Invasive Species Member - Goose Island State Park, TX

Invasive Species Member - Goose Island State Park, TX

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 (ACE), a non-profit conservation corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking an Invasive Species Member to contribute to the State Parks Region 2 Invasive Species Management project alongside Texas Parks and Wildlife Department staff. During this term, the ACE member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of TPWD staff in the accomplishment of effective management of invasive plants and animals.

Start Date: Summer 2022

End Date: 66-weeks after start date if full-time, 66+ weeks if part-time/full-time for those still in school (see Work Schedule and Living Allowance below for further detail)

Location: Goose Island State Park, Rockport, TX and other State Parks in Region 2

Goose Island State Park sits at the southern tip of Lamar Peninsula amid the bays and estuaries of the Texas Gulf Coastal Bend. It has two distinct parts: the mainland and the island.

The mainland consists of live oak / red bay woods with yaupon holly, American beautyberry, coralbean and wax myrtle. A portion of tallgrass prairie exists here, also, with bushy bluestem and saltgrass.

Wildlife observation and photography opportunities abound. You may see white-tailed deer, raccoons, armadillos, foxes, squirrels, cottontail rabbits and over 300 varieties of birds. The endangered whooping crane feeds on berries and blue crabs found in the coastal wetlands around Goose Island State Park. This park is the best location in the world to observe the wild flock of Aransas-Wood Buffalo population of whooping cranes.

The oyster shell island has a shell ridge and marshland. Plants on the shell ridge portion of the island include sea ox-eye daisy, wolfberry, sea purslane, baccharis and seashore dropseed grass. Smooth cordgrass, marsh-hay cord grass, saltgrass, saltwort and glasswort grow in the marsh. Seagrass beds and oyster reefs fill the bays around Goose Island. Red drum, speckled trout and flounder are just a few of the fish that live in the bays.

For more information, please visit: https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/goose-island

Work Schedule: Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday. The ACE Member is expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week (full-time). If the Member is still in school, they will be expected to contribute approximately 20 hours/week (part-time). Once classes are over, they will be expected to contribute approximately 40 hours/week (full-time). Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours (full-time) and 40 hours (part-time). A flexible work schedule may be required, which could involve work performed outside of normal work hours including on weekends and/or holidays. Time off may be granted and requests should be directed to ACE and TPWD for approval.

Living Allowance: The ACE Member will receive a living allowance dispersed bi-weekly of $625/week while working full-time and $312.50/week while working part-time to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses.

Housing: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or TPWD.

Position Description:

This individual placement is meant to facilitate personal growth and professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with agency professionals. This could include gaining experience in a variety of conservation fields and/or shadowing different work groups.

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of TPWD staff in the accomplishment of:

- Effective management with cultural (training park staff and volunteers), chemical (use of approved herbicides), and mechanical methods (trapping and manual removal of plants and animals using various types of traps, saws, trimmers, clippers and hand pulling).

- Regular brush management, such as mowing, shredding, and mulching to control the growth of shrubs/trees (mesquite, huisache, etc.) and non-native grasses is also required in order to reduce the spread of invasive species.

- Supporting TPWD staff with testing and selecting various methods of management.

- Identifying common invasives during all growth stages.

- Locating and accurately mapping all locations where they occur using GPS, ArcMap, or Google Earth.

Implementing proper management techniques following all TPWD guidelines and applicable State and Federal regulations.

- Monitoring all managed areas and controlling all reinfestation.

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 ideal candidate would be able to work independently in a physically demanding setting. Work is required year-round in all types of weather conditions. The environment in the region is very hot and humid in the summer with frequent mosquito outbreaks. The use of mosquito face nets is often necessary. Winters are relatively mosquito free and unfortunately brief.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The Invasive Species Support Member may encounter environmental conditions/hazards including extreme heat or cold, rocky terrain, swamp or wetland conditions, biting insects, and potentially dangerous wildlife. 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: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by TPWD or ACE. Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by TPWD. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the TPWD, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it. Strict adherence to TPWD and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.