Archaeologist GS-193-07/09
MALHEUR NATIONAL FOREST
Blue Mountain Ranger District
John Day, OR
Post: 10/29/2019 – 11/08/2019
The Malheur National Forest is at the center of a nationally recognized effort that is doubling the scale of restoration in Eastern Oregon. If you are looking for an opportunity to do ground breaking nationally recognized work we are certain you will find a refreshing approach to leadership in natural resource management. The vacancy announcement number will be shared when it’s ready, to those interested in the position and those who respond to this outreach.
POSITION:
The Malheur National Forest is currently conducting outreach for an Archaeologist, GS-0193-07/09.
This position’s duty station will be the Blue Mountain Ranger District in John Day, Oregon. The position will be filled as a permanent position. Only one position will be filled.
GS-07/09 Duties: This position provides technical and administrative supervision to both permanent and temporary employees as directed by higher-grade archaeologists. This includes assigning and reviewing work. Serves as a member of interdisciplinary teams providing professional and technical assessments during the planning and implementation of projects (site identification, management, and protection). Recommends appropriate mitigation to ensure the adequate protection of heritage resources. Identifies opportunities for the integration of heritage resource goals and management activities with other Forest Service resource programs during planning efforts. Conducts and/or supervises archeological surveys, site recording, and site monitoring. Assists with the planning and implementing of projects for protecting or managing significant cultural sites in support of Forest-wide Section 110 program objectives. Assists in the preparation of NEPA documents, work plans and budgets. Performs the administrative and human resource management functions for five or more temporary employees.
Performs other duties as assigned.
Please share this opportunity within your network or with others you know may be interested.
For further information on this position, and or to express your interest in this position, please contact Katee Withee @ (541)575-3432. Individuals who are interested in this position are asked to complete and send the attached Outreach Reply form to: katee.withee@usda.gov by November 8th 2019.
LOCATION:
The Blue Mountain Ranger District consists of a Ranger and Ranger District Management Assistants (RDMA). The staff areas are: Administration, Hydrology, Rangeland Management, Vegetation Management/Fuels, Planning, Fire, Fish and Wildlife, and Heritage Resources.
FOREST OVERVIEW:
The Malheur National Forest encompasses 1.7 million acres of wilderness, rangeland, and general forest in the majestic Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon. It sustains a diversity of vegetation ranging from juniper-sagebrush woodlands and bunchgrass grasslands to high elevation alpine forests of sub-alpine fir and white bark pine. Extensive tracts of ponderosa pine, western larch, Douglas-fir, grand fir, and lodge pole forests occur between the juniper/grassland foothills and alpine peaks. Elevations range from 4000 feet to 9038 feet atop Strawberry Mountain. The majority of the Forest lies in Grant and Harney counties, with portions in Baker, Crook, and Malheur counties. U.S. Highway 395 bisects the Forest north-to-south, and U.S. Highway 26 from east-to-west. The Forest has three Ranger Districts: Blue Mountain and Prairie City to the north, and the Emigrant Creek Ranger District on the southern portion of the forest.
The Forest provides the headwaters of the Middle, Main, and South Forks of the John Day River system which provides habitat for the largest remaining wild runs of salmon and steelhead. Threatened and endangered wildlife species include Chinook salmon, Summer steelhead, bull trout, and bald eagles. The Forest manages two Wildernesses and two Wild and Scenic Rivers as well as lands along a State Scenic Waterway. The Forest has the second largest grazing program in Region 6 and is the home of an incredibly rich archaeological resource. This Forest has a high frequency of wildfires in a fire-dominated ecosystem, with a correspondingly large fire and aviation program that includes a rappel base and a single engine air tanker base.
Strategically, the Forest is a leader in the Region for collaborative partnerships. Over the past 7 years in partnership with our two collaboratives, the size of planning areas has expanded and timelines for completing NEPA documents has substantially reduced. Additionally, working in these partnerships the Forest has seized the opportunity to be progressive in treatments using HFRA authorities. The collaboratives formed a Coalition in 2010 and lead the development of a CFLRP proposal that was one of 10 in the nation to be chosen by the Secretary of Agriculture for multi-year funding opportunities. Over the next 8 years, the Forest has the opportunity to use this program to implement an “all lands” approach for restoration on almost 700,000 acres of the Forest. Building on the success of our Vegetation centric collaborative, the Forest is working to expand our collaboritives model to include the Range Program.
The complexity of the natural resources is matched by complexity of relationships and interactions with other entities. The southern Ranger District of the Forest is engaged in a Service First project with the Burns District of the Bureau of Land Management, sharing an integrated fire suppression workforce and recreation program. Numerous individual positions are shared among the northeast Oregon Forests. In addition, these three Forests will release their draft Forest Plan later this spring. Economically, the communities in the Malheur National Forest area of influence are extremely resource dependent with minimal opportunities for diversification and resilience. The Forest is in the ceded area or area of aboriginal use of several tribal governments with the strongest ties to the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs, and the Burns Paiute Tribe. The Forest is also a partner in two shared BLM/FS Resource Advisory Councils; the John Day/Snake RAC to the north and the Southeast Oregon RAC to the south.
ABOUT THE AREA:
At the base of the beautiful Strawberry Mountain Range, lies the town of Prairie City (est. Population 1100). It has elementary, junior high and high school, a dental office, restaurants, Historic Hotel Prairie, an antique store, Bed and Breakfasts, and the historical Sumpter Valley Railroad Museum. The surrounding countryside is a combination of forested mountains, high desert plateaus, and rolling prairie. Both communities, Prairie City and John Day, lie at the head of the John Day River Valley, the last major undammed tributary of the Columbia River. The area offers unlimited outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting (elk, deer, upland birds), fishing, hiking, mountain biking/cycling, camping, beautiful scenery, winter sports such as cross country and back country skiing or snowmobiling. It offers wide open, uncrowded spaces for those seeking peace and solitude.
The upper John Day River Valley is home to the majority of the 8000 residents of Grant County. John Day/Canyon City constitutes the primary population “center” (est. Population 2500) and county seat. It is a full service community with a hospital, medical and dental offices, elementary, junior high and high school, restaurants, motels, Bed and Breakfasts, city swimming pool and historical museums. There is a County airport with a local flying club, fairgrounds, 4-H opportunities, soccer, baseball, and softball leagues.
The closest urban centers include Baker City, Oregon (1 ¼ hours northeast), La Grande, Oregon (2 hours northeast), Bend, Oregon (3 hours west), Boise, Idaho (3 hours east) and Pendleton, Oregon (3 hours north).
FOREST RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES:
Over 600 miles of recreation trails (wilderness, hiking, horseback, mountain bike, ATV, snowmobile and cross-country skiing); 29 campgrounds; streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes; Strawberry Mountain and Monument Rock wilderness areas; Malheur River and North Fork Malheur River Wild and Scenic Rivers; John Day Fossil Beds National Park; other outstanding geologic features and wildlife habitat provide a diversity of experiences. Hunting opportunities abound, whether you prefer a camera, bow, binoculars, or firearm.
JOHN DAY AND NEARBY COMMUNITIES:
The upper John Day River Valley is home to the majority of the 8000 residents of Grant County. John Day/Canyon City constitutes the primary population “center” (est. Population 2500) and county seat. It is a full service community with a hospital, medical and dental offices, elementary, junior high and high school, restaurants, motels, bed and breakfasts, city swimming pool, and historical museums. There is a county airport with a local flying club, fairgrounds, 4-H opportunities, soccer, baseball, and softball leagues. Prairie City is located 12 miles east of John Day and Mount Vernon is 8 miles west of John Day.
The area offers numerous outdoor recreational opportunities including hunting (elk, deer, upland birds), fishing, hiking, mountain biking/cycling, camping, beautiful scenery, and winter sports such as cross country and back country skiing or snowmobiling. It offers wide open, uncrowded spaces for those seeking peace and solitude.
The closest urban centers include Baker City, Oregon (1 ½ hours northeast); La Grande, Oregon (2 ½ hours northeast); Bend, Oregon (3 hours west); Boise, Idaho (3 hours east); and Pendleton, Oregon (3 hours north).
Housing is limited in the area. Rentals of small apartments and mobile homes range from $400-$600/month, with rental houses costing $600-$1,000/month. Houses to buy range from $75,000-$150,000 for a 1 or 2 bedroom home, up to $300,000+ for a large home with land.
The local weekly newspaper is the Blue Mountain Eagle. http://www.bluemountaineagle.com
More information on the area is available on the Grant County Economic Growth Council website:
http://www.grantcounty.com/http://www.harneycounty.com/
For more information on the area, you may contact the Chamber of Commerce at:
(541) 575–0547 or website – http://www.grantcounty.cc
Thank you for your interest in our Vacancy!
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