DHA Cultural Resource Team Member, USBR Columbia-Cascades Area Office

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Bureau of Recreation, the Bureau of Land Management, the US Forest Service, and the National Park Service, is seeking one Cultural Resource Team Member to contribute to the cultural resource project alongside the US Bureau of Reclamation Staff.

The Direct Hiring Authority, Reclamation's Resource Assistant Internship (DHA- RAI) Program provides a pathway for successful participants to be non-competitively hired to permanent positions who have successfully completed a rigorous 11-week Summer Internship. After successful completion of the program and subsequently achieving their degree, the participants have two years from their graduation date to non-competitively be appointed to a vacancy for which they qualify.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Start Date: 05/22/2023

Estimated End Date: 09/07/2023

*a [11-week]minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: The Columbia Cascades Area Office (CCAO) is in Reclamation's Pacific Northwest Region and has its headquarters in Yakima, Washington. Originally conceived under the Reclamation Act of 1902 as a means to help settle the West by providing infrastructure for agricultural development, the Reclamation program focused on the construction of dams and facilities to store and convey water. As the potential for additional project purposes were identified by the states and local entities, Congress supplemented the Reclamation Act to add hydropower production, flood control, municipal and industrial water, recreation, and fish and wildlife enhancement to the list of authorized project purposes.

Today, Reclamation projects continue to support this multipurpose mission. And, as the demand for water increases, Reclamation is improving its water management expertise and expanding partnerships with states, Native American tribes, local communities, and other Federal agencies to meet the increased demand for water. Existing projects are being modified to meet the changing needs and desires of society, to support economic development, to enhance environmental benefits, and to continue to ensure public safety.

For more information about the US Bureau of Reclamation, please visit https://www.usbr.gov/pn/ccao/

Position Overview: The position offers the opportunity to gain comprehensive experience in key areas of the cultural resource management field, establish working relationships with Reclamation employees and staff at key state and federal agencies, and author professional-quality report documents, including a survey report .

Position Description:

The project will include the survey and recordation of historic resources associated with the Roza Division of the Yakima Project. The project is located within the Columbia-Cascades Area Office (CCAO) of the Columbia-Pacific Northwest Region. The first component of the project is the survey and recordation of all bridges on the Roza Division of the Yakima Project. Following field survey, the ACE Member will prepare a survey report detailing results and findings and create or update Historic Property Inventory (HPI) forms for all identified historic-age bridges in the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation's database. The second component is the preparation of Washington Level III recordation of Roza Wasteway No. 3 Farm Bridges No. 1 and 2. The ACE Member will also complete additional duties as required within the cultural resources program. The project will provide clearly defined goals and offer the opportunity to develop key professional skills such as scheduling and time management, fieldwork, independent research, and technical writing. Work is anticipated to be approximately 80% office work to 20% fieldwork.

Project Objective:

• Project objectives are focused on critical thinking and real-world problem solving in order to result in the creations of measurable project deliverables. The project centers around the following objectives:
• Complete a survey of all bridges on the Roza Division of the Yakima Project.
• Prepare a survey report detailing findings of that survey, including recommendations of resource eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places.
• Create or update HPI forms in WISAARD database for all historic-age bridges identified during the survey
• Prepare Washington Level III recordation of Roza Wasteway No. 3 Farm Bridges No. 1 and 2.

Stakeholder Exposure:

This project offers exposure for the ACE Member to a number of stakeholders, including irrigation districts and state agencies (such as the Washington Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation) as part of scheduled meetings between irrigation districts and CCAO staff. Attending these stakeholder meetings will allow the ACE Member to observe and participate in the dialogue between Reclamation staff and the irrigation districts and agency employees with whom they work closely.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

Schedule:

Week 1: Project orientation, preliminary background research, meeting with DAHP staff to discuss survey project, safety and vehicle training if required. (Can be done remotely)

Week 2: Orientation at CCAO (if arriving on site); RLS fieldwork preparation; preliminary research using CCAO physical files. (Must be done on site)

Week 3: Fieldwork for RLS and Washington Level III recordation of Roza Wasteway No. 3 Farm Bridges No. 1 and 2. (Must be done on site)

Week 4: Additional fieldwork as needed; fieldwork data processing; research using CCAO physical files. (Must be done on site)

Week 5: Final in-person research; any final fieldwork; RLS report writing. (Must be done on site)

Week 6: RLS report writing. (Can be done remotely)

Week 7: Mid-term Evaluation. Preliminary RLS report review by Reclamation staff. Washington Level III writing for Roza Wasteway No. 3 Farm Bridges No. 1 and 2. (Can be done remotely)

Week 8: Editing of RLS report; HPI preparation for historic-age bridges in RLS. (Can be done remotely)

Week 9: HPI preparation for historic-age bridges in RLS. (Can be done remotely)

Week 10: Finalization of HPI forms and Washington Level III recordation; Reclamation staff review of forms and Level III report. (Can be done remotely)

Week 11: Final Evaluation. Closeout tasks, submittal of survey report, HPI forms, and Washington Level IIIs to DAHP. (Can be done remotely)

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the US Bureau of Reclamation and ACE and not flexible.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or the US Bureau of Land Management.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, and networks for support. Information Management and Technology (IMT) Awareness Training; NSC Defensive Driving Course.

Qualifications

Required:

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Knowledge of Microsoft suite applications (Word, Excel, Access)
• Knowledge of historic architecture and irrigation systems or desire/willingness to learn
• Undergraduate-level classes in history, architectural history, archaeology, anthropology, historic preservation, or closely-related fields.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check .
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Able and willing to work outdoors in varying weather conditions and capable of participating in sustained physical labor and ability to hike 1 mile over rough terrain and carry up to 40 lbs
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.
• Must be currently enrolled in an undergraduate degree program

Preferred:

• Knowledge of National Historic Preservation Act regulations and National Register of Historic Places eligibility requirements.
• Experience using a digital camera to record cultural resources.
• Effective communication skills with resource specialists, colleagues, and the public
• A desire to enter the conservation field as a cultural resource professional
• Experience in various field data collection methods using standard protocols
• Experience and skill with technical writing and self-directed historic research

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the US Bureau of Reclamation or ACE.

To Apply: Please submit your resume, a cover letter demonstrating your interest and experience, and contact information for three professional/academic references to the online application page for this position here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/. Early consideration will be given as resumes are received. This position may close at any time. If you have any questions regarding this position please feel free to contact Recruitment & Division Support Coordinator, Anna Calliham at acalliham@usaconservation.org.

EEO: American Conservation Experience provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) 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.

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