Hydrologic/Soils Team Member - Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River District

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the US Forest Service, is seeking ONE HYDROLOGIC/SOILS TEAM MEMBER to contribute to the North Yuba River Landscape Resiliency Project (NYLRP) alongside Tahoe National Forest Yuba River Ranger District Staff.

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

Start Date: 06/03/2024

Estimated End Date: 12/02/24

*a 25 week minimum commitment is required *

Location Details/Description: Yuba River Ranger District (Nevada City, California)

The Tahoe National Forest is located in the northern Sierra Nevada (east of Sacramento) and extends from the foothills across the Sierra crest to the California state line. It includes over 850,000 acres of public land interspersed with 350,000 acres of private land in a checkerboard ownership pattern. Rivers, snow-capped peaks and dense forests offer outstanding recreation year-round. A complex set of ecosystems are found as the terrain ascends from 1,500 feet along the western boundary to over 9,000 feet along the crest. The forest provides a variety of resources and opportunities and is managed by the Forest Service.

Nevada City is a vibrant town alongside Grass Valley, CA with excellent access to trails, ski resorts, and world class rafting and swimming holes. Nevada City has a flourishing arts scene, hosts excellent concerts and music festivals, and has many restaurants and shopping areas. The Sacramento metro area is within an hour's drive for urban amenities.

For more information about the Tahoe National Forest, please visit https://www.fs.usda.gov/tahoe

Position Overview: ACE Members will assist with watershed restoration and planning on a priority landscape project within the North Yuba watershed on the Tahoe National Forest. Members will work on inventorying, surveying, and assessing soil and water resources within the project area. Members will work closely with Forest Service hydrologists and soil scientists and may assist other Forest Service staff including botany and wildlife teams. The positions will focus on collecting, organizing, analyzing, and summarizing field data to identify and support watershed restoration projects and ensure commercial timber and fuel reductions projects meet Forest Service watershed objectives.

Field work will include a combination of the following:

• Groundwater dependent ecosystem inventories and surveys
• Road surveys identifying erosional issues
• Organism passage barriers
• Verification or discovery of unauthorized routesSoil disturbance monitoring
• Wetland delineation and classification
• Riparian/wetland soil and botanical surveys
• Stream surveys including flow measurements and functional assessments.

Office work will entail extensive use of GIS software to plan field assignments and organize data. Other data management software including excel and if experienced, Python and/or R, will be used to organize and explore data. Members will occasionally write reports, summaries, and presentations detailing their work in the field and its relation to previous literature.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. Candidates will often work together with other discipline specialists and members to gain an integrated and comprehensive understanding of landscape processes. The Tahoe National Forest manages a large landscape and recognizes the need to better understand growing threats to forest and ecosystem health including catastrophic wildfire. To better cover and understand the landscape our agency turns to its own staff, partner agencies, tribes, and other established relationships. However, the Forest Service often needs to expand its capacity, especially for large projects. As an ACE member, you will provide valuable additional support for Forest project planning and implementation.

Schedule: Will vary depending on the type of work and season/weather. Field work days will be 10 hours and field work weeks will generally consist of 4, 10-hour days. Office work day hours are flexible but based around core hours: 9:00am-5:30pm. There will be frequent field work requiring overnight camping for one or two nights. Occasional, weeklong overnight camping for 3 nights/4 days may be required. Some schedule flexibility is available, but field work schedules will need to accommodate at least two ACE member's and often other Forest Service staff's schedules.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: ACE members will receive a $865.20 weekly living allowance to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. ACE members are expected to contribute 40 hrs/week..

Housing: A Housing Allowance of up to $265/week will be available. Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE. Local candidates are encouraged to apply.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

Gear Allowance: ACE members will have up to $500 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes boots, work pants, hiking socks, and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Training Allowance: ACE members will have up to $500 to spend on eligible training. Eligible trainings must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include wilderness first aid, groundwater dependent ecosystem inventory, properly functioning condition and soil disturbance monitoring.

Qualifications

Competitive applicants for this position will hold a bachelor's degree or higher related to hydrology or soil science (preferred), or a natural resources related degree with relevant experience in subject areas including hydrology, soil science, soil classification, watershed management, riparian ecology/botany, GIS, forested watershed management, range management.

Applicants will also have a deep interest in: Forest and watershed restoration, promoting fire adapted landscapes and ecosystems. Riparian/wetland restoration including restoration of stream channels, meadows, wetlands, and herbaceous and forested riparian ecosystems. Promoting hydrologic connectivity for functioning watersheds and aquatic organism passage.

ACE 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.
• 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.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website https://www.usaconservation.org/epic/#eligibility-requirements.

USFS Preferred:

• Knowledge of: Watershed processes, especially related to forest management.
• Riparian/wetland ecology. Botanical species associated with riparian/wetland areas.
• Ability to write simple, clear narrative detailing and summarizing complex natural resource issues using available data and literature.
• 4x4 off-pavement driving skills and general wilderness and camping skills.
• Strong ability and comfort: Working in demanding outdoor environments that include steep, very steep mountainous terrain, inclement weather, exposure to areas with plants, animals, and insects that may pose a nuisance or threat. Working in and near creeks and rivers and riparian areas. These areas may be thick with brush and woody vegetation and difficult to navigate, stream and creek navigation may require use of waders and wading rod to navigate through currents over wet and uneven submerged terrain.
• GIS and mobile mapping software.
• Data management software (excel, R, Python).
• Ability and willingness to: Work in an office environment, sitting or standing at a desk, in front of a computer, entering, organizing, or analyzing data or writing narrative to summarize findings or support environmental decisions.
• Comfortable using hand tools such as shovels and non-powered saws.

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, walking, hiking, carrying, using hands to handle or feel, reaching with hands and arms, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment. Required to stoop, kneel, climb stairs, and/or crouch. Ability to hike over rough, steep, uneven, and wet terrain, wade through and spend a significant time within stream or river channels, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 30 lbs., ability to move up to 75 pounds.
• Environmental: [Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. Work location is 75% field work and 25% indoor work, but can be subject to change weekly and seasonally.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE member(s) may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: A vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, and will be provided by the Forest Service. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the Forest Service. ACE members may, if they possess or obtain certification and training required by the State of California and the U.S. Forest service, operate a gas or electric powered chainsaw to remove dead and downed trees obstructing work areas as permitted by their qualifications and comfort. Members may be asked to remove dead or downed trees or limbs from work areas using a non-powered saw. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the Forest Service, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to Forest Service and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.

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 Tahoe National Forest Project Coordinator, Al Richert at arichert@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.

Current Openings for Hydrologic/Soils Team Member Tahoe National Forest, Yuba River District Jobs at American Conservation Experience - EPIC