorbia terracina) due to the need for relentless removal throughout the year.

Euphorbia terracina

Fritillaria biflora

If you are interested in working along side Joey and the rest of the Santa Monica Mountain National Recreation Area, they are partnering with the Rewilding organization who is helping the NPS to plant over 100,000 native plants in the Santa Monica Mountains over 2 years. Joey and his team have volunteer events on most Fridays and Saturdays which are welcome to everyone ( you also can take home a free plant after!) Links and schedules to these events can be found here at the SAMO fund : https://www.samofund.org/outdoors-calendar or by emailing volunteer inquires at samo_volunteer@nps.gov.