POSITION DETAILS
Position Title: Natural Resource Management Assistant - AmeriCorps
Conservation Legacy Program: Stewards Individual Placements
Site Location: Redwood National Park, Orick, California
Can this position be fully remote: No
Number of positions available: 2
TERMS OF SERVICE
Duration: 12 Weeks (not flexible)
Flexible Start Date: No
Start Date: 09/15/2025
End Date: 12/08/2025
AmeriCorps Slot Classification: 450 Hour
BENEFITS
APPLICATION TIMELINE
The position will close after receiving 75 applications, or at 11:59 p.m. EST on Sunday, 19 January, 2025, whichever occurs first. The review of applications will begin after Sunday, 19 January, 2025.
PURPOSE
This Natural Resource Management Assistant is an AmeriCorps position that will address the concept of ecosystem rehabilitation in a National Park setting, was first introduced in the 1978 Redwood National Park Expansion Act. Congress recognized that encroaching activities (outside threats), mostly logging next to the established national park, was degrading the park’s natural resources. The 1978 law also called for the establishment of a 'program of rehabilitation' to address issues that degrade the park’s natural resources from past land use activities. This project is the first time Redwood National Park (or any publicly managed land-base in the redwood region) has embarked on a multi-disciplinary ecosystem restoration project on this large of a scale. Due to the project scope with many moving parts, it is imperative that we collaborate with partners, as stated in the NPS mission and our enabling legislation, to help successfully carry out the project. An essential component of project planning is scientific data to guide natural resource management decisions. The SIP members will provide much needed data to support project planning, to support next year's operations (e.g., prepare sites for implementation such as marking trees and boundaries for forestry operations) and assist in compliance monitoring. It is partnerships like the Redwoods Rising Collaborative and the Scientist In Parks Program that helps REDW meet this mandate.
DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES
Redwood National Park was created in 1968 to preserve intact, old-growth redwood ecosystems. Under the Redwood National Park Expansion Act of 1978, 48,000 acres were added to protect the Park from upslope and upstream logging activities. The expansion included 38,000 acres of commercially logged and roaded lands and authorized a program of rehabilitation to restore these new parklands. Two programs emerged from the restoration effort: The Watershed Road Removal Program, which sought to control erosion and reduce sediment delivery to streams, and the Forest Restoration Program, which sought to manage second-growth forests by adjusting species compositions and decreasing stand density. The legislation also mandated the park to conduct erosion and sedimentation studies in Redwood Creek and resulted in a long-term monitoring program evaluating stream channel and water quality response to land use and flood events. The Greater Prairie Creek Ecosystem Restoration Project is a watershed scale, multi-disciplinary ecosystem restoration project managed by Redwood National Park. It is part of a new collaborative effort under a partnership between the National Park Service, California State Parks and Save-the-Redwoods League collectively called Redwoods Rising. Members will have an opportunity to work on a variety of projects assisting restoration geologists, restoration foresters, hydrologists, fish and wildlife biologists in a unique setting. The restoration project areas are between 50 to 200 acres and logging and road construction occurred prior to NPS ownership. Most of the field and office work will be geared toward inventorying the physical landscape, monitoring, and preparation for implementing restoration operations planned in 2025/2026. Members will learn how to describe physical elements of the current disturbed landscape, and compare to undisturbed reference watersheds. Several listed species inhabit the project area, including anadromous salmonid fish, birds, and terrestrial mammals. The members’ goal will be to describe the current conditions of a sub-watershed, the legacy effects from past logging and road building, and how the alteration of the physical environment impacts the sustainability and recovery of threatened and endangered species. Members will be trained in forest sampling including stand inventory and monitoring using a variety of forest inventory techniques, fuels sampling, riparian area delineation, and marking timber for thinning. They will also learn hydrologic monitoring techniques and will be trained to measure stream discharge, calibrate data sondes, collect water quality and stream temperature data, and maintain stream gaging stations. Other projects include preparing sites for restoration operations and may include working with the: park forester in delineating riparian management zones and other special treatment areas; park hydrologist with a stream large wood inventory to describe aquatic habitat conditions in Prairie Creek; and the park restoration geologist in collect basic road mapping and inventory data to support future road removal work. This is the fourth year where on-the-ground restoration activities will occur while SIP members are working in the park and provides a unique opportunity for SIP members to observe and learn first-hand, how restoration work is accomplished on the ground.
KEYWORDS: Restoration, Forestry, Fisheries, Monitoring, Hydrology
DELIVERABLES
The member(s) will produce a report that includes maps, locations and summaries of the resource inventories covering a variety of disciplines for the Prairie Creek project area. This document will inform park managers in the adaptive management strategy to restore natural function to the highly disturbed area. The end product of the work will be used to provide managers with decision making tools for the on-going restoration plan.
QUALIFICATIONS
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
Applicants should have a strong interest in learning about natural resource science and management and have a strong desire to work in the field. Good communication skills are important and must be able to work productively as part of a diverse team. Must be reliable, on time, and commit to their agreed upon work schedule. Need to be physically fit, able to work 10-hour days outdoors, and capable of hiking long distances (about 5-6 miles) off trail in arduous terrain in a variety of weather conditions. Must be able to comfortably work in the field alone and also in a crew. Must be able to swim - important since the position requires wading in streams. Ability to pay attention to details when collecting data, follow standard methodology or protocols, accurately record physical and biological data and to learn to identify tree species. Applicants must be at least an upper-level undergraduate in a university or college but must be available during the position dates. Applicants who have graduated from college will qualify. The project will require an member with general knowledge of geosciences and physical processes, environmental science, ecological restoration, and forestry. Previous field experience is highly recommended due to the arduous nature of traversing the landscape. The applicants should be familiar with Excel, Word, ArcMap, Access and GPS use. The participants must be self-motivated and able to function independently once field assignments are understood. Prior to starting this position, a government security background clearance will be required.
ADDITIONAL POSITION AND COMMUNITY INFORMATION
POSITION SETTING
Natural Environment: Redwood National Park is located on the northern most coastline of California. The project area consists of 7,000 acres of Prairie Creek, a coastal stream that feeds into Redwood Creek. The Pacific North West climate is best described as a Mediterranean climate consisting of cool, wet winters and warm, dry summers. The hill slopes are moderate to steep and often include down wood or remnant logging slash which makes traversing the terrain an arduous activity. Vegetation is comprised of second-growth forest that’s dominated by Douglas-fir, with lesser amounts of coast redwood and Sitka spruce.
Physical Work Environment: The position will be stationed at the South Operations Center in Orick, California. Work will involve arduous hiking long distances, off trail through rough, steep terrain in adverse weather conditions (cold, rain, heat), wading in streams, exposure to poison oak, contact with ticks and other hazards of outdoor work. The member will work within the Resource Management and Sciences Division of the park. The division is made up of professionals from the disciplines of Vegetation Management, Geology, Cultural Resources, GIS, and Fire Management. The member will have access to all park resources including staff expertise, vehicles, equipment, and other existing documents that will assist with completing tasks. Assistance will also be provided by other divisions as necessary (e.g. Interpretation).
VEHICLE AND DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
HOUSING
Park housing is available and will be provided at no cost to the participant. Park housing is provided in a housing facility, near Orick, CA. The facilities are comprised of large furnished houses with shared bedrooms accommodating up to seven people. During periods of high use, there will be double occupancy for most rooms. Laundry is also available free of charge. The kitchens are stocked with dishes, utensils, pans, utensils, coffee makers and microwaves. There is no cell service or internet connectivity at park housing. Occupants need to bring their own sheets, blankets, and towels. Groceries and other amenities are available in Eureka, Arcata, McKinleyville, Trinidad and Crescent City, with natural food stores in McKinleyville, Arcata, and Eureka, a mini-grocery store in Orick and a gas station mini-mart in Klamath. The member will need to have a car to get to the office and to buy groceries and other amenities.
HOW TO APPLY
Apply online, all Scientists in Parks positions are listed at: https://conservation-legacy.breezy.hr/. Complete the application for this position, highlighting why you are interested in the position and how your background and experience will help you succeed in this position. Be prepared to upload your resume and unofficial transcript as part of completing the application questionnaire.
Once you begin applying for a position, the application must be completed in one sitting. You cannot save and return later to complete it. Applicants can apply for up to five Scientists in Parks positions per season. You need to complete a separate application for each position in order to be considered. You should receive a confirmation email after successfully submitting an application. Sometimes institutional email filters/settings can redirect or block emails related to the application. We recommend watching spam, junk, and promotional email folders in case your email service delivers messages there. Please visit How to Apply for additional resources and information about applying (i.e., learn what materials to have ready for applying, find a worksheet that previews application questions, etc.). Learn more about Scientists in Parks at: https://www.scientistsinparks.org/.
ADDITIONAL DETAILS
PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Conservation Legacy is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals and will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations to perform essential functions. Some positions may require periodic overnight travel, non-traditional hours, ability to move across varied terrain, use program-specific tools and a range of technology on an infrequent or frequent basis. Exerting up to 25 pounds of force occasionally to lift, carry, push, pull, or otherwise move objects. Ability to safely drive an organizational vehicle may also be required for some positions.
TIME REQUIREMENTS
ORIENTATION AND TRAINING
EVALUATION AND REPORTING
As an AmeriCorps member, performance will be evaluated on whether the member has completed the required number of hours, the member has satisfactorily completed assignments, and if the member has met other performance criteria that were clearly communicated at the beginning of the term of service.
Reporting requirements include, but are not limited to, bi-weekly timesheets and accomplishment tracking.
Stewards Individual Placements (Stewards), a program of Conservation Legacy, provides individuals with AmeriCorps service and career opportunities to strengthen communities and preserve our natural resources. Participants serve with federal agencies, tribal governments, and nonprofits to provide institutional capacity, develop community relationships, and support ecosystem health. Stewards in partnership with the Redwood National Park will host a Natural Resource Management Assistant.
Conservation Legacy is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to hiring a breadth of diverse professionals and encourage members of diverse groups to apply. This program is available to all, without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, age, religion, sexual orientation, disability, gender identity or expression, political affiliation, marital or parental status, genetic information, and military service. Where a significant portion of the population eligible to be served needs services or information in a language other than English, the recipient shall take reasonable steps to provide written material of the type ordinarily available to the public in appropriate languages. We also consider qualified applicants regardless of criminal histories, consistent with AmeriCorps requirements.
If you need assistance and/or a reasonable accommodation due to a disability during the application or recruiting process, please send a request to Scientists in Parks using the email address at the base of the home page, under “Questions? Contact us!”