Pathways Position (Forester/Silviculture/Timber Management)
Student Trainee GS- 0499- 04/05
Convertible to Professional Forester GS-0460-05/07/09
PERMANENT FULL-TIME
The Klamath National Forest is currently seeking a candidate for a permanent full-time Student Trainee (Forester/Silviculture/Timber Management) GS-0499- 04/05 convertible to a GS- 0460- 05/07/09 position located at the Goosenest Ranger District in Macdoel, California. The purpose of this Outreach Notice is to inform prospective applicants of this upcoming opportunity and made decisions on how this position will be filled. Be sure to check the boxes for the hiring authorities that you plan to apply under.
To express interest in this position, please complete the attached voluntary Outreach Interest Form and return to Mike Reed at rmreed@fs.fed.us by close of business on 9/27/2016
**Although not mandatory, responses from Outreach Notices help us determine how to advertise the position and which candidates will be considered. If interested, your response is greatly appreciated.**
DUTIES ASSOCIATED WITH THIS POSITION:
This Pathways Internship position is located on a Forest Service unit and serves as an Intern in support of the Forest Service Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences Programs. Specific disciplines covered in this position include forestry, rangeland management, wildlife biology, fish biology, ecology, botany, recreation, natural resources management, biological sciences, and other related disciplines in the GS-0400 Group.
This position is designed to provide a career-oriented introduction to the background, philosophy, concepts, and scope of the Forest Service Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences functions and a practical understanding of the policies of the employing organization. Assignments are developmental in nature and, in conjunction with formal education from an accredited educational institution, the Intern will gain the necessary competencies leading to conversion to a permanent professional or technical position in the Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences field. Work assignments are selected to ensure that the Intern receives on-the-job training and exposure to one or more program functions.
Major Roles
Receives training in the principles, concepts, work processes, and regulations of one or more functional areas of Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences. Work assignments are usually clear-cut and designed to provide experience in a variety of activities.
On a scheduled basis, following the Pathways Participant Agreement, receives assignments in various Natural Resources Management and Biological Sciences functions to gain an understanding of the various program concepts and operations, develop an understanding of the total mission as well as organizational/functional interrelationships, and develop a foundation for more specialized application of knowledge gained from on-the-job training assignments.
Receives formal and on-the-job training in OPM, Department of Agriculture and Forest Service policies, rules, regulations, and procedures.
Is instructed on the use of personal computers, and file and data management.
This is permanent a, full-time position. The incumbent would serve as a silviculturist with primary responsibility for development, planning, and application of silvicultural methods and practices.
The position will be supervised by the Silviculturist and the duty location will be Macdoel, CA.
Convertible Position
This is a career ladder position with grade levels of 05/07/09. The 05/07 grade level is an advanced trainee position where the incumbent performs productive forestry work and receives advanced training pertaining to Forest resources and activities with emphasis on silviculture and timber management.
Full performance at the 09 grade level would include: The Forester (Silviculture/Timber management) conducts examinations of timber compartments and stands on the unit and evaluates the conditions found. Makes or recommends basic land management decisions based on these evaluations. Makes silviculture prescriptions and action plans for TSI and reforestation work necessary to attain timber management objectives using aerial photographs and on-the-ground observation and measurements. Reviews and recommends plans for the timber harvest program. This includes sale design, layout, and marking in accordance with approved silvicultural prescription and environmental assessment reports. Makes plantation and natural regeneration survival examinations to determine that results meet accepted standards. Sets up checks and inspections to determine the effectiveness of culture treatments. Makes recommendations to the TMA on techniques, policies, and procedures to increase the effectiveness or improve the quality of treatments. Prepares multiple-use compartment prescriptions and environmental assessment reports based on field examination. May administer or supervise the administration of timber stand improvement contracts (COR or inspector). Participates in the preparation of financial and work plans for assigned programs by estimating, combining, and coordinating project plans into an annual unit work plan. Reviews work accomplishments for assigned areas of responsibility and compiles necessary reports
For additional information, please contact: Mike Reed, (530)398-5795.
ABOUT THE FOREST:
The Klamath National Forest covers an area of 1,700,000 acres located in Siskiyou County in northern California and Jackson County in southern Oregon. The Forest is divided into two sections separated by the Shasta Valley and the Interstate 5 highway corridor. In the mountains to the west, the terrain is steep and rugged while the east side has the relatively gentler, rolling terrain of volcanic origin. With elevations ranging from 450 to 8,900 feet above sea level, the Forest is one of America’s most biologically diverse regions, situated in a transition region between the hotter and drier areas of the south and the colder and wetter locale of the north.
This central position of the Klamath in relation to the Cascades, Sierra Nevada, Coast Range and the Great Basin has fostered complex climatic patterns and led to an unparalleled diversity of plant life found nowhere else in California. More species of conifers live near or in the Klamath’s Marble Mountain and Russian Wilderness Areas than anywhere else on earth. An astounding 17 conifer species co-exist within one square mile! The Forest is also home to one plant that lives nowhere else on earth, the Siskiyou Mariposa Lily.
The program of work for the Forest is centered on the restoration of fire adapted ecosystems. We have an active and strongly integrated vegetation management and fuels program that works to protect communities, infrastructure and critical wildlife and fisheries habitat. We work with local communities, Fire Safe Councils, and interested groups and individuals in developing projects using Healthy Forest Restoration Act authorities. In 2010, the Forest was honored to be recognized as having treated the greatest amount of hazardous fuels reduction acres in the Pacific Southwest Region.
The appropriate management of naturally occurring wildfire across the Forest is also an important program component. The Klamath is known as a leader in using wildfire to benefit landscape conditions as well as having a highly skilled and experienced fire suppression workforce.
The Forest includes all or part of five wilderness areas: Marble Mountain, Russian, Trinity Alps, Red Buttes and Siskiyou. Trailheads are numerous and hikes range from easy to arduous. There are 200 miles of river system for rafting and 152 miles of wild and scenic rivers in the Forest. The Forest has 28 campgrounds, and world-class hiking, fishing and wildlife viewing. With the Klamath, Salmon, and Scott Rivers meandering from one end of the Forest to the other, recreationists have found a playground that offers virtually everything (except crowds) to the outdoor enthusiast.
The management of area streams and rivers, and range, botanical, heritage, cultural and mineral resources rounds out the active and interesting programs included on the Klamath.
ABOUT THE COMMUNITY:
The Goosenest District Ranger Office is located in the beautiful Butte Valley, 4 miles south of Macdoel, California on State Highway 97 in Siskiyou County, California. The office is 35 miles south of Klamath Falls, Oregon and 15 miles south of Dorris, California. Most of the district staff commute from Klamath Co. OR, Dorris, CA, Lake Shastina, CA, Weed, CA or Yreka, CA as there is little housing available in Macdoel. The total population of Butte Valley is about 2,500 and the population of Klamath County, Oregon is around 63,000. The cost of living in this area is lower than the national average making this area very appealing to potential residents and businesses.
The Goosenest Ranger District administers 341,000 acres of the total 514,000 acres within the district boundary. Of the remaining acreage, the butte Valley National Grassland, designated in 1991, is on 18,500 acres. This is a district with a very active vegetation management, wildlife and ecosystem restoration program.
The district enjoys sunshine on the average 275 days per year. The elevation is 4,300 feet which produces a high, dry climate. Winter snowfall is normally light and melts quickly. The average annual temperature is 48 degrees F and average annual precipitation is 14 inches. The average high temperature in July is 80 degrees F, with the average low in January 22 degrees F.
Recreational opportunities and facilities are abundant in the Butte Valley. The Goosenest Ranger District has 3 campgrounds. The most popular is Juanita Lake, covering 40 acres with 23 units. Martin's Dairy and Shafter Campgrounds are also available on the district. Medicine Lake, east of the district on the Modoc National Forest, covers 600 acres with 73 campsites available. These Forest Service campgrounds are usually crowded in the summer and fall months. For winter recreation, there are 2 snowmobiles parks available. Deer Mountain Snowmobile Park is on Forest Road 42N12 on the Pomeroy and Deer Mountain roads and the Four corners Snowmobile Park is on Forest Road 45N05 off of the Davis Road. Juanita Lake Campground offers a fully groomed cross country ski trail.
The wide variety of wildlife draws a large number of hunters to our area. Mule and black-tailed deer, along with bands of antelope, are seen throughout the year. Butte Valley lies in the major stopping off place for waterfowl in the Pacific Flyway. At the peak of migration (October), the numbers of waterfowl are estimated between 3 to 4 million birds. The Lower Klamath Refuge (bordering the District) and the Butte Valley Wildlife Area are 2 of the wildlife refuges in our area. Bird watchers and photographers enjoy Canada Geese, many species of ducks, bald and golden eagles, goshawks and swans, just to name a few.
Forest Service employees on the workforce reduction placement system list will receive priority consideration and CTAP/ICTAP candidates will receive the appropriate consideration.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination on all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital or family status. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA's TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, Room 326-W, Whitten Building, 14th and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (202) 720-5964 (voice and TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
