• Total Living Allowance: $7,200 (approximately $1,200 biweekly before taxes) • Education Award: $1,678.57 (Upon successful completion, the award may be used for past, present or future educational expenses, including payment of qualifying federal student loans and Title IV accredited college tuition) • Free on-site housing available • Medical, dental, and vision insurance available, premium 100% paid by GBI
Lakeview, OR
AmeriCorps
Vegetation Research & Monitoring
Description
The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is recruiting 4 Biological Technicians through GBI’s AmeriCorps program to support the wildlife habitat programs at Sheldon-Hart Mountain NWR Complex in Lakeview, Oregon. Technicians will participate in all aspects of the habitat restoration programs.
Primary responsibilities include: • Post-fire treatment vegetation monitoring • Juniper assessments in sage grouse and bighorn sheep habitats • Spring and playa assessments • Seed collection to support fire restoration
Through these projects, the technicians will gain a broad understanding of fire and juniper issues facing the Intermountain West, and the tools/methods available for assessment and restoration. These projects span habitats occupied by sage grouse to bighorn sheep in the sagebrush dominated systems at both refuges. The technicians will be provided with first aid, ATV/UTV, and plant identification training. Technicians will be stationed at Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, but will work as a team on both refuges throughout the season.
Contract Timeline:
• 12-week duration beginning June 2024 • 40 hours/week
Location:
Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge is one of two refuges within the Sheldon-Hart Mountain NWR Complex. The 270,000 acre refuge was established for the protection of antelope and other sagebrush dependent wildlife species. It is located approximately 65 miles northeast of Lakeview, Oregon near the small rural community of Plush. The area is remote, with the nearest gas station groceries, medical care, and other services are available in Lakeview. Additional services and amenities are available in Bend, OR, a 3 hour drive northwest of the Refuge. Summers are typically warm and dry with cool nights.
Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge is located about 90 miles east of Lakeview, OR and 100 miles west of Winnemucca, Nevada, near the small rural town of Denio, NV. The 570,000 acre refuge was established for the protection of antelope and other sagebrush dependent wildlife species. The area is remote, with the nearest groceries, medical care, and other services are available in Lakeview and Winnemucca. There is a gas station available in Denio Junction, NV. Summers are typically warm and dry with cool nights.
Compensation and Benefits:
• Total Living Allowance: $7,200 (approximately $1,200 biweekly before taxes) • Education Award: $1,678.57 (Upon successful completion, the award may be used for past, present or future educational expenses, including payment of qualifying federal student loans and Title IV accredited college tuition) • Free on-site housing available • Medical, dental, and vision insurance available, premium 100% paid by GBI
Qualifications
Technical requirements: • Interest in botany and plant identification; • Willingness to live remotely; • Ability to utilize hand-held GPS units and/or PDRs for navigation and/or data collections, along with basic computer skills; • Ability to hike rough, rocky, and steep terrain; • Ability to operate 4WD trucks on and off-road; • Knowledge and experience in operating off highway vehicles, which includes Utility Terrain Vehicles (UTV), and All-Terrain Vehicles (ATV), desirable; and • Experience with towing and backing-up a trailer, desirable.
Additional requirements: • Ability to self-direct and self-motivate; • Possess good organizational skills; • Tolerant of working in variable weather conditions, willing and able to work outdoors in adverse weather conditions, and able to hike 2-5+ miles daily on uneven and steep terrain; • Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals and follow safe working practices; • Communicate effectively with a diverse public; • Possess a valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record; 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) not engage in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge), 1 Park Ranger – Visitor Services Assistant is recruiting to participate in Visitor Service.
The Assistant will work on-site at the Klamath Basin National Wildlife Refuge Complex providing quality customer service at the Visitor Center and assisting with the management of wildlife-dependent recreation opportunities.
Specific duties include:
Visitor Center Operations: Provides Customer Service and informal interpretation in the Visitor Center. Provides visitors with orientation and regulatory information relating to hunting, fishing, interpretation, education, wildlife observation, and photography. Inventories and maintains stock of brochures, maps, Refuge flyers, exhibits, and education materials.
Outreach and education: Assists with welcome orientation talks, and guided walks, to a variety of public audiences and school groups: drafts written materials including correspondence and graphic design products to improve public understanding. Assists staff with the planning of special events both on and off the refuge.
Hunt Program Operations: Assists with the operations of refuge hunt program. Records data and provides hunters with information about hunting regulations and waterfowl identification.
General Maintenance duties: Drives passenger vehicles, light trucks and 4-wheel drive vehicles to conduct general facilities, grounds, and trails maintenance as needed e.g., mend fences, post boundary signs, use string trimmers and mowers. Assists other divisions as opportunities and interest allows (e.g. waterfowl banding, vegetation).
Compensation and Benefits:
Wage: $18;
Public Land Corps (PLC) Non-Competitive Hiring Eligibility: Upon successful completion, members between the ages of 17-30 (35, if you are a veteran) are eligible for non-competitive status for government hiring for two years;
Paid leave and holidays;
Medical, dental, and vision insurance premiums available at no cost.
Contract Timeline:
26 week appointment beginning mid-July
Full time (40 hours/week)
Location: The Klamath National Forest covers an area of 1,700,000 acres located in Siskiyou County in northern California and Jackson County in southern Oregon. It ranges in elevation from 450 to 8,900 feet above sea level and is considered one of America’s most biologically diverse regions. Over 3,000 species have been documented here, a very high number for an area this size. The Forest has a famously high diversity of conifers, with 19 species of conifer documented in one square mile. The tremendous local diversity has been attributed to our variable climate and geology, the continuity with both the Pacific Coast, Cascades, and Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the area serving as an unglaciated refuge during the last ice age.
The Forest encompasses five wilderness areas including: Marble Mountain, Russian, Trinity Alps, Red Buttes and Siskiyou. Trailheads are numerous and hikes range from easy to arduous. There are 200 miles of river system for rafting and 152 miles of wild and scenic rivers in the Forest. The Forest has 28 campgrounds, and world-class hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing. With the Klamath, Salmon, and Scott Rivers meandering from one end of the Forest to the other, recreationists have found a playground that offers virtually everything (except crowds) to the outdoor enthusiast.
Qualifications
Ability and willingness to undergo a federal criminal background check is required;
Possess a valid driver’s license and provide documentation of a clean driving record, and have a personal vehicle;
Organized, motivated, and able to complete tasks in a timely manner;
Ability to work on a team, assisting staff and visitors whenever needed, and will approach duties with a positive attitude;
Strong interpersonal communication, public speaking, and writing skills;
Ability to work effectively with people of various perspectives and temperaments.
The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service Klamath National Forest, is recruiting two (2) Botany Technicians to participate in plant-related projects.
Botany Technicians will conduct rare plant surveys and monitor known occurrences of target species for various landscape management projects. Surveys will be conducted using both quantitative and intuitive controlled methods and will focus on habitat condition and the presence and abundance of target rare plants. Botanical keys will be used to identify rare plants. Data will be collected using a variety of methods including paper field forms and GIS programs on tablets (using apps such as Avenza, Survey123, and Field Maps). Technicians are responsible for data quality assurance and quality control, ensuring all data is entered into the appropriate databases of record, and for compiling and summarizing data for reports.
Botany Technicians will also assist with implementing the USFS Noxious Weed Management Program by treating existing infestations, mapping infestation ranges, and conducting Early Detection Rapid Response (EDRR) surveys. Treatments will include the use of manual and mechanical control measures including hand pulling, clipping, tarping, and the use of gas-powered weed eaters. Herbicides will not be used. Technicians will have data management responsibilities similar to those described for rare plant work. Additionally, the Botany Technicians may be responsible for directing large crews assisting with invasive plant treatments such as California Conservation Corps and Youth Conservation Corps.
Botany Technicians will be stationed in Happy Camp, California and will serve under the direction of the District Botanist. Field work will occur in remote locations, where cellular connections are unavailable or inconsistent. Field conditions may include 105 degree F summer weather, thunderstorms, abundant poison oak, insect bites, and wildlife encounters. Candidates should have good physical fitness, the ability to operate vehicles safely on rough, narrow roads, including the use of 4WD, and the ability and willingness to hike steep slopes and endure hot temperatures throughout the summer.
