Youth Internship Proposal - Dillion Field Office_Mulitple Projects.pdf

Field/District Office: Dillon Field Office Notice of Funding Opportunity Number: L23AS00269 Project Submission Dates and Times:

Project Title: Dillon Field Office Multiple Project Youth Opportunity

Maximum Available Funding in FY23: $200,000

BLM has determined $720 weekly stipend equal to $18.00 per hour is a reasonable. Stipends above this amount must justify in budget narrative increase needed.

Project Background Information: The Dillon Field Office is located in the southwest corner of Montana and contains over 900,000 acres of BLM managed lands in both Beaverhead and Madison counties. The project being proposed will consist of aiding in a variety of different projects, some will be crew work for only a few days and others will be interns that will work for the duration of the summer. The project will provide opportunities for college students, recent college graduates or recent high school graduates to gain work experience with land and natural-resource management issues by helping to implement conservation-oriented projects. Projects including sensitive plant and animal species, vegetation management, rangeland management and improvement, wildlife habitat improvement, travel management, recreation projects, landscape ecology, aquatic and riparian ecosystems improvement will be identified. Specific project work will include stream restoration, invasive species and noxious weed removal, wildlife barrier fence removal, monitoring of wildlife and their habitat conditions, mesic meadow development, riparian restoration, native species planting, campground maintenance, rehabilitation and closure of roads and trail construction/maintenance.

Project Objective: The BLM Dillon Field Office, Montana is providing opportunities for conservation-oriented youth crews to complete project work that will conserve sensitive plant and animal species, vegetation management, landscape ecology, aquatic and riparian ecosystems. Project work will include stream restoration, invasive species and noxious weed removal, mesic meadow development, riparian restoration, native species planting and trail construction/maintenance. Youth participating in this program will have the opportunity to learn about BLM land-management challenges and responsibilities to conserve biodiversity and restoration of watersheds at multiple scales. Through these experiences, it is hoped that the intern will gain an increased appreciation and understanding of our public lands and of the value of public service and are likely to become life-long advocates for those.

Potential crew work would include:

• Remove old fence, wire, troughs, pipe, and other infrastructure.

• Build fence exclosures..

• Construction of beaver dam analogue structures using chainsaws, hydraulic post pounder, and a variety of hand tools.

• Plant native vegetation along stream restoration and road obliteration projects.

• Survey and treat noxious weeds using a variety of manual and chemical treatments.

• Assist with wildlife habitat projects such as installing Greater Sage-grouse fence markers, removing conifer encroachment into habitat, help in collecting Assessment, Inventory and Monitoring (AIM) data, removing barrier fences,and monitoring other species.

• General grounds maintenance and light labor, such as, but not limited to pulling weeds from decorative gravel beds and trails, removing leaves and other debris, and cutting small branches with a handsaw and other duties in maintaining recreation sites.

• Conduct trail development, maintenance, and reroutes.

• Campground improvements and clean up to ensure the facilities are in compliance with Bureau standards.

Potential internship projects would include:

• Survey and treat noxious weeds using a variety of manual and chemical treatments.

• Installation of signs to improve visitor safety, and promote access to reacreation and hunting opportunities.

• Conduct resource monitoring using the above AIM protocols

• Campground improvements and clean up to ensure the facilities are in compliance with Bureau standards.

• Aid in installing range improvements (fences, water developments, riparian exclosures, etc)

• Construction of beaver dam analogue structures using chainsaws, hydraulic post pounder, and a variety of hand tools. Also aid in other Riparian restoration projects.

Work Schedule:

• 7- to 10-day crew hitches. Typically 1-2 youth conservation crews (5-12 individuals) involved with

1-2 hitches per year from May-September. Weekends might be required.

• 2 - 3 conservation interns each year but could be more depending on funding. 3-4 month summer internship (May-Sept). 8-10 hour days, 40 hours per week.

Qualification Requirements: The project is suitable for college students, recent college graduates or high school graduates. As stated in the duties this opportunity will require time outdoors and field work that is often under somewhat rigorous physical conditions. Applicants that are required to use a BLM furnished computer must also meet the following criteria: 1). Pass a DOI security background check.

Housing: Agency cannot provide housing but may be able to assist in locating appropriate clean housing. A maximum monthly housing stipend of $700 per month is allowable and maybe neotiable depending on the local market.

Vehicle Needs: Vehicles will need to be provided by the recipient to support youth crews. Vehicles (preferably pickup truck) with four-wheel drive will be necessary to complete project work throughout the Dillon Field Office unless the project requires specialized equipment such as a truck mounted sprayer or a truck to haul larger material to the project site. Interns that will be working directly with a Field Office Specialist would travel by using the specialists vehicle or be determined at the time of appointment. A personal vehicle is NOT required for the position but is strongly encouraged as it makes the applicant's days off much more enjoyable. The closest regional airport is in Bute, Montana, but the nearest large airport is in Bozeman, Montana, where you can get much lower fares. Dillon has a population of about 5,500, but most big city amenities are available in nearby Bozeman (2 hr) or Missoula (2.5 hr).

Other Project Considerations:

Food: Crews will typically be camping in the field and will be supplying their own food and camping gear.

Interns will provide their own housing and food during their appointment but will receive a housing stipend.

All Supplies: BLM will provide any specialty tools other than shovels, chainsaws, and PPE

Training Requirements: Some crew projects may require chainsaw training. First Aid and any other required training ill be provided to the interns.

Travel: Travel will not be required except for jobsite camping.

Duties: Assisting BLM staff with a variety of maintenance and natural resource projects. Work would consist of field work and manual labor. Project expected outcomes will vary from year to year based on projects completed and funding available.

The participant crews will work out of the a variety of field locations in the Dillon Field Office. Nearby towns could include Dillon, Lima, Ennis, Sheridan and Twin Bridges. The projects will be coordinated by the DFO 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, thunderstorms, steep badlands).

Interns would operate out of the Dillon Field Office or Ennis Field Station

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.

The success of this partnership will be validated and tracked by each BLM project coordinator in a number of ways including:

• The BLM project coordinator will hold a pre-meeting with the partner and identify the project, review expectations and safety protocol with the participants.

• Progress reports will be submitted to the as agreed upon to the project coordinator.

• Field inspections will occur throughout the course of the project.

• Upon completion the project will be inspected and signed off as successfully completed.

• In respect to the interpretive program participation, feedback from the public and participants will assist the project coordinator in confirmation if the program is successful.

BLM Program Contact:

Michal Mooney 406-683-8008 mmooney@blm.gov

Applicants are encouraged to refer to the full program announcement number L23AS00269 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.