Rocky Mountain Fire Portal

The Rangeland Specialist coordinates cattle shipping, weaning strategies, salt and mineral supply, and other livestock care with tenants, and recognizes symptoms of illness in cattle and bison, and consults with cattle owners and veterinarian necessary (not responsible for monitoring calving.) When cattle are off the ranch, in addition to bison, primary responsibilities are infrastructure and equipment maintenance and improvement (fencing, water, corrals, and facilities).

Follows SVR bison management plan, leads annual bison works, including facilities and herd management preparations and coordination of staff, veterinarian, and sales and marketing,

Maintains ranch infrastructure, including roads, water systems, and fences, and is responsible for other general upkeep, such as junk removal.  Maintains facilities, tools, and equipment.  Keeps vehicles clean and in good working order.  Maintains and improves ranch areas visited by the public and donors, including trails, headquarters, residence areas, and perimeter parking lots and signage.

Carries out rangeland and wildlife monitoring and management activities as directed by the Project Manager, including grazing utilization and management of invasive species. Wildlife work includes rangeland management, monitoring, and research related to primary conservation targets: Lesser Prairie-Chicken and Black-tailed Prairie Dogs. Assists Project Manager with developing, implementing, and monitoring associated habitat management practices.   

Assists with prescribed burns, under the direction of the designated burn boss.  

Maintains constructive, positive relationships and liaisons, on behalf of TNC, with staff, neighbors, partners, the community, and visitors to the ranch.

Must have a commitment to ecological resource conservation in the Great Plains, and a willingness to learn about conservation issues and priorities.

Records hours and work performed, and reports information to the Project Manager. Performs other ranch work as directed by the Project Manager, and may occasionally assist Project Manager with off-ranch conservation projects and initiatives, such as rangeland and CRP conservation and management planning, implementation, and monitoring.

Urban WildF.I.R.E. (Fire Integrative Research Experience) is an intensive, interdisciplinary workshop that provides experiential learning at the intersection between urban forestry and wildland fire. This workshop is a collaborative effort between Michigan State University, Tennessee State University, and the US Forest Service.

Eligible applicants for Urban WildF.I.R.E. include students currently enrolled in an undergraduate or master’s degree-granting program at an accredited US college or university. Traditionally underrepresented students majoring in forestry, environmental science, natural resource management, or related fields, and those pursuing degrees at 1890 and 1994 Land-grant institutions are strongly encouraged to apply.

***All costs for airfare to and from the workshop in Michigan, in addition to all lodging expenses, will be covered for each workshop attendee.***

All applications must be submitted by 11:59pm PST, February 7, 2020.

Please help the Southwest Fire Science Consortium evaluate their impact on the fire community. Have they affected how you interact with your science and/or management colleagues or how you use or share science?

Follow the link below below and complete a short survey!

The Stewardship/Burn Crew Technician (SBCT) will assist with various prairie stewardship activities including:  prescribed fire operations (including ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and monitoring), tree/brush removal, noxious weed control, fencing, firebreak installation and other and other tasks as assigned. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) short-term position. There is one position from April 6 to July 31, 2020. Housing is provided.

The Range Technician (RT) will assist with various prairie stewardship activities including: prescribed fire operations (ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, and monitoring), tree/brush removal, noxious weed control, fencing, firebreak installation and other tasks as assigned. The RT will serve on a burn crew of 6 to 8 people during fire season and will also assist in daily coordination and oversight of the summer land management crew (1 – 2 short-term staff) under the direction of the Field Steward. These crews travel throughout the Prairie Coteau (northeast SD/southwest MN) landscape. This is a full-time (40 hours/week) short-term position from March 9 – December 4, 2020.

The Habitat Technician (HT) will be supervised by the Field Steward but will work under the daily direction of the long-term Range Technician.  Duties will include daily conversations with supervisor(s) to receive assignments and report on results.  Personal organization and excellent communication skills are a must for this position.  The Habitat Technician will be expected to travel individually or with a crew to perform various grazing program and habitat maintenance duties on Nature Conservancy preserves throughout the Prairie Coteau in South Dakota and Minnesota.  This position is based on a 40 hour work week, but may require irregular hours, long days, and travel on short notice.  Position runs approximately May 4, 2020 through August 28, 2020.

The Habitat Technician (HT) participates in prescribed fire operations which include ignition, control, mop-up, suppression, monitoring, and other tasks as assigned during the fire season.   while working out of the Clear Lake, SD office from 4-6 to 6-5.  During the second part of the position 6-8 to 7-31, the HT will work under the daily supervision of the Prairie Recovery Specialist in Morris, MN area.  After the spring fire season, the HT will be expected to travel individually or with a crew to perform various grazing program and habitat maintenance duties on State, Federal and Nature Conservancy lands in Eastern South Dakota and Southwestern Minnesota.  This position is based on a 40 hour work week, but may require irregular hours, long days, and travel on short notice.  There will be three (3) positions available starting on April 6 to July 31, 2020.

The Wilderness Fellows Program is a collaborative of the Society for Wilderness Stewardship (SWS), the Aldo Leopold Wilderness Research Institute, and the US Forest Service. It was created in order to complete Wilderness Character Baseline Assessments. The Wilderness Fellow Program is seeking qualified candidates to fill Wilderness Fellow positions. Fellows are based in locations around the country, with a significant amount of travel within their base region. Work is roughly 80% office-based and 20% field-based and is performed at USFS offices to directly support the goals of a collaborative wilderness character monitoring initiative currently underway in the USFS. Primary Wilderness Fellow Responsibilities:

• Attend one-week training in Granby, Colorado (travel provided).
• Work out of remote USFS locations, residing in USFS housing.
• Coordinate meetings with USFS resource specialists and line officers to gather information regarding wilderness character.
• Research, compile,and analyze legislative and administrative historical data per wilderness area.
• Travel to and into wilderness areas.
• Select indicators relevant for each wilderness area to monitor wilderness character over time.
• Compile and analyze data for selected monitoring indicators and complete a baseline assessment for wilderness character monitoring.
• Implement inventory and monitoring strategies for tracking wilderness character.
• Write a wilderness character baseline assessment for each wilderness area worked in.
• Participate in weekly conference calls.
• Set and meet benchmarks and deadlines for data collection, meetings, and draft and final reports.

Locations: 11 positions are available, located in the following: Medicine Bow Route and Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forests, CO; Tonto National Forest, AZ (2 positions); Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest, NV (2 positions); Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, CA; Siuslaw National Forest, OR; Okanogan-Wenatchee and Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forests, WA (2 positions); Tongass National Forest, AK (2 positions)

Duration: May 18, 2020 – November 6, 2020 (Tongass National Forest positions will start in March)

The Missouri Coteau Conservation Technician will primarily assist The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and partners such as U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) with promoting conservation objectives. The Technician will be responsible for establishing contact with private landowners of native prairie for enrollment in conservation programs.  Overall supervision will be provided by TNC. Day-to-day direction and training will be provided by partners such as the USFWS regarding easement work.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Contact landowners to inform them about conservation programs and explain opportunities for enrollment.
• Coordinate contacts and conduct biological evaluations on potential easement properties as the initial step to prioritize each tract of land for easement acquisition.   
• Provide support for other conservation projects as assigned

The Conservation Technician may also assist with biological surveys, data management, prescribed fire, land management practices, and outreach/education programs.  The Technician will work with a variety of partners to develop proposals and implement conservation projects focused on priority conservation goals identified in the Missouri Coteau of South Dakota.  

The Conservation Technician may be required to work some evening and weekend hours in order to work with landowners when they are available and conditions are conducive for activities.  This is a two-year term position with the opportunity to extend employment pending securement of funding.