Upland Monitoring Technician - Battle Mountain

The Great Basin Institute, in cooperation with the Bureau of Land Management Mount Lewis Field Office, is recruiting an experienced rangeland botanists and/or ecologists to conduct upland monitoring across public lands. The Upland Monitoring Technician will work cooperatively as part of a multi-disciplinary rangeland monitoring team. The overall objective is to complete utilization, use pattern mapping, ecological site inventory, vegetative cover, density, and production data for upcoming rangeland health evaluations. Monitoring data will also be utilized to determine the effectiveness of emergency stabilization and rehabilitation (ESR) seedings after a wildfire. Additionally, these data will be used to maintain, restore, and/or improve upland resource values to achieve a healthy and productive ecological condition.

Contract length: April 2, 2012 – September 30, 2012; potential for extension pending funding and positive performance review

Rate of Pay: $15.00/hour

Benefits: Medical and dental, travel per diem, paid personal leave, training opportunities

Location: Battle Mountain, NV – located approximately 220 miles east of Reno and 300 west of Salt Lake City, UT – is a boom-and-bust mining town situated on the northern edge of the District’s land along Interstate 80. The Battle Mountain District Office is responsible for managing approximately 10.5 million acres; the Mount Lewis Field Office is responsible for approximately half of the total acreage. The District’s lands are typical of basin-and-range topography and Great Basin Desert habitat.

Duties: 
General duties include providing written documentation of data, conclusions, and recommendations to maintain and/or improve watershed and vegetative conditions; coordination with the public, interest groups, state and county agencies, and other federal land management offices to share information and knowledge necessary to effectively maintain and/or improve public land watersheds. GBI is seeking an associate to fill the monitoring technician position that will perform the following duties:

1. Plant Identification – plant and plant community identification, including expertise on upland range plant taxonomy and ecology common throughout the Great Basin.   Responsible for the identification of individual plants, describing existing and potential plant communities using soil survey information, interpreting vegetation, and successional sequences.

2. Soil Identification – Has exposure to identification of soils, use of soil surveys, determine soils grouped into the site, identify landscape and soil factors, and determine existing or potential erosional factors. This information would be utilized to aid in determining site potential and evaluation of current conditions.

3.  Upland Monitoring Studies – Utilizing plant and soil identification skills, the monitoring technician will be responsible for conducting upland monitoring studies under established BLM protocol. Monitoring will consist of double-weight sampling, ecological site inventory, utilization, use pattern mapping, cover, and density techniques. Duties may also consist of conducting livestock compliance checks, which provide information on livestock placement and movement as it relates to annual authorized use. This information will be utilized to draw conclusions upon the effectiveness of grazing management on the public lands.

Qualifications:
* Applicants should have a combination of educational and field experience related to the position of interest;
* an understanding of basic principles related to the fields of botany and/or soil science;
* Experience working in Great Basin Desert and knowledge of Great Basin ecology, including dominant fauna and vegetation communities;
* ability to navigate and collect data using handheld GPS units, required;
* ability to use a compass and read a topographical map;
* experience working with ArcGIS, desirable;
* possess a clean, valid, state-issued driver’s license;
* ability to operate a 4WD vehicle on- and off-road;
* Ability to communicate effectively, both written and orally, with a diverse audience; and
* successful applicant must be physically fit to work outdoors, carry personal and field equipment, and withstand the rigors of the Great Basin in the summer, fall and/or early winter.