Environmental Restoration Team Member

Summary American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, is seeking six (6) Environmental Restoration Team Members to assist the CA BLM's Eagle Lake and Applegate Field Office staff with assessing, restoring, and repairing various wildlife habitats and recreation sites within the remote area.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

Start Date: May 2025

Estimated End Date: 26 weeks after start date

*a 26 minimum commitment is required*

Location Details/Description: Cedarville, CA

This position will be based in Cedarville, CA with the team working out of both the Applegate Field Office in Cedarville, CA, and the Eagle Lake Field Office in Susanville, CA located in the eastern region of Northern California. These offices are overseen by the BLM Northern California District Office. The BLM's Eagle Lake and Applegate Field Offices manage about 2.7 million acres of public lands in northeastern CA and northwestern NV. These offices cover a diverse landscape, encompassing the full range of the Great Basin, from rugged playas to lush aspen ridges. This position is located in a very remote, but beautiful part of northeastern California and northwestern Nevada that will often require long-distance travel to worksite locations. From Cedarville though you will have close access to many incredible recreational opportunities nearby including hot springs, hiking and backpacking the alpine lakes of the South Warner Mountain Wilderness, and expansive high desert landscapes. There are small grocery options available within walking distance of the barracks in Cedarville and multiple grocery stores available in Alturas, approximately a 30-mile drive away. A personal vehicle is not required for this position but is highly encouraged as it also makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. There is no public transportation available in the area.

For more information about the Eagle Lake and Applegate Field Offices, please visit the Northern California District Office website.

Position Overview: This opportunity will be focused on the ecological restoration of Sage-steppe ecosystems. The member will assist the Eagle Lake and Applegate field offices with various fieldwork throughout the field office.

Duties for this position will likely include, but are not limited to:

• Herbicide application (primarily in spring and early summer)
  • The 2024 team spent 6 weeks applying herbicide
• Range inventory (walking and inventorying fences, mapping roads, assessing the condition of stock ponds and troughs, etc.)
• Riparian/wetland fence construction and maintenance
• Water development maintenance (troughs and water pipelines)
• Small-scale juniper removal with reciprocating saws (or chainsaws if desired, and following proper training and certification)
• Riparian/wetland low-tech restoration (primarily in Sept/Oct)
• Small-scale vegetation planting, and broadcast seeding (primarily in Sept/Oct)
• Simple wildlife, vegetation, and livestock monitoring
• GPS data collection with ESRI Survey 123, Field Maps, and Quick Capture
• GIS data quality control with ArcGIS Online and ArcGIS Pro
• Recreation site maintenance
• Trail work

Opportunities for cross-training and experience with BLM programs like recreation, archaeology, wildlife, botany, forestry, fuels, and others are possible during this project. These opportunities are greatest outside of the normal 4-day work week but will be made available as logistics allow during the work week. Fieldwork will be conducted largely in remote backcountry areas of the field offices with multi-day camping trips or "hitches" lasting 4 days. This will be completed with government-provided tools utilizing various travel methods including hiking, 4x4 driving, and UTV (side-by-side) driving.

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promote exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. The BLM has a desire to recruit for future seasonal, career-seasonal, and permanent positions from this team across a wide range of positions as interest and funding allows. The BLM plans to assist team members with training and education on the process to best improve their chances of applying for federal jobs.

Schedule: Monday - Thursday or Tuesday - Friday equating to 4-10 hour days, for the duration of the project. Interns will be expected to camp during the duration of their workweek at or near work sites each week.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $700.00/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly. The living allowance is a fixed rate determined by the BLM and ACE and is not flexible.

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 and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served after the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please see the ACE website for more information on PLC eligibility.

Housing: Barracks-style housing will be available in Cedarville, CA at the BLM Field Office. Alternative housing situations are possible but would be at the discretion of the individual.

Gear Assistance: ACE members will have up to $500.00 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes camping equipment, work-related gear/apparel, etc. These purchases must be approved by ACE staff before doing so.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position-specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies, procedures, and networks for support. Specific training from the BLM may include S-212 chainsaw training, 4x4 off-road driving, and UTV operation (ROHVA). Additional training will be provided for all projects including herbicide application, GPS data collection, fence construction and maintenance, and habitat restoration.

Qualifications

Required:

• Member 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 strong, effective team member.
• 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.
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website.

BLM Requirements:

• Willing to undergo and must pass a DOI security background check.

Preferred:

• Ability and willingness to camp in a dispersed/remote backcountry setting without bathroom facilities or any infrastructure near work sites for up to four days in all types of weather conditions.
• Interest in working outdoors in remote locations on projects requiring manual labor to make significant improvements to rangelands.
• Deep interest in biological sciences, outdoor recreation, and any other similar discipline.
• Able and willing to work outdoors in often somewhat rigorous physical conditions.
• Ability and willingness to use GPS equipment and maps.
• Familiarity with field note methods, data collection, and preparation techniques.
• All candidates are encouraged to apply, though local candidates will be strongly considered.

Physical Demands, Work Environment, and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: Requires frequent sitting, standing, stooping, kneeling, walking, hiking, and heavy lifting. Manual dexterity is required for the use of various tools. Ability to hike over and navigate steep, rough terrain, and camp overnight under field conditions.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral, and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Noise Environment: Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools.
• Environmental: The weather is consistent with a high-desert area. Temperatures in the summer can and will reach 105°F and in the spring, fall, and winter can drop well below freezing. Temperature swings within the same week or even the same day can be significant; you may have to prepare for both freezing weather and fairly hot weather on the same hitch.

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 themself, fellow staff/members, or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the Bureau of Land Management. The use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the Bureau of Land Management, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to the Bureau of Land Management and ACE equipment training, certification, and safety protocols is required.