Invasive Species Strike Team Member - Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), is seeking four (4) Members to contribute to invasive plant management projects under the mentorship of Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge Staff.

For more information about ACE, please visit our website.

* a 12-week minimum commitment is required*

Cabeza Prieta NWR, Ajo, AZ

Located in southwest Arizona, Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge was originally established in 1939 as a Game Range "for the conservation and development of natural wildlife resources". In March of 1975, Cabeza Prieta Game Range was re-established as Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge and became part of the National Wildlife Refuge System. Encompassing 860,000 acres, CPNWR provides valuable habitat for Sonoran Desert wildlife.

In 1990, the passage of the Arizona Desert Wilderness Act designated 803,418 acres (93 percent) of CPNWR as wilderness. It is the ancestral homeland of the Hia C-ed O'odham.

For more information about Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge, please visit the FWS website.

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.

• Invasive Plant Surveying:
  Systematic surveying of areas for invasive species including early detection of buffelgrass and stinknet on and around refuge lands
• Invasive Plant Management:
  Using hand tools to manually remove non-native invasive plants including stinknet and buffelgrass; opportunities to gain experience with herbicide application will exist if desired
• Use Field Maps and Survey
  123 for ArcGIS to record treatment data and monitoring
• Operate 4WD government trucks in remote areas on rugged terrain
  
  Educate the public on invasive and native plant and animal species; excellent opportunities exist to engage and inform the local community on resource management issues at the Refuge

Duties will primarily be carried out Monday - Friday. Previous interns have run 5-8 hour days or 4-10 hour days which may be necessary depending on the travel involved to the area of work and when camping is part of the planning. 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 FWS for approval.

The ACE Member is expected 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.

Members serving under this agreement may be eligible for a federal hiring authority upon completion of their term of service and 640 hours of service. If the duration of a PLC-eligible term is not long enough for Members to accrue 640 hours of service (~16 weeks), the total hours served at the completion of the term may be eligible to be combined with hours accrued from another PLC-eligible term to meet the 640 hours requirement.

PLC projects also include specific eligibility requirements such as age (You must be between the ages of 16 and 30. Some agencies also interpret these guidelines to include veterans up to age 35) and citizenship. Please contact ACE staff with questions about eligibility, or view general eligibility information on our website.

ACE members will be accommodated in provided FWS housing at no cost for the duration of the term.

ACE members will have up to $100 to spend on eligible gear purchases. Eligible gear for this position includes, work boots, work pants, outerwear, hat, etc., and must be approved by ACE staff prior to purchase.

ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include, 4WD training provided by FWS, guidance on invasive plant surveying and , as well as control techniques.

Required:

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship…