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APPLY NOW   Public Land Name: Coconino National Forest, Mogollon Rim Ranger District Position Title: Geologist/Karst Resource Technician (2 positions) Agency: USFS Position Type: GeoCorps Position ID Number: 2015306 Location: Happy Jack, Arizona Accepting Applications? # of current Applicants: 0 Position Description: The primary duty of the GeoCorps participant will be to work as a member of a two-person crew to field inventory surficial cave and karst features within a 60,000 acre fuels reduction project area. Cave entry and spelunking may be authorized (with a qualified cave trip leader) and depends on the interest and experience of the intern but spelunking experience is not a determining qualification. LiDAR (light detection and ranging) terrain modeling will be used to focus field surveys and field surveys will be used to validate the LiDAR modeling. GPS will be used to navigate to features in the field. Geologic information and photographs will be compiled for each feature discovered and information will be entered into a cave/karst geodatabase using ArcMap10.2. The crew will consult with FS staff specialists to develop mitigation measures for each site to limit impacts from project activities. This project requires long hours in the field hiking over rough terrain in all types of weather and driving a Forest Service 4-wheel drive vehicle to the survey areas. Office work includes entering field reconnaissance data into GIS and completion of field reports summarizing field notes and organizing the photographs into a photo log. Field equipment, some PPE, lap top computer, GPS and camera will be provided. The individual will work under the supervision of the District Environmental Planner who is a physical scientist/geologist. Goals, outcomes, and deliverables: The goal of this project is to conduct field inventory, record and enter data on karst features and cave locations and in consultation with other FS specialists, develop site specific mitigation measures for individual cave and karst features within the proposed fuel reduction project area on the Mogollon Rim Ranger District of the Coconino National Forest. Deliverables will be maps, a cave/karst geodatabase for the project area, photograph inventory and photo log, and reports describing the findings and proposed mitigation measures. The intern will also fulfill their commitments to GSA including photos, a report, thank you letter and evaluation etc. The project includes validating in the field, cave and karst features developed from LiDAR terrain data. All data and reports will be made in a final condition for the project record. Other outcomes include comparing FS cave and karst location data with similar data from our cave grotto and survey partners and sharing available data that can be incorporated into each group’s reports and the geodatabase. The goals of this work would be to develop better geologic data on cave and karst features of the Kaibab Plateau on the top of the Mogollon Rim to guide future inventory, monitoring, research and exploration. Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.): The applicant will work under the direct supervision of the District Environmental Planner who is a geologist/physical scientist that is a leader in cave and karst management on the Forest and who has past experience managing the work of GeoCorps interns on another Forest. The supervisor is also the project manager for the fuels reduction project and has detailed knowledge of the project area as well as the expected outcomes of all of the environmental surveys being conducted during the summer of 2015. Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.): There will be opportunities to work in the field with members of local cave grottos and cave survey teams in their ongoing cave survey work and on the assessment of cave entrances and development of site-specific mitigation measures for karst features. There will be opportunities to work with our cave grotto partners to better inform our cave and karst database for the Mogollon Rim Ranger District. The interns will also participate in interdisciplinary team meetings to present their findings and participate in the project planning with other professional district staff. The interns will have opportunities to work in the field with other resource specialists assisting with wildlife inventory, soils and hydrologic assessments, forestry, fuels, and archaeology and etc. depending on the interests of the individual. Training will be provided in GPS, Arc Map 10.2, use of LiDAR data and geodatabase data entry. Other training will be provided in defensive driving, computer security, field safety and Forest Service radio use. Leadership Development: Presenting Project Results: Physical/Natural Environment: The Mogollon Rim Ranger District is in a ponderosa pine forest between 6,000 to 7,500 feet elevation. Communities near the Blue Ridge Ranger Station are: Winslow (population 4,000) 40 miles north, Pine and Strawberry (population 1,500) 30 miles south, Payson (population 15,000) 50 miles south, and Flagstaff (population 60,000) 65 miles northwest. Work Environment: The duty station will be at the Blue Ridge Ranger Station and the project will be on the Mogollon Rim. The field work will be in ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forest. This project requires long hours in the field hiking through open to dense vegetation, and in all types of weather. Office space will be provided for field data analysis and reporting. Qualifications: Applicants must have completed at least three years towards a geoscience or geoscience-related degree. Graduate students are welcome to apply. Coursework related to geologic field mapping, geomorphology, karst systems, natural resource management, forestry, and GIS is highly desirable. Strong skills and experience in GPS, technical writing and Arc Map are desired. Applicants must be able to work well in both office and field environments with little supervision. Applicants must be physically able to hike and bushwhack long distances through forest vegetation in areas with no trails. The intern should physically comfortable working at elevations between 6,000 and 7,500 feet. The applicant must be able to read basic topographic and geologic maps as well as orient themselves in the field using GPS and/or compass. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record. Prior to starting this position a government security background clearance will be required. Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable): The Coconino National Forest is approximately 1.8 million acres, ranging in elevation from 2600 feet in the arid lowlands, to 12,648 feet at the top of Mt. Humphreys, Arizona’s highest mountain peak. With a wide range of habitats on the Forest, from alpine tundra to lowland desert, the Forest is biologically rich, supporting a diversity of wildlife, fish and plant populations. The southern end of the Colorado plateau, which includes the Mogollon Rim Ranger District, contains the largest concentration of ponderosa pine trees in the United States. The Mogollon Rim is a rugged escarpment that forms the southern limit of the Colorado Plateau. It extends across the entire forest and provides excellent views within Plateau Country and Desert Canyon Country as well. The remoteness of the area lends itself to outdoor recreation activities. The forest has a historic system of hiking trails, a few lakes for boating and fishing, and various rock climbing areas. At Blue Ridge Ranger Station, summer maximum temperatures average in the low 80s and low temperatures in the low 50s. Monsoon rains arrive in July and summer thunderstorms can be intense. Rainfall during July – September averages around 8 inches. Position Dates: June 1 – August 31, 2015. Start and end dates are flexible. Position Duration: 12 weeks Hourly Wage: $2,750 Housing Details: Housing will be provided at no cost to the participant. Housing will be either at Blue Ridge or Happy Jack Ranger Station in Happy Jack, AZ. Housing will be in a Forest Service bunkhouse or trailer. A personal vehicle is necessary to be able to shop for groceries, supplies or to visit the area. 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 Polly Haessig Environmental Planner/Physical Scientist 8738 Ranger Road Happy Jack, AZ 86024  (928) 477-5007  phaessig@fs.fed.us Website SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION Linda Wadleigh District Ranger 8738 Ranger Road Happy Jack, AZ 86024  (928) 477-5001  lwadleigh@fs.fed.us Website