California Youth Projects UkiahFO SCTrailMaintenance.docx

State: California Office: Ukiah Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L25AS00059 Project Submission Dates and Times: 4-15-2025

Project Title: CA Off Highway Vehicle Trail Clearing and Maintenance Youth Opportunity Available Funding in FY25: $30,000.00 (available funding will come from CY2025 one-year Off Highway Vehicle (OHV) state grant funding- funding performance period: 01/01/25-12/31/25)

Maximum Funding (if multi-year): $150,000.00 (estimated at $30,000/calendar year for 5 years. Funding would come from OHV State Grants and would be dependent on available funding.)

Note: BLM has determined that an $800 weekly stipend equal to $20.00 per hour is reasonable. Stipends above this amount must be justified in the budget narrative.

Period of Performance:

YR 1: 08/01/2025-12/31/2025

YR 2: 01/01/2026-12/31/2026

YR 3: 01/01/2027-12/31/2027

YR 4: 01/01/2028-12/31/2028

YR 5: 01/01/2029-12/31/2029

Project Background Information:

The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area is located within the Mayacamas Mountains, east of the city of Ukiah and west of the city of Lakeport, in Northwestern California. The area offers beautiful views of Ukiah and Lake County; pockets of old-growth fir; several species of oak, willows; over 31 miles of stream; 13 reservoirs; and habitat for blacktail deer, bear, wild turkey, and other upland species. The South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area is approximately 23,000 acres and is a congressionally designated OHV recreation area and is thus managed primarily for OHV recreation. South Cow Mountain is well known for its demanding terrain, extensive network of technical trails, and scenic views. South Cow Mountain also offers other recreation opportunities such as camping, hiking, mountain biking, picnicking, hunting, wildlife viewing, and birding. The 94 miles of designated OHV trails draw a variety of OHV users and provides opportunities for every skill level. In addition, there is a four-wheel drive (4WD) obstacle/safety course, which a local OHV group partnered with BLM to build. South Cow Mountain offers two staging areas (complete with loading ramps, covered picnic areas, barbecues, and vault toilets), as well as two developed campgrounds and one primitive campsite. All of the OHV trails can be accessed via the staging areas, campgrounds, or main roads.

Project Objective/Expected Project Outcomes:

The BLM Ukiah Field Office’s Recreation Department would like to a provide work experience to youth for their career and educational benefit. This will be accomplished by providing them with opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, and further their understanding and appreciation of natural and recreational resources. From this they will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands. This opportunity will be focused on improving access for both OHV and non-OHV recreation on trails and roads within the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area by clearing vegetation, maintaining trail tread and erosion control features, and conducting trail condition surveys. This project would be especially appropriate for youth who are interested in outdoor recreation and natural resources. This project will enhance basic career skills such as organization, attention to detail, communication, as well as field skills including documenting and fixing erosion control issues, use of GPS equipment and maps, field note methods, and trail maintenance skills and methods. These skills will improve their competitiveness in the job market.

Work Schedule: Work schedule could vary, but a typical work schedule would be M-F 8:00-4:30, with flexible start dates in August/September

Knowledge Required by the Position: [Applicants must also pass a DOI security background check.]

· Trail maintenance techniques

· Chainsaw certification

· Can operate an OHV (off-highway vehicle)- recommended, but not required

· First aid certified

Physical Demands:

As stated in the duties this opportunity will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions.

Work Environment:

OHV trails will be in a remote mountainous environment, with steep hill climbs, uneven terrain, and thick brush.

Housing:

Lodging is not provided, but camping on-site is available. Camping would either be dispersed camping or camping at semi-improved sites (no water or electricity but has vault toilets and camping sites).

Vehicle Needs:

A 4x4 vehicle will be needed by the youth corps.

Other Project Considerations:

Food: All meals provided by Youth Corps.

All Supplies: BLM can provide hand tools, chainsaws (if certified), tablet, and a radio (if necessary), all other equipment shall be provided by the Youth Corps. Youth Corps shall supply tents and camping supplies.

Training Requirements: Youth Corps to provide first aid training, any crew leads training, and chainsaw training. BLM can provide OHV training.

Travel: The only planned travel is from the field office to the project site (about a 30 min drive)

Duties:

This project will primarily focus on field work but could provide some time for office work. Field work could include survey and monitoring of OHV trail conditions, as well as clearing trails and performing routine maintenance of OHV trails using hand tools to repair trail tread and erosion control features. Some office work might be included and could consist of some limited data entry, report writing, and map making.

Field work will be conducted within the rugged and semi-remote trails in the South Cow Mountain OHV Management Area. The participants will work out of the Bureau of Land Management Ukiah Field Office in Ukiah, California. This project will be coordinated by the Outdoor Recreation Planner and Recreation staff. Fieldwork will be done in a remote backcountry setting and requires strenuous exertion. Weather and terrain conditions may be extreme (e.g., heat, cold, steep mountainous terrain).

BLM’s Substantial Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement by BLM professionals to include mentoring, oversight, and engagement with youth participants as appropriate. BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan if the project is not staying on schedule, technical issues arise, etc. In addition, BLM and recipient will meet weekly to discuss progress and track project outcomes; review any training needs; and then make a decision about what direction to take in finalizing the project or moving to the next phase.

BLM Program Contact:

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L25AS00059 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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