Job Type: AmeriCorps
Salary Details: $630/week
Deadline: Sep 27, 2021

See full details at https://www.conservationjobboard.com/job-listing-rangelandbotany-crew-member-oakhurst-california/3922960328

  • The Rangeland/Botany Crew member will work in cooperation with the Great Basin Institute and the US Forest Service (USFS), Sierra National Forest to support completion of range allotment inspections, forage utilization monitoring, range improvement inspections and rare plant and invasive species surveys. The primary focus of this position will be range allotment compliance monitoring inspections including forage utilization and streambank alteration measurements, document livestock distribution at key meadow locations and inspect range improvements and assist with fence construction. The crew will also conduct rare plant and invasive species surveys with guidance from the Sierra NF Forest Botanist. Much of the invasive species survey work will be on dozer lines and other areas of the Creek Fire. This is a field-based position.

Job duties are, but not limited to, the following:

  • Assist specialists in planning rangeland management support projects;
  • Check range allotments to assess appropriate timing, compliance, capacity, improvements and maintenance as needed;  
  • Inspect allotments before and after grazing. Report noncompliance to supervisor.
  • Inspect structural range improvements, recommend the construction or abandonment of range improvements such as fences, water developments, etc. May lead small crews in construction and/or maintenance of range improvements.
  • Participate in plant control or type conversion by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, carrying out kill studies, or reseeding;  
  • Assess and compute standard rangeland management data, interpret results and prepare charts, graphs for inclusion in reports. 
  • Note and report on conditions such as range utilization, grazing impact, soil erosion, violations, or needed maintenance;
  • Estimate production/potential production of a site based on various sampling techniques. Estimate the utilization of available forage by all grazing animals and determines percent of use by each class of animal
  • Participate in noxious plant control, seeding, or similar projects by flagging boundaries, operating equipment, carry out kill studies, and applying herbicide for noxious weed control.
  • Identify plant specimens in the field, including threatened and endangered species as well as noxious weeds; collect and prepare specimens; collect location and population data. 

Requirements: 

  • Applicant should have a B.S. degree in range management, plant ecology, plant biology, botany, or other natural resource-related field, AND/OR demonstrate a history of relevant experience;
  • Knowledge and skill in the application of a wide variety of interrelated range management practices, methods, and procedures to assess and report on range condition, range improvement and maintenance needs, and user compliance;
  • Experience or knowledge of range improvement structures and their construction; ability to build improvements and perform maintenance. Experience using hand and power tools is a plus;
  • Knowledge of mapping and aerial photo interpretation to map out and delineate essential allotment boundaries, range improvements and allotment analysis data such as range types, suitability, plant encroachment, forage utilization, condition and trend;
  • Ability to install and read transects, clipping cages, and other instruments for gathering range data. Field data collection experience is strongly preferred; 
  • Familiarity with Landscape Appearance method, Height Weight method and percent by weight forage utilization measurements and Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) streambank alteration protocols is appreciated; 
  • Ability to understand, implement and adhere to established data collection, inventory, assessment, and monitoring protocols;
  • Capacity to collect and maintain field data in an organized manner that is easily understood and accessible to other resources staff;
  • Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience;
  • Possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license with ability to safely operate and maintain a 4WD vehicle on and off paved roads;
  • Ability to live and work in rural and remote field and office setting;
  • Physically fit to work outdoors, carry up to 50 pounds of personal and/or field equipment, and withstand the rigors of a forested and/or high desert environment in all seasons;
  • Willingness and ability to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the mission of GBI and the goals and objectives of the USFS; and

Meet AmeriCorps eligibility requirements: (1) U.S. citizenship or legal resident alien status, (2) eligible to receive an AmeriCorps Education Award (limit of four in a lifetime or the equivalent of two full-time education awards), (3) pass National Sex Offender Public Website (NSOPW) and federal criminal background checks, (4) adhere to the rules, regulations and code of conduct as specified in the Member Service Agreement; and (5) will not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

HOW TO APPLY

Please apply online at https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin