ESR Fire Impact Monitoring Crew Lead (Reno,Nevada)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

The Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) process was developed by the Department of the Interior to help restore public lands to their former state following wildfire impact. Participants will implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales throughout the Elko and Winnemucca, NV BLM district. Technicians will help BLM staff by applying AIM sampling to post-wildfire ES&R projects to gather insightful data on the efficacy of various treatments.

In one component of the Program, participants implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales across western BLM districts. In some instances participants may perform supplemental protocols such as Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF) (to inform conservation approaches for sage-grouse). Supplemental sampling may also include collecting data on forb diversity and pollinators, among other indicators. Select locations will apply AIM sampling to post-wildfire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) monitoring.

This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:
GBI is recruiting ES&R AIM Field Crew Leads to work with GBI and Winnemucca and Elko, NV BLM staff. Each Field Crew Lead will work with one other tech under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM protocols. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey123 software;
• Managing ArcGIS Online databases;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys;
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks; and

Leadership:
• Supporting and managing a field crew;
• Coordinating field logistics and scheduling; and
• Report writing and completing administrative paperwork


Projects, Locations and Tentative Timelines:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of the Reno GBI Office but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

Nevada:

Elko ESR Project:
• Elko District Office
• April 4th -July 22nd
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"Within the 12.5 million acres of lands administered by the EKDO, several million acres have burned in recent decades by wildfires. Areas burned by wildfires are typically treated by the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program to help ecosystems stabilize and recover from wildfires. The BLM is mandated to conduct treatment effectiveness monitoring on all ESR projects to document the effectiveness of the ESR treatments. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is an approved monitoring strategy for ESR treatment effectiveness monitoring."

Winnemucca ESR Project:
• Winnemucca District Office
• April 4th-August 5th
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"The Winnemucca Bureau of Land Management (BLM) district encompasses 11 million acres of northern Nevada with 8.2 million acres of public land. The BLM is mandated to conduct land health monitoring to document effectiveness of the decisions established in our Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, or for habitat evaluation, among others. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is the approved monitoring strategy for land health monitoring."

"During the 2018 fire season, the Winnemucca District’s Fire Program had 109 fires, which consumed a total of 217,602 acres of public land throughout the district. The largest fire in Nevada’s history (only within Nevada) was the Martin Fire, consumed over 416,821 acres, and spanned two districts. Rehabilitation efforts have continued through fire and fuels projects through winter of 2021. The ES&R team and BLM staff determined that over 530,000 acres of the Winnemucca District has been treated since 2018. Monitoring treatment areas using the AIM protocol is essential to determine the efficacy of restoration or rehabilitation efforts. Measures of success include density of seeded species and percent perennial cover after treatment. "


Compensation:
Total approximate compensation: $3358.30/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.99), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI), end of season bonus, and paid time off.

Breakdown:

• $1,408 biweekly salary
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
• $32.30/month cell phone stipend
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.
Paid federal holidays
Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Qualifications:
• Leadership experience, including supervising field crews and managing projects simultaneously.

Experience, education, or a combination in botany, range management, and or soils to meet one or both of the following (Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants and/or soils):

Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences
or
A minimum of 1 year of field data collection identifying plants;

AND/OR

Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1 year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

Technical requirements:
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons; familiarity with NRCS soils databases and Ecological Site Descriptions concepts preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Experience with technical writing and/or producing written project summary reports;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap);
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Willingness to mentor and foster professional development for members of your crew;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Ability to accurately complete administrative tasks on time i.e. timesheet, paperwork, etc;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.


Please apply through the link below(Apply at the bottom of the official job posting for the soil and vegetation position.):
https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-015

Aquatic Monitoring Riparian Botanist (Burns, Oregon)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Aquatic Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals seeking experience in aquatic, riparian, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Aquatic Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.
​
Description:
GBI is recruiting Riparian Botanists to assist in the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Aquatic Monitoring Framework (NAMF) for Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) of lotic ecosystems, as well as the Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) of stream channels and streamside vegetation. The Riparian Botanists will work with BLM staff, GBI staff and Aquatic Monitoring Field Leads and Technicians. Each Riparian Botanist will work as part of a three-person crew (one Crew Lead, one Riparian Botanist, one Technician) in Eastern Oregon to sample streams and rivers and assess riparian vegetation on BLM-managed land using the BLM’s Aquatic AIM protocol for lotic systems and the MIM protocol, respectively. AIM seeks to standardize the collection of quantitative data that can be used at multiple scales to assist the BLM in making resource management decisions. The key objective of the MIM protocol is to assess riparian vegetation. All Riparian Botanists will assist in collecting aquatic AIM data at various points throughout the season, as well as collecting MIM data.
​
More information about AIM and AIM implementation can be found at http://aim.landscapetoolbox.org/

More information about MIM can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/multiple-indicator-monitoring-mim-stream

Aquatic monitoring crews will sample streams and rivers on BLM-managed lands in Western Colorado and Eastern Oregon using the BLM’s AIM protocol for wadeable lotic systems. Crews will interact with local BLM staff, national level staff at the National Operations Center (NOC), and GBI senior monitoring staff. Data collection involves measuring a variety of attributes including water chemistry and instream physical habitat, collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates, and conducting visual estimates in the riparian zone. Successful applicants will be required to work and camp in the field during 8-day sampling efforts (8 consecutive 10 hour days, followed by 6 days off). Applicants should be prepared to encounter strenuous working conditions, including off-trail hiking and traversing streams. Additional efforts might be required to reach difficult sites, including overnight backpacking and use of off road vehicles and UTVs.

Field work and duties may include:
• Collecting riparian vegetation data, including species inventory (greenline composition, green-line width, cover and constancy, stubble height, wood), stream bank stability, age and height classes of woody species, canopy cover, etc. and making qualitative ecological assessments;
• Identifying plants to species or subspecies using dichotomous keys;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects (within the stream channel and streamside riparian area);
• Entering data into Excel data modules;
• Aiding in the collection of Lotic AIM data; and
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices.

Additional duties include:
• Participation in GBI and BLM-led trainings, including required attendance of BLM-led Lotic AIM Field Methods training in addition to the BLM-led MIM training;
• Route planning utilizing ArcMap, Google Earth, Avenza, and CalTopo;
• Navigating unmaintained roads and off-trail to sampling sites utilizing GPS and backcountry navigation techniques; and
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and BLM staff.

Compensation:

Total approximate compensation: $3440/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.19), plus health insurance and paid time off

Breakdown:

• $17/hour
• $150 non-taxed biweekly housing stipend ($300/ month)
• $30/night Camping per diem
• Paid Federal holidays
• Paid personal leave
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.

Dependent on performance and completion of work term this position qualifies for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of application for federal employment.

Location:

Oregon:
• Burns

Welcome to Oregon’s corner of the Wild West.
Out here wide-open skies, sagebrush plains and craggy mountain ranges lay claim to the landscape. What you make of this region’s vast outdoor playground is entirely up to you: ski down remote slopes, fish for hungry steelhead or simply watch wildlife roam by. Earn that hearty meal in cowboy country and don’t forget the craft beer.

For a dose of history there are wagon ruts from the Oregon Trail, vibrant prehistoric fossil beds and eerie ghost towns. And those are just starting points. Your next great story is waiting to be uncovered in Eastern Oregon.

Learn more at https://traveloregon.com/places-to-go/regions/eastern-oregon

Required Qualifications:
• Experience in plant identification, capable of identifying 95% of plants encountered to the species level, experience in riparian plant identification and field based monitoring is preferred. Qualifications may be met through education, experience, or a combination;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, or Rangeland Ecology or other Natural Resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences. Courses in such areas as plant taxonomy, plant physiology, and plant ecology are acceptable subjects OR minimum of 1 year field data collection identifying plants;
• Experience conducting vegetation data with a strong interest in riparian vegetation;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to swim, sample in cold water, walk on uneven surfaces, and bushwack on steep terrain, sometimes hiking up to 10 miles a day;
• Willingness to spend 8 consecutive days camping in the field where multiple hazards may be encountered, while sometimes working irregular hours and camping in a new location each night;
• Willingness to work multiple days in the field with limited or nonexistent phone or internet service;
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, carry 40-50lbs in a backpack, traverse over uneven terrain and otherwise maintain good physical condition;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Ability to complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) and submit paperwork to BLM human resources prior to beginning position indicating that an active and fully adjudicated BI has been started or completed;
• Ability to work productively independently as well as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills; and
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles.

Preferred qualifications
• Familiarity with riparian vegetation in the western United States;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with ESRI software (ArcMap, ArcGIS, ArcGISPro);
• Experience using Google Earth, CalTopo, Avenza; and
• Backcountry travel experience and solid navigational skills, including navigating off trail.

Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early in order to gain the best chance at getting your top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

ESR Fire Impact Monitoring Technician (Reno, NV)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Ecological Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals looking for experience in botanical, soil, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Ecological Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

The Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ES&R) process was developed by the Department of the Interior to help restore public lands to their former state following wildfire impact. Participants will implement the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Assessment, Inventory, and Monitoring (AIM) strategy for terrestrial systems, targeted at collecting standardized ecological information and long-term vegetation data at multiple scales throughout the Elko and Winnemucca, NV BLM district. Technicians will help BLM staff by applying AIM sampling to post-wildfire ES&R projects to gather insightful data on the efficacy of various treatments.


This video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LciTBPG2-Ss&feature=youtu.be) highlights the national BLM AIM strategy for landscape-scale data capture across western states.

Description:

GBI is recruiting Ecological Monitoring Soils and Vegetation Field Technicians to work with GBI and BLM staff. Each Field Tech will work with one other technician under the supervision of a Field Lead to characterize vegetation using the terrestrial AIM core methods. In some instances, Habitat Assessment Framework (HAF), and/or other supplemental protocols will be performed, for which training will be provided. Aside from core AIM sampling, any supplemental protocols implemented will vary by location.

Duties include following established field protocols to perform vegetation sampling and field data collection at new and existing sampling plots. Data will be used by resource specialists and land managers to inform decisions regarding land management at various temporal and spatial scales. During field work, car camping for 7 night “hitches” in remote locations will typically be required.

Depending on performance and completion of work term this position can qualify for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of GBI employment. This certificate allows for non-competitive status for future federal job applications and will last two years from the end of GBI employment.

Field work will include:
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;
• Extensive 4x4 driving on unmaintained roads;
• Navigating off-trail to sampling sites;
• Establishing sampling plots and transects;
• Identifying and describing soil horizons to help verify ecological site descriptions (ESDs);
• Collecting vegetation data (including species inventory, forb diversity, species abundance, sagebrush shape, foliar cover, canopy gap, and herbaceous and woody heights);
• Taking photo-points.

Additional duties include:
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and agency staff;
• Participation in GBI and agency trainings;
• Entering data into both Field Maps and Survey 123 software;
• Identifying plants to species using dichotomous keys; and
• Employing extensive QA/QC data checks.

Projects, Locations and Tentative Timelines:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for extension. Crews will be based out of either the Las Vegas or Reno GBI Offices but work in the following BLM Field Office (FO’s) areas:

Nevada:

Elko ESR Project:
• Elko District Office
• April-July 22nd
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"Within the 12.5 million acres of lands administered by the EKDO, several million acres have burned in recent decades by wildfires. Areas burned by wildfires are typically treated by the Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) program to help ecosystems stabilize and recover from wildfires. The BLM is mandated to conduct treatment effectiveness monitoring on all ESR projects to document the effectiveness of the ESR treatments. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is an approved monitoring strategy for ESR treatment effectiveness monitoring."

Winnemucca ESR Project:
• Winnemucca District Office
• April-August 5th20
• 3-person vegetation monitoring crew with ~33% of points requiring soil sampling

"The Winnemucca Bureau of Land Management (BLM) district encompasses 11 million acres of northern Nevada with 8.2 million acres of public land. The BLM is mandated to conduct land health monitoring to document effectiveness of the decisions established in our Resource Management Plans, to determine treatment effectiveness, or for habitat evaluation, among others. The Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) strategy is the approved monitoring strategy for land health monitoring."

"During the 2018 fire season, the Winnemucca District’s Fire Program had 109 fires, which consumed a total of 217,602 acres of public land throughout the district. The largest fire in Nevada’s history (only within Nevada) was the Martin Fire, consumed over 416,821 acres, and spanned two districts. Rehabilitation efforts have continued through fire and fuels projects through winter of 2021. The ES&R team and BLM staff determined that over 530,000 acres of the Winnemucca District has been treated since 2018. Monitoring treatment areas using the AIM protocol is essential to determine the efficacy of restoration or rehabilitation efforts. Measures of success include density of seeded species and percent perennial cover after treatment. "

Compensation:
Total approximate compensation: $2990/month before taxes (including benefits the approximate hourly equivalent: $18.69/hour), plus health insurance (monthly premiums fully paid by GBI) and paid time off.

Breakdown:
• $15.50/hour
• $150 bi-weekly housing stipend*
• $15 per diem for every night camped in the field (up to 7 units in an 8 day work week)
• Affordable Care Act Compliant Health insurance including vision and dental provided at no cost to the employee starting the first day of the month following employment start date.
• Paid federal holidays
• Paid personal time off (amount dependent on contract length)

*Housing stipend is untaxed and can be used at the discretion of the applicant. Housing is not provided. Applicants must be able to provide their own lodging.

Qualifications:
• Experience, education, or a combination in botany, range management, and or soils to meet one or both of the following (Crew Leads should have education and experience with plants and/or soils):

Bachelor’s degree in botany, biology, ecology, or rangeland ecology or other natural resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences or a minimum of 1 years of field data collection identifying plants;

AND/OR

Bachelor’s degree in plant or soil science or similar with at least 9 semester hours in soils or a minimum of 1year of field data collection describing soils. Any of the 4 certifications from the Soil Science Society of America may substitute for education or experience.

*Some Projects require a relevant Bachelor’s Degree.

Technical requirements:
• Coursework or equivalent experience in plant taxonomy and/or systematics;
• Experience identifying plants in the field and using a dichotomous key;
• Experience in describing and identifying soil horizons preferred;
• Experience conducting plant surveys using various monitoring protocols, photo plots, and site observations;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience safely operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in remote areas on unimproved roads;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap), preferred;
• Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access); and
• Experience with Field Maps, Survey 123, and ArcGIS Online.

Additional requirements:
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Familiarity with native and invasive plants of the sampling area and associated natural resource issues preferred;
• Ability to work productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to work independently;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Experience in and willingness to spend multiple days camping in the field;
• Flexibility with position location within field district offices
• Willingness to work irregular hours (e.g., early mornings, late nights); and
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, work in all types of weather conditions, traverse uneven terrain, carry upwards of 40 pounds in a backpack, and otherwise maintain good physical condition.

Please indicate your availability and location/project preferences in your cover letter when applying. Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early to gain the best chance of getting top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Please use the official job posting link below that will direct you to our Ecological Monitoring Soil and Vegetation Technician Position. Use the "Apply now" button at the bottom of the position.

https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-016

Aquatic Monitoring Riparian Botanist – Boating Crew (Prineville, OR)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Aquatic Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals seeking experience in aquatic, riparian, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Aquatic Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their employment success.

Description:

GBI is recruiting one (1) Riparian Botanist to serve on a rafting crew to assist in the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Aquatic Monitoring Framework (NAMF) for Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) of stream channels and streamside vegetation as well as the Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) of lotic ecosystems. The Riparian Botanists will work with BLM staff, GBI staff and Aquatic Monitoring Field Leads and Technicians. The Riparian Botanist will work as part of a three-person crew (one Crew Lead, one Riparian Botanist, one Technician) in the Prineville BLM District in Eastern Oregon to sample streams and boatable rivers BLM-managed land using the BLM’s Aquatic AIM protocol for lotic systems and the MIM protocol, respectively. AIM seeks to standardize the collection of quantitative data that can be used at multiple scales to assist the BLM in making resource management decisions. The key objective of the MIM protocol is to assess riparian vegetation. All Riparian Botanists will assist in collecting aquatic AIM data at various points throughout the season, as well as collecting MIM data.

Though some rivers will require access via rafting, they will be sampled using the BLM’s AIM protocol for wadeable lotic systems, and therefore, will require confidence and experience wading in deep water. Strong rafting experience and ability to drive a truck while towing a trailer are necessary. The botanist will be helping to navigate a raft on multi-day float trips for roughly the first half of the season. The second half of the season will require hiking, potentially long distance, to access the required streams.

More information about AIM and AIM implementation can be found at http://aim.landscapetoolbox.org/

More information about MIM can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/multiple-indicator-monitoring-mim-stream



Crews will interact with local BLM staff, national level staff at the National Operations Center (NOC), and GBI senior monitoring staff. Data collection involves measuring a variety of attributes including water chemistry and instream physical habitat, collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates, and conducting visual estimates in the riparian zone. Successful applicants will be required to work and camp in the field during 8-day sampling efforts (8 consecutive 10 hour days, followed by 6 days off). Camping primitively and in areas without cell service is likely. Additionally, river trips will require bringing minimal luxury items, as space for personal gear will be limited on the raft. Applicants should be prepared to encounter strenuous working conditions in varying environments throughout the season.

Field work and duties may include:
• Navigating, maintaining, and trailering an inflatable raft for at least part of the season.
• Collecting riparian vegetation data, including species inventory (greenline composition, green-line width, cover and constancy, stubble height, wood), stream bank stability, age and height classes of woody species, canopy cover, etc. and making qualitative ecological assessments
• Identifying plants to species or subspecies using dichotomous keys.
• Establishing sampling plots and transects (within the stream channel and streamside riparian area);
• Entering data into Excel data modules
• Aiding in the collection of Lotic AIM data
• Maintaining safety awareness and practices;

Additional duties include:
• Participation in GBI and BLM-led trainings, including required attendance of BLM-led Lotic AIM Field Methods training in addition to the BLM-led MIM training
• Route planning utilizing ArcMap, Google Earth, Avenza, and CalTopo;
• Navigating unmaintained roads and off-trail to sampling sites utilizing GPS and backcountry navigation techniques;
• Regular communication with GBI support staff and BLM staff;

Compensation:

Compensation: This is an hourly position. Total approximate compensation: $3230/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.19), plus health insurance and paid time off

• $17/hr
• $150 non-taxed biweekly housing stipend ($300/ month)
• $15/ night Camping per diem
• Paid Federal holidays
• Paid personal leave
• Paid health insurance (medical, dental and vision) at no cost to the employee

Dependent on performance and completion of work term this position qualifies for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of application for federal employment

Location:
This crew will be based out of the BLM Prineville District in Oregon. There is the potential to assist crews in other districts as the season progresses.

Contract Timeline:
Projected season length: Approximately March 28 to September 30, 2022

Required Qualifications:

• Experience in plant identification, capable of identifying 95% of plants encountered to the species level, experience in riparian plant identification and field based monitoring is preferred. Qualifications may be met through education, experience, or a combination.

Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, or Rangeland Ecology or other Natural Resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences. Courses in such areas as plant taxonomy, plant physiology, and plant ecology are acceptable subjects.

Experience: minimum of 1 year field data collection identifying plants

• Experience conducting vegetation data with a strong interest in riparian vegetation
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to swim, sample in cold water, walk on uneven surfaces, and bushwack on steep terrain, sometimes hiking up to 10 miles a day.
• Willingness to spend 8 consecutive days camping in the field where multiple hazards may be encountered, while sometimes working irregular hours and camping in a new location each night
• Willingness to work multiple days in the field with limited or nonexistent phone or internet service.
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, carry 40-50lbs in a backpack, traverse over uneven terrain and otherwise maintain good physical condition.
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Ability to complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) and submit paperwork to BLM human resources prior to beginning position indicating that an active and fully adjudicated BI has been started or completed;
• Ability to work productively independently as well as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills;
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles;
• Strong swimming skills
• Prior river rafting experience

Preferred qualifications
• Experience driving a trailer and backing down put-in and take-out ramps;
• Swift Water Rescue certified, or willingness to obtain required certification by season start;
• Wilderness First Aid certified, or willingness to obtain required certification by season start;
• Ability to plan and pack gear for float trips up to 8 days long;
• Familiarity with riparian vegetation in the western United States
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with ESRI software (ArcMap, ArcGIS, ArcGISPro);
• Experience using Google Earth, CalTopo, Avenza;
• Backcountry travel experience and solid navigational skills, including navigating off trail

Please use the link to our official job posting to apply for this position

Aquatic Monitoring Riparian Botanist (Multiple locations in Oregon)

The Great Basin Institute is an interdisciplinary field studies organization that promotes environmental research, education, and service through the west. The Institute’s mission is to advance applied science and ecological literacy through community engagement and agency partnerships, supporting national parks, forest, open spaces and public lands.

The Aquatic Monitoring Program at GBI serves as an excellent professional development opportunity for natural resource professionals seeking experience in aquatic, riparian, and rangeland surveys. This Program is a component of our well-established Research Associate Program, which focuses on the conservation and management of natural, cultural, and recreation resources in the Intermountain West while providing emerging professionals opportunities to begin or enhance their careers.

GBI’s Aquatic Monitoring Program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, inventory, monitoring, and reporting experience in natural resource management. Extensive training and technical field skills development provides employees a unique opportunity to obtain valuable experience in executing monitoring protocols that will increase their future employment success.

Description:

GBI is recruiting Riparian Botanists to assist in the implementation of the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) National Aquatic Monitoring Framework (NAMF) for Assessment, Inventory, Monitoring (AIM) of lotic ecosystems, as well as the Multiple Indicator Monitoring (MIM) of stream channels and streamside vegetation. The Riparian Botanists will work with BLM staff, GBI staff and Aquatic Monitoring Field Leads and Technicians. Each Riparian Botanist will work as part of a three-person crew (one Crew Lead, one Riparian Botanist, one Technician) in Eastern Oregon to sample streams and rivers and assess riparian vegetation on BLM-managed land using the BLM’s Aquatic AIM protocol for lotic systems and the MIM protocol, respectively. AIM seeks to standardize the collection of quantitative data that can be used at multiple scales to assist the BLM in making resource management decisions. The key objective of the MIM protocol is to assess riparian vegetation. All Riparian Botanists will assist in collecting aquatic AIM data at various points throughout the season, as well as collecting MIM data.

More information about AIM and AIM implementation can be found at http://aim.landscapetoolbox.org/

More information about MIM can be found at: https://www.blm.gov/documents/national-office/blm-library/technical-reference/multiple-indicator-monitoring-mim-stream

Aquatic Monitoring Crews will sample streams and rivers on BLM-managed lands in Eastern Oregon using the BLM’s AIM protocol for wadeable lotic systems. Crews will interact with local BLM staff, national level staff at the National Operations Center (NOC), and GBI senior monitoring staff. Data collection involves measuring a variety of attributes including water chemistry and instream physical habitat, collecting aquatic macroinvertebrates, and conducting visual estimates in the riparian zone. Additional data collection for MIM sites will involve classifying streamside vegetation and identifying riparian vegetation to species and subspecies. Successful applicants will be required to work and camp in the field during 8-day sampling efforts (8 consecutive 10 hour days, followed by 6 days off). Applicants should be prepared to encounter strenuous working conditions, including off-trail hiking and traversing streams. Additional effort may be required to reach difficult sites, including overnight backpacking and the use of off road vehicles and UTVs.

Field work and duties may include:

Collecting riparian vegetation data, including species inventory (greenline composition, green-line width, cover and constancy, stubble height, wood), stream bank stability, age and height classes of woody species, canopy cover, etc. and making qualitative ecological assessments
Identifying plants to species or subspecies using dichotomous keys.
Establishing sampling plots and transects (within the stream channel and streamside riparian area);
Entering data into Excel data modules
Aiding in the collection of Lotic AIM data
Maintaining safety awareness and practices;

Additional duties include:
Participation in GBI and BLM-led trainings, including required attendance of BLM-led Lotic AIM Field Methods training in addition to the BLM-led MIM training
Route planning utilizing ArcMap, Google Earth, Avenza, and CalTopo;
Navigating unmaintained roads and off-trail to sampling sites utilizing GPS and backcountry navigation techniques;
Regular communication with GBI support staff and BLM staff;

Locations and Tentative Timelines:
Locations and timelines listed below are tentative, some with potential for additional locations and extension. Please indicate your availability and top choice when applying. We encourage applying early in order to gain the best chance at getting your top-choice location.

Position Locations in Oregon (OR District Interactive Map)
1 Riparian Botanist, BLM Prineville District
Field office: Prineville, Oregon
1 Riparian Botanist, BLM Vale District
Field office: Baker City or Vale, Oregon
1 Riparian Botanist, BLM Burns District
Field office: Burns, Oregon
1 Riparian Botanist, BLM Lakeview District
Field office: Klamath Falls, Oregon
There is a potential that the Riparian Botanist assigned to one region will assist with other regions as the season progresses
Projected Season Length: May 17th - September, 2022

Compensation: This is an hourly position. Total approximate compensation: $3230/month before taxes (approximate hourly equivalent: $20.19), plus health insurance and paid time off

$17/hr
$150 non-taxed biweekly housing stipend ($300/ month)
$15/ night Camping per diem
Paid Federal holidays
Paid personal leave
Paid health insurance (medical, dental and vision) at no cost to the employee

Dependent on performance and completion of work term this position qualifies for Public Lands Corps (PLC) status given that the applicant is 30 years old or younger at the time of application for federal employment

Required Qualifications:
• Experience in plant identification, capable of identifying 95% of plants encountered to the species level, experience in riparian plant identification and field based monitoring is preferred. Qualifications may be met through education, experience, or a combination;
• Bachelor’s Degree in Botany, Biology, Ecology, or Rangeland Ecology or other Natural Resources with at least 9 semester hours in plant or biological sciences. Courses in such areas as plant taxonomy, plant physiology, and plant ecology are acceptable subjects OR minimum of 1 year field data collection identifying plants;
• Experience conducting vegetation data with a strong interest in riparian vegetation;
• Experience with data entry and management;
• Ability to swim, sample in cold water, walk on uneven surfaces, and bushwack on steep terrain, sometimes hiking up to 10 miles a day;
• Willingness to spend 8 consecutive days camping in the field where multiple hazards may be encountered, while sometimes working irregular hours and camping in a new location each night;
• Willingness to work multiple days in the field with limited or nonexistent phone or internet service;
• Ability to work in harsh and rapidly changing environments, carry 40-50lbs in a backpack, traverse over uneven terrain and otherwise maintain good physical condition;
• Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record;
• Willingness and ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic setting, and to consistently enact high performance standards and a strong work and team ethic in support of the goals and objectives of the AIM program and the mission of GBI;
• Ability to complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI) and submit paperwork to BLM human resources prior to beginning position indicating that an active and fully adjudicated BI has been started or completed;
• Ability to work productively independently as well as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
• Ability to communicate effectively with team members, agency staff, and a diverse public;
• Excellent organizational skills; and
• Familiarity with best practices for field safety and Leave No Trace principles.

Preferred qualifications
• Familiarity with riparian vegetation in the western United States;
• Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps;
• Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held GPS units;
• Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with ESRI software (ArcMap, ArcGIS, ArcGISPro);
• Experience using Google Earth, CalTopo, Avenza; and
• Backcountry travel experience and solid navigational skills, including navigating off trail.

As part of Great Basin Institute’s Covid-19 Vaccination Policy, all employees are required to receive and provide proof of a full course of COVID-19 vaccine prior to the first day of employment, unless a medical or religious exemption is submitted and approved. All employees covered by this policy are required to be fully vaccinated as a term and condition of employment at Great Basin Institute. Employees are considered fully vaccinated two weeks after completing primary vaccination with a COVID-19 vaccine, with, if applicable, at least the minimum recommended interval between doses.

Please Apply at: https://www.vscyberhosting.com/greatbasin/careers.aspx?rf=ASPT&req=2021-AIM-010

Application review will continue until all positions are filled. We encourage applying early in order to gain the best chance at getting your top-choice locations. Only qualified candidates will be contacted.

Conservation Technician

DEPARTMENT: Biodiversity Research and Conservation
STATUS: Full Time
REPORTS TO: Conservation Geneticist

Position Overview:
Under the supervision of the Conservation Geneticist at California Botanic Garden (CalBG) and in coordination with the conservation team, the Conservation Technician will assist in the management of the Garden’s Molecular and Anatomy Labs and participate in conservation field projects. CalBG’s conservation team undertakes diverse activities with the goal of securing California’s native plant legacy. Projects include rare plant research, field surveys, monitoring, seed conservation, invasive plant species management, propagation and out-planting for restoration. The conservation genetics component of the program uses the resources of CalBG’s laboratories and personnel (scientists, graduate students) to address questions that require genetic data. Specific duties include supporting the Conservation Geneticist in laboratory management and projects including maintaining an organized, clean, safe, and efficiently operating laboratory, data collection for conservation genomic contracts and agreements, data entry, and participation in field work. This position is estimated to be 70% office work (e.g. laboratory related projects) and 30% participation in field work.
Duties and Responsibilities
Under participating agreements, grants and contracts between CalBG and a diversity of partners including the Bureau of Land Management, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, National Forest Foundation, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and others, assists in the execution of the annual program of work to support our mission of plant conservation at CalBG.
Maintains organized, clean, safe, and efficiently operating laboratories (e.g. equipment maintenance, ordering supplies, assisting with hazardous waste removal).
Maintains databases of reagents/chemicals, equipment, supplies, and contract DNA.
Trains and supervises staff, students, interns, and visiting researchers on laboratory protocols and safety.
Working independently and in association with garden staff, and personnel from other institutions, coordinates and participates in conservation projects between CalBG and other agencies or organizations, including conservation genomic projects, botanical surveys, seed collecting activities, and rare plant inventory and monitoring projects.
Coordinates and participates in data management and data entry associated with conservation projects.
Assists in preparation of written reports and other documents for submission to conservation partners.
Participates in institutional, professional, societal, national, and international meetings, symposia, and workshops directly related to work as needed.

Qualifications:
Master’s degree in botany, biology, or equivalent environmental science is required, or Bachelor of Science in botany, biology, or equivalent environmental science with four years or more of relevant experience.
Experience working in molecular labs and with modern genetic lab methods (e.g., fragment data generation and analysis, next generation sequencing methods and analytical pipelines).
Strong interpersonal skills.
Strong writing and verbal skills are required.
Ability to work as part of a team and independently.
Willingness to conduct overnight field work in remote locations is preferred.
A working knowledge of basic taxonomic principles and characteristics of major plant families and California flora is preferred.
Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

Physical demands
Ability to conduct fieldwork under a variety of environmental conditions (heat, cold, rain, wind, etc.) is required.
Sitting for up to 2 hours at a time and using a computer for lengthy periods

Salary Range
$19.00 - $23.00 per hour, depending on experience
Qualified candidates please send cover letter and resume to:
California Botanic Garden
Attention: Carrie Kiel
ckiel@calbg.org
1500 N College Avenue, Claremont, CA 91711

TORCH 2022 Summer Student Internship EXTENDED DEADLINE

 The NSF-supported Texas and Oklahoma Regional Consortium of Herbaria (TORCH) makes the information contained in natural history collections readily available to researchers, educators, land managers, and the general public. The TORCH project is digitizing and serving online the data from ca. 2 million herbarium specimens from the South-Central United States, unlocking the information from these collections with an array of scientific and societal benefits.

The project seeks a total of 20 interns for the summer of 2022 (June 6–August 12). The interns will participate in all aspects of specimen digitization, learn about herbarium collections management and the type of research that is conducted in herbaria, and carry out their own research project using herbarium specimens.

These internships will take place at five of the institutions that are collaborating on the project:

•     the Botanical Research Institute of Texas in Fort Worth;

•     the University of Oklahoma in Norman;

•     Oklahoma State University in Stillwater;

•     Texas A&M University in College Station; and

•     the University of Texas at Austin,

with four interns residing at each institution.

Working closely with a faculty/staff mentor at one of the five institutions, each intern will develop a scientific project utilizing digitized data, with 70% of their time devoted directly to digitization activities, including imaging specimens, transcribing specimen label data, and/or georeferencing. The remaining time will be spent on enrichment activities, including lectures and workshops about the technology and best practices of specimen digitization and curation, data collection and analysis, and poster preparation. Activities may also include field collection of plant specimens. The internship will culminate with the interns and their mentors attending the TORCH scientific meeting, in conjunction with the Texas Plant Conservation Conference, August 8–10 in Fort Worth, where the students will present the results of their projects in a poster session.

We particularly encourage applications from students whose participation will add to the diversity of researchers in botanical science, including students from underrepresented groups and first-generation college students.

For more information and for instructions on how to apply, please visit: https://www.torcherbaria.org/internship

The application deadline is February 14th, 2022.