Supporter Spotlight: Dan Hintz
This month, we are proud to feature Dan Hintz, Urban Forest Supervisor with the City of Issaquah. A passionate advocate for public land conservation, Dan collaborates with IATC to engage the community in restoring he Issaquah Alps for future generations.
Dan leading a forest health hike for IATC’s community. Photo courtesy of City of Issaquah
By Dan Hintz
I began my career as a restoration specialist with the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust in the spring of 2016. It didn’t take long before I was introduced to the Issaquah Alps Trails Club (IATC) and learned about the history of IATC members organizing the first “Mountains to Sound March” in 1990, a pivotal call to action for public land conservation along the I-90 corridor. Understanding this history only deepened my appreciation for the Issaquah Alps, and I was inspired to start leading hikes on Tradition Plateau as part of IATC’s Hikes with a Purpose program. I led my first hike in 2021, focusing on native plant identification, and I’ve led over two dozen IATC hikes since. I truly enjoy engaging with and sharing my knowledge with the IATC community.
Currently, I serve as the Urban Forest Supervisor with the City of Issaquah’s Parks and Community Services Department. In this role, I see myself as both a partner (through my city work) and a volunteer for IATC. I’ve been in this position for about a year and a half, and it’s been an incredible experience to help build Issaquah’s first urban forestry program. This involves developing the city’s first Urban Forest Management Plan, which will serve as a ten-year roadmap for growing the program, as well as implementing our Green Issaquah volunteer and environmental education program. Additionally, I work across city departments to manage public trees in Issaquah. My main connection with IATC is through Green Issaquah, and we are fortunate to have IATC as a partner in this effort. IATC leads numerous volunteer events at Issaquah parks and open spaces, and we’re lucky to have two amazing forest stewards, Anne Newcomb and Matt LaBelle, helping us lead the way.
Dan Hintz at Park Pointe during Green Issaquah Day’s planting event. Photo courtesy of City of Issaquah
I’m a firm believer that everyone should have access to nature and public lands. We are lucky to live in a region with so many public lands, but I also recognize that this access didn’t come about by chance. My commitment to conservation is inspired by the many people who came before me and dedicated their efforts to preserving the Issaquah Alps. I have been fortunate to learn from numerous mentors associated with IATC, the Greenway Trust, and the city who continue to inspire me. I also believe that conservation is just the first step—restoration, stewardship, and responsible recreation are essential next steps, and this is where my passion and experience are most deeply rooted.
Dan Hintz, as a panelist at IATC’s 2023 Public Forum on Forest Carbon and Carbon Credits. Pictured (L-R): Kelly Jiang, Dan Hintz, Mark McPherson, and Kahtleen Farley Wolf.
Throughout the years, I’ve had the privilege of working on many restoration projects, but those along Issaquah Creek are the ones that have been my favorite. I’ve been involved in creekside restoration for nearly a decade, and witnessing the transformation and regrowth of riparian forests has been incredibly rewarding. There have been numerous in-stream restoration projects led by the city, county, and the Greenway Trust that continue to improve habitat for salmon. Issaquah boasts one of the region’s strongest and longest histories of riparian restoration. If you walk through some of the 25-year-old forests, most people would never guess they were once cow pastures overrun with blackberry brambles and grass.
I’m particularly excited to be working with IATC on the development of a Miyawaki Forest on Issaquah Creek in 2025. We plan to plant a dense, diverse “micro forest” on a small city parcel on Dogwood Street, engaging the community through volunteer opportunities and educational initiatives. I’m also looking forward to seeing the Mountains to Sound Greenway’s in-stream restoration project at Lake Sammamish State Park come to life next summer.
Dan giving planting tips during Arbor Day. Photo courtesy of Nicole Assumpcao
Most of my hiking takes place within the West Tiger Mountain NRCA, and my favorite trail is the Ruth Kees Big Tree Trail. Having an ancient Douglas fir tree, several hundred years old, located within city limits—and only a couple of miles from my home—is a constant reminder of why I do this work. While it’s difficult to acknowledge how much old-growth forest we’ve lost, and how quickly it happened, that tree stands as a symbol of the importance of conservation and habitat restoration. It’s what drives my work and reminds me of the legacy we’re trying to create and preserve for future generations.
When I’m not working or hiking, I look forward to rainy walks around Issaquah, as well as getting some ski days in at Crystal Mountain and with my dad in Colorado.
Check out our events calendar to join Dan and Green Issaquah at our next restoration event!