Marion Creek Trail Crew Project Description Mod 1.doc

Office: Central Yukon Field Office (CYFO) Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L22AS00197 Project Submission Dates and Times: February 7, 2022 – April 15, 2022, 5PM EDT

Project Title: Marion Creek Trail Crew Youth Opportunity Maximum Available Funding in FY22: $25,000 BLM has determined $600 weekly stipend equal to $15.00 per hour is a reasonable. Stipends above this amount must justify in budget narrative increase needed.

Project Background Information: The Central Yukon Field Office, Alaska manages a 2-million-acre corridor of public lands straddling the Dalton Highway from the Yukon River to the north side of the Brooks Range. The BLM offers many recreational opportunities to visitors along the Dalton Highway Corridor including four campgrounds and numerous wayside pullouts with interpretive displays. The BLM desires to develop a 1.7 mile recreational trail in the vicinity of Coldfoot, Alaska.

Project Objective: BLM, Central Yukon Field Office, Alaska has an opportunity to introduce youth to careers in the BLM through recreation trail development and fieldwork. The selected youth crew would assist in the development of a linear trail for hikers connecting the BLM Marion Creek Developed Campground and the Marion Creek Falls near Coldfoot, Alaska. The trail, referred to as the Marion Creek Trail, would provide low elevation recreation opportunities between the campground and the falls. The selected youth crew members would gain experience working in a remote setting and knowledge of trail construction techniques including proper use of common handtools to complete a variety of trail tread prescriptions, install two small footbridges and install water management features.

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, generally 8 AM to 5PM, for 6 weeks, with flexible start/end dates in July to August-September. Weekends might be required, but would be a rare occurence.

Qualification Requirements: This opportunity is suitable for youth working towards an undergraduate or graduate degree in recreation management, natural resources management, or related field. As stated in the duties this opportunity will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions. Applicants must also meet the following criteria: 1) Ability to work in a team setting.

Housing: Agency can provide housing at the Marion Creek Administrative site. Selected youth crew members should be prepared to camp at the nearby Marion Creek Campground for a portion of the project.

Vehicle Needs: A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position. The supporting Youth organization will need to provide transportation to the work site outside Coldfoot, AK. The closest regional airport is in Coldfoot, Alaska, but the nearest large airport is in Fairbanks, Alaska (about 300 miles away), where you can get much lower fares. Coldfoot offers very limited services. There is a restaurant but no grocery store. Fairbanks offers all services.

Other Project Considerations:

Food: Procuring and supplying food will be the responsibility of the applicant.

All Supplies: BLM will providing GPS units, cell/satellite phones, hand tools, gloves and personal protective equipment. Youth Crew will supply tents and camping supplies.

Training Requirements: BLM will provide first aid training, bear safety training, chainsaw training, trail construction training and other trainings as the needs arise. Applicant should have a fundamental knowledge in the use of basic handtools.

Travel: The duration of the project is located in a remote setting. BLM will provide for lodging or campsites.

Duties: The successful youth applicants will work under the direction of the Central Yukon Field Office Park Ranger within the Office’s recreation program, to develop a hiking trail connecting the Marion Creek Campground to a popular hiking destination called Marion Creek Falls.

Methods consist of using hand tools (e.g. shovels, pulaskis, grubbing tools, chainsaws, and gas powered brush cutters) to brush out and construct the bench for the trail. The trail tread will utilize full bench construction whenever possible with occasional partial bench construction in very rocky ground. The desired average tread width is 18-36 inches, with an additional maximum of three feet of vegetation trimming and thinning on either side of the trail. The majority of the route traverses open aspect landscape with minimal trees.

The trail will be developed with frequent grade reversals and be out-sloped to allow water to shed off the trail. Retaining walls will be installed where necessary to stabilize the trail, particularly at approaches to any drainage crossings. Drainage crossings or perennially wet sections of the trail would be armored with rock, and for the two stream crossings located in the trail route, foot bridges will be developed to allow passage. In extremely wet sections, trails would be designed with running plank style platforms to minimize disturbance and promote a quality visitor experience

The participant will work out of the Marion Creek Administrative site near Coldfoot, Alaska. The project will be coordinated by the Central Yukon Field Office Park Ranger and seasonal Park Ranger. Fieldwork will be done in a remote backcountry setting and requires strenuous exertion. Weather and environmental conditions may be extreme (e.g. heat, cold, rain, snow, mosquitos, wildlife).

Project expected outcomes include improvement of 1.7 mile hiking trail with two small footbridges.

BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement by BLM professional that will work daily side by side with recipient on all projects and also be providing project orientation and hands-on training. BLM will have the right to intervene by modifying the project management plan, if 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 what direction to take in finalizing project or move to the next phase.

BLM Program Contact:

Zach Million

(907) 271-3386 zmillion@blm.gov BLM Technical Contact:

Stephen Taylor

(907) 474-2242 sctaylor@blm.gov Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L22AS00197 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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