Habitat Restoration Member (1)- Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

Habitat Restoration Member (1)- Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex

ACE EPIC placements provide young adults with focused, hands-on opportunities to work alongside and under the guidance of agency mentors as they apply their knowledge of resource management on their path to becoming the next generation of resource and land managers.

Funding for ACE positions is provided by a federal program designed specifically for the employment of youth and young adults.

For more information about ACE, please visit: www.usaconservation.org.

Summary: American Conservation Experience, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is seeking ONE Habitat Restoration Member to help with a diversity of projects at Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex in the central valley of California.

This is a rare opportunity to gain practical experience on national wildlife refuges. This opportunity is intended for enthusiastic young professionals with a background in maintenance, natural resource management, or facility operations, and a deep interest in advancing their career goals in conservation and land stewardship. Habitat Restoration members will be under direction of Refuge Managers who will assign duties on various National Wildlife Refuges within the Complex. Habitat Restoration members will operate equipment and manage water levels to maintain managed wetland units and public use opportunities on units of the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Start Date: Summer 2022

End Date: (26 weeks from start date)

**26-week commitment required**

Location: Sacramento NWRC, Willows, CA

For more information about the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex, please visit https://www.fws.gov/refuge/Sacramento/Aboutthecomplex.html.

Position Description:

Primary duties will include:

-Assist with conducting and monitoring habitat restoration and management activities.

-Assist with managing water deliveries and wetland water levels to benefit migratory birds and promote desirable wetland vegetation.

-Assist with controlling invasive upland and wetland weeds through spraying, mowing, disking or other mechanical applications.

-Assist with maintaining managed wetlands, levees, water control structures and water delivery canals.

-Operating tractors, backhoes or UTVs with auxiliary equipment and attachments such as mowers, harrows, disks, box scrapers, sprayers, wagons, front-end loaders, and post-hole diggers to implement habitat management and restoration activities. Careful, safe, and exact maneuvering is required. Training will be provided.

-Maintaining tractors and other equipment, including but not limited to, lubrication, oil changes, filter changes, battery checks, safety inspections, and other servicing.

-Tasks involved with biological census work, building and facilities maintenance, and other miscellaneous duties within the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge Complex.

Physical Requirements: This position requires physical exertion such as walking long distances over wet and rough surfaces while carrying up to 40 lbs; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching. Hand and finger dexterity and physical coordination may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements. The Habitat Restoration Members will operate tractors and equipment on terrain which is generally flat with a number of obstacles such as trees, water control structures, swales, and signs.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: Duties are performed both indoors and outdoors. Temperature and weather extremes can be encountered in the performance of outdoor duties. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/interns or resources. The member will be working outdoors and may be exposed to heat or cold, high humidity, stinging and biting insects, and inclement weather. The member is expected to conduct duties in a safe and orderly manner so as not to endanger self, fellow staff/members or resources.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: The Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge will be furnishing all tools, equipment, supplies, materials, and training. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE) will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required. If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE and a valid state driver's license is required.