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Public Land Name:
Lincoln National Forest, Guadalupe Ranger District Position Title:
Cave Management Assistant Agency: USFS Position Type: GeoCorps Position ID Number:
2018621, 2018622 Location:
Carlsbad, NM Accepting Applications? # of current Applicants: 0 Position Description:
The GeoCorps participant will assist in the management of world class cave resources on the Guadalupe Ranger District of the Lincoln National Forest. This cave management position will be an opportunity to become intimately familiar with the inventory, documentation, and monitoring of caves found in the higher backcountry of the Guadalupe Mountains. The participant will work with the Lincoln National Forest Cave Program Manager to help determine inventory and survey needs to help fulfill a data call on the nomination of significant caves located on the Lincoln National Forest. The majority of work will be conducted in the Guadalupe Mountains and will include locating, documenting, surveying (mapping), and inventorying caves. Inventories will include noting geological, mineralogical, paleaontological, biological, other scientific, and recreational aspects of specific caves. This information will then be used in preparing nominations for significant cave designation under the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act. Other tasks may include helping prepare cave related educational presentations and materials, working with cave program volunteers on various cave related tasks, field checking and updating GIS cave data, and conducting monitoring of sensitive cave resources.
This position is offered through the Geological Society of America's GeoCorps America Program, in partnership with the Minerals and Geology Management Program of the U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Goals, outcomes, and deliverables:
By the end of the project, the selected individual will have greatly expanded the knowledge of caves and other karst features on the Lincoln National Forest. Information gathered will be added to the Forest Cave Files as well as other Forest Service Data Bases. The information will also be used to populate nomination packages for cave significance under the Federal Cave Resources Protection Act. Monitoring data collected will be used to inform management decisions made for the Forest Cave Program. Agency involvement (project oversight, mentoring, team building, etc.):
The selected individual will work closely with the Lincoln National Forest Cave Program Manager. The Cave Program Manager will ensure that the selected individual obtains the training necessary to successfully conduct assigned tasks. The Cave Program Manager will mentor the selected individual on the many aspects of cave resource management in a multiple use landscape. The selected individual will likely also have opportunities to work with other cave resource specialists within the Lincoln National Forest area from the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management. In addition, the selected individual will have the opportunity to work with public cave program volunteers and researchers utilizing the cave resources on the Lincoln National Forest.
Professional development & learning opportunities: (trainings, certifications, networking, etc.):
The selected individual will be able to participate in official trainings and on the job learning experiences relevant to not only cave resource management but any professional level career. Broad spectrum trainings will include defensive driving, first aid/CPR, computer system security and awareness, and AED operation. Job specific training will include Single Rope Technique (vertical caving), in the field cave surveying and mapping techniques, cave data entry and management, photo monitoring, biological species identification, and others. Leadership Development:
ADD TEXT HERE Presenting Project Results:
Yes;
just posted early March, will accept applications until 4/15/18. Physical/Natural Environment:
The Lincoln National Forest is located in South Central New Mexico. The Guadalupe Ranger District is located in the Guadalupe Mountains of Southern New Mexico. The District is located immediately adjacent to Carlsbad Caverns National Park, Guadalupe Mountains National Park, and Bureau of Land Management lands. The Guadalupe Mountains are the remnant of a Permian Age reef. Massive limestone and accompanying dolomites and siltstones comprise the outcroppings in which the caves of the Guadalupe Mountains are formed. The southern end of the Guadalupe Ranger District, where most of the Lincoln’s caves are located, is comprised of deep rugged canyons with dramatic karst spires and cliffs. Most canyons in the area drop up to 2000 feet from canyon rim to bottom in under half a mile. Sparse desert shrubs, grass, and cacti dominate South facing slopes while desert ponderosa forests make up the North facing slopes. The Guadalupe Ranger District contains roughly 220 known caves ranging from 50 feet in length up to 6 miles. Cave depths also vary greatly with some descending to 600 feet in depth through steeply sloping passages and vertical drops. The caves on the Guadalupe Ranger District are known for their unique mineralogy and extravagant speleothem displays. Work Environment:
The majority of work will occur in the field. As mentioned before, surface topography in the Guadalupe Mountains is quite rough. Traversing steep rocky slopes with no trail will be common practice. Temperatures in the summer time regularly reach 100 degrees. Hikes to some cave locations will be in excess of 3 miles long and up to 1500 feet elevation loss and/or gain. Travel within caves vary. Many caves are easily traversed with proper personal protection equipment. None of the caves on the Lincoln National Forest are commercialized. Primitive trails are constructed for a means of confining traffic and often do nothing to alleviate uneven floors or slick areas. It will be necessary to utilize single rope techniques to gain access to certain caves or within certain caves. This involves rappelling on fixed ropes and ascending those same ropes with mechanical ascending systems. Vertical drops to be negotiated will range from 20 feet to over 300 feet. While many caves are very spacious, it may be necessary to negotiate extended sections of crawling as well as squeezes as small as nine inches wide. Cave temperatures are pleasant, ranging from 55-65 degrees. Qualifications:
Applicants should have or be working towards a BS degree in geology with two years of coursework completed. Experience in caving or cave management will make the applicant highly competitive. The participant should be able to work well independently and as a team, both in the office and in the field with little supervision, have basic map reading and GPS orientation skills, must be able to interpret aerial photos, and be comfortable hiking cross-country in a rugged mountain environment and traversing cave environments as described above. Applicants should be able and willing to learn single rope techniques and be able to safely and confidently utilize those skills in the field. Computer skills in Excel Spreadsheet and database management are required. Applicant must be able to start work in early June and commit to a full 12 weeks.
The applicant must be a U.S. citizen or U.S. permanent legal resident (“green-card-holder”). Prior to starting this position, the participant will need to pass a background check either with the host agency, Aerotek (GSA’s staffing partner), or both.
Vehicle / Driver's License Requirement (If applicable):
A personal vehicle is required for personal errands and for exploring the area independently during time off. Housing is located 50 minutes from the nearest sizeable town. Applicant must have a valid driver’s license and a good driving record and be able to acquire a government driver’s license (training and testing will be provided). A vehicle for the applicant to drive to and from the field and to the main office from housing for official work duties will be provided. Driving in the field will routinely require operating a 4wd vehicle in very rough terrain.
Position Dates:
6/4/18-8/24/18 (12 wks) Position Duration: 12 weeks Hourly Wage: $10.35/hr Housing Details:
Government housing will be provided at the Guadalupe Ranger District admin site in Queen, NM, at no cost to the participant. Housing will be in a modern bunkhouse designed to house up to 16 people in four separate bedrooms. The housing includes 2 kitchens well-equipped with appliances (refrigerator, freezer, oven, stove, microwave), and 4 bathrooms with showers. Pots, pans, flatware, and other kitchen items will be provided. Participants will need to bring their own bedding (twin) and towels. There are on-site laundry facilities as well as satellite television and wifi. No guests and no pets are allowed in this housing. There is a small community with a restaurant located approximately 4 miles from housing open on weekends only. Groceries and other goods and services are located in Carlsbad NM, an approximate 50 minute drive from housing. Carlsbad has a permanent population of 30,000 people with an additional 30,000 people working temporarily in the area. Carlsbad is the base for two National Parks, a National Forest, two State Parks, and over three million acres of BLM land, all offering a variety of outdoor related activity 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
Aaron Stockton
Cave Program Manager
5203 Buena Vista Drive
Carlsbad, NM 88220
 575-885-4181
 astockton@fs.fed.us
 Website SECONDARY CONTACT INFORMATION
Gordon Martin
District Ranger
5203 Buena Vista Drive
Carlsbad, NM 88220
575-885-4181
gpmartin@fs.fed.us
Website
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