ESR Habitat & Cultural Monitoring Technician – Wenatchee, WA

GreatBasin
ESR Habitat & Cultural Monitoring Technician

Great Basin Institute / BLM (Wenatchee, WA)

 

The vegetation/habitat monitoring program at GBI serves as a professional development opportunity for resource professionals. This program is a component of the institute’s Research Associate Program, which advances conservation and management of natural and cultural resources throughout the West. As an element of our vegetation/habitat monitoring program, participants will work cooperatively with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff on post-wildfire Emergency Stabilization and Rehabilitation (ESR) projects across the region. In accordance with this strategy and through a partnership with the BLM, GBI’s vegetation/habitat monitoring program is dedicated to providing college graduates and emerging professionals with hands-on survey, monitoring, and reporting experience in resource management, range, healthy land initiative, restoration, and emergency stabilization and burned area rehabilitation.

 

Description:

Working collaboratively with BLM Spokane District Office (Wenatchee Field Office), the Great Basin Institute is recruiting an ESR Habitat & Cultural Monitoring Technician to support the District’s ESR Programs by implementing field monitoring in advance of GBI Terrestrial AIM monitoring teams. The central focus of this aspect of the project is to survey project areas for cultural resources, monitor condition of previously identified cultural resources, identify avoidance zones, as well as collect and enter data using BLM protocols. The primary project focus areas will be emergency stabilization and rehabilitation (ESR), and weeds management. The selected individual will be working collaboratively with GBI AIM field teams, as well as BLM ES&R and cultural resource staff. Specific duties include assisting with:

  • Implementation monitoring – for AIM and ESR projects;
  • Site avoidance flagging;
  • Site condition monitoring;
  • (Limited) Class III inventory; and
  • Writing a site update form, a site form (complete the online DAHP site/isolate form), and a monitoring report, including maps.

 

The technician will gather monitoring data to determine effectiveness of post-fire stabilization and rehabilitation efforts within archaeological sites. Duties include following established field protocols to conductbackground research, site monitoring and field data collection on new and previously recorded sites, and to facilitate inventories and reporting prior to ESR undertakings to ensure compliance with regulations in the National Historic Preservation Act and other authorities.

 

Paleontological resources may be identified from BLM databases or during field reconnaissance.  The Archeologist will report paleontological resources discovered during archaeological inventories and aid in the protection of significant known resources during ESR project activities.

 

Field work includes maintaining safety awareness and practices, navigating off-trail to archaeological sites and survey areas, collecting site condition data, and ensuring archaeological site protection during ground disturbing ESR activities. This work will include planning for and facilitating or performing site protection measures such as site flagging prior to drill seeding.  The work will also include undertaking pedestrian surveys of smaller project areas and assisting with contract oversight for larger projects, including implementation monitoring and ground-truthing findings. During periods of field work camping may be required.

 

The Technician is responsible for data entry, synthesis and analysis, and for organizing site and project reports and photos. Additionally, the technician will complete and submit cultural resource clearances in cooperation with BLM ESR Resource Specialists and assisting with the preparation of reports for submission by BLM resource staff to the State Historic Preservation Office. The Technician may also assist BLM Resource Specialists with monitoring contractor field performance, reviewing reports, and administrative duties such as managing the administrative record, and data entry. This position will also support ESR implementation projects including vegetative monitoring, inspection of vegetation treatment projects, and overseeing seasonal employees during compliance tasks related to cultural resource management.

 

Location:

This position is based in the BLM Wenatchee Field Office in Wenatchee, WA; inventories and recording will take place across public lands managed by the BLM Spokane, WA District. A majority of the field work will occur in areas undergoing post-fire recovery and restoration.

The Wenatchee Valley encompasses an area that includes arid desert landscapes and natural beaches along the Columbia River along with manicured parks, as well as the alpine wilderness of the Cascade Range.  The Wenatchee Valley has become a favorite for outdoor enthusiasts. In the same day you can: water ski the Columbia River and ski Mission Ridge; whitewater raft the Wenatchee River and mountain bike Sage Hills or take a snowshoe trek.

Compensation:

  • $19.50/hour
  • $15.00 Camping per diem
  • Health Insurance (ACA-compliant)
  • Paid personal leave benefits

 

Timeline: 

o   26-week appointment beginning in July or upon earliest availability, and completion of an adjudicated DOI background investigation

o   Full-time, 40 hours per week (Monday-Thursday or Friday)

o   Overtime and long days may be required on occasion

 

Qualifications:

Technical requirements:

  • Bachelor’s Degree or higher in Anthropology, Archaeology, Cultural Resources Management, or a related field or coursework in these areas of study;
  • Experience conducting archaeological field work;
  • Familiarity with prehistoric and historic archaeology of the area as well as other regional cultural resource issues preferred;
  • Experience conducting archaeological background research and surveys using standard Class I-III archaeological inventory methods;
  • Experience identifying and recording a variety of site, feature, and artifact types typical to the region;
  • Ability to identify regional paleontological resource types through field and database/GIS methods in order to protect significant resources;
  • Experience with data entry and management;
  • Ability to read, interpret and navigate using topographic maps and GPS coordinates;
  • Experience creating maps and performing basic functions with GIS software (ArcMap);
  • Experience navigating and collecting coordinates with hand-held Trimble GPS units; and
  • Experience with Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, Access).

 

Additional requirements:

  • Valid, state-issued driver’s license and clean driving record with experience operating 4WD trucks on paved and unpaved roads, often in narrow or rocky desert areas;
  • Ability to work both independently and productively as part of a team to accomplish mutual goals;
  • Ability to communicate effectively in writing and orally with team members, agency and GBI staff, and a diverse public;
  • Excellent organizational skills;
  • Familiarity with best practices for field safety and low impact 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.

 

  • Successful applicant must complete a Department of Interior (DOI) Background Investigation (BI); Individuals who previously completed the process for a fully adjudicated BI will be strongly considered.

 

How to Apply:

Qualified and interested applicants should forward a cover letter, their résumé, and a list of three professional references to: http://crcareers.thegreatbasininstitute.org/careers/Careers.aspx?rf=AFW&REQ=2017-RAP-059