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Public Land Name:
Sierra National Forest, Supervisors Office

Position Title:
Geology Assistant [Diversity] {{2015 VERSION; OLD}}

Agency: USFS

Position Type: Diversity

Position ID Number:
2015318

Location:
Clovis, CA

Accepting Applications?

# of current Applicants: 0

Position Description:
The participant will work on several projects including assessments of active and abandoned mines, assessments of groundwater conditions as part of meadow assessments, assessments of Off Highway Vehical (OHV) routes, monitoring/inventorying of caves, review of Geologic Special Interest Areas and possibly Burn Area Emergency Assessments. Assessment of Active and Abandoned Mines for compliance of Plan of Operation, condition of hazard warning signs and assessment for mine reclamation. 1) This work will include assessing active mines under Plans of Operation (PoO) for adherance to specifications in the PoO. 2) Review of abandoned mines will be conducted to determine the condition of safety hazard warning signs. 3) A project proposal and an environmental assessment will be developed for the reclamation of the Wisseman Mine4) Work on the Environmental Assessment of the Proposed Try Me Mine Project. Ground Water Assessments for meadow restoration. This work will entail working in meadows to determine ground water conditions in meadow ecosystems. This could include characterizing/classifying meadows for ground water systems and determine the relative roles of surface and ground water in sustaining meadow vegetation and controlling conifer encroachment. Piezometers may be installed in some of meadows pending an environmental assessment and approval. Monitor and Inventory Caves in the Giant Sequoia National Monument, Kings Cavern Geologic Interest Area and the Kaiser Wilderness Cave Area to determine conditions of speleothems and use of the cave by recreationists. Data will be collected to determine the significance of caves according to the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act of 1988. Review of Geologic Special Interest Areas (GSIA) will be conducted for condition assessments. This includes the Courtright Intrusive Zone Geological Area, the Dinkey Creek Roof Pendant Geologic Interest Area, and the Kings River Geological Area. Burn Area Emergency Response Assessments will be conducted for potential geologic hazards including debris flow and rock fall hazards on the Sierra, Stanislaus and Sequoia National Forests. Participation in a BAER Team will require the S-190 and S-130 Fire Training Courses, which will be provided prior to participating on a BAER Assessment Team. The primary projects will be the assessment of active and abandoned mines. As time allows monitoring and inventory of caves and review of GSIA will be conducted. Job hazards will be addressed through the Forest Service Safety Program. The GeoCorp Intern will accompany and assist the Forest Geologist on on-going projects and walk-in requests that require field work and/or geologic assessment for the requested project. On going projects could be located on the Stanisluas National Forest, Sierra National Forest, Giant Sequoia National Monument, and Sequoia National Forest.

Goals, outcomes, and deliverables:
A complete report with maps and figures will be produced on at least one project. Map will be produced using GIS software. Analysis of data in the form of spreadsheet data, charts and tables could also be produced as data for other projects underway by Sierra National Forest Soils staff. Depending on the interest of the intern an abstract of one of the projects could be submitted to the 2015 GSA Annual Meeting for an oral or poster presentation. (GSA abstract deadline is approximately early/mid-August.)

Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.):
Participant will work under the direction of the Forest Geologist. In addition, intern will work most of the time with another person while they are in the field.

Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.):
Opportunities for learning and using Geographical Information System (GIS) software will be provided including downloading GPS data into GIS map projects. Training and use of field PC will be provided in soil data collection projects. Training will include basic online training courses in GIS as well as using GIS and GPS in work projects.

Leadership Development:

Presenting Project Results:

Physical/Natural Environment:
The Sierra National Forest is located in Central California between Yosemite National Park and Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park. The Sierra National Forest has predominantly granitic bedrock with metamorphic roof pendants, and some volcanic rocks. The higher elevations have been glaciated leaving as evidence spectacular glacial moraines, cirque basins, and glaciated valleys. The forest has five Wilderness Areas that include the Monarch Wilderness, Dinkey Lakes Wilderness, John Muir Wilderness, Ansel Adams Wilderness, and the Kaiser Wilderness.

Work Environment:
The participant will work out of the Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s Office located in Clovis, CA. Clovis is a full service community located adjacent to Fresno, CA and about 3 hours from the Pacific Ocean. Typical weather in the summer has highs in the low to high 90’s. Work will consist of moderate fieldwork including climbing steep slopes and accessing narrow passages in caves. The applicant should be able to carry a 40 lb. back pack. Participant will need a good pair of hiking boots. Other field equipment will be provided. Working on Saturdays is sometimes required. As with any scientific field, office work will be required to prepare for field work and to document all work. Mentor will try to get intern into the field at least 75% of the time. A car is not necessary but is highly encouraged to explore some of our great National Parks and the coastal area. Be prepared to go into the field on your first day.

Qualifications:
Applicant should have basic course work in geology that includes mineralogy, petrology, and geochemistry. Optional course work in GIS, Engineering Geology, advanced petrology, or karst geology would make the applicant more competitive. The applicant should be able to work well on their own and with a crew, both in the office and in the field, have good map reading and orientation skills, able to interpret aerial photos and/or digital remote sensing data, and be equally comfortable hiking cross country in a rugged mountain environment one day and spending the next day at a computer. The applicant should have a valid drivers license. Applicants will be expected to provide a DMV report on their driving record in order to drive Forest Service vehicles.

Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable):
The intern will work out of the Sierra National Forest Supervisor’s Office located in Clovis, CA. Clovis is a full service community located adjacent to Fresno, CA and about 3 hours from the Pacific Ocean. Typical weather in the summer has highs in the low to high 90’s. Work will consist of moderate fieldwork including climbing steep slopes and accessing narrow passages in caves. The applicant should be able to carry a 40 lb. back pack. Participant will need a good pair of hiking boots. Other field equipment will be provided. Working on Saturdays is sometimes required. As with any scientific field, office work will be required to prepare for field work and to document all work. Mentor will try to get intern into the field at least 50% of the time.

Position Dates:
Starting late May or June and ending late July or August, 2015, with some flexibility to the start/end dates (within reason).

Position Duration: 12 weeks

Hourly Wage: $4,848

Housing Details:
Interns will be expected to find their own housing and will be given a housing allowance of $1500 to cover the 12 week position. Please go the fresno.craigslist.org/apa/ or www.fresnobee /classifieds/category/Rentals websites to see local housing opportunities. Mentor will provide information on apartments in the area or possible room mate opportunities.

If you have questions about the application and selection process, please contact GSA's GeoCorps managers.  If you have questions about any aspect of the position — description, qualifications, housing, dates — please direct them to the contact(s) listed in the project description. Remember, application materials can only be submitted online. The project contact(s) will not accept application materials sent to them via e-mail, mail, fax, etc. See the full program details at the GeoCorps homepage.

PRIMARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Alan Gallegos
Southern Sierra Province Geologist (Sierra NF, Seq
Sierra National Forest1600 Tollhouse Road
Clovis, CA 93611
 (559) 297-0706
 ajgallegos@fs.fed.us
Website

SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Steve Ostoja
Ecosystem Management Staff Officer
Sierra National Forest1600 Tollhouse Road
Clovis, CA 93611
 (559) 297-0706
 stevenmostoja@fs.fed.us
Website