Biology Member – Dugway Proving Ground (Department of Defense) and Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge

Biology Member – Dugway Proving Ground (Department of Defense) and Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge 

Summary

American Conservation Experience, a Nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) is seeking ONE Biology Member to contribute to biological monitoring and collection, invasive species management, habitat analysis and restoration projects alongside Dugway Proving Ground and Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge and Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge staff. 

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

Start Date:  April 15th, 2024

Estimated End Date:  August 22nd, 2024

**19 week commitment required, start date flexibility within month of April

Location Details/Description:  Primarily based at Dugway Proving Ground (Department of Defense), Dugway, UT with occasional work at Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Ibapah, UT and potential limited work at Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge

For 80 years, Dugway Proving Ground (DPG) has empowered our nation’s defenders against persistent and evolving threats. Dugway is the Army’s premier science and test facility in Utah.

The Natural Resources Division is charged with supporting the Army’s mission while protecting, conserving and restoring the environment. 

DPG is responsible for testing and evaluating nearly all Department of Defense (DoD) chemical and biological defense equipment and capabilities. Within its nearly 800,000 acres, there are numerous state-of-the-art laboratories, unique test chambers and extensive field test grids.

Located on the southern extreme of the Great Salt Lake Desert, Fish Springs has been a place of essential importance in meeting human and wildlife needs over the past 11,000 years. Most critical are the life-sustaining waters that make Fish Springs a true oasis in the desert. 

Ancestral homelands to the nomadic Goshute (Gosiuta) tribe, Fish Springs supplied necessary water and food to the tribe.  Established March 10, 1959 by the first land purchase of 2,160 acres, Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge became one of the over 560 refuges in the National Wildlife Refuge System – a network of lands set aside and managed by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service specifically for wildlife. Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge was established using proceeds from the sale of Federal Duck Stamps.

Established to provide habitat for migratory birds within the Pacific Flyway, Fish Springs’ wetlands comprise approximately 10,000 acres of its 17,942 total acres. Spring flows are created by artesian pressure and hydrothermal convection along fracture zones in the Great Basin Carbonate Rock and Alluvial Aquifer. The springs discharge approximately 22,000 – 27,000 acre-feet of water per year, most of which is recharged from areas outside the Fish Springs Flat.

Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge lies in northern Utah, where the Bear River flows into the northeast arm of the Great Salt Lake. On the ancestral homelands of the Shoshone, Paiute, Bannock, and Ute people known as the Newe or Meme (the People), the Refuge protects the marshes found at the mouth of the Bear River. Surrounded by arid desert lands, these marshes are the largest freshwater component of the Great Salt Lake ecosystem and are an oasis for waterbirds and wildlife.

For more information about Dugway Proving Ground, please visit:

https://www.army.mil/dugwaygarrison#org-about 

For more information about Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/fish_springs/

For more information about Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge, please visit: https://www.fws.gov/refuge/bear_river_migratory_bird_refuge/ 

Position Overview: The mission of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) is working with others to conserve, protect, and enhance fish, wildlife, plants, and their habitats for the continuing benefit of the American people. This position will help FWS realize the mission at Dugway Proving Ground and Fish Springs NWR by conducting field work with existing staff on various surveys including, small mammal, invertebrate and avian species.  Participating in habitat assessment and restoration activities.  

This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups.

The member will provide support and assistance under the guidance and direction of DPG and FWS staff in the following tasks:

• Assist in the collection of vegetation monitoring plots, collect, and manage motion cameras.
• Surveys and collections for avian, small mammals, reptiles, and invertebrates.
• Pitfall and Sherman trapping for multiple species.
• Work in a lab including specimen preservation.
• Utilize GIS technology for data collection and reporting for surveys.
• Production of native species at green house.

The member will receive training for Unexploded Ordinance (UXO) and Safety to work on “The Range” at Dugway.

The member is required to keep in radio contact with range control during all down range activities. 

Schedule: Duties will typically be carried out between 7am and 5pm Mountain, Monday – Thursday, typically 4 days/week (4/10s). Work hours may vary. Bi-weekly totals should not exceed 80 hours. 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 the FWS for approval.

Position Benefits

Living Allowance: The ACE Member is anticipated to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $600/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.

Public Land Corps Hiring Authority: Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service. PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general information online here. 

Housing:  The selectee will be responsible for finding local housing at Dugway. The selectee will receive a $605/week housing allowance, not to exceed $11500 total. 

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support.

Grant Funding Opportunity:  The selected candidate(s) for this position will be eligible to apply for ACE’s Access and Inclusion Grant. This is a $500 grant which is intended to make participation in ACE positions more accessible to individuals who are underrepresented in the conservation field. Grant recipients will be able to allocate this funding to financial need(s) of their choosing. A limited number of grants are available. 

Qualifications

Required:  

• Member must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver’s license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request).
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required two-part criminal history check
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members must verify that they are fully vaccinated for Covid-19 or have requested and been granted a medical or religious exemption to vaccination by the time they start their term.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.
• Knowledge and experience working in biological sciences.
• Ability to effectively communicate with supervisor and coworkers.
• Ability to independently develop protocols and lead volunteer groups in biological monitoring surveys.
• Strong communication and organizational skills.
• Enthusiasm for interacting with people and learning how to assist visitors to enjoy refuge resources responsibly.
• Commitment to data accuracy, completing tasks thoroughly and on time.
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office software.
• Must take all measures possible to ensure the safety of yourself and others and understand all safety precautions involved
• Effective communication skills with all ages and diverse audiences
• Ability to operate independently and in remote areas
• To learn more about eligibility requirements, please visit our website here.

Preferred: 

• Competitive applicants for this position can hold or be pursuing a bachelor’s degree in wildlife biology, botany, natural resource management, or other related discipline appropriate to this position.
• Experience conducting biological surveys;
• Experience in wildlife monitoring;
• Experience developing biological monitoring protocols;
• Workplace experience leading teams in field based data collection;
• Experience working with the public and conducting outreach via website, social media, classroom settings, etc.;
• Experience conducting invasive plant management;
• GIS education and workplace experience
• Experience working with hand tools (power tools, shovel, post pounder etc.)

Physical Demands, Work Environment and Working Conditions:

• Physical Demands: This position requires physical exertion such as hiking long distances over hot, wet and rough terrain while carrying up to 40 lbs.; bending, crouching, stooping, lifting or reaching, talking and hearing. Manual dexterity required for use of various tools, computer keyboard/mouse and other office equipment and may involve fine and precise procedures, delicate adjustments or exact measurements.
• Vision Requirements: Requires close, distance, peripheral and depth perception vision as well as the ability to focus.
• Weight Lifted or Force Exerted: Frequently moves up to 40 lbs, ability to move up to 40 lbs.
• Environmental: Outdoor and indoor conditions. Work environment conditions can change frequently; working under adverse weather conditions and in various climates. When indoor, office environment conditions; indoor air quality is good and temperature is controlled.
• Noise Environment: Outdoor-Moderate to high noise such as gas-powered chainsaws and other hand and power tools. Indoor- Moderate noise such as in a business office with equipment and light traffic.
• Travel: This position may require domestic travel.

Environmental Conditions/Hazards: The ACE members  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. Duties are performed both indoors and outdoors. Temperature and weather extremes can be encountered in the performance of outdoor duties. Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge is in a remote location and accessed by dirt road. The nearest grocery store/town is 105 miles away.

Vehicle and Equipment Use/Safety: If a vehicle is required for the accomplishment of the duties, one will be provided by the FWS or ACE.  Any tools required for the accomplishment of the duties will be provided by the FWS. Use of personal protective equipment (PPE), typically provided by the FWS, will be mandatory for any activity that requires it.  Strict adherence to FWS and ACE equipment training, certification and safety protocols is required.