The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) in partnership with the Ashley National Forest is advertising a Forestry Technician (Trails) Corpsmember. This is an approximately 3 to 4 months (up to 16 weeks) full-time work experience from mid-May through mid-August 2023.

The Utah Conservation Corps (UCC) is Utah's award-winning, and nationally recognized statewide Conservation Corps headquartered in Logan, Utah at Utah State University's main campus. The UCC has been Utah's largest environmental AmeriCorps program since 2001, completing service work on public lands, in communities, and with various organizations throughout the state.

The position will be filled and located out of Vernal, Utah.

If you have questions about this Forestry Technician (Recreation) Corpsmember opportunity, please contact:

• Nicholas White, Recreation Technician, on the Vernal Ranger District, nicholas.white2@usda.gov, 435-781-5165

If you have questions about the application process, please contact:

• Greta Schen of the Utah Conservation Corps, greta.schen@usu.edu, (435) 220-7222.

A Trails Technician Corpsmember performs assignments in support of the Trails program located at the Ashley National Forest’s Ranger’s Office in Vernal, Utah. The forest is interested in filling one Trails Technician Corpsmember position from mid-May until Mid-August, with the possibility of extending later into the fall season depending on workload and budgetary considerations.

The Corpsmember position’s base of operations will be Vernal, Utah. The positions are 40 hours a week and the pay will be $16.14/hour. There is no provided housing for these positions.

Duties include but are not limited to:

• Supports all aspects of recreation management in the Vernal Ranger District.
• Working on a trail crew in constructing/maintaining non-motorized and motorized trails.
• Assures recreation area and trails are maintained in accordance with standards. Constructs and rehabilitates minor recreation facilities and trails.
• Use of ATVs/UTVs/Trucks in transporting materials and access to work locations. Training provided by the agency with certification required.
• Crew members will also be required to work with various hand tools to conduct trail maintenance on various types of trails at varying levels of elevation.
• Contacts visitors to provide information about recreation regulations, opportunities, and current restrictions.
• On occasion, directs or leads one or two lower-grade employees engaged in recreation maintenance and/or contract work. Makes day-to-day assignments and ensures the quality of completed work.

Program Benefits

• $16.14/hour along with health care coverage (if needed), worker's compensation, and FICA/Medicare.

• An independent, self-motivated, creative, and resourceful individual able to work with diverse groups of people.

• A cooperative manner and the ability to serve as part of a team, but the ability to work independently.

• Work a flexible schedule, including some evenings and weekends.

• Valid driver’s license and good driving record. Drive government vehicle as required for position.

• Must successfully pass a fingerprint criminal history background check.

• U.S. citizen, national or lawful permanent resident.

• Regular and reliable attendance and dependability.

• Strongly prefer experience in working outdoors

• Excellent written and oral communication skills .

• Excellent organizational and computer skills.

• Ability to commit to the service dates.

   

Application Deadline: April 10, 2023 (or until filled up to May 1, 2023)
Interviews: Will occur as qualified applications are received.
Type of position: Work as a member of the Recreation Crew on Ashley National Forest
Service Dates Mid-May – Mid-August 2023
Length of Term: 12 to 16 weeks (depending upon position)

Along with the online application, please attach:

1. Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”
2. Contact Information for Professional References
3. Cover Letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application 

In addition to submitting your online application, please send an email to the contact below to notify of your intent to apply for the position. Write “Vernal Trails Crew Corps Member” in the subject line of your email.

Nicholas White, Recreation Technician
nicholas.white2@usda.gov

Vernal Ranger District
355 N. Vernal Ave
Vernal, UT 84078

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

The position requires considerable physical activity. Employees must have sufficient strength to perform the duties and responsibilities of the position including heavy lifting (50 pounds) and/or pushing and pulling of heavy objects.  Employees must be prepared to assume uncomfortable positions such as crawling, kneeling, and squatting. Additionally, the work environment can include confined or narrow spaces. Employees must adhere to safety precautions and may be required to use protective equipment. 

The Ashley National Forest

The Ashley National Forest encompasses about a million and a half acres in northeastern Utah and southwestern Wyoming. The Forest lies in three geographical areas: the east-west range of the Uinta Mountains, the Green River Basin, and the Tavaputs Plateau. Elevations range from 6,000 feet to 13,528 feet.

Steep canyons, high mountain peaks, glaciated basins, large open meadows, and desert badlands produce a rich diversity of vegetation and wildlife. The grasses and shrubs of the high mountain desert are replaced by pinyon and juniper as the elevation rises. In mid-elevation areas, aspen dominates and becomes mixed with conifer. Higher up, the vegetation changes to conifer forest composed of ponderosa pine, lodgepole pine, fir, and spruce. Wildlife is abundant. Larger species include black bear, mountain lion, moose, elk, mule deer, pronghorn, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep.

Neighboring lands include the Uinta and Ouray Indian Reservation to the south, the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache National Forest to the west and north, and a mixture of Bureau of Land Management, State of Utah, and private lands to the east and southeast. Compared with other National Forests, relatively few small tracts of private land lie within the Ashley's boundary.

The High Uintas Wilderness, established by Congress in 1984, comprises nearly one-half million acres in the Uinta-Wasatch-Cache and Ashley National Forests. Within the wilderness, elevations range from 8,000 feet to 13,582 feet at the top of Kings Peak, the highest mountain in Utah. The Uinta Mountain range runs east to west, from the Wasatch Mountains into Colorado. Pre-Cambrian rock formed from sediments laid down 600 million years ago makes up the core of the range. Glacial activity carved deep canyons and left a spectacular landscape of rolling, treeless peaks and stratified ridges interspersed with broad meadows and numerous lakes.

The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area lies in the northeast part of the Forest. Flaming Gorge Reservoir extends almost 90 miles into Wyoming and offers outstanding fishing and boating opportunities. Record-breaking German brown trout and large lake and rainbow trout have been taken from its waters. The Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area has three marinas and many campgrounds, some of which are open year-round.

The Green River below Flaming Gorge Dam is a world-famous blue-ribbon trout stream. The Little Hole National Recreation Trail parallels the river 7.3 miles from the Dam to the Little Hole Recreation Complex.

About Vernal, Utah
Vernal is situated in northeast Utah south of Flaming Gorge National Recreation Area and west of Dinosaur National Monument and is the county seat of Uintah County. Vernal has a population of approximately 10,000 people. When combined with the residents of surrounding communities, the population of the Ashley Valley is approximately 15,000. Vernal is 180 miles east of Salt Lake City and 300 miles west of Denver.
http://www.vernalchamber.com/ http://www.city-data.com/city/Vernal-Utah.html

Climate
Vernal sits at approximately 5,000 feet above sea level. Vernal enjoys four beautiful temperate seasons; the climate is semi-arid with low humidity. Annual precipitation averages 15-20", mostly in the form of winter snow and spring/fall rain. Winter temperatures usually hover in the 20s-30s during the day but will occasionally drop to sub-zero. Mid-summer temperatures can reach 100 degrees, but generally average in the low-mid 90s, dipping into the 50s at night.

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USU’s statewide system features three residential campuses, 30 total campus locations, and 23 Extension education centers. The university employs 903 full-time faculty members, 124 executive administrators, and 1,649 full-time support staff. USU offers 115 undergraduate majors, as well as 91 master’s and 42 doctoral degrees. Learn more about USU.

A core characteristic of USU is engagement with communities and people in economic development, improvements to quality of life, and human capital. Through the practical application of knowledge, the University and its faculty engage and share expertise with the state, nation, and world, preserving the historical land-grant tradition of partnering with communities to address critical societal issues in the interest of the public good.

The USU main campus is located in beautiful Logan, Utah, a city of about 50,000 situated in a picturesque mountain valley about 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. Outstanding recreational opportunities abound in the nearby mountains and proximate region.

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*updated 11/2022