Burns District Steens CMPA Trail Project_Closes April 11 2022.doc

Office: Burns District Office Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L22AS00209 Project Submission Dates and Times: April 11, 2022 5pm EST

Project Title: Steens Mountain CMPA Trail Projects Youth Opportunity

Maximum Available Funding in FY22: $50,000 or $150,000 over 3 years Project Background Information: The Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area (CMPA) is approximately 500,000 acres of private and public land offering diverse scenic and recreation experiences. The CMPA encompasses deep glacier-carved gorges, stunning scenery, wilderness, and wild and scenic rivers. The 52-mile Steens Mountain Backcountry Byway provides access to four campgrounds and numerous trails. Maintaining these trails is critical to provide safe, high quality recreation experiences for the public.

Project Objective: BLM, Burns District, Oregon has an opportunity to introduce youth and young adults to careers in the BLM and to allow for practical work experience in outdoor recreation and wilderness trail maintenance.

Projects will provide opportunities to gain field experience, learn about land management, and further an understanding and appreciation of outdoor recreation, public service and public lands. This opportunity will be focused on wilderness trail stewardship and maintenance. This project would be especially appropriate for youth and young adults interested in outdoor recreation or other land management careers.

Work Schedule: Start dates are flexible and weather dependent. General trail maintenance season is from May-October. Project areas are remote. Crews must be capable of working self-supported for up to a week at a time.

Qualification Requirements: This opportunity is suitable for youth and young adults interested in careers in land management or outdoor recreation. This opportunity will require time outdoors and rigorous field work. Small (4-8 person), backcountry capable crews are required. Larger (or smaller) size crews must be approved by project lead. Work may involve hiking up to 5 miles to project area. Crew must be capable of hiking to project area with all tools and necessary equipment. Crew must be capable of working self-supported for up to a week at a time. Crew must be capable and prepared to work in all weather conditions.

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing. Crews will be expected to camp self-supported at the project sites. project sites will be in remote, backcountry settings. Project sites are in designated wilderness. Crews will be expected to pack out toilet paper and bury waste. Latrines will not be allowed. BLM can provide wag bags for personal waste disposal.

Vehicle Needs: As stated previously, project sites are remote. Crews will be expected to have their own vehicle capable of transporting crew members, supplies, and tools. AWD or 4WD is recommended.

Other Project Considerations:

Food: Crews will be responsible for providing their own food and transporting it to project camp areas.

Water: Most project areas have access to water for filtering. BLM will provide water cubies where water is not readily available.

Supplies: Crews will be expected to supply their own tools, tents, camping supplies, cooking supplies, and water filtration materials. Crews will be responsible for packing out trash and toilet paper.

All trail projects are in designated wilderness. Motorized and mechanized tools are not allowed. Standard wilderness trail tools will be required including, but not limited to: grass whips, loppers, hand saws, pole saws, shovels, pulaskis, macleods, hazel hoes, pick axes, rock bars, rock hammers.

BLM can provide supplementary hand tools if necessary.

Training Requirements: Project sites are in remote areas. Crews will be expected to have qualified Wilderness First Responders and appropriately sized first aid kits. BLM will provide crews with a handheld radio for emergencies.

Travel: Crews will be expected to travel by vehicle to trailheads and hike in to project sites around Steens Mountain CMPA.

Duties: The successful applicant will assist the Burns BLM recreation program with trail maintenance projects throughout the Steens Mountain CMPA.

Numerous trail work opportunities exist. Trail work may include trail brushing, log-out, new trail construction, tread repair and maintenance, and sign installation. Projects will be conducted in the Big Indian Gorge, Riddle Brothers Ranch Historic District, Pike Creek Corridor, Dry Creek Corridor, Three Mile Canyon, Wildhorse Lake, and Page Springs Campground.

Project expected outcomes including, but not limited to:

· Brush existing Big Indian Gorge Trail (7.5 miles)

· Brush existing Big Indian Gorge Headwall Trail (1.5 miles)

· Brush existing Pike Creek Trail (3 miles)

· Spot-Fix tread erosion existing Pike Creek Trail

· Construct Pike Creek – Dry Creek Connector Trail (.5 mile)

· Brush existing Levi Brinkley Trail (1.5 Miles)

· Brush existing Wilderness Nature Trail (1 Mile)

· Finish tread work existing Threemile Creek Equestrian Trail (1 mile)

· Spot-Fix tread erosion existing Wild Horse Lake Trail

· Miscellaneous sign installation

BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement by BLM Outdoor Recreation Planner(s) and in some cases other resource staff. BLM planners will provide on site project orientation and hands-on training where necessary. BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan, if project is not staying on schedule or is not to BLM standards. In addition, BLM and recipient will meet or correspond weekly to discuss progress and track project outcomes as well as discuss any crew issues or needs.

BLM will provide informal on-site presentations from Outdoor Recreation Planner(s) and other resources staff about land management topics and BLM careers. Presentations will include question and answer sessions.

BLM Program Contact:

Field PO Name: Kyle Wanner

Field PO Phone Number: (541) 214-3305 (Cell)

Field PO Email: kwanner@blm.gov

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L22AS00209 posted on Grants.gov for all program requirements and applicable terms and conditions. Recipients selected for awards will be required to adhere to those requirements should an award be made.

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