U.S. Forest Service Hydrology Technician

The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) in partnership with the Ashley National Forest is advertising for a Hydrology Technician Corpsmember. This position offers approximately 3 months (10 to 14 weeks) of full-time work experience beginning in early June 2019, dates negotiable. The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) is Utah's award-winning, and nationally-recognized statewide Conservation Corps headquartered in Logan, Utah at Utah State University's main campus. The UCC has been Utah's largest environmental AmeriCorps program since 2001, completing service work on public lands, in communities, and with various organizations throughout the state. UCC will recruit and hire the selected RA candidate providing personnel and Human Resources (HR) needs during the placement. https://ucc.usu.edu/

 

If you have questions about this Hydrology Technician position, please contact Chris Plunkett, Soil and Water Program Manager on the Ashley National Forest, christopher.plunkett@usda.gov, 435-781-5140, or the Utah Conservation Corps at 435-797-0964 x1.

This position will be located out of Vernal, Utah.

A Hydrology Technician Corpsmember performs developmental assignments in support of the Soil, Air, and Water program on the Ashley National Forest.

A primary duty for the position will involve hydrologic and geomorphic surveys of stream channels and spring sites. Survey work will include longitudinal and cross section surveys using autolevels and laser survey equipment. Spring surveys will follow Forest Service Level 1 Groundwater Dependent Ecosystem protocols. Corpsmembers will also assist in air and water quality monitoring, watershed assessment, and field work associated with upcoming restoration projects. A portion of time will be spend assisting ongoing trail, stream channel and meadow restoration projects including installation of water bars, hardened crossings, willow plantings and fence. Performs other duties as assigned.

This is a field-going position with a majority of time spent in a forest setting under a variety of weather conditions, sometimes traversing steep uneven terrain. Work will require wading in streams and wetland areas to collect field data. Field work will typically be conducted with a crew of two. Limited time working alone may be required. Access to work sites will be by four-wheel drive truck and backpacking. Some survey locations may involve a limited amount overnight camping. Must be able to hike up to 10 miles per day in rugged terrain carrying a 30 lb. backpack. The ability to navigate by a map and operate a GPS device is essential.

·       $14.54/hour along with health care coverage (if needed), workers compensation, and FICA/Medicare. 

•     Work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

The Ashley National Forest

Steep canyons, high mountain peaks, glaciated basins, large open meadows, and desert badlands produce a rich diversity of vegetation and wildlife. The grasses and shrubs of the high mountain desert are replaced by pinyon and juniper as the elevation rises. In mid-elevation areas, aspen dominates and becomes mixed with conifer. Higher up, the vegetation changes to conifer forest composed of ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, fir, and spruce. Wildlife is abundant. Larger species include black bear, mountain lion, moose, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.

Neighboring lands include the Uinta and Ouray Indian Reservation to the south, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to the west and north, and a mixture of Bureau of Land Management, State of Utah, and private lands to the east and southeast. Compared with other National Forests, relatively few small tracts of private land lie within the Ashley's boundary.

The High Uintas Wilderness, established by Congress in 1984, comprises nearly one-half million acres in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests. Within the wilderness, elevations range from 8,000 feet to 13,582 feet at the top of Kings Peak, the highest mountain in Utah. The Uinta Mountain range runs east to west, from the Wasatch Mountains into Colorado. Pre-Cambrian rock formed from sediments laid down 600 million years ago makes up the core of the range. Glacial activity carved deep canyons and left a spectacular landscape of rolling, treeless peaks and stratified ridges interspersed with broad meadows and numerous lakes.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area lies in the northeast part of the Forest. Flaming Gorge Reservoir extends almost 90 miles into Wyoming, and offers outstanding fishing and boating opportunities. Record-breaking German brown trout and large lake and rainbow trout have been taken from its waters. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area has three marinas and many campgrounds, some of which are open year-round.

The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is a world-famous blue-ribbon trout stream. The Little Hole National Recreation Trail parallels the river 7.3 miles from the Dam to the Little Hole Recreation Complex.

Vernal is situated in northeast Utah south of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and west of Dinosaur National Monument, and is the county seat of Uintah County. Vernal has a population of approximately 10,000 people. When combined with the residents of surrounding communities, the population of the Ashley Valley is approximately 15,000. Vernal is 180 miles east of Salt Lake City and 300 miles west of Denver.

http://www.vernalchamber.com/      http://www.city-data.com/city/Vernal-Utah.html

Vernal sits at approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. Vernal enjoys four beautiful temperate seasons; the climate is semi-arid with low humidity. Annual precipitation averages 15-20”, mostly in the form of winter snow and spring/fall rain. Winter temperatures usually hover in the 20s-30s during the day, but will occasionally drop to sub-zero. Mid-summer temperatures can reach 100 degrees, but generally average in the low-mid 90s, dipping into the 50s at night.