Natural Resource Management Internships with the Bureau of Land Management - Direct Hiring Authority

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Non-Profit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management is seeking Natural Resource Management - Direct Hire Authority Interns interested in dedicating 11 weeks in support of BLM. This internship opportunity is intended to provide individuals from diverse and underrepresented backgrounds professional experience and exposure to public service and lands management.

A Direct-Hire Authority (DHA) internship is perhaps the most effective tool currently available to agencies seeking to expedite the hiring of qualified students in positions quickly. It is a competitive and rigorous project based internship that sets the foundation toward finding a full time position directly with a government agency. The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and ACE EPIC are looking to engage the next generation of conservation stewards from diverse and unique viewpoints with particular attention to African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, Native American, and Hispanic students. The program will raise awareness of our public lands, their accessibility, and the need for community involvement in their preservation.

Please apply ASAP! The first round of application review will occur on March 16th. So please apply before then. However, if you are unable to meet that deadly, We strongly encourage you still apply and please reach out to Josh Haussler at jhaussler@usaconservation.org. We will continue rolling reviews of applications until all positions are filled.

For more information about BLM DHA internships, please visit https://www.blm.gov/careers/students-and-grads/direct-hire-program

**Please note: This opportunity is only available to current students at the end of the program. Unfortunately any students graduation before August 2023 do not qualify and cannot be considered.

Start Date: June 2023

End Date: August (11 weeks after start date)

Compensation: $700-$800/wk. Compensation is dependent on education level (Undergraduate/Graduate).

Relocation Reimbursement: We can reimburse up to $1000 of costs associated with moving to and from the internship location.

Housing Assistance: Housing assistance up to $175 per week is available upon request and demonstration of need.

Positions and Locations: (These locations / descriptions may have changed, so please double check the descriptions posted in our application portal listed below)

Ukiah, CA (In-Person)

The South Cow Mountain OHV Recreation Management Area has been affected by multiple landscape scale fires in the last several years. Updated survey is needed to inventory new and existing weeds infestations that affect sensitive vegetation communities. The updated inventories will help resource staff inform decision makers for the proposed South Cow Mountain Implementation Plan and help inform any future projects within the management area. The individual(s) will collect data and update the VMAP for the Ukiah Field Office. The Ukiah Field Office works collaboratively with the CA State Parks OHV Grants Program to implement projects throughout the area. These surveys are necessary to provide accurate, updated information for the Habitat Management Plans submitted as a part of this collaboration. This project would help the Ukiah Field Office work to restore resilient landscapes in the face of climate change, a priority for the BLM.

Bakersfield, CA (In-Person)

The Carrizo Plain National Monument (CPNM) hosts populations of Tule Elk and Pronghorn and the lack of water on the landscape is thought to be a limiting factor for these animals to use all of the available habitat and sustain herd sizes. For over a century, sheep and cattle ranching has existed on this landscape and numerous water wells and associated water troughs are present and functional within the monument. The CPNM is increasing the number of functional wildlife water troughs across the landscape in an effort to allow Tule Elk and Pronghorn to utilize more of the available habitat, instead of congregating at the present limited water sources. Wildlife cameras will be installed and monitored to record water trough usage. Regular weekly visits will be performed to ensure battery and memory card functionality as well as weekly download of photos which will be named and sorted accordingly. Possibility to work on other wildlife projects as time and interest allows.

Grand Junction, CO (In-Person)

The goal of this project is to develop Education Plans for the McInnis Canyons and Dominguez Escalante National Conservation Areas. The Education Plan will identify the educational mission of the NCAs, define a strategy for accomplishing the education goals of the NCAs, develop education protocols that enable BLM to assist participants in learning more about the area's unique and important resources and values, develop a greater appreciation for and stewardship of the natural and cultural resources in the NCAs, and develop greater appreciation of the historical interaction of human activities with the NCA's landscape. This project will help the NCAs accomplish goals outlined in the Dominguez Escalante ARMP and the McInnis Canyons ARMP (formally known as the Colorado Canyons ARMP).

Carlsbad, NM (In-Person)

The intern would be taught the beginning processes and application of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). They would also learn about working within an interdisciplinary team environment, consisting of Biologists, Botanists, Archaeologists, Range Management Specialists, Hydrologists, Cave and Karst Specialists, GIS Specialists, Reality Specialist, and NEPA Planners. This interdisciplinary team would help to teach the intern about natural resources in the field office as well as how they are managed following the BLM's Multiple Use Mission. Over the course of the internship, the intern will take on some of the responsibilities of a "Project Lead" with guidance from their mentor. This may include participating in an on-site inspection with industry and necessary resource staff, writing a NEPA document and coordinating with resource staff to ensure that all required mitigation measures and COA's are included, and project discussion during one of the weekly NEPA meeting. The intern would help coordinate, participate, and/or lead on the ground inspections of proposed surface disturbing activities associated with oil and gas development and/or other land uses with the goal of minimizing surface disturbance and overall impacts to natural and cultural resources. Surface disturbing activities includes well pad locations, roads, pipelines and other activities needed to produce oil and gas. The intern would also help conduct environmental surface inspections of oil and gas operations and/or surface use authorization for the purpose of determining compliance with applicable laws and regulations, lease terms, onshore oil and gas orders. The intern will also accompany resource staff and other NRS staff in the field to learn and understand resource concerns related to oil and gas activities. Once the intern has an understanding of NEPA concepts, they will assist the Surface Protection department in creating a curriculum that would be primarily used to educate operators and third-party companies. The goal of the curriculum would be to give external organizations a better concept of multiple-use, BLM BMPs, and ultimately what to include in their applications to best guide NEPA analysis.

Hines, OR (In-Person)

This position would entail gathering information about required monitoring and updating the Burns District monitoring plans(s). The intern would be required to research each resource, determining what elements need to be monitored (and reporting in the case of T&E species) per policy and what monitoring isn't specifically required, but is important to that resource specialist on the Burns District. This data would then be compared to the current Burns District monitoring plans, and plans would be updated as appropriate. Updating a monitoring plan would result in the district ensuring they are meeting all policies for monitoring and reporting, which is important for many resources. Having an up to date plan would also make it easier for new employees to know what monitoring and reporting is expected of them for their resource.

North Bend, OR (In-Person)

We are proposing a pilot project in the Umpqua field office to provide green standing trees for personal use firewood. We have identified five stands in the Blue Ridge area near the town of Coos Bay that are densely stocked, 30 year old plantations that are not currently commercially viable for saw timber, but would provide excellent, and nearby sources of firewood for the local community. We have several NEPA mechanisms in place to allow for this project already, depending on final project specifications: the road maintenance, special forest products, and young stand management categorical exclusions. The intent of this project is to provide a much needed local resource for the public, as well as an opportunity for a new forester to learn the basics of sale area layout, timber stand marking, and an introduction to multiple use management with other resource specialties. The intern may complete a Coos Bay District "Pre-NEPA" review in the form of a completed District Project Proposal, which includes coordinating and facilitating review of the project by a District Interdisciplinary Team.

Salem, OR (In-Person)

With the help of engineering, inventory all the flammable, corrosive and pesticide cabinets sites across the district. and categorize what is in each cabinet to cross check with our district database for chemicals and the corresponding SDS (Safety Data Sheets). Coordinate with various managers to make site visits to the remote sites to map and categorize the cabinet contents to cross check with our district SDS database. This has been a hazmat project that has been desired for some time.

Springfield, OR (In-Person)

The BLM Upper Willamette Field Office has an annual timber target of 46 mmbf. In order to accomplish that target, the Field Office Interdisciplinary Team regularly designs and develops timber sales and conducts NEPA review. Timber sale Decisions are often the target of litigation, and when in court the BLM relies on the Administrative Record kept by the Interdisciplinary Team in order to defend its actions. This purpose of this project is to review and finalize the Administrative Record for the Log Rolling Timber Sale and/or Full Court Press Timber Sale. Through this internship, a student will be provided an opportunity to work closely with BLM staff to better understand BLM natural resource management programs. The BLM is expected to benefit by engaging and informing students about BLM natural resource management programs. During their tenure, the intern will be expected to collaborate closely with the Upper Willamette NEPA staff and the Interdisciplinary Team to (1) learn about the NEPA process, appeals and litigation, and Administrative Records, (2) compile and organize documents into Administrative Records and (3) present the final Administrative Record to Field Office leadership. The final products for this internship include a completed Administrative Record and presentation to leadership on the Administrative Record compilation process, any potential flaws in the Log Rolling/Full Court Press AR, and lessons learned.

Springfield, OR (In-Person)

The BLM Upper Willamette Field Office has an annual timber target of 46mmbf. In order to accomplish that target, the Field Office implements and inspects many contracts annually. The Silviculture program plays a role in meeting the annual timber target. Through this internship, a student will be provided an opportunity to work closely with BLM staff to better understand the Upper Willamette Field Office's Silviculture program. The BLM is expected to benefit by engaging and informing students about BLM's Silviculture and Forestry programs. During their tenure, the intern will be expected to collaborate closely with the Upper Willamette Silviculture staff to (1) learn about multiple contracts within the Silviculture program of work and how those contracts relate to the annual timber target, (2) Inspect contracts such as Stocking Surveys (for post harvest timber sales and within the Holiday Farm Fire perimeter), Stand Exams, and Timber Sale prescription and boundary marking. 3.) present inspection findings to Field Office leadership and silviculture staff. Deliverables include documentation of inspection on silviculture contracts and a presentation on the inspection process and lessons learned.

Hines, OR (In-Person)

The Burns District covers over 3.2 million acres of public land in southeast Oregon on the northern edge of the Great Basin, most of the vegetation blanketing the district is sagebrush steppe. This ecosystem is imperiled west-wide and completing successful restoration projects after disturbance can be a challenge. One way to increase success of restoration projects is to use locally sourced native seed because those plants are already accustomed to the unforgiving landscape and weather patterns. The goal of this project would be to identify and quantify areas where native plants are in enough abundance to collect seed for grow out for future restoration projects.

Hines, OR (In-Person)

The Burns BLM manages 23 Areas of Critical Environmental Concern (ACECs). These areas are specially designated to protect and learn about particular unique natural processes, plant, fish and wildlife habitat, and cultural values. Most of the ACECs have management plans that discuss the values, land management activities that overlap with the ACEC, and identify monitoring plans. The short term goal would be for the intern to review plans for 17 of the 23 ACECs on the Burns District and complete the monitoring in the plan during the summer of 2022. The intern would also review the monitoring results and report out where there are challenges or opportunities to address the plans. The long term goal would be to provide information for the long term management of the ACECs within the original intent of their establishment.

Hines, OR (In-Person)

Work with the Burns District BLM, Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center, and other experts in the field of Biological Soil Crusts (BSC) to develop a BSC rapid assessment, monitoring protocol, and plan applicable to BSCs in the northern Great Basin. This protocol and plan would be used to determine BSC baselines in areas across the district, as well as monitoring impacts of developments. BSCs are not fully known and understood on district. This project will require research into BSC literature and coordination with researchers to build a monitoring protocol and plan that fits our location.

Salt Lake City, UT (Remote)

The BLM Headquarters, Division of Wildlife Conservation, Aquatics, and Environmental Protection (HQ230) maintains an internal SharePoint and public-facing website (https://www.blm.gov/programs/natural-resources/about/hq-230) highlighting BLM program roles, partnerships, and projects to conserve wildlife, manage aquatic resources, protect air quality, and remediate environmental hazards. Through this internship, students will be provided an opportunity to work closely with BLM staff to better understand BLM natural resource management programs. During their tenure, interns will be expected to collaborate closely with one or more HQ230 staff to (1) identify program roles, partnerships, and projects to be highlighted on existing web pages; (2) develop ArcGIS story maps to highlight identified program roles, partnerships, and projects; and (3) develop additional program roles, partnership, and project summaries and outreach materials, as needed.

Salt Lake City, UT (Remote)

As part of the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) continuing effort to prevent the decline of amphibian and reptile species, the BLM and Partners in Amphibian and Reptile Conservation (PARC) is developing Conservation Action Plans (CAPs) for at-risk herpetofaunal species. The plans are focused on species currently being evaluated for Endangered Species Act listing by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service or other BLM Special Status Species that are in need of conservation actions. CAPs, also referred to as Best Management Practices documents, describe specific management practices that are intended to serve as guidelines that land managers can use to implement conservation and management actions that provide a positive conservation benefit to a particular species. Through this internship, students will be provided an opportunity to work closely with BLM staff to better understand BLM's role in herpetofaunal species and habitat conservation. The BLM's goal with this project is to involve students in the real-world application of species and habitat conservation through the development of 4-5 CAPs. After review by subject matter experts, completed CAPs will be published as technical documents on the BLM and PARC websites.

Wenatchee, WA (In-Person)

This internship will build upon a strong Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program in the Wenatchee Field Office. The applicant will work with a variety of land management specialists to learn and build upon the current state of the IPM program in the office. The priority project will be learning the Vegetation Management Action Portal (VMAP) and entering historic infestation and treatment data. In addition, the applicant will conduct field surveys of invasive species, botanical species of interest, and determine efficacy of herbicide treatments by contractors and cooperators. The applicant will have the opportunity to work in ArcPro, a variety of data collection apps, and be exposed to a wide breadth of specialists within the field office.

Mandatory Requirements:

• Must be a Currently Enrolled Student. Recent graduates are not eligible for DHA positions. I.e. if you are graduating this year, before August 2023, you unfortunately do not qualify
• At least 18 years of Age.
• A valid driver's license, Driving Record check will be completed during on-boarding process. (Interns must be 21+ to drive agency vehicles).
• Ability to undergo a federal criminal history check
• 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.

Selection Criteria: Please note that this specific program is intended as opportunities for those who identify as individuals from diverse and underrepresented communities. All applications will be reviewed and rated according to the following criteria: relevant educational and work experience, oral and written communication skills, maturity, professionalism, technical knowledge and expertise, evidence of adaptability and adventurousness, and ability to work effectively with diverse audiences. Selected candidates will undergo a background check before beginning their assignment. The intern must be willing to represent ACE and the BLM in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.

SUBMISSION OF APPLICATION

To Apply:

Please submit your application using the APPLY NOW section located on the upper right hand corner of the position listing on our website here: https://usaconservation.applicantpool.com/jobs/607964.html

Please note any and every position for which you want to be considered. We highly recommend applying for multiple positions.

To be considered, we require ALL the items listed below. Applications will be reviewed as we receive them, so we recommend applying immediately.

1. Cover letter
2. Resume
3. Copy of unofficial transcripts

If you have any questions regarding this position, please feel free to contact the Program Manager, Josh Haussler, at 385-226-0080 or jhaussler@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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