OUTREACH NOTICE

Forestry Technician

Carson National Forest, Tres Piedras Ranger District

GS-0462-05/06

The Carson National Forest will soon be advertising to fill one Forestry Technician at the GS-0462-05/06 level with a duty station of Tres Piedras, NM. This is a permanent 18/8 position; 18 pay periods of active employment and 8 inactive pay periods.

The purpose of this Outreach Notice is to inform prospective applicants of this opportunity. The vacancy announcement for this position will be posted on the U.S. Government's official website for employment opportunities at Those who express interest in the position will be notified when the announcement opens. Applicants who are found to be qualified and in the quality group will be referred for consideration.

If you are interested in being considered for this opportunity, complete the outreach response form below and send to District Ranger Chris Furr by close of business February 8, 2013. For additional information on this position, please contact District Ranger Chris Furr, at (575)-758-8678

About the Position

Basic qualifications needed for the 0462 series can be found here:

This position is established to perform timber sale preparation duties such as timber marking, timber cruising including cruise design, and sale layout. The position also may lead a small temporary workforce employees engaged primarily in tree marking and cruising activities.

Other miscellaneous duties assigned to this position may include implementing timber stand improvement thinning and sanitation treatments, wildlife surveys, reforestation surveys, stand examinations, contract administration, insect and disease surveys, tree planting and harvest inspection. The West Zone of the Carson NF is made up of the Canjilon, El Rito, and Tres Piedras Ranger Districts totaling over 800,000 acres. The West Zone operates with a team approach. Although fire line duties are not a requirement of the position, this position will be expected to assist the fire program to the extent their physical fitness and training will allow.

Climate/Elevation/Landscape Type:

The Tres Piedras Ranger District is located on the west side of the Carson National Forest, west of the Rio Grande Gorge. The Ranger District office is located in a small rural community of Tres Piedras, at the crossroads of US Highways 285 and 64.

The climate around Tres Piedras is a pleasurable one. There are 300+ days of sunshine and clear blue skies. The town of Tres Piedras is located in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, where the open sagebrush and piñon-juniper country meet the ponderosa pine foothills. The elevation of the Tres Piedras Ranger District ranges from 7,000 feet to 11,000 feet, and the vegetation communitieschange with the elevation. Open sagebrush and piñon-juniper dominate in the lower elevations from 7000-8000 feet, and ponderosa pine ranges from 8000 to 9000 feet. Above 9000 feet, fir and spruce communities dominate the landscape, and aspen is fairly common at all elevations above 8000 feet.

Summers are mild, with daytime temperatures in the 70's and 80's, and nighttime lows in the 40's and 50's. Winter temperatures can reach as high as 50 and 60 degrees with sunshine, and nighttime lows can be in the single digits or below. Spring and fallare pleasant, with cool nighttime temperatures, and daytime temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees. Annual precipitation is approximately 14", and northern New Mexico typically has a summer monsoon season lasting from mid-July to mid-August. Winter snow storms can bring several inches at one time, with occasional snowfall exceeding several feet in higher elevations.

Community/Population/Diversity/General Characteristics:

Tres Piedras is a rural community with approximately 30 families in the outlying community. Being located in northern New Mexico, Hispanic culture is very prevalent, with approximately 60-70% of the population being Hispanic, and the remainder mostly made up of Anglos. The population of Tres Piedras reflects this, and many of the residents have settled in the Tres Piedras area for several generations, or are descendents of the original settlers to this area. Ranching is one of the larger occupations in the Tres Piedras area, and this has a strong influence on the district program of work.

Community Economy/Local Job Market:

Much of the local economy of Tres Piedras is rural, with many of the families making a living in the traditional northern New Mexico manner, involving raising livestock, logging, and cutting fuelwood or forest products. Some residents commute to Taos for employment. The local job and housing markets in Tres Piedras are limited, though opportunities are more abundant in Taos. More information on the Taos County Area can be found on the Chamber of Commerce website:

Access/Nearest Airport/Nearest Big City:

Taos, New Mexico, is the closest large community that provides a full service community, located 30 miles to the east on Hwy 64. Approximately half of the Tres Piedras Ranger District personnel live and commute from Taos to Tres Piedras. Taos is a very eclectic community that retains a lot of northern New Mexico culture combined with outside influence in the form of tourism, artist community, vacation homes both in the summer and winter, as well as the local influence of Taos Ski Valley, the largest ski resort in Northern New Mexico. A small regional airport is located 10 miles to the west of Taos, with limited service to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Santa Fe is the largest city in the Northern New Mexico area, located 90 miles from Tres Piedras. Albuquerque is located an additional 50 miles to the south of Santa Fe, and has all the amenities of a large city, including an international airport.

Facilities/Hospitals/Schools/Shopping:

Tres Piedras is a small rural community, and is limited in amenities. Aside from the ranger district office, there is a small post office and one convenience store..Students commute via school bus service to the Mesa Vista High School in Ojo Caliente. There are no medical facilities in Tres Piedras and most residents travel to Taos or Espanola for medical care. A small rural fire department is organized in town. Taos is the closest full service community with numerous restaurants of all types, a hospital, some state government offices, county government, and one public school ranging from K thru 12th grade. There are also some private and parochial schools ranging from K thru 12th grade. The University of New Mexico has a branch college in Taos, offering a range of classes affiliated through UNM.

Recreational/Entertainment Opportunities:

For those that like the outdoors, Tres Piedras and the surrounding areas have a lot to offer in the way of hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, rafting, skiing, and snowmobiling. The Cruces Basin Wilderness is located on the Tres Piedras Ranger District, and three more wildernesses are located on the Carson National Forest. Several rafting companies provide rafting trips on the Rio Grande River which runs through the central valley between Taos and Tres Piedras. Rafting on the Rio Grande River is rated as moderate, with some stretches of Class IV rapids, and some Class V during high run-off periods in the Rio Grande Gorge. Three ski resorts are within a one hour drive of Tres Piedras; Red River, Taos Ski Valley, and Angel Fire. Of the three, Taos Ski Valley is the largest and most challenging. Winter months bring a lot of tourism to the Taos area from skiers all over the country, and Taos Ski Valley, offering some of the best downhill skiing, was recently rated Number 8 in the nation. Four large lakes are within an hour drive of Tres Piedras, the Abiquiu Reservoir, El Vado Lake, Heron Lake, and Eagle Nest Lake. Boating and fishing opportunities are plentiful at all the lakes. The Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad is located on the northern border of the District, offering beautiful mountain scenery while riding on a narrow gauge steam train. A drive on US Highway 64 from Tres Piedras to Tierra Amarilla also offers some of the most splendid scenery around.

Additional Community Information:

USDA Forest Service, Carson National Forest:

Taos.org:

Taos News:

Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad:

OUTREACH NOTICE FORM
GS-0462-05/06Forestry Technician
Carson National Forest
Name:
E-Mail Address:
Mailing Address:
Telephone Numbers:
If current Federal employee, type of appointment: / Permanent Temporary
Term Other
Current Position Title, Series, Grade:

If not a current permanent (career or career conditional) employee, are you eligible to be hired under any of the following special employment authorities?

 PERSON WITH DISABILITIES

 VETERANS READJUSTMENT

 DISABLED VETERANS W/30% COMPENSABLE DISABILITY
 VETERANS EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES ACT OF 1998

 FORMER PEACE CORPS VOLUNTEER

 STUDENT CAREER EXPERIENCE PROGRAM CONVERSION

 OTHER (please identify) ______

Thank you for your interest in this opportunity!!!

Email this form to Chris Furr: