Cooperative Agreement L25AC00532

AWARD PURPOSE:NORTHWEST YOUTH CORPS REQUESTS A TOTAL OF $9,374.18 TO FUND ITS PRINEVILLE BLM HABITAT RESTORATION PROJECT. UNDER THE GUIDANCE OF BLM STAFF, FOUR NYC YOUNG ADULT CREWS WILL CARRYOUT A TOTAL OF 222 HOURS OF WORK (ONE WEEK). CREWS WILL FOCUS ON MANAGING REMOVAL OF BLACKBERRY ON TRIBUTARIES TO THE LOWER DESCHUTES RIVER TO IMPROVE STEELHEAD HABITAT. NORTHWEST YOUTH CORPS HAS PARTNERED WITH PRINEVILLE BLM IN THE PAST TO CARRY OUT SIMILAR PROJECTS WITH THE AGENCY INCLUDING FIRE MITIGATION, INVASIVES SPECIES REMOVAL, MEADOW RESTORATION AND FENCING RESTORATION PROJECTS. AS THE BLM MOVES FORWARD WITH IMPLEMENTING THIS PLAN, NYC CREWS WILL CONDUCT WORK PROJECTS WHICH SUPPORT A WIDE VARIETY OF BLM GOALS. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED:NYCS YOUNG ADULT PROGRAM IS FOR INDIVIDUALS AGES 19-24. CREWS CAMP FOR 9-10 WEEKS. A STANDARD CREW CONSISTS OF FIVE YOUNG ADULT MEMBERS AND ONE STAFF WORKING AN ESTIMATED 222 HOURS PER WEEK (37 HRS. PER PERSON). PLANNED TASKS INCLUDE REMOVAL OF HIMALAYAN BLACKBERRY ON THE LOWER DESCHUTES RIVER AND TRIBUTARIES. TO CARRY OUT THIS PROJECT, ALL CREWMEMBERS ARE TRAINED TO SAFELY OPERATE HAND AND POWER TOOLS. FOR THEIR WORK, CORPSMEMBERS EARN UP TO $600 PER WEEK AND RECEIVE TENT HOUSING VALUED AT $182 WEEK ALL FOOD (VALUED AT $70 WEEK) AND A $1,824.07 AMERICORPS EDUCATION AWARD. NYC PARTICIPANTS WILL WORK TOGETHER UNDER SUPERVISION OF TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED CREW LEADERS, WHO ASSESS ACTUAL AGAINST DESIRED WORK OUTCOMES, USING PRESCRIBED PROTOCOLS AND SPECIFICATIONS. EXPECTED DELIVERABLES OR OUTCOMES:YOUNG ADULTS WILL EARN MONEY AS THEY REMOVE BLACKBERRY ALONG OAK CANYON WHICH COVERS A 4.5 ACRE AREA. OAK CANYON IS ESTIMATED TO BE 30% INVADED BY BLACKBERRY. THE CANYON IS STILL DENSELYPOPULATED BY NATIVE SHRUBS AND AFTER THE CREWS REMOVAL OF BLACKBERRY THESE NATIVE PLANTS WILL HAVE A HIGHER CHANCE OF RECOVERING. THE CREW WILL USE LOPPERS, RAKES, AND BRUSH CUTTERS TO CUT BACK AND MULCH THE VINES ON SITE. INTENDED BENEFICIARIES:IMPROVEMENT OF THESE AREAS ALLOWS PRINEVILLE BLM TO CARRY OUT ITS TASKS OF MANAGING A BROAD NETWORK OF TRAIL RESTORATION PROJECTS AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES ON PUBLIC LANDS, MEETINGAPPROPRIATE SAFETY STANDARDS FOR THE PUBLIC, AND PROTECTING NATURAL RESOURCES. THIS PROJECTSUPPORTS RESTORATION OF WILDLIFE HABITATS THAT ARE ESSENTIAL FOR A BALANCED LOCAL ECOSYSTEM. THROUGH THIS WORK, YOUTH EARN A STIPEND EXCEEDING MINIMUM WAGE WHILE GAINING IMPORTANTPROFESSIONAL SKILLS. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, NYC CREWS WILL COMPLETE CONSERVATION WORK IN A COSTEFFECTIVE MANNER, LEAVING BLM PERSONNEL TO CONCENTRATE THEIR RESOURCES ON HIGHER LEVEL PLANNING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT ACTIVITIES.