ORWA Youth Projects Spokane InfrastructureMaintenanceImprovementsAndRestoration.docx

State: Oregon-Washington Office: Spokane District, Border Field Office and Wenatchee Field Office Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L25AS00059 Project Submission Dates and Times:

Project Title: WASHINGTON- Infrastructure Maintenance, Improvements, and Restoration with the Border and Wenatchee Field Offices Youth Opportunity Available Funding in FY25: up to $50,000.00; dependent on available funding Maximum Funding (if multi-year): up to $500,000.00; dependent on available funding Note: BLM has determined $680/week ($17/hr based on Washington minimum wage) up to $800/week ($20/hr) stipend is reasonable. Stipends above this amount must justify in budget narrative increase needed.

Period of Performance: Date of award to 9/30/2029 Project Background Information: BLM manages its lands following The Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 (FLPMA). FLPMA defines the BLM mission as one of multiple use and sustained yield. BLM’s Spokane District (SPD), including Border Field Office (BFO) and Wenatchee Field Office (WFO), has a Resource Management Plan (RMP) directing its management in support of FLPMA, the endangered Species Act, and other regulations. SPD’s RMP directs the BLM to support multiple priorities including recreation, post-wildfire recovery, wildlife including the greater sage grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), resources including sensitive plants, management of livestock grazing, and restoration of lands damaged by different disturbances.

The BFO manages multiple uses primarily in 7 counties in eastern Washington with habitats including shrub-steppe and riparian areas. BFO public lands receive substantial recreational use including at 5 developed recreation sites and 10 primitive recreation sites.

The WFO manages multiple uses primarily in 4 counties in west-central Washington with habitats including shrub-steppe and riparian areas. WFO public lands receive substantial recreational use including at 7 developed recreation sites and 10 primitive recreation sites.

Project Objective/Expected Project Outcomes: BLM Spokane District in Washington has an opportunity to introduce youth to careers in natural resources including recreation management, range management, post fire management, sensitive resources management, and restoration management. Spokane District would like to a provide work experience to youth for their career and educational benefit. This will be accomplished by providing opportunities to gain experience, learn about public lands, further their understanding and appreciation of recreation and ecological resources and their management, and provide skills in maintenance and improvements of associated infrastructure. From this, youth will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and are likely to become life-long stewards.

1. Workloads associated with trails and recreation infrastructure would be accomplished within eastern Washington (Border Field Office located in Spokane), and central Washington (Wenatchee Field Office located in Wenatchee).

2. Workloads associated with ecological, livestock grazing, post wildfire recovery would be accomplished within eastern Washington (Border Field Office located in Spokane).

Infrastructure to be constructed or maintained under the various programs would consist primarily of:

· Recreation infrastructure:

· Trails brushing/tread maintenance/deadfalls removal. Trailhead/trail/trailside infrastructure including benches, turnpikes, kiosks/bulletin boards/interpretive displays, gates, control fencing.

· Recreation site infrastructure including fencing (wood and wire); gates; campsites; picnic tables; fire rings; kiosks/bulletin boards; weed whacking; painting/staining; dirt, rocks and/or gravel work/shoveling; small buildings (wildlife viewing station, vault outhouses)

· Ecological, livestock grazing, and/or post wildfire recovery infrastructure and restoration: primarily fencing, plus some small-scale vegetative (primarily shrub-steppe) and riparian management to include earth shoveling, moving rocks, plantings, and weed-whacking.

In WFO, recreation projects will be conducted in Yakima, Douglas, Kittitas, Grant, and Okanogan Counties of WA.

In BFO, recreation, ecological, livestock grazing, and post wildfire recovery projects will be conducted in Spokane, Lincoln, Adams, Grant, Whitman, Franklin, and Benton Counties of WA.

Work Schedule: Flexible based on crew priorities, field conditions, and travel. Often Monday-Thursday, 7 AM to 5:30PM, with start/end dates in April-June/August-September.

Knowledge Required by the Position: This opportunity is suitable for youth working towards an undergraduate or graduate degree in recreation or ecology science-related disciplines.

This project would be appropriate for students or young professionals studying recreation management, land management, range science, or natural sciences. It will provide opportunities to enhance basic career skills such as communication, teamwork and organization, and field skills including construction, use of GPS equipment, and documentation of conditions. Previous experience with any or all of these skills would significantly enhance the applicant’s experience.

Physical Demands: Fieldwork will be done in recreation sites or remote backcountry settings. These roles often require strenuous exertion, bending, lifting, and the use of hand tools or power tools. Good physical condition is essential to successful completion of the required tasks. Moderate to arduous physical activity in an outdoor environment. Projects may require crew members to hike with a gear and supplies and carry heavy objects.

Work Environment: Field work will be conducted largely in shrub-steppe habitats in eastern and central Washington. Work will often be remote from nearby towns and sometimes be away from paved or gravel roads. Applicants and crews will need to be self-reliant. Applicants (crew leads) will need to find work locations based on GPS coordinates and verbal direction from BLM. Crews will need to transport construction materials and tools to job sites. Crews will need to work in difficult conditions (heat, dust, steep ground) to complete projects. Weather and terrain conditions may be extreme (e.g. wind, heat, cold, rain, steep areas).

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing. Stipend funds may be applied to housing.

Vehicle Needs: The BLM will not be providing vehicles for this opportunity. BLM anticipates applicants will provide transportation sufficient to navigate primitive roads. Four-wheel drive vehicles will be needed to complete most job duties.

Other Project Considerations:

Applicants should plan for the following:

· Travel: travel from applicants’ home base to BLM field sites will be a daily requirement/expense. Applicant will be responsible for transportation to and from jobsites. Reimbursement for travel time (through stipend or other) is an allowable and anticipated cost.

· Food: BLM will not be providing food. In the past, BLM has worked with Youth Corps or similar groups that have provided their own meals.

· Supplies: BLM will provide fencing materials including sage grouse strike markers. BLM will provide some specialized tools for restoration (weed pullers, planting tools, etc.) when appropriate (on a per job basis). BLM will not be providing computers, laptops, GPS units, cell phones, chainsaws, tents/camping supplies, or most hand tools; applicants shall be responsible to purchase or provide.

· Training Requirements: BLM will not be providing training to applicants except for specialized in-the-field requirements on a per job basis. In the past, Youth Corps or similar groups has provided any required training. Training that BLM would consider helpful for applicants in lead positions would be: first aid, 4-wheel drive/off road training, UTV training, computer training, training in fence construction, leadership, chainsaw training (optional). Training that BLM would consider helpful for individual applicants would include: first aid, 4-wheel drive/off road training.

Duties: The successful youth applicant will assist the BFO and WFO in Washington in recreation management through maintenance, construction, and vegetation management. The applicant will additionally assist the BFO in ecological, livestock grazing, post wildfire recovery management through maintenance and construction, and small-scale shrub-steppe and riparian restoration. Work for this agreement will be almost entirely field work (and support of field work). Field work to include trails and recreation infrastructure maintenance and construction, fence maintenance and construction, vegetation management, and small-scale shrub-steppe and riparian restoration.

BLM BFO anticipates a need in the next five years utilizing 4- or 5-person crew weeks:

· Up to 15 weeks for recreation infrastructure and trails repair and improvements, and vegetation management

· Up to 15 weeks for wildfire related or other livestock grazing infrastructure repair and improvements (fence work, etc.)

BLM WFO anticipates a need in the next five years, utilizing 4- or 5-person crew weeks:

· Up to 15 weeks for recreation infrastructure and trails repair and improvements, and vegetation management

Crews will not need access to BLM Field Office facilities, but often meet at these facilities (in Spokane, WA and Wenatchee, WA) to transfer materials (fencing, paint/stain, plants). BLM staff will often meet with crews in the field on the first day of a new project assignment to ensure a good start to individual projects. Individual projects will be coordinated by BFO and WFO resource leads: Recreation lead, ESR lead, Livestock Grazing lead, Riparian lead, Wildlife lead, Botany lead.

Project outcomes will include improved maintenance and improvements of BFO and WFO trails and recreation infrastructure and BFO shrub-steppe and riparian habitats, and advancement of land management skill sets for applicants. Project outcomes may be measured through the following metrics:

· Type and number of recreation infrastructure elements, and miles of trail, constructed or maintained

· Acres protected through fencing and other infrastructure projects

· Miles of fence maintained/installed

· Acres of habitat restored/treated to improve conditions

BLM’s Substantial Involvement: There will be substantive BLM programmatic involvement by BLM professional 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 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:

Stephen Smith 509-536-1219 sasmith@blm.gov

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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