About

Professional Background & Qualifications

Wild Goat Forestry was founded by Isabelle Hoygaard, a licensed Engineering Geologist in Washington and Idaho and a Washington Department of Natural Resources Qualified Expert. Isabelle holds a degree from the University of Washington as a GeoBiologist (geology with a biology emphasis), providing a strong foundation in both earth systems and ecological processes.

Isabelle has more than 20 years of professional experience spanning geologic research, forestry regulation, landslide assessment, and field-based evaluation in forested terrain.

Geology, Landslides & Forest Practices Experience

Isabelle served for ten years as Lead Scientist for the Landslide Section of the Washington Geologic Survey, where her work involved:

• Development of statewide landslide data and mapping programs
  
  

• Leadership on the Washington State Landslide Database
  
  

• Development of predictive tools, including the Shallow Landslide Precipitation Model (NOAA) and the Wildland Debris Flow Model (WSDOT)
  
  

• Technical engagement with federal, state, and local agencies
  
  

• Work at the intersection of science, policy, and public communication
  
  

This role required extensive interaction with policymakers, agency leadership, stakeholders, media, and the public, and provided direct experience navigating the regulatory and political contexts in which geologic decisions are made.

In addition, Isabelle has more than ten years of experience working within Washington DNR Forest Practices, including service across the South Puget Sound, Pacific Cascade, Southeast, and Northeast regions. Her work has involved Forest Practices Board processes, CMER participation, UPSAG involvement, and applied regulatory implementation in varied forested landscapes.

Wildland Fire Experience

In parallel with her geologic and forestry work, Isabelle has more than a decade of experience in wildland fire, including engine and field operations, fire investigation, and service on Incident Management Teams in roles such as Public Information Officer (PIO) and Geographic Information Systems Specialist (GISS).

This experience informs post-fire erosion and slope stability assessment work and contributes to a practical understanding of disturbance processes, emergency response environments, and landscape change following wildfire.

Wildland fire work is not a primary service of Wild Goat Forestry, but it provides valuable context for hazard evaluation and land-use decisions in fire-affected terrain.

About the Founder

• Isabelle lives and works in the Orient area of Ferry County, Washington, where she and her husband, Robin, operate a small goat ranch. In addition to her professional practice, Isabelle conducts applied research in goat management and landscape restoration, with a focus on noxious plant control and post-disturbance recovery.

• While this work is not the primary focus of Wild Goat Forestry’s consulting services, it reflects a broader commitment to land stewardship, field observation, and practical management approaches. Educational materials and presentations related to this work are available elsewhere on the site.

• Isabelle’s professional and personal work share a common foundation: respect for rugged landscapes, careful observation, and an understanding that sound land-use decisions depend on both technical rigor and real-world experience.