The position serves as a Botanist for the East Zone of the Mount Hood National Forest. The East Zone is made up of the Hood River and Barlow Ranger Districts. We are seeking a dynamic, energetic person with a demonstrated ability to promote natural resource management and an interest in community collaboration to help provide restoration opportunities on the zone. The successful candidate will have strong leadership, communication, organizational and interpersonal skills.
Primary functions include but are not limited to:
- Provides technical expertise regarding threatened, endangered and sensitive plant species;
- Serves as a botanical expert on interdisciplinary teams;
- Initiates, designs, and implements ecological restoration projects internally or with partners;
- Assists with the implementation of the invasive plant management program of work;
- Maintains databases and ensures completion of data entry and reporting requirements.
About the Mt. Hood National Forest:
Located twenty miles east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley, the Mt. Hood National Forest extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than sixty miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mt. Jefferson. The Forest encompasses some 1,067,043 acres. One of the State of Oregon’s iconic landmarks, the 11,240-foot peak of Mount Hood stands sentinel in the middle of the Forest.
Straddling both sides of the Cascade Mountain Range, the Forest comprises and serves two distinctly unique areas. The west-side of the Forest is in close proximity to the Portland/Vancouver metropolitan area, with nearly 50 percent of the Forest’s perimeter characterized as urban interface. The interface experiences intense levels of recreational
use; complex communication challenges due to socio-economic and cultural diversity of the area’s citizens; and, a high degree of interest from members of the urban public and media. By contrast, the communities on the east-side of the Forest are more rural in nature, with a unique sense of relationship to place and a larger dependence upon the natural resource assets, such as water to supply nearby orchards, farms, and ranches for irrigation and domestic uses.
East-side or west-side, the Forest draws visitors from around the Pacific Northwest and the Nation. Nearly 2.4 million people per year come to view the wildlife and wildflowers, camp, hike, boat the lakes, play in the streams, ski, mountain bike, hunt, fish, climb Mount Hood, and participate in a range of recreational activities in and around the Forest. Some popular destinations on the forest include Timberline Lodge, built in 1937 high on Mt. Hood, Lost Lake, Trillium Lake, Timothy Lake, Rock Creek Reservoir and portions of the Old Oregon Trail, including Barlow Road.
Stewardship of the Mt. Hood National Forest and its natural and cultural resources presents a unique set of management challenges, as well as many opportunities to interact with the public in meaningful ways.
About the Community:
The Barlow and Hood River Ranger Districts are part of the Mt. Hood National Forest. The land base encompasses approximately 385,000 acres and provides a diversity of geographic, climatic, and biotic areas. Elevations range from 100 feet at the Columbia River to 11,235 feet at the summit of Mt. Hood. The land base is located east of the Cascade Crest and annual precipitation ranges from 45 inches in the Hood River area to 25 inches in the Dufur area. Spring and fall are wet with temperatures dropping into the 30s and 40s. Summers are usually dry with temperatures in the 70s and 80s. For additional information about the Mt. Hood National Forest visit the Forest Web Site at www.fs.fed.us/r6/mthood.
Mt. Hood/Parkdale is a small community located 15/17 miles south of Hood River, and approximately 75 miles southeast of Portland (the largest city in Oregon). Mt. Hood/Parkdale has a grocery store, post office, 2 convenience stores, an elementary school, several churches, 2 community centers, a gas station, brewpub, several restaurants, and several gift/artisan shops. The community is a mix of tourism and orchard based industry. Housing is limited.
Hood River is a full service community. Local services include 33 churches, public library, hospital, motels/hotels, banks, local shops, 2 grocery stores, 3 pharmacy/department stores, brewpubs, restaurants, fresh fruit stands, movie theaters, sports/health clubs, swimming pool, tennis courts, parks, bowling alley, gardening outlets, and a small municipal airport. Ample medical care facilities as well as dental and optical services are available. The City of Hood River remains the Gorge capital for the sport of windsurfing.
Hood River County encompasses the Hood River Valley and includes the communities of Mt. Hood, Parkdale, Dee, Odell, Pine Grove and the cities of Hood River, and Cascade Locks. Mt. Hood, with an elevation of 11,235 ft., marks the southern end of the valley. The Columbia River and a view of Mt. Adams mark the northern end.
The views and vistas are incredible and outdoor recreational opportunities abound. The fertile farmland of the Hood River Valley includes more than 14,000 acres of commercial apple, cherry, pear and peach orchards. Orchard crops provide much of the county’s economic base. Tourism is also an important part the county’s economy.
Housing is available throughout the Hood River Valley, with the average 3 bedroom home cost of $250,000.00+. Rental units vary from $500.00/month (for a one-bedroom apt) to $1,100.00 – $1,500 for a house. Rentals are somewhat limited during the summer months.
If you are interested in this exciting job opportunity, please contact Christina Mead by e-mail, at christinaamead@fs.fed.us, or by phone, at 541-467-5132.