NWOD_Conservation_Restoration_Crew.doc

Office: Northwest Oregon District Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L23AS00444 Project Submission Dates and Times: April 14, 2023 5pm EST

Project Title: Northwest Oregon District Youth Opportunity

Maximum Available Funding in FY23: $60,000 ($300,000 lifetime) A standard youth crew consists of nine youth or young adult members members, ages 16-25 and two staff working an estimated 409.75 hours per week (37.25 hrs per person), with a cost of $9,748.61 per week

Project Background Information: The Northwest Oregon District manages approximately 714,395 acres scattered across 14 counties in Northwest Oregon, ranging from the Pacific Ocean to the crest of the Cascades. The District has management direction to manage naturally occurring special habitats to maintain their ecological function, such as natural meadows, rock outcrops, and oak savannas/woodlands. These habitats are extremely rare on the landscape. Additionally, the District botany program follows the mission of the BLM plant conservation program to ensure that native plants and native plant communities on public lands are managed, conserved, and/or restored for the benefit of present and future generations and incorporated into management activieis.

Project Objective: BLM, Northwest Oregon District, has an opportunity to introduce youth to natural resource management careers in the BLM, with a specific focus in botany and restoration. The Northwest Oregon District has resource specialists who would like to provide work experience to youth for their career and educational benefit. This would be accomplished by providing them opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, further their understanding and appreciation of natural resources, and pique their interest in conservation and restoration careers.

This opportunity will be focused on implementing restoration and conservation activities such as invasive species management and vegetation management throughout the district, as well as collecting, planting, and sowing native plant materials to restore wet meadows, upland prairie, oak savannas and woodlands, as well as other special habitats that support threatened and endangered (T&E) species and Bureau Special Status Species (BSSS).

Work Schedule: Monday – Friday, generally 8 AM to 5PM. Work may occur year round and would likely be scheduled one week at a time, roughly 6 weeks a year. Weekends might be required, but would be a rare occurance. Overall scheduling will be determined by availability of both youth crew and BLM staff.

Qualification Requirements: As stated in the duties this opportunity will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions. Youth day-to-day will need to be managed by a Crew Lead(s).

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing but may be able to assist in locating a camp site on BLM lands near the project area. Camping on BLM lands is allowed for up to 14 days at a time so long as it not marked otherwise. Some transportation from the camp site to the project location will likely have to occur and transportation times could reach up to an hour in order to find a suitable campspot.

Vehicle Needs: Youth Corps will need to provide for all transportation of crews. Some project sites are accessible via 2-wheel drive vehicles but 4-wheel drive vehicles are required at most locations. Driving on gravel or native surface logging roads will be a common occurrence.

Other Project Considerations:

Food: All food and water will need to be supplied by Youth Corps.

All Supplies: The Youth Corps should supply all tools (weedwhackers, weed wrenches, chainsaws, hoes, shovels, etc.) and PPE. The Youth Corps will also provide the tents and camping supplies.

Training Requirements: Chainsaw training will be required for some projects with training to be provided by the Youth Corps. First aid training should be provided by the Youth Corps. Some project specific training will be provided by the BLM such as rare plant/noxious weed identification or specific restoration methods when necessary.

Travel: Project sites will be located throughout any of the five field offices of the Northwest Oregon District. Travel will be necessary to the project sites each day.

Duties: The youth crew will assist the Northwest Oregon District implement their on-the-ground restoration and conservation activities throughout the district including within management projects, recreation areas, areas of critical environmental concern, threatened and endangered species habitat, and other special habitats. Projects can include invasive plant inventory and treatments (ex: weedwhacking, lopping, manually pulling or grubbing), conifer removal/girdling, and collecting, planting, or sowing native plants, and installation of public outreatch signage at project sites.

Project expected outcomes include six work weeks for a crew of 9 (approximately 2,454 hours). Specific expected outcomes will be site specific and could include acres of weeds treated/surveyed, native plants restored (via planting/seeding), or signs installed.

BLM’s Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement by BLM professional that will work alongside the crew on a daily or weekly basis, providing a project orientation and any specific training needed. The BLM will develop projects and give them to the Youth Corps crew leads. 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 regularly 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:

Emily Erickson

541-510-8579 eerickson@blm.gov

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L22AS00444 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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