ACE: Riparian Monitoring Member, Burns BLM Field Office
Summary:
The American Conservation Experience, a nationwide Non-Profit Conservation Corps based in Flagstaff, AZ and Salt Lake City, Utah in partnership with the Burns BLM District Office is seeking a TWO Riparian Monitoring Member(s) to dedicate 22 weeks to assist in completing a variety of monitoring tasks associated with ecological conditions and riparian area management.
The BLM will strive to provide the members with opportunities to shadow conservation professionals to learn about multiple ecological disciplines and develop a variety of skills while learning about multiple uses in rural America. While specific training will be provided, a foundational knowledge of riparian plant identification is required for this position.
This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a deep interest in advancing their career goals in ecology, botany, riparian/fisheries management, rangeland management, weed management, or wildlife management.
Start Date: April-June 2022 potential for flexibility
End Date: *Dependent on start date, A minimum 22-week commitment is required *
Location: Hines, Oregon
The Burns District is located in southeastern Oregon, extending from the Oregon-Nevada border on the south into the Blue Mountains on the north, a distance of nearly 200 miles. There are over 3.36 million acres of public land and it is divided into two Field Offices: Three Rivers, roughly 1.68 million acres in the northern portion of the District; and Andrews/Steens, 1.68 million acres of public land in the south. Within the District boundary there are also large areas of private, other Federal and State lands. The Burns District is in the Northern Great Basin, which has a high-desert climate and is dominated by sagebrush habitats, including over 1 million acres of Wilderness and Wilderness Study Area. Hiking, hunting, fishing, camping, horseback riding, bird watching, and many other outdoor activities can be found throughout the county.
Northern Paiutes or their ancestors, have lived in the region for thousands of years. Since the arrival of Euro-Americans in the 19th century, cattle ranching and other forms of agriculture have dominated land use in the area. In addition to ranching, a variety of private and public enterprises support the Burns-Hines economy in the 21st century. Annual events include a migratory bird festival, a gravel bike race, the county fair, and a country music jamboree.
The Burns/Hines area has a population of just over 4,000 people, and is home to about 60 percent of the people in the sparsely populated Harney County, which is by area the largest in Oregon and the ninth largest in the United States. Burns/Hines has all required amenities including multiple grocery stores, restaurants, vehicle service stations, coffee shops, banks, a movie theater, and other local businesses that provide multiple goods and services. As Burns/Hines is a small community, additional amenities can be found approximately 2.5 hours west Bend, OR and 3 hours east in Boise, Idaho. The closest commercial airport is located in Redmond, OR.
Project Website:
For more information about Burns District Office please visit https://www.blm.gov/office/burns-district-office for further location details.
Living Allowance:
The member should anticipate serving 40 hrs/wk and will receive a living allowance of $575 /wk for food and incidentals, dispersed bi-weekly.
Housing: The members will be responsible to find their own housing. There is limited public bus service within the Burns/Hines area. While bike commuting may be a reasonable option in town. A car is necessary to enjoy the majority of the region.
COVID-19:
- ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
- Responsibility to act in the best interest of the communities in which we work: We travel and work in many rural communities that should feel confident we are not bringing Covid-19 with us. We do not intend to increase the burden on rural healthcare providers, emergency services and search and rescue personnel and believe that ensuring the safety of our members and staff extends to the communities we work for, and interact with.
Public Land Corps Special Hiring Authority: ACE Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a special hiring authority upon completion of their Term Of Service.
Position Description: Work schedules will generally be four 10-hour days during the field season and five 8-hour days during the remainder of the year, with weekends off. This will be primarily a field going position. Elevation ranges from 3,500 to 9,700 feet and temperatures range from a high of over 100 degrees in the summer to a low of below 0 degrees in the winter. Average annual rainfall is approximately 11 inches, with 22 inches average snowfall. Much of the terrain is steep and uneven. Vegetation ranges from forests dominated by Ponderosa Pine to sage-brush systems with interspersed riparian areas and meadows. Ticks are common, especially in grassy or shrubby areas. Some field locations have poor or no cell-phone reception; however, the BLM will supply two-way radios with excellent coverage and dispatch support. Most BLM roads are natural dirt- or gravel-surfaced.
Members will be able to participate in a variety of riparian monitoring related tasks that support multiple disciplines on the district; some upland monitoring may also occur. Tasks may vary day to day and will be conducted as a team with other ACE Members or working with BLM specialists. On occasion ACE Members may work alone.
Project Background and Objectives: This position will support the Burns District's natural resource programs, specifically the fisheries and riparian programs, though ACE Members may assist in other programs as well. The work will be in support of various activities taking place on the district, including range, restoration, wildlife, and fuels projects.
Position responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Water temperature monitoring
- Photo monitoring
- Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) of stream channels
- Greenline monitoring
- Proper Functioning Condition (PFC) of lotic and lentic systems
- Utilization monitoring
- Browse monitoring
- Use supervision
- Weed documentation/monitoring
- Project inspection
- Project repair
- Data Entry
Training Provided: The members can expect to learn (or improve upon) the following skills - plant identification, use of a GPS (Global Positioning System) unit and GIS (Geographic Information System) software, and multiple vegetation survey and monitoring techniques. In addition, the Members will have opportunities to interact with a variety of BLM specialists (including range, wildlife, weeds, and riparian/fisheries specialists) and learn about public land management issues.
Qualifications: Applicants will hold (or be pursuing) at least a bachelor's degree in a natural resource field, and have some experience with plant identification, either in the field or through coursework. This is a demanding outdoor job that requires substantial physical fitness and mobility, participation in the field, and a tolerance for extreme weather and demanding conditions.
ACE Requirements:
- Members must be US Citizen or Permanent Resident, as required to comply with U.S. government contracts.
- Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check is required.
- Must have a valid driver's license, clean driving record with ability to provide required documentation; Driving record checks will be completed during on-boarding process.
- Ability to drive an Agency or ACE [TJAM2] vehicle is required for this position.
Required for Position:
- Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner
- Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation
- Proven ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group
- Must be able to communicate clearly and concisely with resource professionals
- ACE is a drug free workplace and reserves the right to drug test at any time
- Members must have experience with plant identification in an academic and/or field setting.
Preferred:
- Applicants for the position must hold or be pursuing a minimum of a Bachelor's Degree and/or have relevant experience in subject areas such as riparian area management, fisheries, rangeland management, ecology, plant identification, or natural resources.
- Knowledge of riparian vegetation.
- Ability and willingness to learn new skills while being able to be self-motivated and have flexibility.
- Deep interest in ecology and riparian or rangeland management, including working with and interacting with public land users including ranchers.
The member must be willing to represent ACE and the BLM in a professional, positive and enthusiastic manner.
To Apply:
Please submit a resume, cover letter, and 3 professional references using the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right hand corner of the position listing on our website here: https://usaconservationepic.applicantpool.com/jobs/
Note:
Early consideration will be given as applications are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact the Member Manager, Celia Demers at cdemers@usaconservation.org or 385-226-1260.
EEO:
American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EO) to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics. In addition to federal law requirements, American Conservation Experience complies with applicable state and local laws governing non-discrimination in employment in every location in which the company has facilities.