Initial Posting Date:
04/15/2021
Application Deadline:
04/29/2021
Agency:
Department of State Lands
Salary Range:
$3,348 – $5,105
Position Type:
Employee
Position Title:
Natural Resource Specialist 1 (Mitigation Mapping Technician)
Job Description:
The Department of State Lands (DSL) is the administrative arm of the State Land Board. The agency’s mission is to ensure a legacy for Oregonians and their public schools through sound stewardship of lands, wetlands, waterways, unclaimed property, estates and the Common School Fund.
DSL manages real estate properties and their mineral and natural resources to generate revenue for the Common School Fund. The agency also manages navigable waterways, including rivers, lakes, estuaries and the territorial sea, for public use. DSL administers Oregon’s Removal-Fill Law and wetlands management program, and the state’s unclaimed property and estates programs. All agency revenues are deposited in the state’s Common School Fund, which provides earnings distributions to Oregon school districts twice a year.
The mission of the Aquatic Resources Management Program (ARM) is to conserve, restore and protect the waters of the state and the ecosystem services they provide through implementation of the State’s removal-fill and wetlands planning and conservation laws. The ARM’s mission also includes managing State-owned waterways to preserve the public trust rights of navigation, fishing, and recreation. The ARM implements its mission while allowing responsible, sustainable economic development and exercise of private property interests. Waters are protected for their contribution to aquatic life and habitats, fisheries, aquatic-based economies, public recreation, navigation, commerce, water quality, floodwater storage and other natural resource functions and values.
The program is managed by an Assistant Director who oversees two Field Operations Managers and a Planning and Policy Manager. Field Operations is organized by geographic region, aligned with the Regional Solutions areas, and by the following functions: removal-fill permits, jurisdictional determinations and delineations, and waterway proprietary authorizations. The Planning and Policy unit houses specialists in removal-fill permitting, aquatic resources, aquatic resource planning, mitigation, and proprietary functions.
What will you do!
The primary purpose of this position is to complete an Esri-based geographic information system (GIS) dataset of all DSL regulatory program compensatory mitigation sites. The resulting dataset(s) will be made available through the Statewide Wetlands Inventory on DSL’s web site, on the Aquatic Mitigation Portal’s map viewer tools, and may be acquired by planners, consultants, and other user groups with GIS capabilities. The position will research records associated with a mitigation site to digitize the correct polygon(s) and populate its attributes using the data description document provided by the Department. Documents and maps used to create polygons will be scanned and entered into DSL’s database. The position may assist with integration of GIS datasets into web-based maps.
Data Development and Documentation
Verify the data structure currently being used to generate compensatory mitigation (CM) polygons is suitable for all the mitigation types, includes all desired attributes, and will accommodate monitoring and accounting needs for the mitigation program. Ensure data is being named appropriately and that rules are created to enter missing mitigation program information and to correct inaccuracies in information. Work with staff to modify data structure to meet needs.
Determine level of spatial accuracy required and, therefore, methods of digitizing.
Revise, as needed, the procedure document for staff to follow when adding polygons to the dataset. Provide staff training on the procedure.
Research and Document Management
Access the existing CM data set, the DSL database, electronic and paper files, imagery, and staff knowledge to identify and compile permits, enforcements, and mitigation banks with mitigation sites that need to be digitized.
Verify the correct, final CM map figure is identified from permit files or monitoring reports.
Obtain information about CM protection instruments, such as conservation easements and deed restrictions, from planning offices and easement holders, as needed.
Scan any paper records used to create or attribute a polygon, including the CM map figure and mitigation project description in the authorization or enforcement. Save electronic files to the DSL database, ensuring the correct permit or enforcement file is accessed.
Research site protection .
Digitization and Integration with Web-based Maps
Create GIS compensatory mitigation polygons from the final CM map figure(s) and populate the attributes for each polygon.
Work with other DSL staff and external partners to integrate the completed CM dataset into web-based maps.
MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS
A Bachelor’s degree in Biology, Environmental Science or similar natural resource program;
OR
Three years of experience performing natural resource or environmental science research or investigations.
DESIRED ATTRIBUTES
- Excellent customer service skills;
- GIS skills; and
- Quality assurance skills.
**You must submit a cover letter of no more than two pages that addresses each of the Desired Attributes listed above to be considered**
The selection process will consist of a review of the materials provided and an evaluation of experience and training. Qualified applications whose responses most closely match the desired attributes will be invited in for an interview.