Eva Larson – Employee Of The Month
Our SAMO Fund employee of the month is Eva Larson, Archeologist Technician who has been working with National Park Service since 2007 and with Santa Monica Mountains Fund since 2020.
For 40 years, Eva, a Navajo Nation member, has called the Santa Monica Mountains home. During her time here, she has actively engaged with various local Native American communities, including the Chumash and Tongva, alongside many other tribes present in the Greater Los Angeles area.
On a typical workday, Eva will go out on survey, meaning she goes to examine the land and creates comprehensive research reports on her findings. She plays a crucial role in supporting archaeological research by assisting archaeologists in all stages of the archaeological process, from fieldwork to analysis and interpretation.
Eva most enjoys going out into the field with a team. “It’s definitely more fun, and one of the many things I enjoy about this job,” she says.
When asked about some of her most notable experiences, Eva remembers the fires that happened throughout her time at SAMO Fund, and the incredible amount of effort and care it took to rebuild afterwards.
“I've worked through a number of fires, most notably was the Corelle fire in 2007 that hit Solstice Canyon. Then there was a spring fire in 2013. There was a desert fire and then most recently the Wolsey Fire.”
Eva believes that while fires are an ecological threat to the Santa Monica Mountains, environmental stewardship empowers us to take preventive measures and act quickly after disaster strikes. She also hopes that hikers and adventurers obey park rules and recommendations back staying on trails and not wandering too far off the beaten path.
“On a local level, I do see people venture off trail, which, given our environment, can be unhealthy for the park because it creates new pathways that can potentially degrade archeological sites. There’s already so much beauty on the existing trails, people should stay on those.”
Eva also encourages people on hikes to pick up trash that they see along the way, especially helium balloons. “Maintain the integrity of the environment around you; leave it better than you found it,” she says.
When asked about what she likes most about working for SAMO Fund, Eva says the flexibility of being able to be close with her family. “It helps a lot,” she says.