Invasive Plants Program Overview

The Colville National Forest is looking for two GS-0404-05/06/07 Biological Science Technicians (Plants). This position will have a duty station at the Newport Ranger District in Newport, Washington and the Tonasket Ranger District in Tonasket, Washington. This position would serve as the district lead and cover a specific zone of the forest.

The program is composed of 9 permanent employees which consist of the Range/Invasive Plants Program Manager, four Rangeland Management Specialists, one Range Technician and a total of three Biological Science Technicians These positions would work closely with the Rangeland Management Specialist and the other Biological Science Technician to coordinate and accomplish work.

The selected applicants would have the opportunity to work in a unique forested Range/Invasive Plants Program. The Colville National Forest is also very progressive regarding restoration activities, vegetation management and fuels reduction, which involve several resource areas working together.

Position Description

This position is responsible for performing a variety of complex and recurring technical duties in support of the unit’s Invasive Plants Program and some technical support to the District. The individuals selected for these positions are also responsible for, but not limited to the following duties:

• Works cooperatively with state, private and counties in the management of invasive plants
• Actively manages invasive plants via chemical, cultural, and/or mechanical means
• Directs a temporary workforce to meet the objectives of the forest-wide Range/Invasive Plants Program
• Works directly with the Colville National Forest’s Range and Invasive Plants Program Manager in coordination efforts related to project planning and allotment permit compliance.
• Conducts range/invasive plants monitoring activities to assure compliance with regional and forest goals.
• Inspects/certifies rock source material for use on Forest Service land.
• Maintains invasive species inventory and treatment records in appropriate databases.
• Prepares, provides and files proper range/invasive plants documentation

NOTE:  The duties of this position require the incumbent to obtain and maintain a Washington State Pesticide Applicator’s License. The incumbent must obtain the license within 120 days of the initial appointment to the position.

This is a great opportunity to work with a dynamic team. This position will be supervised by the Supervisory Rangeland Management Specialist.

Interested individuals should complete the attached outreach response form.

For questions about this position, please contact:

Brandon Weinmann

Range/Invasive Plants Program Manager

Colville National Forest, Supervisor’s Office

765 South Main Street

Colville, WA 99114

509-684-7225

Brandon.weinmann@usda.gov

About the Colville National Forest

Tucked into the northeastern corner of Washington State and nestled at the foot of the northern Rocky Mountains, the Colville National Forest is an exquisite landscape of forested mountains, clear mountain streams, and fertile valleys.  The 1.1 million acre forest was shaped over 10,000 years ago by Ice Age glaciers that carved three major valleys: the Columbia, Sanpoil-Curlew, and Pend Oreille River valleys.  The mountains and valleys that comprise the lush northeast corner of Washington roll like waves on the high seas. Three waves of mountains run from north to south, separated by troughs of beautiful valleys. These ranges, the Okanogan, Kettle River and Selkirk are considered the eastern edge of the Okanagan highlands and the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.

The Forest has four districts supervised by three District Rangers:  Three Rivers Ranger District located in Kettle Falls, Newport and Sullivan Lake Ranger Districts and the Republic Ranger District.  Each unit tends to have distinctly different zones, each with its unique climate, topography, and vegetation.  Each district office is located in one of the major river drainages:  the Sanpoil-Curlew River Valleys, the Kettle-Colville-Columbia River Valleys, and the Pend Oreille River Valley.  The Forest also provides services to the Curlew Job Corps Center located 30 miles north of Republic.

Forest topography is varied, ranging from rounded mountain slopes at low elevations to high peaks and basins above 7,300 feet in elevation.  Primary access is through approximately 4,400 miles of roads and 518 miles of trails.  Ecology is highly diverse ranging from ponderosa pine and Douglas fir on drier sites to western red cedar, western hemlock, western white pine and a variety of deciduous species on wetter sites.  The Forest also has a significant expanse of lodgepole pine and the famously beautiful western larch.  Wildlife includes a tremendous variety including whitetail and mule deer, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, and black bear.  Rare sightings are also possible of the threatened grizzly, Canada lynx, and endangered woodland caribou.  Another amazing sight is the large number of bald eagles that winter along the major rivers and nest in the vicinity.

Our lakes, rivers, and streams offer an abundance of German brown trout, rainbow trout, eastern brook trout, westslope cutthroat trout, bull trout, mountain whitefish, largemouth bass, smallmouth bass, burbot, Kokanee salmon, and yellow perch.  We have groomed cross-country and snowmobile trails, hiking trails, over a hundred miles of single track motorcycle trails, a growing network of ATV routes, as well as opportunities for rock climbing, mountaineering, swimming, watersports, bird watching, and chances to find solitude in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness or several other roadless areas.  No matter what your recreational interests are, you’ll probably find an opportunity to explore them further on the beautiful Colville National Forest!

About the Newport/Sullivan Lake Ranger District Area

Newport, WA and Metaline Falls, WA

The district is bordered to the north by British Columbia, Canada; to the east by the Idaho Panhandle National Forest; and to the west by the Three Rivers Ranger District.  Elevations within the districts range from 1,725’ at the north end of the Pend Oreille River to 7,318’ at Gypsy Peak in the Salmo-Priest Wilderness.

The town of Newport (pop. 2,000) is located in the south end of Pend Oreille County and is the county seat.  This is also a full service community with schools, libraries, hospital, grocery stores, movie theatre, a performing arts theater and a Community College.

Spokane (pop. 200,000) is one hour south of Newport and 1.5 hours south of Ione.  It is the regional hub for air travel, shopping and specialized health services.

Recreation includes camping, hiking, mountain biking, boating, fishing, hunting, golfing, snowmobiling and Nordic and downhill skiing.

The Sullivan Lake Ranger District office is located on the north shores of Sullivan Lake (NE corner of Washington State).   The nearest communities are Metaline Falls (pop. 260), nine miles west, Metaline (pop. 170), 10 miles west, and Ione (pop. 500), 15 miles southwest.  These are full service communities with schools, libraries, medical clinic, grocery stores, movie theatre, and a performing arts theater.

About the Tonasket Ranger District Area

The Tonasket Ranger District is currently a district within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.  The District is in the process of transitioning to the Colville National Forest and this transition is to be implemented on October 1, 2020.

Tonasket, WA

The Tonasket Ranger District covers approximately 415,000 acres, including a small northeastern corner of the Pasayten Wilderness. The District extends from the Canadian-American border south to the Colville Confederated Tribes Reservation boundary, and from the Methow Valley Divide east to the Okanogan-Ferry County line and the boundary with the Colville National Forest. Elevations range from 900 feet near the Okanogan River to the highest peak on Bonaparte Mountain at 8331 feet. The Tonasket Ranger District has large and active programs in fuels and forest restoration along with 40 active grazing allotments. There are many mineral rights in the area and the closure process is proceeding with the neighboring Buckhorn gold mine. Other resource programs include invasive weed management, fisheries, and wildlife habitat management. Year-round recreation opportunities include 17 trailheads and hundreds of miles of maintained motorized and non-motorized trails along with portions of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail; several snowmobile access parking areas, a developed cross-country ski area and 14 developed campgrounds. The Ranger Station is located in Tonasket, Washington.

Tonasket Community:

The City of Tonasket has a population of approximately 1,050 and is located along the eastern bank of the Okanogan River in north-central Okanogan County. State Highway 97 is the main north–to-south travel route through north central Washington and bisects the city on its way to the Canadian border. The community provides services to approximately 3,000 more residents in rural areas outside of town.

Tonasket offers primary grade and high school facilities, a library, grocery and hardware stores, convenience stores, several restaurants and tavern, a number of churches, doctors, a dentist and hospital service. The town of Omak/Okanogan is approximately 24 miles south where larger retail department stores, two movie theaters, and other shopping venues are available. Also available in Omak/Okanogan is the campus of the Wenatchee Valley North Community College. Several district employees choose to live in the Omak/Okanogan area or in the border town of Oroville 16 miles north of Tonasket. All the school districts are proud to offer students ample opportunity for academic and athletic excellence.

OUTREACH RESPONSE FORM

Please respond by March 27, 2020

If you are interested in applying for this position and want to receive updates of the position’s status, please complete the attached outreach form and send electronically to bweinmann@fs.fed.us:

I am interested in the following position:

How did you hear about this outreach?  ______________________________________

I am interested in a Detail/Temporary Promotion of up to 120 days_______